Communications support at Robinson Flat for the Tevis Cup
W6YDD is a group of Amateur Radio Operators providing reliable communications for public service events, emergency preparedness, and backcountry activities throughout the Northern Sierra. Our repeater network supports events such as the Western states 100 Endurance Run, the Tevis Cup 100 mile horse ride, training exercises, and recreational users traveling where cellular service is unavailable.
Our repeaters are used for training runs and horse rides and for people in using the back country. We have supported the Western States 100 trail and events for decades. Our repeaters are able to communicate where cellular coverage does not work due to terrain.
We believe Amateur Radio and the W6YDD repeater system provide a valuable service through emergency communications, public events, and backcountry safety
About Glenn Maclean, WA7SPY
My name is Glenn Maclean and my call sign is WA7SPY. I have been a ham since 1985. I got into the Ham radio hobby mainly to help with public service events. I have been communications chairman for numerous public service events. I have participated many times as a net control operator for various events. I enjoy the technical side of building and maintaining repeaters. I worked for Cessna Aircraft Company for 39 years working as FAA certified Airframe and Powerplant mechanic on all the models of Cessna Citation Jets. I was a lead mechanic and spent my last 20 years doing off site maintenance when the jets had maintenance issues and could not fly. I would travel to troubleshoot and repair the jets and get the airworthy again. I enjoy troubleshooting electrical and mechanical issues. I am active on HF radio and like using Morse Code to communicate on HF.
About Kim Scheidel, KE6RKX
My name is Kim Scheidel and my call sign is KE6RKX. I got my Amateur Radio Technician License in 1995. Both my teenage sons got their Technician license at the same time. My sons and I loved the outdoors. We backpacked, hiked, stream fished and boated. We saw Amateur Radio as a good way to stay in touch with each other and have in case there was an emergency. When my sons started driving we put Amateur Radios in their vehicles because they were going into remote areas.
Just after getting licensed we joined North Hills Radio Club in Sacramento, CA. One of the club meetings there was a presentation on doing public service events. Two of these events were the Western States Endurance Run and The Tevis Cup Horse Ride. My sons and I had four wheel drive vehicles. We found this to be another way to enjoy the outdoors and use our Amateur Radio License to help others. Very rewarding.
Glenn and I had met about the time we started doing these events. We set up portable and cross-band repeaters to access two canyons and other remote locations for these events. Eventually we were able to get good locations and set up a permanent repeater network in conjunction with our cross-band repeaters.
Set up with communications at a check point on the Western States trail