NA5DV's Participation in the 8th Annual Museum Ship's Event on July 16-17, 2005

During our participation in the "Museum Ships Weekend Event on July 16-17, sponsored by the Battleship New Jersey Amateur Radio Station, the Battleship Texas Amateur Radio Station (BTARS-NA5DV) contacted 413 amateur radio stations in the United States and Canada and one station in Sicily, Italy.

(LEFT) Three young brothers are fascinated by the Morse code that Bill Stietenroth,K5ZTY, is sending and receiving.

Eight radio operators manned two radio transceivers on Saturday operating single sideband and Morse code (CW) on 20 and 40 meters. Three radio operators operated a single transceiver on 20 meter SSB, on Sunday despite stormy weather. We were unable to transmit on Sunday morning until we discovered the wind had blown down our inverted V antenna. The antenna was raised and operations continued as usual. We were pleased to have many visitors during the week-end event. Thanks to the ship's crew for assistance when needed.




Ten museum ships were contacted. They were

USS New Jersey (battleship - Camden New Jersey)

USS Little Rock (cruiser - Buffalo, New York)

USS Massachusetts (battleship - Fall River, Mass.)

USS Cobia (submarine - Manitowoc, Wisconsin)

USS Yorktown (aircraft carrier - Charleston, S.C.)

USS Requim (submarine -Pittsburg, Pa.)

USS Cod (submarine - Cleveland, Ohio)

CSS Jackson Memorial (Confederate 225 ft. Ironclad partially restored - Columbus, Georgia)

U.S.S. Milwaukee Memorial (Union Monitor - Michigan)

USS Indianapolis Memorial (Cruiser - Indianapolis, Indiana)




We invite Houston area amateur radio operators to assist in the operation of BTARS. Send an email to Frank Cooper at fxc@prodigy.net if you would like to participate in future events.

A special QSL card is available for stations contacting NA5DV. Please send a SASE to Frank Cooper, NA5DV Trustee, 4215 Ravine Drive, Friendswood, Texas 77546.




Because of intense electrical storms on Friday the 15th near the Battleship we were unable to erect the inverted V antenna. Reid Shipp, WA5ARI and Frank Cooper, W5VID, got the job done on Saturday morning. Frank constructed the inverted V on Thursday. It is hanging from an arm of the rear mast. Note the passing ship in the background.




Passing ships are of constant interest from the deck of the Battleship Texas.




A young lady tries her hand at the Morse code key.




Visitors from the Far East




The nine participating radio amateur operators (in random order) are pictured below.

Glen Goodwin, WD5GEE (left) .............................. Bill Stietenroth, K5ZTY (right)




Reid Shipp, WA5ARI (left) .............................. Lance Borden, WB5REX (right)




King Waters, KK5LU (left) .............................. Frank Cooper, W5VID, NA5DV Trustee (right)




Shanti, 4S7WP (from Sri Lanka) (left) .............................. Nick Lance (right), KC5KBO, with newly licensed Boy Scout




Ray Jensen, AC5KD