Telewave.io Antennas Survive Brutal Mt. CAM Conditions
Telewave.io Antennas Survive Brutal Mt. CAM Conditions
Background
High in the Tehachapi Mountains at 6,400 feet, about six miles southeast of Tehachapi and 15 miles west of Mojave, sits Mt. CAM — a privately owned, five-acre site dedicated to a solar-powered amateur (HAM) radio repeater system, WA6CAM. Unlike most HAM operators, who lease space in commercial radio facilities, site owner Cameron Ogan purchased the land 18 years ago to realize his vision of a professional-grade repeater system built to endure some of California’s harshest conditions.
At this altitude, the repeater faces heavy icing, severe storms, and winds exceeding 130 MPH. Reliability isn’t just a preference — it’s essential to sustaining communications in this remote, off-grid environment.
Challenge
Before turning to Telewave.io, repeated antenna failures plagued the site. Commercial-grade fiberglass antennas, though costly, could not withstand the mountain’s severe conditions. They snapped in storms, leading to downtime, costly replacements, and reduced coverage.
For the Mt. CAM system to succeed, Cameron needed antennas that could deliver long-term durability, professional-grade performance, and minimal maintenance in an environment that few amateur repeaters ever face.
Solution
Drawing on his professional background in radio systems design, Cameron and his crew sought equipment that met commercial standards of reliability. Telewave.io antennas proved to be the solution:
- UHF: An ANT450D6-9 antenna has operated flawlessly for over eight years, withstanding brutal weather where fiberglass designs repeatedly failed.
- VHF: When a fiberglass antenna at VHF began to fail, Cameron upgraded to Telewave.io ANT150D3 dipoles, gaining not only reliability but also a smaller tower footprint and simplified installation.
Unlike “budget ham” antennas, which often fall within the modest budgets of most repeater groups, Telewave.io products represent professional-grade reliability that sets Mt. CAM apart.
Results
- Durability – The ANT450D6-9 and ANT150D3 continue to perform after years of punishing conditions, outlasting expensive fiberglass alternatives.
- Performance – Testing over 30 days confirmed flat VSWR at published specifications, wider bandwidth, and improved system gain.
- Coverage – Matched the antennas and patterns to the environment and desired coverage area, which led to an increase in portable talk-back performance.
- Installation Efficiency – Compact design and straightforward setup reduced installation complexity while preserving tower space.
Customer Perspective
“Mt. CAM is not your typical amateur repeater site. Most hams rent rack space in commercial facilities if they can afford the fees, but I built my own site to take things to a more professional level. At 6,400 feet in the Tehachapi Mountains, the environment demands equipment that can survive and perform.
Telewave.io products aren’t budget, over-the-counter ham antennas — in fact, many ham repeater groups’ entire budgets are less than the cost of a single antenna. But the performance and reliability are what set them apart. Telewave.io products make the difference in real-world radio.”
— Cameron Ogan, Mt. CAM Repeater Site Owner
