Welcome to the K2AK Amateur Radio website

Jeffrey Thomas - K2AK

Thank you for visiting the K2AK (Kilo-Two-Alpha-Kilo) amateur radio website. I'm Jeff, and I've been a ham since June 1976. It's been a deeply rewarding journey, with milestones, challenges, and countless memorable contacts with fellow operators around the world.

My ham radio story began in New Jersey, where I was first licensed as a Novice with the call sign WA2QZA. Back then, a license was no small feat: it meant learning CW (Morse code) and passing code tests at 5 WPM for Novice, 13 WPM for General, and 20 WPM for Advanced. As a determined newcomer, I dug in and built my skills to meet each requirement.

I still remember the trip to the FCC office in Philadelphia in August 1976. I sat for both the General and Advanced exams and passed, earning the call sign N2AEW. It was a major achievement and the start of my deeper involvement in the hobby.

My call sign has changed several times over the years, each marking a new chapter. In February 1999, I was granted the vanity call sign W2JRT. In March 2007, I switched to the vanity call sign K7WIN. In 2010, I passed the Amateur Extra exam, the top license class, which opened the door to a 1x2 call sign. I was then able to obtain K2AK, from the 2 call district where I was first licensed. It has real sentimental value and brings my journey full circle.

Army Service and Mountaintop Operating in South Korea One of the most exciting chapters of my ham career ran from November 1983 to January 1985, when I operated as HL9JT while serving in the US Army, stationed on a mile-high mountaintop in Suwon, South Korea. With only a handful of Korean stations on the air at the time, my 100 watts and a long wire were enough to create plenty of pileups. I logged more than 15,000 contacts with stations around the world. It was busy and a lot of fun, and it pushed my skills and knowledge.

I'm mostly active on the HF bands. I enjoy the digital modes FT8 and FT4, as well as CW, and each one offers its own way to connect with other operators. I'm also active on the amateur satellites, working VHF and UHF passes whenever the orbits line up. In addition to the usual voice modes, I work FT4 via satellite, which makes for some fun and challenging contacts. So far I've confirmed 177 grid squares via satellite. And I have a soft spot for 6 meters. Whenever the band opens, I'm on the air making contacts, and those fleeting openings never fail to thrill me.

• DXCC: 280 entities confirmed, Mixed
• VUCC 50 MHz: 726 grid squares confirmed on 6 meters
• VUCC Satellite: 177 grid squares confirmed
• Triple Play: Award #565 of 2831
• 5-Band WAS: Awarded
• Worked All States (WAS):
  • Mixed
  • Bands: 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, 10, and 6 meters
  • Modes: CW, Phone, Satellite, and Digital (FT4, FT8, JT65, JT9)
  • Digital band endorsements: 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, 10, and 6 meters, with JT65 endorsements on most of them and JT9 on 20 meters

I QSL 100% via ARRL Logbook of the World (LoTW), Club Log, and HRDLog.net. I'm also happy to confirm with a paper QSL card if you send an SASE to:

Jeffrey R. Thomas, K2AK
1955 Santa Teresa Drive
Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
USA

Prompt, accurate confirmations matter to me because they strengthen the bonds that our shared hobby creates.

A note on paper cards: I've been out of QSL cards for a few months. If you've been waiting on a card from me, rest assured it's on the way. My order for new cards is at the printer now, and I'll get them out as soon as they arrive.

From a young Novice in New Jersey to a mountaintop in Korea to the digital modes and satellites of today, ham radio has enriched my life in countless ways. I'm looking forward to new challenges and new contacts in this ever-evolving hobby.

Thanks for stopping by. See you on the bands!
73, Jeff, K2AK