The Texoma Link – 1980 — Armadillo Intertie System

Chuck Adams, N5UN

Here are descriptions and pictures from the famous (or infamous) Texoma link. Most of the people involved are now Armadillo members. The link was installed before there was a formal Armadillo group as we currently think of it. The link was really a precursor to putting forth the serious effort required to connect Cedar Hill to Austin via Moody a few years later in 1984. These were the really fun times!

Mike Simpson W5SUF's truck in the Texas Women's University parking lot, Denton, October 1980 — Mike Simpson's W5SUF truck in the TWU dormitory parking lot, Denton, Texas. October 1980.

This picture shows Mike Simpson’s, W5SUF, truck (note the WR5ARL license plates – the former 147.015/147.615 Arlington repeater call sign) parked in the Texas Women’s University (Denton, Texas) 30-story dormitory parking lot just before all the gear was unloaded. Image taken October, 1980.

Mike Simpson W5SUF and Randy Zoch WB5PBZ at the elevator room on the TWU dormitory roof, October 1980 — Mike Simpson W5SUF at the elevator room doorway holding the 220 MHz beam, with Randy Zoch WB5PBZ looking out. October 1980.

Mike Simpson, W5SUF, standing at the doorway to the elevator room on the roof of the TWU dormitory, holding the 220 MHz beam antenna just prior to installation. Randy Zoch, WB5PBZ, is looking out from the elevator room. Image taken October, 1980.

224.02 WB5SUF repeater antennas mounted on the TWU dormitory roof, pointing north toward Texoma, October 1980 — The 224.02 WB5SUF repeater antennas after mounting, pointed north toward Texoma (Oklahoma). October 1980.

This is the 224.02 WB5SUF repeater antennas after mounting. It is pointed north toward Texoma (Oklahoma). Image taken October, 1980.

440 MHz remote base antenna on the TV mast at the TWU dormitory roof, pointed south toward DFW, October 1980 — The 440 MHz remote base antenna for the WB5SUF repeater, pointed south toward DFW and the N5FL 444.6 MHz repeater in Bedford. October 1980.

In the middle of this picture, attached to the TV mast on the right side, is the 440 MHz remote base antenna for the WB5SUF repeater. It is pointed south toward DFW, and specifically to the N5FL 444.6 MHz repeater located in Bedford. Image taken October, 1980.

Ken Noblitt N5UA with the 2-meter remote base beam antenna on the TWU dormitory roof, October 1980 — Ken Noblitt, N5UA, with the 11-element 2-meter beam, pointed south toward DFW. October 1980.

Ken Noblitt, N5UA, standing in front of an 11-element 2-meter beam just barely visible above his head. This was the 2-meter remote base antenna for the WB5SUF repeater. It is pointed south toward DFW. Image taken October, 1980.

Back of the 224.02 MHz WB5SUF repeater rack on the TWU roof, October 1980 — Back of the 224.02 MHz WB5SUF repeater rack located outside on the roof under the stairs. October 1980.

A view of the back side of the 224.02 MHz WB5SUF repeater rack. There was no easy way to bring coax out of the elevator room, so a decision was made at the last second to locate the package outside on the roof under the stairs leading to the elevator room. The rack contains the 220 repeater, power supply, 2 meter, and 440 MHz remote base radios (both were fixed-frequency crystal controlled radios) and the repeater controller. The 440 MHz remote base was set to the N5FL 444.6 MHz repeater in Bedford and the 2-meter remote base was set to 147.015/147.615 WB5SUF repeater in Arlington. Image taken October, 1980.

Front of the 224.02 MHz WB5SUF repeater on the TWU roof showing 'high water' modifications, October 1980 — Front of the 224.02 MHz WB5SUF repeater with its "high water" modifications — the rack on a wooden spool, the duplexer on a 5-gallon bucket. October 1980.

A view of the front side of the 224.02 MHz WB5SUF repeater. Note the “high water” modifications – the rack is sitting on a wooden spool and the 220 duplexer is sitting on a 5-gallon bucket. Image taken October, 1980.

WB5SUF repeater with trash bag and duct tape weatherproofing on the TWU roof, October 1980 — The WB5SUF repeater with field-expedient weatherproofing: trash bags and duct tape. It rained several times with no water damage. October 1980.

A great picture! A view of the front side of the 224.02 MHz WB5SUF repeater with weatherproof modifications and high water protection option. Trash bags and duct tape were scrounged at the last minute to waterproof the equipment. It rained several times while the equipment was on the roof with no water damage. Image taken October, 1980.

Texoma Link Article from Texas 220

The following pages are scanned directly from Texas 220, Volume 1, Number 1, December 1980 (Pages 5–7). The authors of the newsletter are Chuck Adams, N5UN (ex-WB5WRR) and Randy Zoch, WB5PSZ.