[TVARC] The Passing of a Quiet Legend: Elwood at HamClock

[w3us at casa-aloha.net]

Sad news indeed.  I’ve used HAMCLOCK for years and love the diversity of information it provides.  My Raspberry Pi SD card corrupted and I was scrambling to find a downloadable copy, as the HAMCLOCK web site has gone dark.  Hopefully, someone will take over this project, although it was free and a labor of love.  RIP Elwood.



> 
> <noname.jpeg>
> The Solitary Volunteer
> <noname.png> <https://9j6v7.r.a.d.sendibm1.com/mk/cl/f/sh/1t6Af4OiGsDg0aWjlI1bpygF8dWUZJ/yYbsIlLyN-Ju>
> Dear Friends,
> 
> I was saddened to hear of the passing <https://9j6v7.r.a.d.sendibm1.com/mk/cl/f/sh/1t6Af4OiGsE8LIjA9e7X0Ek4WSVEHN/oHu4xTBzSaJi> of Elwood Downey WB0OEW, SK, on Thursday of this week.  He was the one-man developer behind Ham Radio’s most popular freeware visual display: HamClock <https://9j6v7.r.a.d.sendibm1.com/mk/cl/f/sh/1t6Af4OiGsEag0vaY0DSAUntuHTxzR/Lak0bjWRlJLH>. 
> 
> Like Geochron, HamClock’s server and interface brings together multiple data sources.  It appears that before his passing he built a dead man switch into HamClock, which will activate later this yea <https://9j6v7.r.a.d.sendibm1.com/mk/cl/f/sh/1t6Af4OiGsF30j80wMJNKkrjI6ShhV/zTir_gGvhr4r>r. This will leave HamClock’s screens blank, unless someone can save it...
> 
> And I did try.  I corresponded with Elwood in December to see if Geochron could develop a low-cost hardware option around Hamclock, replacing Innovato's discontinued <https://9j6v7.r.a.d.sendibm1.com/mk/cl/f/sh/1t6Af4OiGsFVLRKRKiPIV0vYfvRRPZ/mT7woKSwPYSl> computer.  He politely declined.
> 
> There are so many solitary heroes in the ham radio community that give their time and talents on tools that connect us all together.  As the owner of Geochron, I can certainly appreciate work of maintenance and support that comes with these complex products, and as volunteers?  That’s amazing.
> 
> His email autoresponder says plainly, “Elwood Downey ended his own life on 29 Jan 2026.”  No one wishes for that.  Love those that are still with you.
> 
> Peace to you,
>  
> Patrick KJ7ZSU
> Head Wrangler
> Geochron
> 

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