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CX2SA > SATDIG 06.05.10 07:06l 999 Lines 33396 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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From: CX2SA@CX2SA.LAV.URY.SA
To : SATDIG@WW
Today's Topics:
1. Re: FO-29? (D. Craig Fox)
2. AMSAT Plug in New Technician Study Guide (Clint Bradford)
3. Re: FO-29? Look at the report page (OZ1MY)
4. Re: EN56 in May ??? (Rick - WA4NVM)
5. Re: FO-29? Look at the report page (Bob Cutter)
6. Wilderness Field-day sites (Robert Bruninga)
7. Re: FO-29? Look at the report page
(Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK))
8. Re: FO-29? (John Neeley)
9. Re: S Band interference (Gary "Joe" Mayfield)
10. Re: FO-29? (D. Craig Fox)
11. Re: FO-29? Look at the report page (Andrew Glasbrenner)
12. Please help - ideas? (Michae J. Wolthuis)
13. Re: Please help - ideas? (K8TB)
14. Re: S Band interference was RE: Re: Field Day mode for AO-51
(George Henry)
15. Re: Field Day AO-51 configuration - another option (John Papay)
16. Re: Field Day mode for AO-51 (Tim Cunningham)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 5 May 2010 12:48:38 -0700
From: "D. Craig Fox" <DFox@xxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FO-29?
To: "Amsat \(E-mail\)" <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID:
<A8E6E57AFA652D419A823F42AD6ACBDE03594274@xxxxxxxxx.xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Worked it last night.
Craig
N6RSX
-----Original Message-----
From: amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxx [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxxxx
Behalf Of Bob Cutter
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 10:53 AM
To: amsat-bb
Subject: [amsat-bb] FO-29?
Is it operational?
73, Bob KI?G
_______________________________________________
Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
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NOTICE: This communication may contain privileged or other confidential
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intended recipient, please advise the sender by reply email and immediately
delete the message and any attachments without copying or disclosing the
contents. Thank you.
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Wed, 05 May 2010 13:45:28 -0700
From: Clint Bradford <clintbradford@xxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] AMSAT Plug in New Technician Study Guide
To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <D9D30F5D-0ADA-4764-91FA-D2A2658A8F99@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I have a couple of pages in the back of the new Technician Study Guide
published by Gordon West / W5YI. It is shipping this week. And it will be at
Dayton.
AMSAT is, of course, prominently mentioned!
Clint, K6LCS
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 5 May 2010 22:58:09 +0200
From: "OZ1MY" <oz1my@xxxxxx.xx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FO-29? Look at the report page
To: "Bob Cutter" <ki0g@xxxxx.xxx>, "amsat-bb" <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <000401caec95$ab4b4700$7b01a8c0@xxxxxx.xx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Hi Bob,
It is always a good idea to look at the report
page:
http://oscar.dcarr.org
It is there to help us :-)
73 OZ1MY
Ib
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Cutter" <ki0g@xxxxx.xxx>
To: "amsat-bb" <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 7:52 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] FO-29?
Is it operational?
73, Bob KI?G
_______________________________________________
Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
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------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Wed, 5 May 2010 15:58:57 -0500
From: "Rick - WA4NVM" <wa4nvm@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: EN56 in May ???
To: "Alvaro de Leon Romo" <xe2at@xxxxxxx.xxx>, <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <C56B5BA96CED490AAF3BB234719B7F27@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
Hi Al,
The person I have worked 6 times in the last couple years from EN56 is Doug,
KA8QCU.
Maybe it was him. I hope this helps. No email address on QRZ. com :(
73, Rick WA4NVM
>
> Hi I am looking the guy that travel to EN56 in May , unfortunately I lost
> his email and call :-(
>
>
>
> Many thanks in advance, like always
>
> Al XE2AT
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Enciende tu hotness con Hotmail
> www.hotmailhotness.com.mx
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Wed, 5 May 2010 14:04:54 -0700 (PDT)
From: Bob Cutter <ki0g@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FO-29? Look at the report page
To: OZ1MY <oz1my@xxxxxx.xx>
Cc: amsat-bb <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <700383.26697.qm@xxxxxxxxx.xxxx.xxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
I did, but the yellow "sometimes" arrows prompted my inquiry. Sorry.
73, Bob KI?G
On May 5, 2010, at 2:58 PM, "OZ1MY" <oz1my@xxxxxx.xx> wrote:
Hi Bob,
It is always a good idea to look at the report
page:
http://oscar.dcarr.org
It is there to help us :-)
73 OZ1MY
Ib
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Cutter" <ki0g@xxxxx.xxx>
To: "amsat-bb" <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 7:52 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] FO-29?
Is it operational?
73, Bob KI?G
_______________________________________________
Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Wed, 5 May 2010 17:12:15 -0400
From: "Robert Bruninga" <bruninga@xxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Wilderness Field-day sites
To: <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <27493472FD2941FFAC564EA7218CCF95@xxxxx.xxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> normally get less QRM as most of the sites are
> outside cities and WI-FI interference is much
> more low in country location.
OFF TOPIC RANT:
I always thought that Field Day was a day to get out and show
our stuff. Hiding it in the wilderness far from any passing
humans is one way to make sure we die in annonymity. Our big
and very active club has FD on our own club site, which is a
fantastic place... Yet the only people that see it are us and a
few friends or special invitees.
Now, of course, I would not at all want to detract from all the
fun of field day at the clubs local site, but on the other hand,
a few of us make a big effort to hold a FD presence right in the
middle of the town square, or Mall, or where ever we can be the
most visible as possible. We strive for 10,000 people to see us
and a score of maybe 10 instead of 10,000 FD points with a
reach-out to only 10.
Just a thought. And I am not suggesting it should apply to all
FD sites. FD is too much fun to be put in other people's boxes,
but just something to consider in the big scheme of things.
RANT OFF.
Bob, Wb4APR
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Wed, 5 May 2010 14:23:12 -0700
From: "Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)" <amsat-bb@xxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FO-29? Look at the report page
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID:
<q2y2e18ad3e1005051423v1504a9a8m5e3c5d8b6f44fa2f@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Hi Bob!
> I did, but the yellow "sometimes" arrows prompted my inquiry. Sorry.
The yellow arrows are part of AMSAT's Satellite Status page:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/status.php
The AMSAT page has information posted and updated by the site's
webmaster. The OSCAR Satellite Status page by KD5QGR:
http://oscar.dcarr.org/
does not use arrows. It uses boxes with numbers showing how many
reports have been posted by satellite users for each satellite in a particular
two-hour period, and the color in each box indicates what was observed. If
you point on those digits in the grid, then you are able to see who posted
the reports and details of each report.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK
http://www.wd9ewk.net/
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Wed, 5 May 2010 15:29:41 -0700 (PDT)
From: John Neeley <w6zkh@xxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FO-29?
To: Bob Cutter <ki0g@xxxxx.xxx>, amsat-bb <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <643961.11710.qm@xxxxxxxxx.xxxx.xxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
I'm on it 2 or 3 times a day myself. Just have to deal with the fading at
times on my end...
John W6ZKH
________________________________
From: Bob Cutter <ki0g@xxxxx.xxx>
To: amsat-bb <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Sent: Wed, May 5, 2010 10:52:34 AM
Subject: [amsat-bb] FO-29?
Is it operational?
73, Bob KI?G
_______________________________________________
Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Wed, 5 May 2010 18:19:16 -0500
From: "Gary \"Joe\" Mayfield" <gary_mayfield@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: S Band interference
To: <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <COL114-DS182D5130AB0B7143C0CB838AF40@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Luc,
Please keep me posted as to your results. Unfortunately our Field
Day site is a city park in town, with plenty of WiFi around. As a plus we
can borrow free internet during Field Day :-)
73,
Joe kk0sd
-----Original Message-----
From: amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxx [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxx On
Behalf Of Luc Leblanc
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 10:43 AM
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: S Band interference was RE: Re: Field Day mode for
AO-51
Just to add to my previous post S band on Field Day should normally get less
QRM as most of the sites are outside cities and WI-FI
interference is much more low in country location.
One experiment i will try on the next S band mode on AO-51 is to used a band
pass cavity filter to see if adding some filtering this wide
spread WI-FI and other 2.4Ghz device interference can be lowered to some
extent hoping this will have an effect of the front end
sensitivity of the downconverter. There is not much that we can do if the
QRM is directly on the receiving 2401 frequencies but if it is
possible to minimized any desensing effect "could be" it can help?
>
> Joe,
>
> My neighbors have several "wireless" devices that operate close
> enough to our frequencies to raise my noise level or produce a series of
> clicks and other noises. The worst offenders are a wireless network and a
> cordless phone. During the AO-40 era I bought a cordless phone from a
> neighbor that was very troublesome. I have since moved to a country
> location, and find it interesting that I can tell what direction town is
by
> moving my antenna (pointed at the horizon) and listening to the noise
level
> on mode S.
>
> 73,
> Joe kk0sd
> Hi Joe
>
> Your comment about Mode S interference interests me
> I have not been on since AO-40
> In those days there was no interference on mode S.
> Unless it was another Ham.
> Would you kindly explain?
>
> Thanks
>
> Joe K0VTY
> ===================
> On Tue, 4 May 2010 22:22:54 -0500 "Gary \"Joe\" Mayfield"
and S band is becoming too full of interference.
> > "-"
Luc Leblanc VE2DWE
Skype VE2DWE
www.qsl.net/ve2dwe
DSTAR urcall VE2DWE
WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE
_______________________________________________
Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 10
Date: Wed, 5 May 2010 16:27:28 -0700
From: "D. Craig Fox" <DFox@xxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FO-29?
To: "Amsat \(E-mail\)" <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID:
<A8E6E57AFA652D419A823F42AD6ACBDE0359427E@xxxxxxxxx.xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
In fact I think I had my first sat CW contact on it, with John W6ZKH (thanks
John)
Craig
N6RSX
-----Original Message-----
From: amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxx [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxxxx
Behalf Of John Neeley
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 3:30 PM
To: Bob Cutter; amsat-bb
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FO-29?
I'm on it 2 or 3 times a day myself. Just have to deal with the fading at
times on my end...
John W6ZKH
________________________________
From: Bob Cutter <ki0g@xxxxx.xxx>
To: amsat-bb <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Sent: Wed, May 5, 2010 10:52:34 AM
Subject: [amsat-bb] FO-29?
Is it operational?
73, Bob KI?G
_______________________________________________
Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
_______________________________________________
Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
NOTICE: This communication may contain privileged or other confidential
information. If you are not the intended recipient of this communication, or
an employee or agent responsible for delivering this communication to the
intended recipient, please advise the sender by reply email and immediately
delete the message and any attachments without copying or disclosing the
contents. Thank you.
------------------------------
Message: 11
Date: Wed, 05 May 2010 19:30:44 -0400
From: Andrew Glasbrenner <glasbrenner@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FO-29? Look at the report page
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <4BE1FFA4.3080501@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
I just updated the FO-29 entry to current conditions. The
http://oscar.dcarr.org/ page is more up to date most of the time.
73, Drew KO4MA
>> I did, but the yellow "sometimes" arrows prompted my inquiry. Sorry.
>>
------------------------------
Message: 12
Date: Wed, 5 May 2010 19:36:16 -0400
From: "Michae J. Wolthuis" <wolthui3@xxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Please help - ideas?
To: <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <028701caecab$c2121c50$463654f0$@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I have an ongoing problem with my Elevation rotor of my g-5500 setup. It
has been in to Yaesu who said it was fine. The controller was not sent in
only the actual EL hardware because when I first got it this occurred right
away when I installed my new site and the AZ rotor seemed to work fine on
either the AZ or the EL terminals, so Yaesu determined it must be the EL
itself, it appears maybe not.
The problem is that sometimes hitting the up button or the down button
results in no change. It acts as though it is stuck. Now some observations
maybe to help.
1) It didn't happen in the cold all winter
2) Sometimes it can be fixed by hitting the opposite direction of what
I am trying to move and then quickly flipping to the other direction
3) If I wait sometimes 10-15mins it will then work perfectly
4) Once it has been moved it seems to easily continue moving
5) Problem usually occurs at low and high angles but not in between
6) Sometimes if I throw the power switch off and on then it will start
working
7) I have confirmed things are well balanced
Does anyone have any recommendations? This is very frustrating when an
AO-51 80deg pass comes over and the antennas are stock at 3deg. The AZ
works every time perfectly. Now that it is warmer this is getting to be a
greater and great issue and happening nearly every few passes I try to work.
Please note the ham shack does not have the AC on yet and sits around 75degs
currently during the peak of the day..
Thanks to all for suggestions and ideas, this is really beyond frustrating.
I know this may be a repeat post also, but when it started working in the
colder winter months I thought it was fixed and deleted any suggestions
previously sent.
Mike
Kb8zgl
------------------------------
Message: 13
Date: Wed, 05 May 2010 20:12:52 -0400
From: K8TB <k8tb@xxxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Please help - ideas?
To: "Michae J. Wolthuis" <wolthui3@xxx.xxx>, amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <4BE20984.5040408@xxxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Mike,
I have a spare G-5400B controller if you want to try that. To make
sure, the El works OK when wired into the AZ pins? If it still acts up,
I would look at a bad motor cap, which is in the rotor. However, you can
parallel a cap in the shack across pins E4 and E5. You could go to
Graingers and get a motor starting/running cap, like a 2MDR1 for less
than $ 10.00
I'm not sure on the difference between the 5400 and 5500, so maybe
someone on this forum can tell us if this controller would work. (It has
the DB-9 serial cable).
Let me know. And don't forget May 18th, for the DF Hunt!
tom bosscher k8tb
On 5/5/2010 7:36 PM, Michae J. Wolthuis wrote:
> I have an ongoing problem with my Elevation rotor of my g-5500 setup. It
> has been in to Yaesu who said it was fine. The controller was not sent in
> only the actual EL hardware because when I first got it this occurred right
> away when I installed my new site and the AZ rotor seemed to work fine on
> either the AZ or the EL terminals, so Yaesu determined it must be the EL
> itself, it appears maybe not.
>
>
------------------------------
Message: 14
Date: Wed, 5 May 2010 22:51:52 -0500
From: "George Henry" <ka3hsw@xxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: S Band interference was RE: Re: Field Day mode
for AO-51
To: "amsat bb" <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <1B0560D132604257B8E24627532C0406@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
I'm in the Chicago suburbs, and can see at least a dozen wi-fi access points
in my neighborhood with NetStumbler, yet I have worked AO-51 in mode V/S
with a K5GNA downconverter with corner reflector, hand-held inside the
house. With the barbecue grill antenna, I can use an in-line 6 dB
attenuator AND the receiver's attenuator, and still have armchair copy.....
George, KA3HSW
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary "Joe" Mayfield" <gary_mayfield@xxxxxxx.xxx>
To: <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 6:19 AM
Subject: [amsat-bb] S Band interference was RE: Re: Field Day mode for AO-51
>
> Joe,
>
> My neighbors have several "wireless" devices that operate close
> enough to our frequencies to raise my noise level or produce a series of
> clicks and other noises. The worst offenders are a wireless network and a
> cordless phone. During the AO-40 era I bought a cordless phone from a
> neighbor that was very troublesome. I have since moved to a country
> location, and find it interesting that I can tell what direction town is
> by
> moving my antenna (pointed at the horizon) and listening to the noise
> level
> on mode S.
>
> 73,
> Joe kk0sd
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Joe v Murray [mailto:k0vty@xxxx.xxxx
> Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2010 10:43 PM
> To: gary_mayfield@xxxxxxx.xxx
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Field Day mode for AO-51
>
> Hi Joe
>
> Your comment about Mode S interference interests me
> I have not been on since AO-40
> In those days there was no interference on mode S.
> Unless it was another Ham.
> Would you kindly explain?
>
> Thanks
>
> Joe K0VTY
------------------------------
Message: 15
Date: Thu, 06 May 2010 00:03:05 -0400
From: John Papay <john@xxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Field Day AO-51 configuration - another option
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <254884.2250.qm@xxxxxxx.xxx.xxxx.xxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
There seems to be multiple goals at play here. I'm not sure that there
is one mode that will be best suited for all of them.
Goal 1: Provide a mode that will encourage non-satellite hams to become
interested in AMSAT based on what they see at Field Day.
Some think that if you reduce the qrm by using L/U or L/S, more will be
likely to get into satellites because there is no crowding and no sign
of chaos during Field Day. Why present a false impression? Things do
get crowded; you find a way to make your contact in spite of the
conditions. Think about it and find a way that works for you. Refine
it based on experience. This is what ham radio is all about. There is
no best way that works for everyone. You just work with what you have.
If you want a clear private channel, satellites are not the solution.
Limiting AO-51 to L/U or L/S means that not many clubs will be using
AO-51 to demonstrate satellite operations to the non-satellite people.
Not many have equipment for these modes; most will try a V/U bird and
not bother with AO-51 if it is in L/U or L/S. The driving force for
clubs to work satellites is the 100 bonus points. Since most people
have FM radios, they are going to try for the V/U birds. This is the
entry level for any new satellite operator. You don't start with L/U
or L/S because it is costly compared to V/U and we don't have a bird
that is in those modes very often.
Goal 2: Make working AO-51 challenging
It is certainly a challenge to get things working on L/S or L/U. Only
a few have equipment that they use when AO-51 is in these modes. It's
mostly the same people every time and a very small percentage of the
total satellite population. You are not challenging very many by
using these modes; only a few will try.
Goal 3: Get more people to participate in the AMSAT contest that runs
concurrently with Field Day.
A voice contact on AO-51 mode L/U or L/S is worth one point. If you
are trying win a contest, why expend all that effort to get on these
modes when the reward is only one point? If you want people to spend
the effort to get on these modes, make it worth their while. Give 25
points for an L/U or L/S contact. I might even take down my 13T W7LRD
Helix and haul it over to field day for 25 points! Otherwise it's going
to stay right where it is on the tower.
Now a few notes about my experience from last year's field day contest:
The Northern Ohio DX Association placed first in the AMSAT competition
in 2009, Doug KD8CAO made the voice contacts and I made the CW contacts.
We were the only entry that made both a L/U and a V/U contact on AO-51.
Interestingly, we were not able to complete a contact on AO-27. We did
make a contact on SO-50. We were also very fortunate to make a contact
with the ISS and that, by far, created the most excitement at our Field
Day even if it did not count as a qso for the ARRL or the AMSAT competition.
You make your points on the SSB/CW birds. We had 24 SSB contacts and 15
CW contacts on AO-7, VO-52 and FO-29. If we have HO-68 in this mode
for Field Day, you can expect scores to be higher than in 2009. The
linear birds were pretty crowded and there was qrm. But it was no
different than operating on the HF bands as someone else mentioned.
Those that were watching and listening were certainly not discouraged.
One of the top contenders in last year's AMSAT Field Day competition
would not work us because they had made a contact with us on another
bird. So you waste time trying to contact someone and finally get
through only to be told you're a dupe. Yes, you are a dupe under
the ARRL rules so you can't count the contact there, but you can and
should count the qso for the AMSAT competition. There is no conflict
here; you just don't submit those ARRL "dupes" as valid qso's. You
can be in both contests and play by both rules.
Suggestion for 2010:
If at all possible, run the same modes as last year, L/U and V/U.
Adjust the power levels to 400mw on each transmitter if the power
budget will allow it. If only one transmitter can be supported,
use V/U. Many more will try to make a contact and that is what we
want to encourage. If you have it in L/U or L/S, not many will try. We
should be striving for a mode that will be attempted by as many clubs as
possible. AO-27 is a great bird but it is always at a high elevation
over the US when it is "on." You can work AO-51 when it is much
lower on the horizon, thereby reducing the number of stations trying
to use it. You are more likely to make a V/U contact on AO-51 than
you are on AO-27 because of that. Our experience last year bears this
out.
I think there is more potential to make qso's on AO-51 in the V/U mode
this year because the first pass comes over the east coast very early,
around 5am Sunday morning. If the bird is in L/S for Saturday's passes,
the mode should be switched to V/U early in that pass out over the Atlantic
if that plan is chosen. Last year the first pass was at 6:45am EDST.
NODXA will be on the birds at Field Day this year but it is likely
that we will not be out to win. I'm planning a very casual operation.
Our callsign is W8DXA. Good luck in the contest!
73,
John K8YSE
John Papay
john@xxxxxx.xxx
------------------------------
Message: 16
Date: Thu, 6 May 2010 00:57:33 -0500
From: "Tim Cunningham" <tim_cunningham@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Field Day mode for AO-51
To: "Gary \"Joe\" Mayfield" <gary_mayfield@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <B9EEF8F291834C6DB36FDAAEF4665979@xxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
> I have a couple questions:
>
> 1. The folks who can't eek out a contact with the handheld and Arrow
> during
> Field Day, have you practiced? It's how I have done it the last couple of
> years without that much trouble, patience and timing are the keys :-). We
> have a good Field Day location where I can see down to the horizon.
>
Time is limited for many people and Field Day unfortunately is a time for
many to experiment with their buddies. Satellite? We can do that! Watch
this? How many times have you cringed when you heard that? Now we have a
group of buddies standing around with their favorite liquid beverage, known
to cause judgmental impairment, having a good time laughing and tinkering...
For some, this is their definition of Field Day while others take it a bit
more seriously. There is a wide mix of people on Field Day and we have to
accept that as a known historical fact. If they become disgruntled and say
this is not the way I envision Field Day, they may not come back.
> 2. Has the single contact per FM bird rule really helped anyone? In the
> old days a couple big stations got on and essentially ran the bird. Is it
> fair? NO! but they handed out a lot of QSOs and we seemed to get more
> AMSAT
> Field Day entries as well.
>
No, it has not helped promote more contacts on an FM satellite. It has only
allowed chaos to reign (fewer contacts) on the FM satellites.
Historical and factual information can clearly answer this question. When
there are big targets to hit (stations that can be heard clearly) things run
smoother and more contacts are made. You can debate it, but the facts are
clear and supported by this operators experience. We already know the end
result and that it indeed produces more contacts at a faster rate to move
them in and move them out of the way in DXpedition style. This net control
operator style of operation turns chaos into something more predictable and
controllable while handing out contacts to stations that may never have a
chance with the numerous stations calling over top of each other. I can
remember sitting in a chair many years ago (year 2000 to be exact) handing
out 1 contact after another on an FM bird which really led to the creation
of the rule for a perceived problem. At the time I did not feel good about
doing it, but when we stopped doing it, chaos reigned once again. When we
started net control operation again, contacts were being made at a rate of
greater than 5 to 1. We looked at each other sitting at the radio and
discussed how many contacts were made when we operated in this fashion and
thought we were doing a service in the Field Day spirit by handing out
contacts when none were being made or people were just calling over top of
each other with no actual communication taking place. As we lost the bird
another clear station came on and did the same thing. Unfortunately, this
caused "The Great FM Satellite Field Day Rift" to give it a name. We were
exercising what we thought was in the best interest of turning chaos (no
contacts being made) to something more efficient and productive that
undeniably allowed more contacts to be made.
Operation on FM satellites is more efficient with a control or net operator.
This was a crafted communication skill utilized to solve the immediate
problem of no contacts being made and it worked very well.
Thus, the rule added in the 2001 AMSAT Field Day Rules to limit contacts to
1 was instituted. The rule was clarified in 2001 by the statement:
[Operators are encouraged not to make any extra contacts via these
satellites (Ex: UO14 &AO27).]
It is a reasonable rule to the extent of only allowing 1 point so somebody
does not run up a score or monopolize points from another station in the
AMSAT Field Day Competition. The problem is the rule went too far by
encouraging operators not to make any additional contacts on these
satellites. Statistics do not lie. They only validate the end result and
there should be plenty of results since 2001.
Furthermore, in a June 2001 QST article written by Steve Ford, WB8IMY, he
published the following statements:
[The politically correct thing for me to do is wag my finger at you and say,
"you must not use more than 5 W on the 2-meter uplinks to these satellites.
If we all play nicely and keep our power levels low, everyone will have a
chance."]
[If you must run high power to capture a spot in the FM mob scene, at least
be considerate. Once you've made a valid contact, get off (italics). Don't
attempt to monopolize the birds throughout their 15-minute pass.]
It is na?ve to think that everybody running 5W will solve the problem. It is
Field Day and everybody is hungry for their bonus points for the ARRL Field
Day. When there are a thousand stations trying to squeeze into the same pipe
at the same time, you should expect chaos. There is no way everybody will
get a chance to work an FM satellite on Field Day. It is not possible with
the given bandwidth and time allotted. Somebody has to be above the noise
(more ERP) to create a target to call. This is a well known FM capture
effect.
Call it monopolizing the satellite or whatever you want, the point is being
missed! We are suppose to be communicators and find ways to turn chaos into
success. That success was demonstrated during a 2000 Field Day exercise.
Limiting the number of points for the AMSAT Field Day Competition was a
reasonable and fair thing to do. The problem is it went too far and
discouraged operators from making any additional contacts. This is an easy
problem to solve by striking that single statement from the rules.
Thinking back I could only imagine how many clubs, groups, or individuals
were jumping up and down with joy because they made a contact on one of the
FM birds with a net control operator issuing contacts at a rate greater than
5 to 1. The other reality is that a station is going to call a station that
it hears clearly. Call it the contester in us or a DXpedition style of
operation. If you are condemned to one contact, think about how much
bandwidth is wasted because there are several stations calling you and you
are encouraged not to answer them. This is what happens. Yes, we ignored the
stations calling in 2002 because we complied with the suggestion of making 1
contact and "get off". It was very sad to continue to listen to the chaos in
2002 after our initial contact with no more discussion on solving the
problem.
I always felt that the ARRL promoted net style operation to avoid chaos and
create order in my 29 years of being a HAM. That is why Steve Ford's
comments caught me by complete surprise. Nets are the entire reason I do not
like to operate HF, because every time I got on HF to rag chew, several
stations would join the discussion, and then announce a net was starting.
Basically, the other stations checked in to chase those occupying their net
frequency out of the way.
> The one bird one contact has been a noble experiment, maybe it is time to
> examine the results.
>
Excellent idea! I can appreciate this.
73's,
Tim - N8DEU
Decatur, Alabama
------------------------------
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End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 5, Issue 207
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