‰ NOW 35 WPM ‰ TEXT IS FROM MARCH 2014 QST PAGE 91 ‰ THE WORLD ABOVE 50 MHZ JON JONES, N0JK, N0JK ARRL. ORG K9W WAKE ISLAND DXPEDITION THE K9W WAKE ISLAND DXPEDITION MADE 1100 CONTACTS ON THE 6 METER BAND LAST SEPTEMBER. K9W TEAM MEMBER RALPH BELLAS, K9ZO, PREPARED THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY ABOUT THEIR ACTIVITY ON 50 MHZ. THE 6 METER STATION AT K9W WAS SET UP AT THE SSB LOCATION ON WAKE, IN A MOSTLY OPEN BEACH SHACK JUST A FEW FEET FROM THE LAGOON OF THE ATOLL AND A SHORT WALK FROM THE BARRACKS AND MESS HALL. THE CW STATION WAS A FEW MILES AWAY IN A DECOMMISSIONED CHURCH. EVERY 4 HOURS WE MADE A RUN THERE TO CHANGE OPERATORS. VERTICALS WERE USED ON THE HF BANDS. THE WEATHER WAS SPLENDID, THOUGH HOT AND HUMID, WITH RAINS THAT REQUIRED COVERING THE EQUIPMENT, DUE TO LEAKS IN THE ROOF OF THE BEACH HOUSE. WE HAD 12 OPERATORS MANNING FOUR STATIONS AROUND THE CLOCK, AND AN ADDITIONAL STATION THAT WAS AVAILABLE FOR 6 METERS. MOST OF US FELL INTO A ROUTINE OF 4 HOURS OPERATING, 4 HOURS OF SLEEP, AND 4 HOURS OF SOCIALIZING THEN BACK TO THE RADIO FOR ANOTHER SHIFT. SHIFTS WERE OFFSET SLIGHTLY TO GIVE EVERYONE A SAMPLE OF PROPAGATION AT DIFFERENT TIMES. WE TOOK TIME OFF AS A GROUP TO TOUR THE ISLAND, VISIT THE MEMORIAL TO THE FORGOTTEN 98, AND OBSERVE VETERANS DAY. WE EXCHANGED INFORMATION WITH THE TEAM DURING MEALS AT THE MESS HALL, AND COULD TAKE HOT PROVISIONS TO THOSE WHO WERE OPERATING DURING MEALS. THE 6 METER STATION ‰ END OF 35 WPM TEXT ‰ QST DE W1AW ƒ