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About...
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 19 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.
A detailed history of the West Texas Connection can be found in the six 1996 issues of the WTC Newsletter.
Board of Directors
West Texas Connection, Inc., is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of five members:
- President - Mark Lomax, N5SOR
- Vice-President - David Overton, W5JDO
- Secretary-Treasurer - Fred Coonce K5WTC
- Director - Lloyd Duck, W5LND
- Director - Bill Taylor KD4LXC
Sunday Morning Net
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
Current Repeaters in the System
Big Lake 442.300+
The Big Lake repeater developed inter-mod issues and is currently offline.
Big Spring 147.040+ / 442.100+
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. 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.
Colorado City 444.850+
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.
Crane 146.800-
The Crane
repeater 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.
Dark Canyon 147.120+
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.
Photos of damage to tower in June 1998.
Ft. Stockton 146.680- / 444.800+
The repeater at Ft. Stockton is located 12 miles south of town. 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.
Hobbs 146.780-
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.
Kent/Balmorhea - New Ranch Owner asked the repeater be removed in 2023.
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.
King Mountain 444.700+
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.
Lamesa 444.750+
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.
Maljamar 442.075+
The Maljamar repeater is located near Maljamar, NM. It provides coverage in the area between Artesia, Carlsbad and Hobbs.
Mentone 444.050+
This new site near Mentone provides coverage for a large part of the area lost when the Kent/Balmorhea repeater was taken offline. It is good for Culberson, Loving and Reeves Counites.
Midland 146.900- / 443.275+
The Midland
repeater was moved and freq changed. The repeater is located South of Midland.
It has good coverage of the Midland area and IH 20 corridor between Stanton and Odessa.
The UHF Radio was interfaced with a RC210 controller on May 17, 2005, and linked to the Odessa Hub.
Mount Livermore 444.950+
The repeater at Mount Livermore is the highest Amateur Radio repeater in Texas. It is solar powered and has been worked from points as far away as Odessa, a straight-line distance of 140 miles.
Notrees 442.500+
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. Its location on the Notrees promontory allows for the link to Dark Canyon 120 miles away.
Odessa 145.410- / 444.100+
Home of the West Texas Connection, the Odessa primary hub, with a VHF and a UHF repeater, was originally located 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 was sold to a commercial interest in 1996. The repeaters have moved a few times since then and are now west of Odessa. This site has battery backup.
Sanderson 147.340-
The Sanderson repeater is located on the highlands west of Sanderson. Its location provides coverage not only in the local area; but, also into some areas around Lake Amistad.
Seminole 145.450-
The Seminole repeater located just outside the city limits provides coverage between the Hobbs and Lamesa repeaters.
Sheffield 442.075+
The area east of Ft Stockton toward Ozona is covered by the Sheffield repeater. It provides coverage for Bakersfield, Sheffield and Iraan.
Snyder 147.140+
Located near the town of Snyder, this repeater covers the area northeast of Big Spring and northwest of Colorado City. It is an important repeater for SKYWARN coverage in an active area of the NWS Midland Forecast Office.
Keeping It All Running!
West Texas
Connection maintenance and related out-of-pocket expenses 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
Member:
West Texas Clubs & Information:
Armadillo - The National Radio System of Texas
Current Radar Image of West Texas