W4 Wilkesboro QTH: How This Ham Radio Station was built in 3 days!

In the world of ham radio, some dreams take years to materialize—but when they do, they redefine the hobby. What started as a vision in 2012 for a world-class remote ham radio service has exploded into a network of mega stations spanning the Northeast—and now, the team is finally bringing their expertise to Wilkesboro, North Carolina. From rugged mountain peaks to cutting-edge technology, this is the story of how RemoteHamRadio (RHR) turned ambition into a powerful, global platform for operators everywhere.

From Dream to Reality: How RemoteHamRadio Built the Wilkesboro Station

In 2012, when Lee (WW2DX) and Ray (W2RE) first imagined a world-class remote ham radio service, their sights were set on a lofty goal: a 100-acre lot perched atop an 1,800-foot peak in North Carolina’s Brushy Mountains. At the time, it was more dream than plan—a tantalizing possibility rather than a pressing priority.

Over the next decade, however, the RemoteHamRadio (RHR) team focused elsewhere. From Maine’s rugged coastlines to the rolling hills of New York, they engineered mega stations that would redefine what top-tier remote operating could be. North Carolina? Almost an afterthought. That would change in 2024.

The Northeast: Where the Vision Took Shape 🗺️

It all started in Maine. Ray (W2RE), Lee (WW2DX), and Rock (WW1X) turned the RHR concept into reality long before “remote operating” became a buzzword. Together, they built stations that weren’t just functional—they were industry-leading.

Bobby (KC2UPN) joined the effort, working alongside his father Ray to help bring the legendary Maine MEGA sites to life. From Eastport to Lubec and finally Jonesport, thousands of hours went into towers, custom GXP antennas, and rugged infrastructure built to withstand Maine’s harsh winters—all designed to deliver flawless performance to operators worldwide. 🌍

Behind the scenes, Rock and Lee developed the software backbone that made RHR seamless, powerful, and easy to use. They weren’t just solving problems—they were reinventing remote amateur radio.

The Bold Move: Wilkesboro, NC ⏩

By Fall 2023, after more than a decade dominating the Northeast, the team made a decisive move: it was time to build Wilkesboro. This was the site that had caught their attention back in 2012—a remote, rugged 100-acre peak in North Carolina’s Brushy Mountains, sitting 1,800 feet above the surrounding landscape. 🏔️

Ray and Lee scouted the land, laid foundations in November 2023, and set the dream into motion. But nature had its own plan—winter storms paused construction, leaving the mountain quiet under ice and snow. ❄️

By April 2024, the team returned with one goal: to build one of the most powerful remote ham radio stations in the Southeast. 💥

Here’s a glimpse of the starting point for what promises to be an epic new chapter in the world of remote amateur radio:

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!