2. Ham Radio

Dixie Mountain (W6/CN-006) SOTA Activation - 12/31/2011

Dec 31, 2011 activation of Dixie Mountain for ham radio's Summits On The Air activity.
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HFTA output for a beam heading of 60 degrees, comparing my low antenna (in red) to a dipole antenna over flat ground and up 1/2 wavelength (in blue). My antenna outperforms the dipole by several dB at low takeoff angles thanks to the downsloping terrain. Low takeoff angles are best for long-distance communications. The bar graph along the bottom shows the relative probability of signals from the U.S. arriving at various takeoff angles. My antenna was running roughly North-South (maximum signal to the East-West) so these comparisons are valid. Unlike at Peavine Peak and Virginia Peak, my antenna was in the flattop dipole configuration as opposed to an inverted-V configuration, so these comparisons at Dixie Mountain are probably the most valid.
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HFTA output for a beam heading of 60 degrees, comparing my low antenna (in red) to a dipole antenna over flat ground and up 1/2 wavelength (in blue). My antenna outperforms the dipole by several dB at low takeoff angles thanks to the downsloping terrain. Low takeoff angles are best for long-distance communications. The bar graph along the bottom shows the relative probability of signals from the U.S. arriving at various takeoff angles. My antenna was running roughly North-South (maximum signal to the East-West) so these comparisons are valid. Unlike at Peavine Peak and Virginia Peak, my antenna was in the flattop dipole configuration as opposed to an inverted-V configuration, so these comparisons at Dixie Mountain are probably the most valid.

HFTAOutputDixieMyAntennaVsDipoleUpHalfWavelengthOverFlatGround60Degrees

  • It's hard to tell in this picture, but there is a chasm between me and the lookout that is at least a couple hundred feet deep. I was too scared to go near the edge to determine the actual depth with any precision. I fly hang gliders but I'm still afraid of sheer drop offs!
  • To the camera's right of the chasm (previous photo) is a very narrow lava spine connecting my operating location to the lookout tower. It's hard to make it out among the clutter of volcanic boulders and outcroppings in this picture, but it's to the right of center in the shot. You'd need to either be an accomplished tightrope walker or a skilled mountain climber to utilize it, and since I am neither, I stayed in my safe little crater with the tower and all the other fun stuff.
  • A closer view of the tightrope walker's path to the lookout tower that I was NOT going to attempt.
  • Victory! Another successful summit activation. Time to pack up and get down off the mountain.
  • On the way back down, I took this less steep and "easier" route down to the road from the top. Half way down I had a banana peel moment when the scree under my feet slipped and rolled, both feet suddenly went out from under me, and I smacked down hard on my pack and rear end. I wasn't hurt, but when I made it back down to my ATV I noticed that my SPOT satellite messenger was no longer attached to my pack. I had to hike back up AGAIN to search for it. After scouring my operating position with no luck, I found it right at the spot where I had fallen.
  • View to south-southwest. The flat and hazy area below the skyline is the Sierra Valley.
  • View to northwest.
  • View to northeast, those ridges farthest out are in Nevada.
  • View to east-southeast. Frenchman Lake (where I rode up from) is visible.
  • A closer shot of the frozen Frenchman Lake.
  • Topo map showing a wider view of the summit area. The blue line is my track on the ATV, the red line is on foot and the yellow line is the snowy and icy trail to the lookout tower.
  • Page 1 of the final log. I forgot to snap the picture on the summit, so I did it after I got back home. <br /> <br /> This is kind of funny: people kept sending me "HNY" along with 73 (73 = best regards). You can see "HNY" noted in a few places in my log with a question mark. At the time, I had no idea what that meant, I thought it might be the equivalent of a secret-squirrel SOTA handshake that no one had let me in on yet. As I was hiking back down to the ATV, the little light bulb flicked on over my head and I knew what it meant: Happy New Year!
  • Page 2 of the final log.<br /> <br /> Note that today I was a bit dull on the summit, and after I sent someone an RST, I sometimes couldn't remember exactly what I had sent by the time I could exchange paddles for pen and write it in my log. Some of the "RST Sent" values are therefore rough guesses. If you heard me send something different... your number is correct!<br /> <br /> 73, HNY and thanks to everyone who worked me.
  • Terrain profile along a beam heading of 60 degrees. This heading is for New England and Eastern Canada.
  • HFTA output for a beam heading of 60 degrees, comparing my low antenna (in red) to a dipole antenna over flat ground and up 1/2 wavelength (in blue). My antenna outperforms the dipole by several dB at low takeoff angles thanks to the downsloping terrain. Low takeoff angles are best for long-distance communications. The bar graph along the bottom shows the relative probability of signals from the U.S. arriving at various takeoff angles. My antenna was running roughly North-South (maximum signal to the East-West) so these comparisons are valid. Unlike at Peavine Peak and Virginia Peak, my antenna was in the flattop dipole configuration as opposed to an inverted-V configuration, so these comparisons at Dixie Mountain are probably the most valid.
  • Terrain profile along a beam heading of 75 degrees. This heading is for most of the U.S.
  • HFTA output for a beam heading of 75 degrees, comparing my low antenna (in red) to a dipole antenna over flat ground and up 1/2 wavelength (in blue). My antenna outperforms the dipole by several dB at low takeoff angles thanks to the downsloping terrain. Low takeoff angles are best for long-distance communications. The bar graph along the bottom shows the relative probability of signals from the U.S. arriving at various takeoff angles. At the higher angles most likely to be in use, the dipole is outperforming my antenna. My antenna was running roughly North-South (maximum signal to the East-West) so these comparisons are valid. Unlike at Peavine Peak and Virginia Peak, my antenna was in the flattop dipole configuration as opposed to an inverted-V configuration, so these comparisons at Dixie Mountain are probably the most valid.
  • Terrain profile along a beam heading of 90 degrees. This heading is for the southeastern U.S.
  • HFTA output for a beam heading of 75 degrees, comparing my low antenna (in red) to a dipole antenna over flat ground and up 1/2 wavelength (in blue). My antenna outperforms the dipole by several dB at low takeoff angles thanks to the downsloping terrain. Low takeoff angles are best for long-distance communications. The bar graph along the bottom shows the relative probability of signals from the U.S. arriving at various takeoff angles. At the higher angles most likely to be in use, the dipole is outperforming my antenna. My antenna was running roughly North-South (maximum signal to the East-West) so these comparisons are valid. Unlike at Peavine Peak and Virginia Peak, my antenna was in the flattop dipole configuration as opposed to an inverted-V configuration, so these comparisons at Dixie Mountain are probably the most valid.
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