TSP Amateur Radio

 

Radio Building, source of TSP radio, weather data, internet, ham radio, and TSP communications
During TSP week, TSP hams operate a fixed station, W5TSP (Whisky Five Texas Star Party) at the Prude Ranch, site of the week-long Texas Star Party event. This station has a Mosley PRO-96 Yagi, 160 thru 20m Saturn dipole, 2-ele 30m Yagi, and various VHF/UHF antennas mounted to a Rohn 70′ SSV tower installed by TSP staff. The station operates 160 meters through 70cm.

On-The-Air operation of the TSP Prude Ranch Station runs Saturday April 14, 2012 through Saturday April 21. Due to other responsibilities of the TSP ham radio staff and the availability of attending hams, operation may be spotty. Remember, this is a star party and the emphasis is staying up when it is dark to pursue the wonders of the night sky, and sleeping the morning away.

 

Mobile Operations

Amateur Radio Operators are invited to communicate with TSP Ham Radio Staff and other Hams traveling to and from the TSP. While TSP Staff will be traveling Friday April 13th and Saturday April 14th and returning home Sunday April 22nd, other Hams will be traveling throughout TSP week. This will be informal operations among TSP staff amateurs. All hams traveling to attend TSP as well as all other Hams are invited to participate. While traveling, TSP Staff will be operating HF and VHF. HF mobile operating frequencies and (informal) schedule is:

  • Most likely Mobile band -40 Meters: 7.215 (alt 7.218, 7.221, 7.224)
  • If on 20 meters: 14.215 (alt 14.218, 14.221 and 14.224)
  • If on 80 meters: 3.815 (alt 3.818, 3.821 and 3.824)
  • Listen for TSP Staff: W5TSP, K5GH, WB4GHY, K5WUL, K5NCH, NG5V, W5CWO, W5SOG, N5BFB, N5EG, and others

VHF operations will primarily be through:

  1. The West Texas Connection (WTC) (http://www.westtexasconnection.net/) 
  2. The Southwest Lynx System (http://southwest.lynxs.4t.com/custom2.html) 
  3. Big Bend ARC (BBARC) System (http://www.bigbendarc.com/REPEATERS/Repeater_Index.html)

(!! PLEASE read and observe operating guidelines for these linked systems !! )

W5TSP Special Events Station

Amateurs around the world are invited to monitor for Special Events Station, W5TSP.
Special Events operations will commence Tuesday May 31 and run through Saturday June 4th.  An astronomically-themed QSL card will be sent to those that send an SASE to W5TSP (address is on QRZ.com)

W5TSP will operate near the following frequencies:

  • 40m 7.250
  • 20m 14.230 (SSTV)
  • 20m 14.250
  • 17m 18.150
  • 15m 21.350
  • 10m 28.450

TSP Talk-In

W5TSP will attempt to monitor The BBARC and/or 146.52 MHz as much as possible.
TSP attendees are encouraged to do the same.

Please visit the Radio Shack (see picture above) on the Prude Ranch located at the base of the antenna tower. Amateur Radio operators attending TSP are invited to guest operate W5TSP.

TSP Location data

Grid Square: DM80
County: Jeff Davis

Prude Ranch: A guest ranch in the Davis Mountains of West Texas

Latitude: 30 36’ 36” N
Longitude: 103 57’ 05” W
Ground Elevation: 5100’

View Pictures of TSP

Located about 5 miles west of Fort Davis, Texas
10 miles east of the University of Texas’ McDonald Observatory
175 miles SE of El Paso, Texas
140 miles SW of Midland and Odessa, Texas

Time Standard: Central Daylight Savings Time (CDST) (UTC -5)

Contact via    w5tsp@texasstarparty.org    (not always monitored)  also via   wb4ghy@arrl.net