22 February 2025
Wow. No pressure at all…. I went out to get on 15m and my linked dipole SWR would not get below 8:1. What was going on? A quick inspection of the alligator clips used to make the mechanical connections have rusted significantly in the time on Wake Island. As my activity time was fast approaching I had to make a quick decision on how to fix it. My first thought was to try and bypass the clips. I found a small section of junk CAT6 cable in my buggy that I was using to keep my tailgate from rattling.
During my time here on Wake I have fabricated many CAT6 ethernet connectors for work on network cables. The color code has been drilled into my head: white orange, orange, white green, blue, white blue, green, white brown, brown. “Who would be the luck pair?”, I thought as I used my multitool to pull out a strand from the cable jacket. White Orange/Orange slid right out and I used the two six-inch pieces of copper wire to make a field fix by tightly wrapping the wire around either end’s connector that wasn’t completely corroded.
Back in the air, I tested the antenna again quickly. 1.2:1! Network cable for the win. Time to get this Radio Network on the air.
15m was amazing. 158 QSOs. I could have kept it going but I had to work in the morning and had to get ready for bed. 73 and good DX, Allen
9 responses to “Radio Network”
Tnx for QSO Allen. 5/5 when i worked you just before the pilup started. Lucky 😉 Will try CW next time. Good luck. Talk soon. LB3AG Kåre
Hi, Allen KON-NITIWA
I look forward to your blog updates.
I haven’t received any contact on CW mode yet.
I think you’ll be operating on low bands in the future, but please consider operating on the 6m band as well.
Thank you. 73
JH6QOK Jun
Thank you, ALLEN.
This is my first CW.
It took me an hour. I also got LoTW. Thanks!
73 JH6QOK Jun
Jun,
Congratulations on your first CW contact!!! Here’s to many more. Stick with it and have fun.
73,
Allen ~ KH7AL/KH9
KH7AL/KH9 Wake Island.
The adventure continues, well done Allen, even with a rusty wire you managed to make yourself heard in Europe via LP,
that’s twenty-seven thousand kilometers!!!
A real DX!
73′ by I5NSR Sergio.
Thanks a lot for QSO just before you started working split.
I hope you will find time for some 10 m SSB (7.30 ich UTC) in the near future.
And thanks for your great stories in the blog.
Karsten OZ3AT
Sunday Funday! My OM WB9TFH and I both worked you on 12m CW from WI. Thanks for the new mode. RST 559 both ways. 600W to a 4 element yagi beam Yaesu FT 1000. All good! 73 WB9TFH Gil and WB9TFF Donna
FUNday indeed, Donna. 273 CW QSOs in the log, makes for lots of Morse Code practice. Nearly 5 hours on the air this morning. 30W, dipole, and a whole lot of salt water to help send signals from Wake.
73 and good DX,
Allen ~ KH7AL/KH9
I’m delighted to have you in Wake Island!
Since it’s a restricted location, many hams are eager to make contact, especially through FT8 and 6m band operations.
Have you considered operating in FT8 or on 6m band?