Frequently asked questions

What is the Santa Net?

A ham radio net where children talk to Santa at the North Pole. It runs on 3.916 MHz at 7:00 PM Central on the nights in the schedule, from the day after Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. More about the Santa Net.

What is Santa's List?

Santa's List is this site's page for families. You check in there for tonight's net, and it shows who is talking to Santa right now, who is waiting, and about how long your own wait is. It updates by itself, so there is no need to reload it.

Do I need an account or a password?

You log in with your email address, and there is no password. Each time you log in we email you a 6-digit code. The first time, you also give your first name and callsign.

I don't have a callsign. Can I still check in?

Yes. When you set up your station, press I don't have a callsign.

How do I log in?

1. Press Log in at the top of any page.
2. Enter your email address and press Email me a code.
3. Look for an email with the subject "123456 - your CQ Santa login code" (with your own 6 digits).
4. Type the 6-digit code into the page and press Verify Code, or click the link in the email instead.

The code and the link work for 15 minutes, and only once. Clicking the link opens a page with a Finish signing in button: press it to finish.

The email with my code didn't come.

• Give it a minute, then look in your spam, junk or promotions folder.
• Check that the address on the page is spelled right. If it isn't, press "Use a different email" and try again.
• If the page says we've sent several codes recently, wait 15 minutes before asking for another one. The newest code is the one that works.
• If the page says we can't send email to your address, it bounced or was reported as spam before. Contact the Santa team and we'll sort it out.

My code doesn't work.

Make sure you are typing the code from the newest email, within 15 minutes of asking for it. If it has expired, or after several wrong tries, go back to Log in and ask for a new code. If the link says it expired or was already used, do the same.

How long do I stay logged in?

About two months on the same phone or computer and browser, so you normally log in once for the season. To log in on another device, log in there too. To log out, open the menu at the top and press Log out.

What do I fill in the first time?

Your first name, as you use it on the air (up to 15 characters), and your callsign (up to 8 characters, like W1AW). No callsign? Press I don't have a callsign. Then press Save.

How do I change my name or callsign?

Open the menu at the top, choose My station, then Change name or callsign.

It says my callsign is already taken.

Each callsign belongs to one login. If you used the site before with another email address, log in with that one. Otherwise, contact the Santa team.

How do I change my email address?

Contact the Santa team. We can move your station, callsign and check-ins to the new address.

When can I check in?

Only on a net night, from 6:45 PM Central until the net ends, and only for tonight's net. There are no reservations for future nets. The schedule lists every night.

How do I check in?

1. Log in and open Santa's List.
2. Press Check in for tonight.
3. Choose your location.
4. Enter each child's first name and age. Press Add a child for each one.
5. If a name is easy to say wrong, write how to say it under How do we say their names? (for example, shi-VAWN).
6. Add any comments for Santa, if you like, then press Check in.

Only the Santa team sees your comments and how to say the names. If something needed is missing when you press Check in, it's marked in red.

Who should check in?

Young children who believe in Santa, so they get the chance to talk with him. Use first names only for the children.

I have several children. Do I check in each one?

No. Put all of them on one check-in, and they all talk to Santa during your turn. Each station has one check-in in line at a time.

Why are my children's names already filled in?

We fill in the names and location from your last check-in to save typing. Add or remove children if anyone is different tonight, and enter each child's age again.

How do I change or cancel my check-in?

On Santa's List, your check-in has Update and Cancel check-in buttons. You keep your place in line when you update. You can change it while you are waiting, but not while you are on the air.

If you change your children's names, or add or remove a child, after Net Control has accepted your check-in, it goes back for a quick look: the line shows "Update being reviewed" until Net Control checks it. You still keep your place.

Can we check in again?

Yes. Once your check-in is complete, or you cancelled it, press Check in again.

What do I see after checking in?

Your check-in box on Santa's List says In line, with how many children are ahead of you, an estimated wait and a bar that fills up as your turn gets closer. On the line itself your check-in shows as "New check-in" until Net Control accepts it.

If Net Control goes back to a family that was on hold, your box says "One moment. We're checking back in with a family that was on hold." You keep your place.

How is the wait worked out?

We count the children ahead of you, at between one and two minutes each depending on how fast tonight's contacts are going, plus what's left of the call on the air. It is only an estimate, and it is shown in minutes rather than a clock time because families join from many time zones. It changes as the line moves.

How will I know it's our turn?

When you are next, your check-in turns gold: Up next, "You're next! Get your radio ready." When Net Control calls you, your chat with Support says "We're calling you now..." and your check-in turns green: "Santa is talking to you!", with the name of the relay station handling your call. If the page is in a background tab, the tab's title blinks. Keep Santa's List open: it updates on its own.

What do the statuses mean?

New

Your check-in arrived and Net Control will look at it soon.

Reviewing

You changed your children after Net Control accepted you, so they're taking another look. You keep your place.

Waiting for Santa

You're in line.

On hold

Net Control set your check-in aside for now and will come back to you.

No contact

Net Control couldn't reach you on the air. You can check in again.

Complete

Your children talked to Santa!

What can other families see?

Anyone logged in sees tonight's line: each station's name and callsign, location, the children's first names and where they are in line. Nobody but the Santa team sees your email address, comments or the children's ages.

Where and when is the net?

On 3.916 MHz, starting at 7:00 PM Central on each night in the schedule. Check-ins begin at 6:45 PM Central.

How does the call with Santa work?

Net Control calls each station in turn, working down the line on Santa's List. Ham radio operators in different places relay Santa's voice from the North Pole, so families near and far can hear him. Listen on 3.916 MHz while you wait.

How do I reach the Santa team?

On Santa's List, write in the Chat with Support box and the team will answer there. If you aren't checked in tonight, we answer by email too. You can also email elf@cqsanta.com.