BTARS-NA5DV participated in the December 4th, 2004, U.S.S. Texas observance
of Pearl Harbor Day.
Ninety-four contacts were made with various amateur radio stations throughout the United States, Canada, Jamica, and
one questionable contact with Australia on 20 and 15 meters. The five radio amateurs participating
in operating NA5DV were Lance Borden, WB5REX; George Fletcher, AD5CQ; Frank Cooper, W5VID; King Waters, KK5LU; and
Reid Shipp, WA5ARI.
A special QSL card is available for those stations that contacted NA5DV.
Please send a SASE to Frank Cooper, NA5DV Trustee, 4215 Ravine Drive, Friendswood, Texas 77546. We may be slow in
responding as we are changing to a new QSL card.
Dick Fenner, Reid Shipp, Bill Werzner, and Frank Cooper met at the Battleship on Friday, Dec. 3rd, at 1:30 p.m.in
order to set up the new BTARS SG-239 Smartuner by SGC. It was coupled to one of the Ship's historic long wires strung
between masts. The Smartuner enabled operation on 75, 40, 20 and 15 meters. Dick Fenner recommended the
purchase of the Smartuner after making earlier tests. The purchase was accomplished through the generosity of Reid Shipp.
Reid sold a transmitter which had been given to him and donated the money to BTARS. Frank Cooper made the first
contact using one of the ship's long wire
on Friday.
The 20 meter ssb chat with N7VJ in Idaho was likely the first time the long wire had been used for a radio contact
since 1946.
(Left) Dick Finner and Reid Shipp are shown attaching the Smartune to the
ship's longwire. The picture on the right shows the finished job. The smartuner is attached to the upper side of the
wooden 2x6. The coil is the end of the long wire antenna with the the smartuner wire attached before the loop.
Many of the ship's long wires can be seen attached to the stern mast.
The participating radio amateur operators are pictured
below.
Lance Borden, WB5REX (left)and
King Waters, KK5LU (right).
Frank Cooper, W5VID (left) ..............................
and George Fletcher, AD5CG(right)
Reid Shipp, (left) ..............................
and Dave Moore, logging calls(right)
Click here to see Dennis Mitchell's USS Texas bb35 web
page
TO BE CONTINUED