Operation "Red Buoy"

I found out about a secret Internet connection up here. I was told to go to the "Red Buoy" and I should be close enough to hit it. So, I am anchored right off the "Red Buoy"...



...and sure enough... I have an Internet connection!

The good part is I can get online. The bad part is I still have a boat ride to get there. At least I don't have to dock the boat, jump in the truck, and drive 5 miles up the road.

Everything is up and running. The VHF bands haven't been great. I have worked about 5 grids so far on 6m and haven't heard anything on the other bands.

I hit a snag putting up the antennas. I forgot to extend one of the driven elements on the 6m beam. I found it when I was raising them. I have to get the tram high enough so the 6m beam clears the top of the main mast, otherwise it will get hung up on it. As soon as I got the antennas up that high I saw the short element.



So, I dropped them a bit and used an extension ladder leaning against the cabin to get up to it so I didn't have to drop them all the way. It worked and now everything is up and running!

I will have a radio sitting on 14.342.5 USB for the most part (the HFPack calling frequency on 20m). Give me a call on there. I have a Hustler 5BTV vertical on the roof.