“THE BULL” MCAS El Toro’s Amateur Radio Station W6FCS, proudly distinguishes itself throughout military communications as MARS Radio N0RSB.  The dedicated group of men hereabouts are: GySgt (The Gray Fox) W. P. Cooper, WB6PTG, SSgt (Russ) R. L. Miller, K7JBB, Sgt (Kirt) A. I. Kirchenberg, Sgt (Rog) R.D. Sorenson, K0QWF, Cpl (Mike) M.F. Gilliam, WA4HBO and Cpl (Mike) R.M. Sneed.

Almost completely surrounded by mountains, N0RSB sends out it’s almost constant bursts of radiation, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.  During band openings we have had peaks of phone patch activity reaching over 3,500 calls a month.

Three independent rigs triplicate the capabilities of this phone patch gateway.  Each position is complete with a Collins 32s-3, 75S-3 and a potent HENRY 2K3, 2K2 or the old standby 2K.  Pacific Telephone has supplied us with five landlines, one for incoming business calls and four unlisted outgoing lines.

A crystal filter inserted between the receiver and antenna eliminates unwanted interference from two kilowatts located only feet apart.  Even simultaneous operation on 13.927, 14.320 and 14.480 MHZ are possible without any substantial lose of service.

Our seeded lawn sprouts nine beams and a spider web of copper, individually cut beams include 20.580, 21.430, 19430 and two for 14.480 MHZ.  Our Amateur antennas include a tribander, a monoband 40, monoband 10 and lots of copper wire for 75, 40 and 15 meter operation, a twenty-four element 2 meter beam lies on the roof without a perch.

When the heat is on, air conditioners settle the dust.  Single Marines live in two spacious rooms across the hall, ready for any communications emergency, a phone at each bed.  The old “Flight Tower” is a good barracks to be assigned to building six also houses the newly formed El Toro Flying Club, station NBC School and study rooms.

MARS Radio Station N0RSB

Special Services, H&S

MCAS El Toro

Santa Ana, California 92709    Back to Top