Where is Duck Mountain

[SCPD]

I have seen a reference to Duck Mountain for the location of a 2 meter ham repeater. I believe I've seen this mountain listed as the location for transmitters in other services as well. I think it is located somewhere in the northern San Fernando Valley area or the Santa Clarita area. I can't find it using a Google search, the search function of the USGS topo map series for California, or on Delorme's Topo USA. Does anyone know where it is?

 

[consys]

I couldn't find it either. If you know the call sign, you can look it up on the FCC web site.

 

[MCIAD]

There is an Oat Mountain, located in Western San Fernando Valley, near Chatsworth. It is just a little east of the County Line with Ventura. There are lots of Amateur and Services up there, and it has very good coverage for both all of San Fernando, Ventura, and some of the Santa Clarita area.

I could not find a GPS for it quickly, but it shouldn't be too hard to find.

 

[selgaran]

Doesn't show up in GNIS - http://geonames.usgs.gov/ so it isn't an "official" place name.

Doesn't seem to be anything with "duck" as part of the name south of Kern County.

 

[SCPD]

Amateur repeaters are not listed in the same way other land mobile repeaters are. No location is shown as the license is that of an individual amateur operator. I know of the extensive use of Oat Mountain. After doing my search on the topo map programs I concluded Duck Mountain was not an official geographic name. Amateur repeater sponsors are often very vague about where the repeater is actually located as vandalism has occured at many sites and equipment has been stolen. This one shall remain a mystery until I go down there and use a beam antenna to locate a general location, unless someone on this forum is familiar with the repeater.

Thanks to the three of you for trying to help.

 

[Progline]

I BELIEVE (and don't quote me on that) that it is in the vicinity of Loop Canyon/Contractor's Point.

 

[consys]

I didn't know that about the amatuer listings. I've looked up several commercial calls and assumed it would work. But Exsmokey is right about the amatuers not advertizing locations. I was working in antenna heaven on a ridge near Vacaville, and called on the local 2 meter repeater, asked what antenna site they used. They would only tell me that "if I was at KUIC, then I was pretty close". Close there narrowed it down to one of a hundred antennas or so!

But I understand how they feel. I've stopped posting my call sign until I get my license moved to a PO box. My real address is to easy to get with it. And, I need to get active on the ham bands again!

 

[SCPD]

I BELIEVE (and don't quote me on that) that it is in the vicinity of Loop Canyon/Contractor's Point.

I had a feeling that this was the case. I think the topo map shows more electronic sites there than can be accounted for by looking up all the names for that ridge. There is Loop Canyon, Contractor's Point, and Los Pinetos. The latter is called that by Caltrans and refers to a site futher west than the other two. I think there is a fourth site shown on the topos and it might be "Duck". Next time I'm down there I will try using 300 mW north of Sand Canyon or so, then try the same power near the Sylmar Pacific Intertie facility. I have this book:

http://www.nitromethane.com/arroyo_borracho/book_radio_sites.htm

The 1991 printing does not list Duck Mtn. and maybe I should get the latest edition to see if they have it listed now. This is a very good book and I wish there was one for the entire state of California with editions for Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, the states I travel in the most. I think every state could use such a book as I find it useful for programming not only amateur mobile rigs, but for programming scanners as well. I like to visit electronic sites when I can - I'm not sure why they hold such an interest to me.

In my career with the Forest Service I made it a point to viist every repeater site, lookout, fire station, etc., wherever a fixed radio was located, look at every piece of apparatus, and try to visit key portions and the camp of each backcountry ranger's patrol area . I also made sure I introduced myself to every employee I could, not only to form working relationships but because many of them spoke on the radio as well. When I spoke or listened to traffic I formed a mental image of the person, the engine or pickup truck the person used, the rangers camp and patrol area, base station location, and repeater site. If I could not picture these things the communication did not seem complete. Many of the repeater sites the Forest Service, BLM, and Park Service use are very remote and normally serviced by helicopter only. Reaching the site on foot was often very challenging. This was a full time on and mostly off duty occupation for a number of years after each transfer.

So many peaks, so many trails, so many roads, so many lakes, so many "blank" spots on maps, so many hobbies, and so many books to read, and only one lifetime!