On October 28 two teams comprised of Rocky Mountain Ham Radio (RMHAM) members, Valencia County Amateur Radio Association (VCARA) members, and guests expanded RMHAM’s microwave network from Sandia Crest to Belen, New Mexico.
This expansion enables VCARA to tie their repeaters into the network to facilitate linking, and gets RMHAM closer to its goal of building out the microwave network down to El Paso, Texas. Â RMHAM is grateful for the partnership it has with VCARA and looks forward to assisting it with the build-out of short microwave links between its key repeater sites and facilities.
The following was installed at Belen: Microwave radio and dish looking at Sandia Crest, microwave radio and dish pointing to M Mountain above Socorro (our next hop on the way to El Paso!), an equipment rack containing a router, remote IP power management unit, lightning protection and grounding, a VoIP phone, and a PTZ camera on the tower to help with site security and situational awareness.
On Sandia Crest a microwave radio and dish looking at Belen was installed.
Numerous people are thanked for making this project successful. Â Making up the Sandia Crest team: Ed KA8JMW, Alan N5BGC, Ron NR5ON, Erik KE5ZBG, Howard NZ5U, and James KF5RRW. Â On the Belen team: Jim KC7QY, Sean AI5IZ, Jon W0AMT, Nick KI5MFF (VCARA and new RMHAM member), John Haney KE0TVT (VCARA), and Wyatt Baca (not a ham, yet!). Chris W5CSG (VCARA and new RMHAM member) helped arrange a man-lift to make light work mounting everything to the tower in Belen. Wyatt, who is currently studying for his amateur radio exam, was the man-lift operator and provided great help with installation high on the tower. Also John W0VG for invaluable remote network support.
Planning is underway to continue expansion of RMHAM’s microwave network southward towards El Paso, Texas.
