This site last updated 02/26/2005
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The first link of the West Texas Connection was implemented in 1984 by Jim Jeffrey, WA5QMJ (SK). Jim became known as the father of the West Texas Connection and, with help from Gareth Pollard, W5CDM (among others) built the system into one of the first and finest linked systems in the United States.
There are currently 14 locations covered by the Connection and the covered area includes the home QTHs of over 1,500 amateurs. The primary "hub" controller is located at Odessa and secondary control hubs are located at Notrees and Big Spring.
The repeater at Mount Livermore (one of the highest points in Texas) is solar powered and has been worked from points as far away as Odessa, a straight-line distance of 140 miles.
A detailed history of the West Texas Connection can be found in the six 1996 issues of the WTC Newsletter.
West Texas Connection, Inc., is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of five members:
The Sunday Morning Net is held at 9:00 o'clock every Sunday. The net provides a weekly check of the Connection to ensure that all sites are available in case emergency communications are needed. It also identifies stations throughout the system that can be called upon if needed.
The Sunday Morning Net format includes an initial call for check-ins from mobile stations so they can get in before destinating. Then, regular check-ins are taken until about 9:30 at which time Net Control makes amateur related announcements. Announcements include schedules for upcoming Hamfests, club meetings, training sessions, etc. They also include national ham news when appropriate. After the announcements, check-ins resume.
The Sunday Morning Net is open and informal so all amateurs are welcome.
At this time we do not have a Net control operator. If you are interested in this job on a rotation basis. Please email Fred Coonce K5WTC
Site Information
Big Spring
Kent/Balmorhea
Odessa
Colorado City
King Mountain
Sterling City
Dark Canyon
Lamesa
Tarzan
Ft. Stockton
Midland
Hobbs
Notrees
.
Big Spring is a secondary hub for the Connection and therefore has a lot of equipment. The site is about 8 miles south of Big Spring and is maintained by B.John, KE5PL. Equipment there includes a VHF repeater on 147.040, a UHF repeater on 442.100 and a UHF link radio that connects Big Spring back to the Odessa Hub. Mobile coverage is good from Midland to well-past Coahoma on IH 20.
The UHF repeater at Colorado City is the eastern-most site of the Connection. Installed in 1996 by Fred, K5WTC. The antenna is a DB 420, top mounted at 425 feet and mobile coverage on IH 20 is provided for the entire county of Mitchell. Home stations can easily reach from Big Spring and Sweetwater. Clayton, N5IJD (SK) assists with the site.
The Crane repeater is maintained by Coy, WB5WYI(SK) and is located on the east side of Crane. The antenna is at 200 feet and coverage along US 385 extends from the Caprock between Odessa and Crane to McCamey , 21 miles south.
This is a rather remote site located in the vicinity of the Carlsbad Caverns area of New Mexico. It's mountain top location at 7240 ft. and antenna at 100 ft. AGL often allows mobile coverage of about 75-100 miles and it links directly in the the Notrees secondary hub 120 miles away. The equipment is maintained by Mark, N5SOR.
Photos of damage to tower in June 1998.
The repeater at Ft. Stockton is located 12 miles south of town and is maintained by Albert, WB5FWR (SK). This was one of the very first links in the West Texas Connection. Excellent coverage with the antenna at 160 ft. above the site elevation of about 3100 ft. on the tower owned by Albert and Mark, N5SOR.
After being served by a simplex dump for awhile, the Hobbs site received a full repeater in April 1997. The site is about halfway between Hobbs and Seminole where the local elevation is about 3100 ft. The antenna is at 440 ft and mobile coverage extends to Brownfield and near Andrews in Texas. In New Mexico, coverage includes Lovington, Eunice, and Jal. The equipment is maintained by Mark, N5SOR.
This site is sometimes referred to as McElroy. A mountain top site north of Balmorhea with an elevation of 7020 ft. makes for outstanding coverage in the area where IH 20 and IH 10 come together. Coverage is generally from about Sierra Blanca to about Ft. Stockton on IH10 and about Monahans on IH20. This coverage area is almost the same area covered by the Mt. Livermore repeater and you may have to switch between the two repeaters when one drops in certain areas.
When a large tornado struck the small community of Saragosa in this area on May 22, 1987, the Kent/Balmorhea repeater was the source of the first reports and became a primary communication link during the early public safety response. Well known West Texas ham, George Toone, WB5FBJ described the tornado scene from here immediately after the strike. The use of the Connection during the incident led to a service award being presented to Jim Jeffrey, WA5QMJ (SK) by the National Weather Service.
Located atop the small mountains near US 385 between Crane and McCamey, this site has a mobile coverage area with a radius of almost 50 miles. The equipment is maintained by Mark , N5SOR.
Lamesa444.75+
On May 16, 1998 the antenna at Lamesa was placed at about 250 ft. and oriented to favor the north. Early tests showed mobile coverage to Big Spring, 45 miles away. This site comes into the link to provide more coverage, especially for Skywarn, to the north toward Lubbock. The site is maintained by Fred, K5WTC and Mark, N5SOR.
The Midland repeater was moved and freq changed. The repeater is located South of Midland. This site is maintained by Rod , N5XXO
The UHF Radio was interfaced with a RC210 controller on May 17 ,2005 Full Time. Thanks Rod.
The Notrees secondary hub links Dark Canyon, Andrews, and Hobbs sites to the primary hub south of Odessa. The UHF repeater at Notrees provides wide coverage to the north and west with an antenna at 350 feet. AGL. The Notrees site is maintained by Rod, N5XXO and Mark, N5SOR.
Click on the pictures to see them larger. In the picture on the left, Mark (N5SOR) checks vital snack inventory at the Odessa/Pleasant Farms site. The group on the right were at the site to do some clean up. Pictured are (l-r) Bill (ex N5POB), Les (N5KOA) and son, David, Joe (WA5VYK), Tom (KC5ETW) and (kneeling), Mark (N5SOR).
Home of the West Texas Connection, the Odessa primary hub is actually about 8 miles south of Odessa near the community of Pleasant Farms. Jim, WA5QMJ (SK) and Gareth, W5CDM bought the land and erected the 300 feet tower specifically for amateur radio projects. The site contains a VHF and a UHF repeater. The site was sold to a commercial interest in 1996 but thanks to Gareth, remains the Connection hub with permission secured conditional to the sale of the property. The site has battery backup and is maintained by Rod, N5XXO.
03/01/98 The 146.70 site is OUT OF SERVICE We lost the site in North Odessa. Until a new site is found, the 146.70 machine will be out of service.
A second Odessa site was added to provide better handi coverage in the northern part of Odessa. The satellite receiver near 42nd Street and West County Road shares tower space with the local West Texas Amateur Radio Club. This site is maintained by Rod, N5XXO.
Downtown Sterling City is the site of this repeater and it, too, provides valuable Skywarn spotter coverage even though the area is sparsely populated. The site is maintained by Dow, N5FTL and B.John, KE5PL.
of 1997.
West Texas Connection maintenance and related out-of-pocket expense are shared by a relative few, but capable and willing, hams. Monitoring the Connection on almost any weekend will find one or more sites getting attention from volunteers. Their time not spent repairing equipment is often spent doing preventative maintenance. The West Texas Connection is a tribute to them. Thanks guys - Jim would be proud.
West Texas Connection, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to public service and education. Comments and donations can be sent to: West Texas Connection 902 Overton Dr Weatherford TX 76086
West Texas Amateur Radio Club
Midland Amateur Radio Club
Texas Repeater Look-up
Big Spring Amateur Radio Club
San Angelo Amateur Radio Club
Dyess AFB Amateur Radio Club
Armadillo - The National Radio System of Texas
QRZ Callbook Lookup
ARRLWeb ARRL's Home Page
National Skywarn Web Page
Current Radar Image of West Texas
Midland 4-day Forecast
FCC Database Lookups
Ector County 9-1-1
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