Field Day -- June 2024
Tom's Garage ARC
20/10 meter station (2A SJV, sixth place nationally)
Tecuya Mountain, Kern County, California
N6MI/6
My name is J. Scott Bovitz. My call sign is N6MI. I work in downtown Los Angeles. I operate amateur radio (ham radio) contests from multiple California counties and grid squares.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, I operated portable from a pickup truck. I replaced the passenger seat with radios. In addition to a yagi at 30 feet on a push-up mast, I sometimes inflated a commercial blimp to raise a long wire antenna.
On occasion, I was honored to operate from N6NB's monster station in Tehachapi, California.
Today, I operate a Yaesu FTdx101D, an ACOM A600S amplifier, an ICOM IC-9700, and an ICOM IC-905 in a van -- a former electronic news gathering (ENG)/cellular on wheels (COW). This van has a 56 foot pneumatic mast, a five kilowatt generator under the hood, and three large batteries. The N6MI van was profiled in CQ Amateur Radio magazine (February 2012). A photograph of the N6MI van was featured in an industrial brochure by Soitec.
With the help of visiting operators, I earned DXCC from the van (including mixed, CW, and phone endorsements) for working hams in more than 100 countries. Current LoTW (Logbook of the World) confirmations: eight countries on 6 meters; 127 countries on 10 meters; 155 countries on 15 meters; 148 countries on 20 meters; 118 countries on 40 meters; and 35 countries on 80 meters.
The following operators have received their orientation and are qualified to operate from the N6MI van: K6VCR, NB6E, N7DA, AF6O, W6PNG, KN6OGP, WB6HPW, KJ6SSY, KJ6SSU, N6VI, KI6RXX, K1BTW, and Broden Weeks (license pending).
I also enjoy contesting with AF6O from his high desert contest station in Piñon Hills, California.
Portable operations
2010
March 2010 CQ WW WPX SSB (with K6VCR and KI6ACI, Jacumba Mountains, San Diego County, DM12, #3 W6 call area, Multiple Operator, High Power)
June 2010 ARRL June VHF QSO Party (Mojave National Preserve, San Bernardino County, DM25)
October 2010 California QSO Party (Inyo County, DM15)
2011
May 2011 CQ WW WPX CW Contest (Riverside County, DM23)
June 2011 ARRL VHF Contest (Imperial County, Chocolate Mountains, DM23, #1 Multi-Operator, San Diego Section)
October 2011 California QSO Party (Inyo County, DM15, #1 Inyo County Single Operator High Power)
October 2011 CQ WW DX SSB (Mojave Desert, San Bernardino County, DM15, #9 W6 Call Area, Single Operator High Power)
November 2011 CQ WW DX CW (Lake San Antonio, Monterey County, CM95, #21 W6 Call Area, Single Operator High Power)
2012
February 2012 ARRL DX CW (Riverside County, DM23)
May 2012 CQ WW WPX CW (Mojave Desert, San Bernardino County, DM14)
June 2012 ARRL June VHF Contest (Frazier Peak, Ventura County, DM04, #5 United States, Multi-Operator at N6VI; operators N6MI, WB2WIK, K6ZMW, KG6NWJ, and N6VI)
June 2012 Field Day (Lake San Antonio, Monterey County, CM95)
July 2012 IARU HF Championship (Mt. McDill, Los Angeles County, DM04, #1 Los Angeles Section, Single Operator, Mixed Mode, Low Power)
October 2012 California QSO Party (Riverside County, DM23, #2 Single-Operator, California Expedition)
November 2012 ARRL November CW Sweepstakes (San Bernardino County, DM14; with N6MI and AF6O)
November 2012 CQ WW DX CW (Riverside County, DM23, #15 W6 Call Area, Single Operator High Power)
2013
February 2013 ARRL DX CW (Mojave Desert, San Bernardino County, DM15)
March 2013 CQ WW WPX SSB (Riverside County, DM23, #5 W6 Call Area, Single Operator, High Power, #3 W6 Call Area Tribander/Single Element, High Power)
May 2013 CQ WW WPX CW (Mojave Desert, San Bernardino County, DM15)
June 2013 ARRL June VHF Contest (Frazier Peak, Ventura County, DM04, #3 United States, Multi-Operator at N6VI; operators N6MI, K6VCR, WB2WIK, W6YLZ, K6ZMW, and N6VI)
June 2013 ARRL Field Day (Lake San Antonio, Monterey County, CM95)
October 2013 California QSO Party (Mojave Desert, Kern County,
DM04, #1 Kern County, Single Operator High Power)
November 2013 CQ WW DX CW (Mojave Desert, Kern County, DM04, #9 W6 Call Area, Single Operator High Power)
2014
May 2014 CQ WW WPX CW (with NB6E at Lake San Antonio, Monterey County, CM95, with a gangbuster vertical and radials on 40 meters, #2 W6 Call Area, Multi-Operator, Single Transmitter, High Power)
June 2014 ARRL June VHF Contest (Alvord Mountain, San Bernardino County, DM15, with K6VCR and 34,322 angry killer bees)
June 2014 Field Day (3A SCV, Lake San Antonio, Monterey County, CM95)
July 2014 IARU HF World Championship (Frazier Peak, Ventura County, DM04, #1 Single Operator, Mixed Mode, High Power, Santa Barbara Section)
October 2014 CQ WW DX SSB (Riverside County, DM23, #1 W6 call area, Multi-Operator Single Transmitter)
November 2014 CQ WW DX CW (San Bernardino County, DM14, at AF6O's super station, #3 W6 Call Area, Multi-Operator Single Transmitter)
2015
March 2015 CQ WW WPX SSB (with NB6E and K6VCR, Lake San Antonio, Monterey County, CM95, #2 W6 Call Area, Multi-Operator Single Transmitter)
May 2015 CQ WW WPX CW (AH7T operation from Big Island of Hawaii, BK29)
June 2015 ARRL Field Day (with K6VCR in his contest trailer, KK6NON in the N6MI van, and a big team at KI6BJN operation, San Diego County, DM12, #2 United States, Class 5A)
July 2015 IARU HF World Championship (#1 Multi-Operator, Single Transmitter, Orange Section, in the Anaheim Ham Radio Outlet parking lot at HRO's Ham Jam, with K6VCR, K7JA, KL7MF, and N6MI, DM13)
October 2015 California QSO Party (top California Multi-Operator Single Transmitter Expedition, with K6VCR, NB6E, and a four element 20 meter yagi at Lake San Antonio, #1 Monterey County, CM95)
October 2015 CQ WW DX SSB (with K6VCR at Palomar Mountain, San Diego County, DM13, #3 W6 Call Area, Multi-Operator Single Transmitter)
November 2015 CQ WW DX CW (San Bernardino County, DM14, #3 W6 Call Area, Single Operator, High Power, at AF6O super station)
2016
March 2016 CQ WW WPX SSB (with K6VCR, at Palomar Mountain, San Diego County, DM13, #3 W6 Call Area, Multi-Operator, Single Transmitter, High Power)
May 2016 CQ WW WPX CW (Alvord Mountain, San Bernardino County, DM15, #5 W6 Call Area, Single Operator, High Power)
June 2016 ARRL VHF Contest (at Palomar Mountain, with K6VCR, DM13, #1 Multi-Operator, San Diego Section)
June 2016 Field Day (with KJ6SSY, at Tecuya Mountain, Kern County, DM04)
July 2016 IARU HF World Championship (#1 Santa Barbara Section, Multi-Operator, Single Transmitter, Frazier Peak, Ventura County, DM04, with operators N6MI and K6VCR, and a post-contest SOTA visit from W1ZU)
October 2016 California QSO Party (#1 Kern County, #8 California, Multiple-Operator, Single Transmitter, High Power, with K6VCR, 10 miles east of Mojave, Kern County, DM05)
March 2017 CQ WW WPX SSB (#2 W6 Call Area, #11 United States, Multiple-Operator, Single Transmitter, High Power, San Bernardino County, DM14, with a team of N6MI, K6VCR and AF6O, at AF6O's high desert station)
2017
June 2017 ARRL June VHF Contest (Kern County, Mojave Desert, DM15aa, with K6VCR, #2 Multi-Operator, San Joaquin Valley Section)
June 2017 Field Day (20/80 meter CW station in N6MI van at W6F operation, San Diego County, DM12, #3 United States, Class 6A)
October 2017 California QSO Party (#6 Los Angeles County, a few hours in the driveway with a whip on the roof of the van)
2018
June 2018 ARRL June VHF Contest (#1, San Joaquin Valley Section, Single Operator, High Power, Kern County, Mojave Desert, DM15aa)
June 2018 ARRL Field Day (1,727 contacts, four operators -- N6MI, K6VCR, KB9FKO, and NB6E in SJV at Tecuya Mountain, Kern County, DM04)
July 2018 IARU HF World Championship (AF6O operation in San Bernardino County, DM14, #1 Orange Section, #6 Zone 6 Multi-operator, Single Transmitter, with a team of K6VCR, N6MI and AF6O, at AF6O's high desert station)
October 2018 California QSO Party (#1 Ventura County, #11 California, Multiple Operator, One Transmitter, High Power, Frazier Peak, Ventura County, DM04, with N6MI and K6VCR -- 32 degrees at night and one beautiful sunrise on Saturday morning)
2019
May 2019 CQ WPX CW (AF6O multi-op with N6MI and AF6O, San Bernardino County, DM14, 1,573 QSOs and 678 WPX using wire loops and a yagi on the N6MI contest van parked in AF6O's driveway, #13 North America, #9 United States, #1 6th Call Area)
June 2019 ARRL June VHF Contest (Tecuya Mountain, Kern County, DM04)
June 2019 Field Day (#15 United States, #1 California, Class 2A, Frazier Peak, 8,013 foot elevation, Ventura County, DM04, 1,884 contacts with good food, strong winds, a nice sunrise,a four element 20 meter beam on the van, K6VCR, NB6E, KB9FKO, N6MI and Mr. Broden Weeks).
October 2019 California QSO Party (1,088 contacts and 57 multipliers in the N6MI van, at Frazier Peak, Ventura County, DMO4, with AF6O, N6MI, a fresh N7DA, and N7DA late at night in the cramped operating position -- Multi-Single High Power, #7 California, #4 Mult-Single Expedition, #1 Ventura County).
2020
May 2020 CQ WPX CW (a casual solo effort from Frazier Peak, #6 United States 6th call area, tribander/single element wires, high power). I assembled a small triband beam on the roof. The nights were very cold, but the sunrises on Friday and Saturday were spectacular.
June 2020 ARRL June VHF Contest (Mojave Desert, grid square DM15aa, with five bands). The wind was blowing up to 55 MPH -- the clouds were dancing. K6VCR tracked the ARPS signal so that we could share a cup of coffee on Saturday morning; Tom left before the contest began. In the Single Operator/High Power class, I was awarded First Place San Joaquin Valley Section and Third Place in the Pacific Division.
June 2020 Field Day (Frazier Peak, DM04ms, Ventura County, 926 QSOs, ninth place of the 462 stations in Class 1B-1). There were excellent views just before sunrise to the northeast and southwest. K6RIN stopped by for a SOTA activation.
October 2020 California QSO Party (1,605 QSOs and 57 multipliers from the open Mojave Desert, in grid square DM15aa, using the special call W6E). We finished first in Kern County (new multi-multi high power county record), finished second in California in the multi-multi high power class, and won a plaque for highest scoring multi-multi expedition in California. We were socially distanced with W6PNG in his Jeep -- here is the W6PNG camp at sunset -- and N6MI in his van. W6PNG used a hex beam with an "arm-strong rotator." The smoke from a fire in the Angeles National Forest made for amazing sunsets. Here is a sunset view of the microwave tower to the west. Here is a link to the detailed W6PNG report on the CQP adventure. Here is a presentation on three years of CQP adventures with W6PNG and N6MI in CQP.
November 2020 CQ WW CW (#9 Sixth Call Area, Single Operator, High Power, All Bands, in the N6MI van, from DM15qa, along a ridge in the Mojave Desert). It was 37 degrees at night, but pleasant in the afternoon. The Friday sunset and Saturday sunset were memorable; the sun appeared to be sinking into an ancient caldera. The Beaver Moon (Friday and Saturday) was bright in the clear desert sky; there was no need for a flashlight in camp.
2021
May 2021 CQ WPX CW contest (#1 U.S. Sixth Call Area, tribander/single element/high power class from Frazier Peak, Ventura County, DM04). I built the yagi on the roof and then used the pneumatic mast to erect the antenna to about 60 feet above the ground. The sunrise on Sunday was a special treat. It was about 44 degrees at night and in the 60s during the day. The 20 meter band was especially active.
June 2021 ARRL VHF contest, 20 miles northeast of Mojave, DM15aa. First place, San Joaquin Valley Section, Single Operator, High Power. 51 degrees (nights), 99 degrees (days).
Wind, 0-40 MPH (can’t keep a hat on). 5 element yagi on six at 60 feet (500 watts),
14 element yagi on two at 66 feet (100 watts, but that feed line was too long),
18 element yagi on 432 at 15 feet (75 watts), can’t even count the number of elements on the yagi on 1296 at 20 feet (10 watts). The results:
50 CW, 47 contacts, 29 grids (speedy operators on CW, wow)
50 USB, 80 contacts, 33 grids
50 FT8, 54 contacts, 18 grids
50 MSK144, 9 contacts, 6 grids (meteor scatter opening on Sunday morning to the north)
144 CW, 1 contact, 1 grid
144 USB, 19 contacts, 6 grids
432 CW, 1 contact, 1 grid
432 USB, 8 contacts, 3 grids
1296 USB, 2 contacts, 2 grids
Snakes, 0
Ravens, 2
Field mice, 4,233
Black stink bugs, 2
Flying ants, 11
Awesome sunrises, 2
Breathtaking sunsets, 3
June 2021 Field Day (Frazier Peak, DM04ms, Class 2A Santa Barbara, 2,358 contacts). We finished seventh in the nation out of 277 entries in the very competitive Class 2A. The team included K6VCR, N7DA, NB6E, N6MI, K1BTW, Broden Weeks, plus our GOTA operator. We used an inverted vee on 80 meters (106 CW, 56 FT8, 28 LSB contacts), a two element yagi on 40 meters at 50 feet (401 CW, 787 LSB contacts), a three element yagi on 20 meters at 60 feet (790 CW, 7 FT8, and 145 USB contacts), a three element yagi on 15 meters at 25 feet before it blew over (14 CW, 1 USB contacts), a three element yagi on 10 meters at 20 feet (not used), a 6 meter loop (not used), and a 6 element yagi on 2 meters at 8 feet (1 CW and 1 FM contact). Our GOTA station used a spider beam at about 20 feet (22 USB contacts, mostly on 15 meters). The sunrise on Sunday was pretty. K1BTW and Broden Weeks (BNinja Productions) produced a fun documentary of the 2021 Field Day operation. Contact me if your club needs a speaker on "Field Day in the mountains."
October 2021 California QSO Party (Frazier Peak, Ventura County, DM04ms, using special call W6E, with W6PNG on SSB and N6MI on CW). 1,243 contacts, 57 multipliers, 179,208 points. Number 1 in Ventura County, number 7 in California, in multi-single high power category. The sunrise is always special on Frazier Peak. The weather was perfect and the wind was light.
2022
May 2022 CQ WPX CW contest from DM15aa in the hot and windy desert near Mojave, California. We operated from N6MI’s converted television news van. It was 95 degrees in the van on Thursday, but about ten degrees cooler on Friday and Saturday. The team included N6MI (Scott), N7DA (Drew), and W6PNG (Paul). Paul camped in his tricked out contest Jeep, with a bat wing for shade. The team used a small triband antenna at 60 feet for 20, 15, and 10 meters. Paul calculated the horizon from camp. We used a sloper on 40 meters, oriented toward Japan, with one end anchored by N7DA’s vehicle. We used an inverted vee on 80 meters. N7DA enjoyed his night shifts. 20 meters never closed. We operated for the first 23 hours and made 651 contacts. Paul left early to handle family business. Then Drew and Scott broke camp (reluctantly) on Saturday afternoon after the yagi started rotating on its own in the very strong winds (with gusts projected to reach 57 miles an hour). This was Paul’s first CW contest. Even with our early departure, we finished second, United States 6th Call Area, Multi-Operator Single-Transmitter High Power.
I operated the June 2022 ARRL VHF Contest in the single operator, high power category from Frazier Peak, Ventura County, California (DM04ms) at 8,013 feet in N6MI’s converted news van. I received first place (Santa Barbara Section) and third place (Southwestern Division). I was the Southwestern Division band winner on 50 MHz, 144 MHz, 432 MHz, and 1296 MHz.
It was about 86 degrees in the day and 54 degrees at night. There was no wind on Friday or Saturday. I enjoyed a pleasant 15 mile per hour breeze on Sunday.
I used a: 5 element Yagi on six meters at 60 feet (500 watts); 14 element Yagi on two meters at 20 feet (100 watts); 18 element Yagi on 432 MHz at 15 feet (75 watts); and a 22 element Yagi on 1296 MHz at 10 feet (10 watts).
I made 349 contacts in 142 grids, including 118 grids on six meters. I was not able to break the wall of QRM into Europe, but I did work my first JA on six meters. I operated until about noon on Sunday. When I left the mountain, six meters was still open. The results:
50 CW, 52 contacts, 17 grids
50 USB, 132 contacts, 46 grids
50 FT8, 115 contacts, 55 grids
144 USB, 21 contacts, 10 grids
432 USB, 18 contacts, 8 grids
1296 CW, 1 contact, 0 grids
1296 USB, 9 contacts, 6 grids
1294.5 FM, 1 contact, 0 grids
In Field Day (June 2022), Scott (N6MI) and Larry (NB6E) operated Class 1B from DM04ms in the Santa Barbara section on Frazier Peak (8,013 feet). We used a very nice JK Antenna CS3-JK (triband yagi on a 12 foot boom), up at 60 feet on the N6MI pneumatic mast. The peak is covered with commercial antennas, but very little interference was heard on the low bands. The weather was perfect -- high 70s in the day and about 55 at night, with winds under 10 miles per hour. Shane and Broden Weeks came to visit and brought ice cream. Broden is a high school student and founder of BNinja Productions. We made 1,096 contacts (910 on CW, 16 on FT-8, and 170 on phone). 20 meters was our best band (480 CW, 3 FT-8, and 30 USB contacts). We finished second place, nationally, in Class 1B-two operators.
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In October 2022, Scott (N6MI), Drew (N7DA), and Paul (W6PNG) operated two stations in the California QSO Party using the special call sign, W6E. This was a multi-multi (two transmitter. high power) expedition to Frazier Peak (8,013 feet) in Ventura County California. The location has a nice downward slope to the east. Paul set up a SSB (phone) station from his well equipped Jeep with a hex beam and and an offset wire for low bands. Scott set up a CW station in his former television news van, with a yagi at 60 feet (10, 15, 20), a sloper (40), and an inverted vee (80). (Drew did the hard work.) After log checking, we made 2,025 contacts over 30 hours. Drew worked both SSB and CW. Ten meters was open on both Saturday and Sunday -- conditions are improving. The weather was perfect (about 70 degrees in the day and 48 degrees at night, with light winds). The stars were very bright. Drew and Paul were able to work a few SOTA stations before, during, and after the contest. We were fourth place in California in our category. We set a new county record for a M/M HP Expedition.
2023
In May 2023, Jim and Sheila Forsyth hosted a multi-operator CQ Worldwide WPX Contest group at the AF6O station in DM14 (in in the California Mojave desert with thousands of blooming Yucca plants). This San Bernardino County station has a gentle downward slope toward Japan and Europe (good for low bands). We used the AF6O KT34A four element yagi at about 50 feet on 10, 15 and 20 meters. We used delta loops on 40 and 80 meters. Scott (N6MI) and Jim (AF6O) often operated as a team in the pileups; Jim's scratch paper could be an art project. Drew (N7DA) did a great job at the computer and paddle. Our raw results: 3.5 (16 contacts); 7 (280 contacts); 14 (507 contacts); 21 (419 contacts); 10 (25 contacts). The Yaesu FTdx101D waterfall was a great help with search and pounce. After adjudication, our final score was 1,238,292. We finished first in California (the Sixth Call Area) and tenth in North America.
On June 10-11, 2023, N6MI and K6VCR went portable as "N6MI" from the Mojave Desert (near Fort Irwin, California) to hand out a few rare DM15 contacts during the ARRL VHF contest. We operated from a converted news van. We ran 500 watts (or less) on six meters to a five element yagi at 60 feet. We ran 100 watts on two meters for a handful of contacts. Before log checking, we worked 11 CW, 49 USB, and 156 FT8 contacts (almost all on six meters) -- 123 grids with contacts in the continental United States, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, Ireland, Switzerland, and France. Six meters was booming on Sunday morning, but we packed up after the weather turned to hail and thunderstorms. We won the certificate for this ARRL division (Orange) in the Limited Multioperator class.
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On June 24-25, 2023, Tom's Garage ARC operated in the ARRL Field Day (call, N6MI) as 2A SJV from Tecuya Peak (6,850 feet at our camp) in Kern County, California (DM04mu). We finished sixth in the country out of 308 entries in Class 2A. We camped immediately next to a very busy dirt road, about two miles from pavement and a rural pizza takeout restaurant. The nearest town was Frazier Park, California. Our team included NB6E, N6MI, K6VCR, N7DA, KN6OGP, K1BTW, and Broden Weeks (a high school student, 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 with a pneumatic mast. The van station covered 80 (long wire), 20 (3 element yagi at 60 feet), and 10 meters (sloping dipole). The van 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); the photo was used on the cover of the June 2024 QST magazine. This station was operated by K1BTW and his soon-to-be licensed son, Broden (a high school student); that's K6VCR wearing his GOTA coach face. N7DA also served as a GOTA coach. Broden worked New Zealand and Australia stations 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. 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 also made 209 contacts — fantastic.
Call: W6E, October 7-8, 2023
Operator(s): W6PNG N6MI N7DA
Multi-Operator, Two-Transmitter, High Power, Expedition Class
QTH: Frazier Peak, Ventura County, California
Operating Time: About 24 of 30 hours
Finish: #1 Ventura County, #2 California, Ventura County Record (M/2 E)
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Paul, W6PNG, summarized the 2023 California QSO Party contest: "Operated Field Day style from Frazier Mountain in the Los Padres National Forest, Ventura County, California at 8,013 feet elevation. Entered the new M/2 (HP) category with the N6MI former TV van as the CW station and W6PNG's Jeep as the phone station.
Three ops this year: N6MI-CW; W6PNG-phone; and N7DA on both CW and phone. The weather and radio conditions were favorable. we used a mixture of Yaesu, Elecraft and Acom gear. N6MI has a 10/15/20 tribander from JK Antennas at
60 feet and W6PNG has a 10/15/20 Hex Beam at 30 feet. A 40m vertical was used for
phone. We used a sloper on 40 and an inverted vee on 80 CW." Here is a short video of the 2023 CQP operation. Scott, N6MI, adds: "On Friday, the forest service created long fire breaks next to the camp. This unleashed a million flying bugs and grasshoppers. They didn't bite, but I swallowed a dozen unlucky critters." Drew, N7DA, also worked SOTA (summits on the air) before the contest. With just a few watts, he worked a number of stations in Europe and in the United States.
2024
On May 25-26, 2024, Drew (N7DA) and Scott (N6MI) operated for 41.7 hours in the CQ Worldwide WPX Contest. We operated from the N6MI van in DM15aa on a Mojave Desert hill. Creosote bushes, grasshoppers, and (after dark) kangaroo rats were our only companions. In the Multi-One high power category, we finished #1 in the United States 6th call area and #12 in North America. The operating position is a bit crowded, but functional. We used a JK C3S-JK tri band antenna at 60 feet on the high bands (two elements on 20 meters, two elements on 15 meters, and two elements on 10 meters). This fine antenna is an upgraded Force 12 design. We "aimed" a 40 meter sloper toward Japan. We used an inverted vee on 80 meters. The weather was nice (about 79 degrees on Saturday and 86 degrees on Sunday, with lows around 52 degrees). The moon was full and very bright. The desert wind was unpredictable, blowing from zero to 35 miles per hour. 15 meters was open across the globe until the late evening. 20 meters never closed. 40 meters was excellent at night until the Chinese (?) over the horizon radar came on around 4:00 a.m. local time. We made contacts in about 92 DX countries: 32 contacts on 80 meters; 194 contacts on 40 meters; 387 contacts on 20 meters; 624 contacts on 15 meters; and 92 contacts on 10 meters.
On June 8 and 9, 2024, Scott (N6MI) and Tom (K6VCR) operated in the unlimited multioperator class in the ARRL June VHF Contest from Frazier Peak, Ventura County, California (in the Los Padres National Forest). We camped in a converted television news van (n6mi.com) and Tom's tricked out off-road truck at 8,013 feet elevation (near the forest service sign on the peak). The weather was nice during the day (in the 70s) and cool at night (around 55 degrees). The ladybugs were everywhere. Radio conditions were poor. We used a Yaesu FTdx101D on 6 meters and an Icom-9700 on 2, 432, and 1296. We also used a Kenwood handheld on 223.5 FM. For antennas, we erected: a five element yagi at 60 feet on six meters; a 13 element yagi at 20 feet on two meters; an 11 element yagi at 10 feet on 223.5; an 18 element yagi at 15 feet on 432; and a 22 element yagi at ten feet on 1296. Before log checking, we made 258 contacts and logged 76 grids: 138 contacts and 35 grids on six meters; 72 contacts and 17 grids on two meters; 4 contacts and 3 grids on 223.5; 37 contacts and 15 grids on 432; and 7 contacts and 6 grids on 1296. We were First Place in the Santa Barbara Section and earned the top score in the unlimited multioperator class in the ARRL Southwestern Division.
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For Field Day 2024 (June 22-23), Tom's Garage ARC (N6MI) set up camp on Tecuya Mountain (Kern County, DM04, in the Los Padres National Forest). Our 2A SJV team included: Tom, K6VCR (president of the club); Drew, N7DA; Larry, NB6E; Chef, KN6OGP; Greg, KI6RXX; Shane, K1BTW; Broden (17 years old and promises to get his license soon); and Scott, N6MI. We set up right next to a smooth dirt road about 1.5 miles from the nearest pizza joint. (Thanks for the pizza, Drew.) Many folks drove by our operation. We were visited by a few strangers, one SOTA ham, two park rangers, and (by special invitation) a senior officer of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Off-duty hams were always available to chat with the visitors.
One primary Field Day station was set up in Tom's trailer (40/15). The other primary station was set up in N6MI's converted television news van (80/20/10). Six meters was operated from KN6OGP's trailer. Two meters was operated from KI6RXX's truck.
We did not put up a Field Day antenna on 160. We worked 5 hams on 80 CW, using 100 watts to an inverted vee. We worked 203 CW and 66 LSB contacts on 40 meters -- using 100 watts to an inverted vee. Tom said that he missed the two element 40 meter yagi we have used in prior years. We worked 641 CW, 1 FT8, and 341 USB contacts on 20 meters -- using 100 watts to a JK C3S triband yagi at 60 feet (two elements per band). This easy to assemble antenna was built on vehicle roof and placed on the pneumatic mast of N6MI's van. We worked 415 CW and 589 USB contacts on 15 meters -- using 100 watts to a six element yagi at about 50 feet (on an AB-577 mast). Yep, six elements. Sweet. We worked 26 CW and 47 USB contacts on 10 meters -- using 100 watts to the JK C3S triband yagi at 60 feet. Ten meters was tough going. We worked 43 FT8 contacts on 6 meters -- up to 100 watts to a five element yagi at about 20 feet. Six meters never opened up. We worked three FM stations on 2 meters. We ran a GOTA station (call sign, N7DA). Shane and Drew made 389 contacts -- using 100 watts and a multi-band Alpha Delta dipole. The GOTA station was set up on a card table under a pop-up canopy. N7DA served as the coach. (Those GOTA folks earned a little nap time.)
Did I mention the food? Chef set up a great spread for Friday's lunch and dinner. Then he cooked waffles on Saturday morning -- apples, strawberries, authentic maple syrup, and whipped cream were available. (Next Field Day, how about fresh squeezed orange juice? Just kidding, Chef. But seriously, how can you beat a waffle breakfast?)
In Field Day 2024, we earned sixth place in the very competitive 2A category.
On July 19-20, 2024, Paul (W6PNG) and Scott (N6MI) operated a 500-watt transmitter in the IARU HF World Championship as N6MI (the call). We used the Yaesu FTdx101D and an Acom amplifier. Our QTH was Frazier Peak, Ventura County, California (grid square DM04ms). We operated in the Los Padres National Forest in the N6MI ham radio van (n6mi.com) and rested in Paul's tricked out Jeep. We powered the station with a Honda generator, Field Day style. We used a tri band JK antenna on 10/15/20 meters at 60 feet. JK makes an easy antenna to transport and assemble on the roof of the van. We used inverted vees on 40/80 meters. Radio conditions were excellent (10.7 cm flux 205, A index 5, K index 2) on the low bands. It was crowded -- hard to maintain a frequency for calling CQ with our setup -- but we could hear and work signals from all over the globe. The weather (at 8,013 feet) was in the low 80s in the day and about 60 at night. We watched a few thunderstorms build over the mountain, but very little rain hit the ground. There was a little lightning one mountain range over, but no thunder was heard. Before log checking, we worked 850 stations, with 95 IARU zone multipliers and 66 headquarters stations: 21 stations on 80; 54 stations on 40; 426 stations on 20; 262 stations on 15; 87 stations on 10. We worked more CW contacts (634) than USB contacts (216). I suspect that this was because it was easier to break the CW pileups than the USB pileups when conditions are this good. 20 was slow until Saturday evening. 15 meters did not perform as well as it did on Field Day -- though we had a better antenna (a six element yagi) on 15 meters in June. 10 meters acted like 6 meters -- random propagation. Thanks for the contacts. On Saturday, after the contest ended, two SOTA operators, Ara (N6ARA) and Mark (KD7DTS), dropped by to tour the van and make their SOTA contacts to "activate" Frazier Peak. I learned that SOTA operators are not allowed to just hook up a coax to a tri-bander at 60 feet. N6ARA gave me a present -- a custom micro paddle for CW use (n6ara.com). You should check out N6ARA's products. Mark posted a short film about the N6MI van. Nice!
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On August 17, 2024, N6MI operated solo in the 10 GHz contest from Heaps Peak, San Bernardino County, California (DM14kf). The QTH was on a dirt road between Big Bear Lake and Arrowhead Lake. This was a one-day operation from the N6MI van. My gear was a shiny new Icom IC-905, a CX-10G 10 GHz transverter (about 500 milliwatts), and small parabolic antenna AH-109PB. The antenna was mounted about 13 feet above the ground. My best DX was 323 kilometers -- pretty nice for 10 GHz. I also worked a Nevada station (way cool). The Friday night sunset was special. Here is another shot of twilight, with Lake Arrowhead on the right. A special thanks goes out to the Cactus Intertie System for their support.
On October 5-6, 2024, team N6MI (n6mi.com) set up a two station expedition for the California QSO Party on Tecuya Mountain, DM04mu, Kern County, California at 6,860 feet elevation in the Los Padres National Forest (POTA US-0639). The nearest town is Frazier Park. The weather was perfect (ranging from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit). There was almost no wind during the contest. Each afternoon, we had mountain clouds for shade. In the early evening, we took turns spotting satellites.
K6VCR (Tom) and KI6RXX (Greg) operated the SSB station on 10-40 meters from Tom's trailer (KI6RXX at the microphone). Tom and Greg used an Elecraft K3 and an Elecraft 500-watt amplifier. For 10-40, they used a Mosley three element tribander with a 40 meter add on kit. The antenna was mounted at 40 feet on the Work of ARTTT tower trailer (Amateur Radio Tower Trailer Team, workofarttt.com). Tom and Greg made 956 contacts -- 232 contacts on 40, 217 contacts on 20, 241 contacts on 15, and 266 contacts on 10.
N7DA (Drew) and N6MI (Scott) operated the CW station on 10-80 meters from N6MI's van (N7DA at the logging computer). We used the Yaesu FTdx101D and an Acom 600-watt amplifier. For 10-15-20, we used a CS3-JK tribander (two elements on each band) at 60 feet (on the van's pneumatic mast). For 40, we used a sloper aimed to the east. For 80, we used an inverted vee. Drew and Scott worked 1,428 contacts -- 58 contacts on 80, 185 contacts on 40, 374 contacts on 20, 404 contacts on 15, and 407 contacts on 10.
Drew treated the team to calzones from Mike's Pizza Co. on Thursday night. Scott provided donuts and muffins for breakfast(s). Greg cooked curry beef and vegetables in his portable wok on Saturday night. Eating well -- a nice touch.
All bands opened deep and long to Europe. Given the good radio conditions (SFI 240, plus or minus), we worked many first-time contesters on the air. (Be nice to those new folks.)
Mobile contesting
I have also operated CW and SSB contests from my four wheel drive truck.
July 2011, IARU HF World Championship (#1 Single Operator, Mixed Mode, Low Power, San Diego Section, IARU Zone 6).
October 2014, California QSO Party (with K6VCR), operated in counties of Kern DM04, Ventura DM04 [new M/S LP record], Orange DM13 [new M/S LP record], and Los Angeles DM04.
AH7T operation (CQ WPX CW 2015)
QSL information for AH7T follows.
In May 2015, I operated the CQ WW WPX CW contest with the North Shore Contest Club, AH7T, from the big island of Hawaii (Hawaii County, BK29, #3 Oceania, Single Operator, High Power) at the contest station and bed and breakfast of KH6RC. For the 1,398 QSOs with AH7T on May 30 and 31, 2015 (UTC), you may confirm your QSO with AH7T via LOTW (Log of the World). If you need a QSL card, please send a 4.5 by 5.75 inch (or larger) self-addressed envelope to:
J. Scott Bovitz
AH7T
Bovitz & Spitzer
1100 Wilshire Boulevard
Suite 2403
Los Angeles, California
90017-1961
Transmitter hunts (t-hunts)
Since the 1980s, I have been active in the monthly 24-hour transmitter hunts in the mountains and deserts of Southern California (primarily on 146.565 MHz FM). Here is a photo from the October 2024 hide on Iron Mountain, San Diego County (WB6HPW and N6PL, huntmasters).
N6MI biography
Amateur Radio Extra Class license, N6MI (first licensed in 1969)
Lawyer, photographer, composer, webmaster of bovitz.com
Volunteer Counsel, American Radio Relay League (1981-present)
Transmitter hunting activities profiled, Los Angeles Times, Outdoor Section (March 30, 2004)
Member, United States National Radiosports Team, International Friendship Amateur Radio Games -- silver team and personal bronze medals (1991, 1993)
Speaker on radio direction finding (transmitter hunting), ham radio contests, audio, photography, and other amateur radio topics at:
Amateur Radio Association of Long Beach (2010, 2019)
American Radio Relay League -- National Convention (1992, 2012)
American Radio Relay League -- Northwest Division Convention (1991)
American Radio Relay League -- Pacific Division Convention (2016)
American Radio Relay League -- Southwest Division Convention (1988, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017)
Anaheim Amateur Radio Association (1995)
Annual VHF/UHF Conferences (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996)
Antelope Valley Amateur Radio Club (1992, 1995)
Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach (1994)
Beach Cities Wireless Society (1995)
Boy Scouts of America, Troop 860, Hermosa Beach (2013)
Cal Tech Amateur Radio Club (1995)
Downey Amateur Radio Club (1997, 2012, 2015)
Edgewood Amateur Radio Society (1997)
Fullerton Radio Club (1992, 1994, 2000)
International DX Convention (2010, 2023)
Moreno Valley Radio Club (1994)
Orange County Amateur Radio Club (1993)
Pasadena Radio Club (1997, 1998, 2012, 2018, 2021)
QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo (2022)
Riverside County Amateur Radio Association (1998)
Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps SATERN (2010)
San Diego DX Club (2021)
San Fernando Valley Radio Club (1994)
San Gabriel Valley Radio Club (1991, 1994)
Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club (1993)
Simi Settlers Amateur Radio Club (2020)
South Bay Amateur Radio Club (2006)
South Pasadena Amateur Radio Club (2022)
Southern California DX Club (1998)
TRW Amateur Radio Club (1996, 1998, 1999)
Victor Valley Radio Association (1990)
Western Amateur Radio Association (1995)
I am available to speak at no charge to your ham group (in person or by video) on contesting from the field or California transmitter hunting. Send your invitation to bovitz@bovitz.com.
QSL information for N6MI
I am honored by the thousands of beautiful QSL cards which I have received via the QSL bureau. I send reply QSLs when my busy professional schedule permits. But, despite my best efforts, I am simply not able to check my logs and reply to all of your QSL cards.
However...
I will continue to post all N6MI contest QSOs after January 1, 2010 to Logbook of the World. LoTW is an easy method to confirm contacts with N6MI.
If you really want (or need) my paper QSL card, please mail your own QSL card *and* a self-addressed envelope. Do not send money or postage; these are not required. I will promptly return my own QSL card in the return envelope you provide. Use this address:
J. Scott Bovitz
N6MI
Bovitz & Spitzer
1100 Wilshire Boulevard
Suite 2403
Los Angeles, California
90017-1961
Yes, it gets cold in California.
You can also contact me at bovitz@bovitz.com.