K5DX

During the ARRL Field Day operating event, TDXS operated from Follets Island (USIA TX-019S) in Brazoria County, Texas in rare gride square EL28. If you worked us, and would like a QSL card, please send a SASE to our callbook address.

Can anybody say MOH-SKEET-OHZ? Between the raindrops, lightning (boy, you ought to hear
N5MV squeal) and a bumper crop of extremely pesky mosquitoes, TDXS FD stalwarts N5MV,
W5BXX, WB5TUF, N5DD, N5MT and K5WA managed to put up enough antennas to enter the 2A +
GOTA category this year. We had our CW station set up on the beach in Dave's (W5BXX) RV and the SSB
station was tucked into the garage below the beach house. Antennas were 2 element 40M beams and
tribanders up 50 feet at each station. We were assisted by KB5GTB, Doug Tees, his brother Harold,
KB5HHD and Robert York, (call unknown but he plays a mean accordion over a hot generator) as
they set up and ran the GOTA station for us. Since the rain slowed our installation, we didn't get to
help the "GOTA Boys" much at all, but they did just great in getting a good signal on the air...heck,
they even brought their own tribander to mount on one of the club's 37' crank-up towers. WB5TUF set
up all the computers for a full blown wireless network between all stations and it worked flawlessly.
It was really neat to see who was falling asleep and who was ripping through pileups at the other
stations. Some ops even figured out CT's "GAB" feature enough to toss barbs back and forth while
operating.
As FD Chairman, Dave Topp, W5BXX, kept the food coming and the bug spray flowing as we kicked
off our operations. Unfortunately, HL&P decided they would crank up BPL's predecessor and line
noise popped up at S9 to 30 over 9 for good portions of the weekend. We managed to squeeze out
about 2200 QSO (1250 SSB and 950 CW) for approximately 7000 points. Last year's 2A winner
had 14000 points and 3975 Qs, so we were well short of a win, but we made a valiant effort for the
club that might see us in the top 20 if all our bonus points stick. By the way, we had bonus credit for
an NTS message to our SM, N5NAV; 10 other message originations; several PSK31 contacts for
digital mode credit; natural power contacts with KB5GTB's hand cranked WWII transmitter; emergency
power credit, media publicity (and even a visit by the local newspaper babe), and we copied the
ARRL Headquarters message on PSK31 and N5MV's audio catcher. K5IX and W5MJ also came by
and helped throw a few more CW Qs in the log.
For next year, we need to have a work crew rebuild our club TH-6 and A-4. The traps may be bad and
need to be cleaned or replaced. Dave kindly volunteered and assembled his personal T-8 log periodic
for us, but we need to maintain our club antennas. Hopefully, someone will volunteer so we can
bring these fine antennas back to life for our FDs.
Huge thanks, again, to Dave and Linda Topp for being such gracious and patient hosts. I still don't
know how Linda puts up with a crew of grizzled, dirty hams walking through her house at all hours
of the night.

73,
Bob - K5WA