W8USR - Special Events
Golden State Star Party – N6T Special Activation
About the Special Event
On June 30, 2019, station W8USR tracked and logged a unique astronomical crossover by contacting special event station N6T. This unique activation was held during the annual Golden State Star Party (GSSP), which took place from June 29 to July 3, 2019, at Frosty Acres Ranch near rural Adin, California. Organized by the Golden Gate Star Party group and managed by Michal Warzecha (K6MZ), the N6T station allowed amateur radio operators attending the astronomy event to get on the air, log contacts with other operators globally, and actively promote the shared community bonds of both technical hobbies.
Why Ham Radio at a Star Party?
Amateur radio and amateur astronomy have massive community and technical crossovers. Operators at GSSP frequently utilize the wide-open, low-interference geography of northeastern California to set up highly efficient portable high-frequency stations:
- Daily Operating Window: The operators were primarily active between 1500Z and 2000Z each day, optimizing their broadcast times to synchronize with the daytime lull before stargazing operations began.
- Bands and Modes: The team operated on targeted frequencies across the 20-meter band (14.025 and 14.225 MHz) and the 40-meter band (7.025 and 7.175 MHz), utilizing a mix of Voice (SSB) and Morse Code (CW).
- Dark-Sky Etiquette: Because star parties require strict dark-sky discipline at night (absolutely no white lights or unshielded computer screens), the daytime operations of N6T provided a highly engaging field activity before telescopes came out at dusk.
History of TAC and the Golden State Star Party (GSSP)
The Astronomy Connection (TAC) originally formed as an internet-based, informal network of active amateur astronomers primarily based in the Silicon Valley and San Francisco Bay Area. Instead of operating like a traditional club with brick-and-mortar monthly meetings, TAC thrived on early internet forums and email listservs. The community's goal was simple: share real-time viewing conditions and coordinate frequent, spontaneous outings. The group would secure observing sites for small astronomy outings near the city, traveling to urban and regional parks anywhere from one to three hours away. Over time, TAC's digital footprint expanded, inspiring sister groups across Sacramento, the Shasta region, and Southern California.
In the 1990s, TAC members wanted to escape the worsening light pollution of the Bay Area for a massive, multi-day summer gathering. Starting around 1994, TAC began hosting an annual multi-night trip to Lassen County, setting up camp in Shingletown and at the Lost Creek Group Campground. Known in its early years as the Mount Lassen Dark Sky Star Party, these events became legendary within the northern California astronomy community for pristine viewing skies paired with massive, organized potluck dinners hosted by TAC volunteers.
By the mid-2000s, the Lassen County events were outgrowing their campgrounds, prompting TAC to search for a vast, secure, and flat location that offered unobstructed, horizon-to-horizon dark skies. Through astronomy community connections, TAC directors were introduced to the Albaugh family, owners of the sprawling Frosty Acres Ranch in rural Adin, California. Located in Modoc County at an elevation of over 4,300 feet, the ranch offered exceptionally low humidity, zero nearby light pollution, and a perfectly flat pasture. Recognizing the potential for a world-class event, TAC re-branded the gathering and officially launched the first annual Golden State Star Party (GSSP) in July 2008. The event was a massive success, capping out at nearly 300 astronomers in its very first year.
Decades after those early stargazing trips into the mountains, TAC continues to power GSSP every summer. The gathering has evolved into a highly coordinated operation featuring absolute light discipline at night (red-flashlights-only rules) and a unique collaboration with the town of Adin to feature locally raised catered meals. Because it is a 24-hour camping experience, TAC actively promotes daytime activities on the field — which is exactly how sub-hobbies like the N6T Special Event ham radio station found a permanent home during the daytime hours before the stars come out.
Station Log: Contact History
| Special Event Call | Station Logged | Date Logged | Time Logged | Frequency | Frequency Band | Operation Mode | Signal Report | On-Board Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N6T | W8USR | June 30, 2019 | 17:23 UTC | 14.225 MHz | 20 Meters | SSB Phone | 59 | K6MZ / TAC Operator |