The Story Behind W4/Wilkesboro NC
In 2012, when Lee (WW2DX) and Ray (W2RE) first envisioned a world-class remote ham radio service, their eyes were already set on a very specific spot: a 100-acre lot perched atop an 1,800-foot peak in North Carolina’s Brushy Mountains. Back then, it was more of a dream—a future possibility than a priority.
Instead, over the next decade, the RemoteHamRadio (RHR) team zeroed in on the Northeast. From the ocean fronts of Maine to the rolling hills of New York, they poured their energy into developing several mega stations—sites that would go on to define what top-tier remote operating looked like. North Carolina? Barely an afterthought. Until 2024
Let’s start where it all began — Maine. 🗺️
This is where the dream of RemoteHamRadio (RHR) was forged into reality by the core trio: Ray (W2RE), Lee (WW2DX), and Rock (WW1X). Long before remote operating became a buzzword, these three were breaking ground — both literally and technologically — in the rugged landscapes of the Northeast.
But they didn’t do it alone.
Enter Bobby (KC2UPN). 👷‍♂️
Though not an owner of RHR, Bobby played a pivotal role, working shoulder to shoulder with his dad Ray to build out the legendary MEGA sites that form the backbone of RHR today.
From Eastport, to the wild blueberry coastlines of Lubec, and finally to the elite Jonesport station, thousands of hours were poured into engineering stations that didn’t just work — they dominated. 💪
We're talking massive towers, custom GXP antennas, rugged infrastructure — all built to withstand Maine's brutal winters and deliver flawless performance to operators around the globe. 🌍
And while towers were rising and hardline was being buried, the magic behind the scenes was happening too.
💻 Rock and Lee were deep in the code, building the software infrastructure that would make RHR the seamless, powerful platform it's known as today. They weren’t just solving problems — they were rewriting the rulebook on how amateur radio could be experienced remotely.
This was the foundation. The core.
And it all started in the Catskill Mountains in Summit, NY to the coast Maine.
⏩ Fast forward to Fall 2023 — after more than a decade of building the Northeast into a remote operating powerhouse, the team made a bold decision:
👉 It was finally time to build Wilkesboro.
This wasn’t just another station — this was the site they had their eyes on back in 2012. A 100-acre lot sitting atop an 1,800-foot ridge in North Carolina’s Brushy Mountains. Remote, rugged, and absolutely perfect. 🏔️
Ray (W2RE) and Lee (WW2DX) made the trip down, scoped the land, and got to work fast. By November 2023, the holes were dug and the foundation was poured — the dream was officially in motion. 💥
But then... ❄️ Winter hit hard.
The mountain went quiet, buried under cold and wind. Construction paused. The gear was ready, but nature had other plans.
Now, after a long wait and a lot of planning, April 2024 marked the return. The team rolled back onto the mountain with one goal in mind:
🔥 Build one of the most powerful remote ham stations in the Southeast.
Here’s a video of the starting point of something truly epic:
Serious Planning. Bold Execution. Welcome to the Mountain Station Project.
Every great station starts with vision—and a whole lot of planning.
While Ray and Bobby focused on assembling and prepping the antennas in New York for transport to North Carolina, Lee was deep in the logistics: coordinating FlexRadio gear, ISP connectivity, server integration, and all the technical infrastructure required to make a remote QTH thrive.
This wasn’t new territory for the team—but it was no small task. Everything had to align perfectly.
Fortunately, the 100 feet of Rohn 55 tower, along with every necessary accessory, was already on-site—purchased from DX Engineering and ready to go. All that was left? Bringing the plan to life.
Now, with a commanding 1,800-foot mountain elevation and breathtaking views, the stage is set. The gear is in place. The crew is ready.
Will this be the ultimate remote station?
Follow along as we bring it online—this is what serious amateur radio looks like.
Building the Dream: Towers, Antennas, and Long Days in NC
The station build is officially underway—and things are moving fast.
As we stack towers and build antennas simultaneously, it’s all hands on deck. Our team set up in a nearby Airbnb, and every day starts at dawn and wraps at sunset. Working 12-hour days might sound rough, but in the mild April weather of North Carolina, it’s been nothing short of perfect.
This project has been as rewarding as it is intense. The plan: a 100-foot Rohn 55 tower, topped with a 22-foot chromoly mast. The antenna lineup is serious:
GXP 30/40
GXP 7-element 6M
GXP 11-5
With gear like this and a location like ours, we're not just building a station—we're creating a high-performance remote powerhouse.
All Hands on Deck: A Well-Oiled Machine in Action
As Bobby focuses on building out the antennas, Lee is on the ground keeping everything moving—rigging tower sections and handing them off one by one. One section even showed up with a bent leg, but no problem—Lee handled it like a pro, straightening it on-site with a jack. Ray is the air stacking one section after another!
Meanwhile, a local named Bob jumped in to assist with logistics and trenching to the communications building, proving that even a small crew can get big things done when everything clicks.
For a three-day build, this team is running like a well-oiled machine—tower sections flying, antennas shaping up, and cables going in.
This is how stations get built. Fast, focused, and with a whole lot of experience behind every bolt and bracket.
Three Days. One Station. Mission Accomplished.
After three long days of 12-hour shifts, the station build is officially complete—and it came together exactly as planned.
From stacking towers to finalizing antenna placement, every detail was executed with precision. A big shoutout to Bob, a local legend, who was an incredible help with trenching and rigging. His support made a huge difference in keeping the momentum going.
The result? A rock-solid install in an absolutely ideal location.
These photos speak for themselves—a stunning mountaintop setup, perfectly positioned for serious radio performance.
And the result? This site is now a premier station on the Remote Ham Radio (RHR) network, and it performs exceptionally well.
Check Out This Incredible QTH!
Take a look at this amazing station setup—a powerhouse QTH featuring top-tier antennas from GXP in Poland and cutting-edge radio gear from FlexRadio Systems.
This is the kind of performance you get when you combine world-class engineering with precision installation.
We’ve partnered with FlexRadio to bring you the best in SDR technology—reliable, powerful, and ready to operate.
🚀 Station Breakdown
Inside the shack:
Flex 6600
Flex PGXL Amplifier
Flex TGXL Tuner
Green Heron RT-21 Rotor Controller
Outside the shack:
100' Rohn 55 Tower
GXP 30/40 at 114'
GXP 7-Element 6M at 107'
GXP 11-5 at 101'
80M Dipole at 90'
160M Antenna off the UHF/VHF tower at 140'
🛠️ Timeline
This project came together in just two trips:
Trip 1: November 2024 – Concrete base poured (one day onsite)
Trip 2: April 2025 – Full station build completed in three days
This isn't just a one-off project—we can build your dream station too.
Interested? Visit RadioEchoComm.com or fill out the contact form on our homepage at HamRadio247.com. We’d love to make your next big build a reality.
Thank you for reading our article, “The Story Behind W4/Wilkesboro, NC.”
We appreciate your interest and support. Be sure to check out our other featured stories—and stay tuned, as we have many more exciting builds and behind-the-scenes insights coming soon.
73 from the team at HamRadio 24/7!