2. Ham Radio

Boca Hill (W6/NS-264) SOTA Activation 8/1/2012

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My 20m/40m link dipole in inverted-V configuration and suspended by an 18' Buddipole mast.
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My 20m/40m link dipole in inverted-V configuration and suspended by an 18' Buddipole mast.

  • Hello from Boca Hill! Boca Hill is along I-80 in Truckee, just a bit north of the interstate and near the agricultural checkpoint that westbound vehicles are required to stop at. Rough 4x4 trails lead to the top. I rode my ATV partway up then hiked the last few hundred vertical feet to my operating position. The actual summit is a rock outcropping near the north end of the ridge, but I decided to operate from a position further south (well within the activation zone).
  • A map of Boca Hill and the surrounding area from my ATV ride planning GPX file. The lines are roads and trails from GPS track logs of prior excursions and are color-coded for difficulty: black=paved, purple and green are easy 2WD, blue is rough 2WD, red is 4x4 or ATV only, yellow is expert 4x4 or ATV, and pink are routes that I haven't yet been on and may not exist. <br /> <br /> The easiest way to access Boca Hill is to head north on Highway 89 from I-80 Truckee, turn onto Prosser Dam Road (initially paved then turns to dirt), and follow it as it runs NE across the dam and then begins a long straight run to the north. About 500 feet down that straight stretch is a turnoff to the rough 2WD road shown in blue and marked BOCAHILLRD1 (39.38293N, 120.13617W). The gate shown about halfway up that blue route (BHILLGATE1) should be open except for in winter. If you don't have a 4x4 vehicle or ATV, be sure to stop at or before the point marked BH03 (39.38496N, 120.12242W) and hike up the 4x4 trail. See also the next map which is zoomed-in on this area and better shows those points. <br /> <br /> Boca Hill can also be reached from the east side by taking the Hirschdale exit from I-80, head north to Boca Reservoir, turn left and cross the Boca Reservoir dam, then go up the rough 2WD road marked as BHILLGATE3 (39.39457N, 120.11161W). This gate should also be open except in winter. This route is significantly rougher than the one going up the west side from Prosser Reservoir, and you may need to hike the entire way unless you have at least a rugged 2WD vehicle with good clearance.
  • Zoomed in topo map.
  • My 20m/40m link dipole in inverted-V configuration and suspended by an 18' Buddipole mast.
  • My operating position in the shade under a small pine. 50 feet of RG-58 coax might be a bit heavy, but it is nice to not have to sit under the antenna.
  • My operating position. Oops, looks like I grabbed the new Crazy Creek chair with the tag still on it instead of the old one that I usually bring along. This is the HB1B transceiver's first activation. I am running it from a 4S1P lithium battery pack with a capacity of about 2400 mAh. The internal 3-cell lithium pack is also installed in the radio as a backup power source.
  • Logbook page 1 and the HB1B transceiver with my BullDog Mini Key from K9LU. The magnetic base sticks firmly to the radio and feels like it is actually attached (like a KX1). His Mini Key is the best model of portable keyer paddles that I have ever seen or used, but has unfortunately been discontinued by K9LU. I hope mine never breaks.
  • Logbook page 1
  • Logbook page 2 and the HB1B transceiver with my BullDog Mini Key from K9LU.
  • Logbook page 2. Thank you to all the SOTA chasers who took the time to work me!
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