[SCCC] N6MI Field Day report (Tecuya Peak)

[J. Scott Bovitz <bovitz@bovitz.com>]

In June 2023, Tom's Garage ARC operated in the ARRL Field Day as 2A SJV from Tecuya Peak (6,850 feet) in Kern County, California (DM04mu). We camped immediately next to a very busy dirt road, about two miles from pavement. The nearest town was Frazier Park, California.

Our team included NB6E, N6MI, K6VCR, N7DA, KN6OGP, K1BTW, and Broden Weeks (not yet licensed). KN6OGP came down with a bug just before the contest, but his assistance with logistics and early Field Day planning was very helpful to the group.

The first station was set up in a converted television news van (n6mi.com) with a pneumatic mast. The van station covered 80 (long wire), 20 (3 element yagi at 60 feet), and 10 meters (sloping dipole). Our radio was a Yaesu FTdx101D. The van also housed a 2 meter and 440 MHz station using an Icom IC-9700 and two very short yagis.

The second station was set up in K6VCR's trailer. This station covered 40 (two element yagi on a 50-foot army surplus mast) and 15 (three element yagi on a 28 foot push up mast). The radio was an Elecraft K3.

The GOTA station was set up on a table under a canopy (classic Field Day style). This station was operated by K1BTW and his soon-to-be licensed son, Broden (a high school student). N7DA served as the GOTA coach. Broden worked New Zealand and Australia on 10 meters when he wasn't pumping out contacts to the Field Day crowd under the watchful eye of K1BTW.

We were visited by about a dozen travelers.

N6MI and NB6E have operated numerous Field Days together since the 1970s, when they were in high school in Santa Barbara. N6MI and K6VCR have also operated many contests together over the past 20 years, including a dozen June VHF contests. N7DA (the "new guy") has operated multiple contests with N6MI and K6VCR, but we can't quite remember when he showed up. This was our first formal contest with K1BTW (a new general licensee) and his son, Broden.

The weather was cold at night (in the 30s) but excellent (sunny, in the 60s) during the day. We made 2,059 contacts from the two main stations (the van and trailer). Our GOTA station made 209 contacts — fantastic for the rookies.

Thank you for the contacts.

73,

J. Scott Bovitz
N6MI
bovitz at bovitz.com