The following photo sequence shows the Fallbrook Amateur Radio Club ("FARC") in the process of moving its repeater equipment from the American Tower Corporation ("ATC") site on Red Mountain, to the California Department of Forestry ("CDF") site next door. First, a bit of history:

October 1997: Art Rideout (WA6IPD) - who has graciously provided FARC with repeater service on 146.175 MHz from his home near the base of Red Mountain since 1989 - indicates that he will no longer be providing that service for FARC.  The club thanks Art for the many years of service, and selects the ATC site at the very top of Red Mountain as its new repeater location, thanks to the efforts of Bob Morrow (WB6DIJ) and others.  FARC then officially coordinates not one but two repeater frequency pairs for use on Red: 146.175 and 448.900 MHz.  Chris Durso (AA4CD) builds "new" repeaters from scratch, relying on used and donated equipment for the most part, and the labor of love is free.  Thank you Chris and Bob!

March 1, 1998:  FARC begins repeater operations on Red Mountain at the ATC site using 146.175 and 448.900 MHz.  A substantial amount of pager-like intermodulation interference is received on 2-meters - interference that proves to be hard to eliminate. To work around the problem, FARC reduces its 2-meter transmitter power and uses two separate antennas on the 2-meter machine - one for receiving and one for transmitting.

August 4, 2000: The UHF repeater frequency is changed to 445.600 MHz after the band is restructured by regional area coordinator SCRRBA.  Later, ATC - on the verge of bankruptcy - asks FARC and all other tenants with free rent to vacate the ATC sites nationwide.  FARC casts about for a new site and thanks ATC for the secure facilities they have provided.

September 2004: After a long period of negotiations and paperwork, FARC moves its repeaters and antennas to the California Department of Forestry ("CDF") site on Red Mountain. This will hopefully be a permanent home for the FARC machines, and the facilities provided by CDF are truly outstanding.

September 18, 2004: FARC begins repeater operations at the CDF site.  The new site is sufficiently removed from the old site that the 2-meter interference is virtually gone, and the UHF spectrum is exceptionally clean.  The photo sequence below shows the move in a step-by-step fashion.  Thanks to the many individuals who worked tirelessly behind the scenes - beyond those pictured here - to make the CDF site happen!

FARC's 4-bay omni-directional 2-meter antenna is assembled by WD6AHX and AA4CD while KG6HSQ observes. FARC's 8-bay directional UHF antenna, a DB-413, lies at the tower base.

Our construction crew on Red Mountain is quick to spot a brush fire in Rainbow, just a few miles away, and the incident is relayed to fire officials using amateur radio as the first communications link. Soon, San Diego County Fire Helicopter #2 arrives on the scene and prepares to siphon water from the Red Mountain reservoir to help extinguish the blaze.

The CDF tower is rigged with ropes and a pulley in preparation to lift FARC's two antennas (VHF & UHF) into place. Here, a goodie bag is attached to the line to send supplies to the tower climbers above. Pictured left to right: AA4CD, AC6X, W6DBM.

The VHF antenna is lifted, with the top and bottom of the mast secured so it won't collide with the tapering tower structure. The UHF antenna is later lifted the same way.  Pictured left to right: AC6X, AA4CD, W6DBM.

The VHF antenna in jockeyed into place between two CDF antennas by KE6PCV (top) and WD6AHX. Note the super nice work platforms provided. Our antenna really isn't pink, by the way. The color is just a camera artifact.

KE6PCV and WD6AHX thread a coaxial jumper cable.

With outdoor antenna work underway, N3IZN and KG6HSQ install the VHF and UHF coaxial runs indoors.

This photo shows the "wall penetration panel" where coaxial lines enter the CDF equipment building. The silver boxes on FARC's coaxial lines are lightning surge protectors. The black wires ground the protectors.

The FARC tower rigging and electrical crew, from left to right, consists of Chris Durso (AA4CD) from Carlsbad, Dana McRae (W6DBM) from Mammoth Lakes, George Rocheleau (AC6X) from Westminster, Ron Patten (KG6HSQ) from Fallbrook, Marshall Oldham (KE6PCV) from Corona, Chris Arnold (N3IZN) from Fallbrook, and Wayne Dewey (WD6AHX) from Carlsbad.  Not pictured: Bob Morrow (WB6DIJ) and Bob Gonsett (W6VR), both from Fallbrook.  All labor and many parts were donated, and very much appreciated!