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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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Radio operators from the OCARC and Cypress manned
the third communications center that was located in Pahrump. Pahrump is located about
half-way between the comm center at Shoshone and the next comm center at Sandy Valley
Road. 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 "back bone" to Las Vegas. |
Photo by Bob - AF6C |
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The Communications Center located in Pahrump (Nev) was
supported by these four hams: (L-R) Nicholas-AF6CF, Bob-AF6C, Mike-KF6QFY, and Ken-W6HHC. |
Photo by Ken - W6HHC |
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This is the main high gain 144 / 440 MHz vertical
antenna for voice communcations in Pahrump. The coax leads to the window of the COAR
communications center. |
Photo by Ken - W6HHC |
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This is the installation of the 2M APRS vetical antenna
at the Pahrump comm center. |
Photo by Bob - AF6C |
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As travelers finished dropping off communicators and
then dropped in for a rest, the Pahrump communications center started to look like a
"dorm room" in college.
CCW from lower-right: Mike-KF6QFY, Bob-AF6C, Bruce-KC6DLA, Ann Creager
(wife of Bruce...and a volunteer for OPD), COAR "Fearless Leader" Rich-KE6WWK,
Nicholas-AF6CF, and Gary (no call...a friend of Mike-KF6QFY). |
Photo by Ken - W6HHC |
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OPD Team #43 runner, Officer
Hank Echandi, is shown here running through Pahrump (right outside the COAR comm center)
around 11 PM. The OPD team finished 4th in their class this year. |
Photo by Ken - W6HHC |
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Reportedly
the fastest Porche-Support-Car on the course, COAR's own Mike-KF6WRM (not seen) drives his
classic Porche 944 through Pahrump. The "walker" in the passenger seat is
David-KG6RWU, while communicator Bob-AF6C cheers them on.
The
"walker" communicator would be put on foot at each exchange-point with a 440 MHz
simplex hand-held to confirm that the next runner was in place and that the
"catcher" was ready for the incoming OPD runner. The more powerfull mobile rig
in the Support-vehicle could communicate the status to the closest COAR communications
center. |
Photo by Ken - W6HHC |
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The Sandy Valley Road location is in the middle of
"no where". However, "Sandy Valley" is the perfect location for the
fourth communications center used by COAR for the OPD. The trailer of George-KK6KN (R)
provided a wind-free location for communication operations this year (instead of a
"flappy" tent). Dick-N6ISY is shown in the orange hat.
A cross-band repeater is set-up at this location for the use of COAR.
The station uses a 440 beam antenna for communications on the East side of the mountain
into Las Vegas and 2M high gain vertical antenna for communications on the West side of
the mountain as far as the town of Shoshone. |
Photo by Les - KM6SQ |
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The radio operators at the Sandy Valley Communications
Center check out the radios and computers and generators and the cross-band repeater prior
to the race.
Shown here are (L - R) Jerry-KD6JBL, George-KK6KN, and Dick-N6ISY |
Photo by Jay - KK6OZ |
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This beautiful sunset shot shows the beauty that can be
found at Sandy Valley. The comm trailer is in the center and the "living
quarters" with cooking facilities is the larger trailer of George KK6KN on the right.
If you double-click on the picture above, the hi-res picture will allow
you to clearly see the high gain 2M verticle on top of the mast and also a 440 MHz beam
aimed at Las Vegas. |
Photo by Jerry - KD6JBL |
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After the tower and radios are set-up early Friday
morning at Sandy Valley, there is time to relax before other COAR communicators arrive at
the other Communications Centers to set up .
A Sandy Valley tradition has been to spend some of that time target
shooting. Shown here are Dick-N6ISY (L) and Jerry-KD6JBL (R) at the shooting site. |
Photo by Les - KM6SQ |
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There is always a lot of excitement at the exchange
points along the race course. And at night time it turns into a unique "night
life" atmosphere. OPD runner, Officer Dave Pasino (L), has just finished his leg of
the race and an OPD "catcher" chats with Officer Pasino along with COAR
"walker", Bill-W6VKO, who was proving "on the ground" logistics
communications |
Photo by Mike - KF6WRM |
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The fifth OPD communications center was located in the
Emerald Suits, near the finish line for the race. Shown here are three of the five
ops, Dieter-N6ZKD and Steve-KI6DDE, and Robbie-KB6CJZ in the communications center. |
Photo by Mike - KF6WRM |
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At the Las Vegas communications center, Beverly-KI6APH
peers over the expected running times versus the actual running times that have been
recordered on the computer. The updated information is then made avaible to the OPD
running team catpain and the individual runners. |
Photo by Rich - KE6WWK |
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OPD runner, Officer Phil McMullin, is shown here in Las
Vegas with his wife, Pam (L), and COAR communicator, Kathleen-K6IBH (R).
There is a story to be told about this PIX.
Officer McMullin was the runner on Leg #2. About 1/4 mile from the
exchange point, he nearly collapsed from dehydration from the "all out" effort
and the hot desert winds. Kathleen-K6IBH was working communications in the follow-vehicle
and Kathleen is a nurse. She recognized the problem, jumped out of the
follow-vehicle, and literally caught McMullin as he was about to fall. An EMT team was
quickly on the scene. Officer McMullin was then air lifted by helicopter to Pahrump
Hospital to treat the dehydration. This picture was taken on Sunday afternoon after the
race has ended and it shows Officer McMullin is feeling much better. |
Photo by Rich - KE6WWK |
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This group is part of the 25 hams who attended COAR
planning meetings and participated in support of the Orange PD running team. Sgt
Dave Nichols (co-Captain of the OPD running team) is shown in black, Debbie Klein (OPD
Volunteer Coordinator) is shown in pink, and Rich KE6WWK (Radio Officer for COAR) is shown
sporting a white beard in the front row.
Photo by Ken W6HHC |
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A Certificate of Appreciation was presented to each
radio operator who helped the OPD running team with the Baker-to-Vegas race, by Chief Bob
Gustafson of the Orange Police Department
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