[SCCC] N6MI team Field Day report

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

This is the N6MI Field Day report.

On June 28-29, 2025, six members of Tom's Garage Amateur Radio Club operated Field Day as N6MI (2A SB) from the Los Padres National Forest on Frazier Mountain (8,013 feet high), Ventura County, California (DM04ms).

Tom (K6VCR) and Drew (N7DA) ran the 40 and 15 meter station (100 watts) from Tom's comfortable trailer. They used a two element 40 meter yagi at 50 feet (AB-577 mast) and a three element 15 meter yagi at 25 feet.

Larry (NB6E), Greg (KI6RXX), and Scott (N6MI) operated the 80-20-10 meter station (100 watts) from Scott's converted television news van. The van team used an inverted vee on 80 meters and a tri band JK Antenna yagi (C3S-JK) at 60 feet (pneumatic mast) for 20 and 10 meters.

Shane (K1BTW) ran the VHF station from a card table under an awning, with over the shoulder instructions from N6MI about FT8. Shane used a three element yagi at 20 feet on 6 meters (armstrong rotator), a vertical for two meters at 12 feet, and a handheld on 223.5 FM.

With Tom's instruction, Drew has become an expert in quickly and safely erecting the military surplus AB-577 about 200 feet away from “Lucky” (the rattlesnake we saw two years ago).

We were not able to field a GOTA station this year, but we will try to find some rookies for next time.

The weather was pleasant (high 70s in the day and about 48 degrees at night). The wind was calm, with occasional bursts up to 15 miles per hour. No problem.

Radio conditions were modest. On the first day, there was atmospheric noise on 20 meters. The conditions settled down on Saturday evening. Ten meters never opened for us. Thus, the 2025 score was lower than last year (when radio conditions were outstanding).

Our chef (KN6OGP) was unable to attend the 2025 Field Day. We missed his waffles and burgers. But a young member of the press (Broden Weeks) brought us pizzas on Saturday evening. Publicity and a (still) hot meal -- such a deal.

Our contacts:

3.5 CW 29
3.5 FT8 31
3.5 LSB 1

7 CW 250
7 FT4 3
7 FT8 20
7 LSB 50

14 CW 545
14 FT8 51
14 USB 350 (all Greg's good work on 20)

21 CW 315
21 FT8 2
21 USB 352

28 CW 2 (sad band conditions here)

50 FT8 45
50 USB 19

144 FM 67

222 FM 3

If your club would like a Zoom presentation on Field Day or portable contesting, we will provide a speaker and slide show. Contact N6MI, bovitz at bovitz.com.

Thank you for the contacts.

73,

J. Scott Bovitz
N6MI
n6mi.com
bovitz at bovitz.com