Picuris Peak/San Antonio Mtn Report

This past weekend the Rocky Mountain Ham Radio (RMHAM) 5-GHz microwave network was expanded to now include a link between Picuris peak near Taos, NM and San Antonio mountain. The two mountains are now connected to the rest of the RMHAM network via a microwave link to a VPN entry point in Taos. RMHAM’s microwave network utilizes point-to-point links on Part 97 spectrum, providing megabit class IP connectivity to mountaintop sites throughout Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico. In addition to the microwave installation between Picuris and San Antonio mountain, the Taos Amateur Club (TARC) installed a UHF DMR repeater on Picuris. An Icom G3 UHF D-STAR repeater, donated to TARC by RMHAM, was also installed atop San Antonio mountain. Both systems tied into the RMHAM microwave network, the Taos Amateur Radio Club’s DMR and D-STAR repeaters are accessible to/from the rest of the world. All hams are invited to use these systems. The Picuris peak DMR repeater is configured with the following talk groups:

The San Antonio mountain D-STAR repeater is configured with the following settings:

• 442.075MHz (+5.00 MHz)

• RPT1: KF5PFO B

• RPT2: KF5PFO G

Rocky Mountain Ham Radio and the Taos Amateur Radio Club are 501(c)(3) registered non-profit charitable organizations. If you would like to learn more about these organizations or support their missions through a tax deductible financial contribution, please contact RMHAM-NM president Brian Mileshosky N5ZGT (bpmiles@gmail.com) or Taos ARC president Michael Kittredge, NM5MK, migueldetaos@aol.com.

Rocky Mountain Ham Radio website: https://www.rmham.org

On the Mountain Top This Week...

TaosARC members were busy on both Picuris and San Antonio Mountain this week.  Thursday there were teams on both mountains, and a lot of cross-communication to test the results of the work.

Brian Williams and Greg Medina were leading the work on Picuris.  They were updating the solar grid that powers the joint-use radio facility there.  John Wheatley and Jim Kimmons were on San Antonio Mtn. working on the “76” repeater and attempting to get the Santa Fe linked repeater system up and running.  Unfortunately there is some problem on the receiver side that will require another trip.

John and Jim, expecting a solitary and quiet visit, actually experienced a busy mountain top.  They arrived to find two contracted installers about to put a dish on our tower.  After some careful examination of the photo they had, it was determined that they were supposed to be working on another tower just 20 or so yards away.  They were glad to be caught early.  Then while getting the work done, a surprise visit by a couple of people from the Forest Service showed up.  They were verifying installations and ownership, so there was a short interruption to answer questions.

Here’s a shot from the top of San Antonio Mtn.  Click it to view the high resolution image which can be enlarged again for printing if you want.

View from Picuris

It’s not work to maintain the Picuris repeater.  Not when you get views like these!