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This photo taken in 2006 provides a great
"feel" and terrific view of the open desert with the OPD runner (then Team #57)
leading what seems to be an endless line of runners and support vehicles from the
competing teams. Click on the thumbnail to see the detail in the high-res JPEG. |
Photo by Byron KC6YNG |
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The first communications center on the route was set up
in a four-wheel-drive truck atop Ibex Pass (noted for its scenic beauty). The ridge
blocked some communications south towards Baker, so this location helped in the initial
part of the race. The operator for this location was Noah-KF6FOJ. |
Photo by Bill W6VKO |
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Another view of the crowded communications stations that
are located on the small top of Ibex Peak |
Photo by Dieter-N6ZKD |
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Radio operators from the city of Cypress manned
the Shoshone Communications Center. 144 MHz simplex was used as the primary channel for
"back bone" communications. A
cross-band repeater with 440 MHz that was located in Sandy Valley linked the "OPD
back bone" into Las Vegas . Shown is radio operator Rich-KR6BA. |
Photo by Bill-W6VKO |
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Here is Shoshone's set-up for tracking the OPD
follow-vehicle on APRS and also the spreadsheet to show OPD runners the progress of the
race. |
Photo by Bill-W6VKO |
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At the Pahrump Communications Center, the antennas are
clamped to the second-story railings. The taller antenna on the right is for 144/440 voice
comminications. The smaller antenna on the left is for the 144 MHz APRS receiver. |
Photo by Bill-W6VKO |
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In the Pahrump communications center, Nicholas AF6CF (L)
talks with David KG6RWU in front of the APRS set-up to track the progress of the OPD
running team. |
Photo by Bill-W6VKO |
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The Sandy Valley Road location is in the middle of
"no where". The utility trailer of George-KK6KN provided a wind-free location
for communication operations. |
Photo by Bill-W6VKO |
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A view of the radio equipment inside of the
communications center trailer at Sandy Valley Road. The cross-band repeater (144 MHz
<=> 440 MHz) provided the critical relay connection between LV and the rest of the
comm centers that were blocked by a mountain range. |
Photo by Bill-W6VKO |
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On Friday afternoon, there is still some time to have
fun...before the other COAR stations are fully operational. At Sandy Valley there is
plenty of open spaces allowing Dieter N6ZKD to try shooting a few of his guns. |
Photo by Dieter-N6ZKD |
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A view of the nearby mountains shows that running over
the pass at Mountain Springs in the middle of the night can get mighty cold! |
Photo by Chi-KE6MUS |
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In the middle of the night, things get a little more
quiet and the temperatures become much cooler. The OPD runner, Officer Damon Allen,
waits for the runner to reach his starting point. |
Photo by Mike-KF6WRM |
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The Las Vegas Communications Center was located near the Finish
Line in the Emerald Suites Hotel. (L-R) are Robbie-KB6CJZ and Dieter-N6ZKD |
Photo by Sam - W6RDS |
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This just one of the many antennas that were hung from
the balcony for the Las Vegas Communications Center. |
Photo by Dieter-N6ZKD |
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The long night is over and the sun rises over a distant
mountain range.
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Photo by Bobbie - KG6MIH |
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The OPD runner and the OPD follow-vehicle make the last
down hill stretch into Las Vegas on Sunday morning. |
Photo by Bobbie - KG6MIH |
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The finish line was located inside the Las Vegas Hilton
Hotel. Here the final OPD runner, Officer Ray Winick, crosses the finish line after
a sixteen hour effort by the OPD running team. |
Photo by Bobbie - KG6MIH |
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A Certificate of Appreciation was presented to each
radio operator who helped support the Orange PD running team with the Baker-to-Vegas race,
by Chief Bob Gustafson of the Orange Police Department |
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