Home Away From Home

02 March 2025

Apparently I’ve been busy. Without meaning to do so, I broke from my normal two activations per week. Since 21 February I have been on the radio every day (9 days in a row) and logged over 1,400 QSOs, mostly on CW. That is also why my updates have been lacking.

The shift in activity has been large in part to the fact I have found a new place to play radio from on the lagoon side of the island. It is just a joy to operate from. It features many great items such as: a few walls, an improved roof, less wind, this wonderful thing called “electricity”, and an amazing view. This location is a remnant of the previous Thai contractor workforce that lived and played on Wake for many years. This “Beach House” is a mostly well kept shanty that has been left for the island to reclaim. It’s a bit of a ‘fixer-upper’. In the meantime until it collapses, I will cherrish operating from here. Just kidding, it’s mostly safe.

All that time on the radio has given my lots of practice on CW. Especially with my friends in JA land. Last night (1 March) on 20m I logged 242 QSOs. Over 200 of those were JA stations proving their ham radio “Wall of Japan” title is well deserved once again. Thank you for all the practice!

Speaking of operating. This next week I will be attending a multi-day, 4-hour webinar training class that starts at 0400 local time. Not ideal, but I need to get it done. That means early bedtimes for me and no mid-week radio play. We shall see about next weekend. I have just over two weeks left on this rotation on Wake before heading home for a few weeks. Then I’ll be back. 73 and good DX! Allen