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CX2SA > SATDIG 28.06.11 17:43l 856 Lines 32173 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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From: CX2SA@CX2SA.LAV.URY.SA
To : SATDIG@WW
Today's Topics:
1. AMSAT-BB MESS (Kevin Deane)
2. Re: FD Mess (Greg D.)
3. CA Ham Plates - Warning! (Clint Bradford)
4. Re: FD Mess (Art McBride)
5. Re: CA Ham Plates - Warning! (Patrick Green)
6. Re: FD Mess (Diane Bruce)
7. FD (Merle Olmsted)
8. Re: FD Mess (Joe)
9. Re: CA Ham Plates - Warning! (Jeremy Widner)
10. Re: CA Ham Plates - Warning! (Darryl Ponder)
11. Re: FD Mess (Joe)
12. Re: FD Mess (Gregg Wonderly)
13. Re: FD Mess (N0JY)
14. Re: FD Mess (R Oler)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 21:54:21 -0700
From: Kevin Deane <summit496@xxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] AMSAT-BB MESS
To: <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <COL107-W57DBCBDB00CDFC2DDBEA0883560@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I tried my hardest all day to stay out of the "MESS" and after reading
through a hundred or so messages I just cant help myself. Now this one and
done "rule"... I was driving from southern Cal back to Nevada on Sat. and I
didnt even think to try and make a contact mobile, glad I didnt from what I
have read...but I did make a contact or two on Sun. Sometimes people are so
well mannered I cant even believe it, all kinds of contacts, no one stepping
on each other just fantastic. Other times its just like CH 19 as my friend
in Oregon would say...
I am guilty of making more than one contact per pass, I say hi to the
regulars and try for unfamiliar calls and have fun everytime, sometimes I
get walked on, a couple times I have not even plugged in the rught coax, so
what I am human. Sure I get frustrated sometimes but then I realize that
this is just a hobby and everyone makes mistakes and might not operate
properly.
You people who make up these "rules" I am sure they are well thought out and
meant for good reasons...such and such power, this many contacts, use this
type of modulation, only operate on this mode, WHATEVER people spend their
whole life building a station and they are gonna be heard, I say good for
them! If the world was perfect it sure would be BORING!!!
Kevin
KF7MYK
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 22:02:49 -0700
From: "Greg D." <ko6th_greg@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess
To: <gary_mayfield@xxxxxxx.xxx>, <tim_cunningham@xxxxxxx.xxx>,
<amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <BLU133-W378D2056A312C9CDF27B2A9560@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-2022-jp"
I agree. Set aside a single FM satellite with a designated team of high
power operators who hand off net control duties as the bird crosses the
planet. Standard operating practice in picking out call sign fragments or
by 1st letter of the suffix, and working through the pileup. The folks on
the ground will catch on fast, and I bet we'd have more points awarded per
pass than with what we do today. And, in the spirit of emergency
preparedness, operating with a net control would be a whole lot closer to
normal. (And, no, I don't expect that we'd make a lot of use of FM Voice on
a LEO in a real emergency, but we'll never know how to work that eventual
HEO bird if we don't practice on something we do have.)
Greg KO6TH
> From: gary_mayfield@xxxxxxx.xxx
> To: tim_cunningham@xxxxxxx.xxxx amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
> Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 23:17:28 -0500
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess
>
> You know there is something here. I worked some late night on 80 meters.
The noise was high and signals were few. I came across a station with a big
signal, and worked him easily. Then I noticed he was working lots of folks!
I suspect he had put a lot more time and energy into his 80 meter station
than we had into ours. Is it fair he gets to make more contacts with his
bigger better station? I think I would argue it is. It is his reward for
all of that effort. Did he make it possible for stations that may not have
otherwise made a contact 80 to make a contact? Yes, he did. He was
monopolizing the frequency, but it seemed to make for a lot of contacts....
>
> Joe kk0sd
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxx [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxx On
Behalf Of Tim Cunningham
> Sent: Monday, June 27, 2011 9:53 PM
> To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess
>
{snip}
>
> It is time to move forward and change the course of chaos.
>
> My suggestion is to allow a Net Control type of operation. Let us say you
make 5, 10 or more sequential QSO's and pass it off to another station who
can capture and command the satellite, if there is one. Efficiency is
improved when there is a target. I guess my only point here is that doing
nothing will change nothing. We still have the 1 QSO limit so nobody has to
worry about a monopoly or somebody running up there point total. I would do
it and not claim a QSO point if needed in order to see it changed for the
better. When somebody hears a target station they will call it and/or the
target station can respond to those calling. This operation clearly netted
the most QSO's being made at a specific time in history. It also clears
traffic on the satellite faster when stations get their 100 bonus points for
the ARRL event or 1 point for the AMSAT event. At this point the other
station is dancing in the field bragging about their contact plus they would
not get any additional!
credit even if they made another contact anyway. Disallowing a net style
or control point for multiple contacts on an FM satellite only promotes
chaos. This is my point and a suggestion for the box.
>
> ?
>
> Thank you for your interest and sincerity in advance,
>
> Tim - N8DEU
>
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 22:05:18 -0700
From: Clint Bradford <clintbradford@xxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] CA Ham Plates - Warning!
To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <3D328ADC-8EC2-495B-A2F0-3127D68D1266@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; CHARSET=US-ASCII
If you are a ham with personalized license plates (probably in ANY state of
the US, but
particularly in CA), then you might want to check this Web page out ...
And if you just find me otherwise irritating, you'll love to see seven
police units respond
to my traffic stop today ... (grin)
http://tinyurl.com/CLINT-BUSTED
Clint Bradford, K6LCS
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 22:19:46 -0700
From: "Art McBride" <kc6uqh@xxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess
To: "'k6yk'" <k6yk@xxxx.xxx>, <gordonjcp@xxxx.xxx>
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <6CE8F82ED51D48D7A2A118131F5F8DB5@xxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
K6YK,
FD has always been a mess, A mixture of new and old amateurs good and bad
operators and the majority just trying to learn. We had several ex Amateurs
stop by our FD site, some were just looking others helped and operated. We
may reactivate some. SSB birds sound like 20 Meters, huge pile ups. I hate
to tell them that will only happen, one day a year.
KO6BT got started in satellites at a PARC FD using a station I put together
with home brew antennas on a 6' step ladder. He worked a JA on AO-10 CW. He
was really excited. So FD has a purpose, introduction lies beneath the
attraction of chaos.
I think more operators would work the linear transponder satellites if
better equipment was available. The stuff from the big three in Japan does
not give the user what they need. The best receiver with the most features
is tied to the transmitter leaving the operator with an under performing sub
receiver for listening. The list goes on. Tracking programs are helpful, but
s means of checking the beacon level and a means of easily adjusting your
power level are not always provided. Responses of digital knobs playing
analog are hard to deal with until you get use to the delay of your radio.
Quick tuning is nearly impossible.
Art,
KC6UQH
-----Original Message-----
From: amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxx [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxx On
Behalf Of k6yk
Sent: Monday, June 27, 2011 2:02 PM
To: gordonjcp@xxxx.xxx
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess
FD is a mess every year. No matter what bird(s) you try.
Most of the FD stations have no clue about satellites, they just get
the idea they need to make 1 satellite contact or as many as they can.
They don't know about all the rules particular to AMSAT, and they
dont' care.
They ask somebody what frequency to transmit and listen on and then
they get their 500 watt amp, big beam or no beam, no preamp, and
start calling and calling. They don't hear anything so they just mess up
the
whole works. Happens every year.
You either have to bear with it and make your one contact or give up.
73,
K6YK
On Mon, 27 Jun 2011 21:33:34 +0100 Gordon JC Pearce <gordonjcp@xxxx.xxx>
writes:
> On Mon, 27 Jun 2011 13:48:48 -0500
> Patrick Green <pagreen@xxxxx.xxx> wrote:
>
> > The ARRL should impose an ERP limit for satellite contacts. That
> > would solve the problem. I don't see how running amplifiers on FD
> is
> > in the spirit of what FD is all about. I've made contacts using
> 50 mw
> > so why do stations use 100+ watts *before* the antenna.. I
> wouldn't
> > want my kids playing around a FD site with this time of setup.
>
> Wouldn't that be AMSAT's job? It's certainly possible to work an FM
> bird with 5W from a handie, and a hand-held yagi.
>
> I don't understand the obsession with having all-singing-all-dancing
> computer-controlled setups, where it automatically updates its
> orbital elements, automatically calculates when the next pass is,
> automatically calculates where to steer the aerial and what to tune
> the radio to and leaving the operator to just push the PTT and shout
> over the top of the QRP/P stations.
>
> All the computer-controlled stuff just plain isn't amateur radio.
> If you want to sit in front of a computer and talk to people, use
> Skype.
>
> Gordon MM0YEQ
> _______________________________________________
> 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
>
____________________________________________________________
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_______________________________________________
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
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------------------------------
Messat 12:05 AM, Clint Bradford <clintbradford@xxx.xxx>
wrote:
> If you are a ham with personalized license plates (probably in ANY state
of the US, but
> particularly in CA), then you might want to check this Web page out ...
>
> And if you just find me otherwise irritating, you'll love to see seven
police units respond
> to my traffic stop today ... (grin)
>
> http://tinyurl.com/CLINT-BUSTED
>
> Clint Bradford, K6LCS
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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: Tue, 28 Jun 2011 07:03:59 -0400
From: Diane Bruce <db@xx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess
To: "Greg D." <ko6th_greg@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <20110628110359.GB64165@xxxxx.xx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
On Mon, Jun 27, 2011 at 09:43:57PM -0700, Greg D. wrote:
>
> Hi Diane,
Hiya.
> Given the chaos, it is easy to question the event. Then you get a letter
such as this, and it gives you a new perspective. This is from one of our
club members who I was coaching before Field Day on what birds to try, etc.
I was not able to attend, but he did. Here's his report.
Happily, I have seen some great constructive ideas on amsat-bb.
I love the idea of having a demo station for field day. Perhaps we
could combine some ideas.
Instead of concentrating on just getting that 100 points via one QSO
we could have 100 points for operating a "Get on the air" (GOTA) demo
station. Furthermore this would be coordinated through designated
net control stations pre-agreed with before the weekend begins.
e.g. W1AW on the east coast, ??? mid, ??? on the west coast.
Field day sites would get their 100 points provided they worked the NCS,
not each other and could prove they were introducing new people to sats.
>
> Greg,
>
...
>
> So, there you have it. "Typical" field day tribulations, no contacts, and
still a positive result. In spite of all the chaos, 100 points, etc.,
operating Satellite is still a mystery to a significant portion of the Ham
community, and a totally science fiction event for most of the general
public. In some regards, there is no such thing as bad publicity, if it's
handled right. So what we see as chaos, another person observing from afar
might see as Hey! He's receiving signals from outer space with a
walkie-talkie and a small TV antenna! How neat is that!
Yep. The demo aspect, even if it is only to other hams would be great
for AMSAT.
- 73 Diane VA3DB
--
- db@xxxxxxx.xxx db@xx.xxx http://www.db.net/~db
Why leave money to our children if we don't leave them the Earth?
------------ the use of computers in plotting satellite paths or
tracking satellites. Obviously, if the antenna is hand held, electronic
tracking devices would be eliminated.
5. During FD operation, since it is an "Emergency Readiness
Operation", class 1D should be eliminated.
6. FM satellites, when activated by the control station, should have
should have the capability of blocking multiple calls from the same station.
7. And of course, all FM satellite passes should have at least one
on-air "operations policeman"
Merle,
AA4QE
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:28:02 -0500
From: Joe <nss@xxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <4E09D6E2.2020503@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
On 6/27/2011 11:17 PM, Gary "Joe" Mayfield wrote:
> Is it fair he gets to make more contacts with his bigger better station?
I think I would argue it is. It is his reward for all of that effort. Did
he make it possible for stations that may not have otherwise made a contact
80 to make a contact? Yes, he did. He was monopolizing the frequency, but
it seemed to make for a lot of contacts....
>
> Joe kk0sd
All good and true, BUT.... did he monopolize the whole 80 meter band
so no one else could use it? NO. There is a BIG difference there.
Joe WB9SBD
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:28:40 -0500
From: Jeremy Widner <jeremyrwidner@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: CA Ham Plates - Warning!
To: Patrick Green <pagreen@xxxxx.xxx>
Cc: Amsat BB <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <BANLkTimVKHCaGOMRYL8MQfA99Bh1Bj0wKw@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Just imagine if they had pulled John K8YSE over with that array in the bed
of his truck!!!
On Tue, Jun 28, 2011 at 12:42 AM, Patrick Green <pagreen@xxxxx.xxx> wrote:
> Well, they didn't see you as that big a threat, otherwise they would
> have *surrounded* you.
>
> 73 de Pat --- KA9SCF.
>
> On Tue, Jun 28, 2011 at 12:05 AM, Clint Bradford <clintbradford@xxx.xxx>
> wrote:
> > If you are a ham with personalized license plates (probably in ANY state
> of the US, but
> > particularly in CA), then you might want to check this Web page out ...
> >
> > And if you just find me otherwise irritating, you'll love to see seven
> police units respond
> > to my traffic stop today ... (grin)
> >
> > http://tinyurl.com/CLINT-BUSTED
> >
> > Clint Bradford, K6LCS
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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
> >
> ___________________________________________ respond
>> > to my traffic stop today ... (grin)
>> >
>> > http://tinyurl.com/CLINT-BUSTED
>> >
>> > Clint Bradford, K6LCS
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > 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
>>
>
>
>
> --
> 73
> Jeremy Widner
> K0PDX
> http://k0pdx.us
> Secretary Raytown Amateur Radio Club - K0GQ
> http://k0gq.com/
> _______________________________________________
> 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: 11
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:44:21 -0500
From: Joe <nss@xxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <4E09DAB5.7030507@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
On 6/28/2011 12:19 AM, Amailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxx On
> Behalf Of k6yk
> Sent: Monday, June 27, 2011 2:02 PM
> To: gordonjcp@xxxx.xxx
> Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess
>
>
> FD is a mess every year. No matter what bird(s) you try.
>
> Most of the FD stations have no clue about satellites, they just get
> the idea they need to make 1 satellite contact or as many as they can.
> They don't know about all the rules particular to AMSAT, and they
> dont' care.
>
> They ask somebody what frequency to transmit and listen on and then
> they get their 500 watt amp, big beam or no beam, no preamp, and
> start calling and calling. They don't hear anything so they just mess up
> the
> whole works. Happens every year.
>
> You either have to bear with it and make your one contact or give up.
>
> 73,
> K6YK
>
>
> On Mon, 27 Jun 2011 21:33:34 +0100 Gordon JC Pearce<gordonjcp@xxxx.xxx>
> writes:
>> On Mon, 27 Jun 2011 13:48:48 -0500
>> Patrick Green<pagreen@xxxxx.xxx> wrote:
>>
>>> The ARRL should impose an ERP limit for satellite contacts. That
>>> would solve the problem. I don't see how running amplifiers on FD
>> is
>>> in the spirit of what FD is all about. I've made contacts using
>> 50 mw
>>> so why do stations use 100+ watts *before* the antenna.. I
>> wouldn't
>>> want my kids playing around a FD site with this time of setup.
>> Wouldn't that be AMSAT's job? It's certainly possible to work an FM
>> bird with 5W from a handie, and a hand-held yagi.
>>
>> I don't understand the obsession with having all-singing-all-dancing
>> computer-controlled setups, where it automatically updates its
>> orbital elements, automatically calculates when the next pass is,
>> automatically calculates where to steer the aerial and what to tune
>> the radio to and leaving the operator to just push the PTT and shout
>> over the top of the QRP/P stations.
>>
>> All the computer-controlled stuff just plain isn't amateur radio.
>> If you want to sit in front of a computer and talk to people, use
>> Skype.
>>
>> Gordon MM0YEQ
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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
>>
>
> ____________________________________________________________
> Groupon™ Official Site
> 1 ridiculously huge coupon a day. Get 50-90% off your city's best!
> http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4e08f240241f6c2ab4st04vuc
> _______________________________________________
> 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
> settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>
------------------------------
Message: 12
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2011 09:44:10 -0500
From: Gregg Wonderly <w5ggw@xxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess
To: Joe <nss@xxx.xxx>
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <4E09E8BA.20605@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
On 6/28/2011 8:28 AM, Joe wrote:
>
> On 6/27/2011 11:17 PM, Gary "Joe" Mayfield wrote:
>> Is it fair he gets to make more contacts with his bigger better station?
>> I think I would argue it is. It is his reward for all of that effort.
>> Did he make it possible for stations that may not have otherwise made a
>> contact 80 to make a contact? Yes, he did. He was monopolizing the
>> frequency, but it seemed to make for a lot of contacts....
>>
>> Joe kk0sd
>
> All good and true, BUT.... did he monopolize the whole 80 meter band
> so no one else could use it? NO. There is a BIG difference there.
Yes there is! When working 80 meter phone, its not the only resource of its
kind that is available at the moment. Imagine if field day was only
operated on
4, 60 meter channels, and that's all we had. The people calling CQ and
hogging
those channels would get thousands of contacts each, while each person they
contacted only got 1 contact. It's those ratios that are important to
understand.
SAT operations are like only having 1 channel to operate on for all of field
day. Phone, CW and digital operations on field day on the 5 most used bands
provide 1000's of channels to use so that everyone gets a chance to find a
place
to call CQ for a while and stack up their own list of contacts.
In the two phone sessions I carried out on 10 and 15 meters, I worked more
than
40 of the US states (some have multiple areas) and 3 BC districts in 3-4 hours
of operation.
That was enough for me. I didn't need to do that for 24 hours straight, and I
would not have gotten many more contacts after that. I proved that most of
the
US was reachable from Oklahoma. With a little more attention to
propagation, I
probably could of caught Hawaii and Alaska on the grey-line.
You can't do that on a LEO satellite regularly, let alone field day. If you
want points bonuses, it's much more productive to work PSK or computer CW than
try to "win" anything on points from SAT work on field day.
So, anyone trying to say that an Oscar station hogging a SAT on field day
was a
benefit to anyone, at all, is just completely missing the bigger picture
from my
perspective.
Gregg Wonderly
W5GGW
------------------------------
Message: 13
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:05:09 -0500
From: N0JY <n0jy@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <4E09EDA5.3010303@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
e
them the analogy similar to was mentioned in this thread by another,
that trying "AO-51 (an FM single channel satellite) is like trying to
have a conversation on the local repeater with a large uncontrolled
group (no net or round table protocol) where a bunch of folks transmit
at once and double and worse and nobody can understand anyone else, for
the most part. The all understand that well enough.
So I introduce them to the linear birds, the story of AO-7 is always a
winner to capture their attention especially it being older than many of
them, and when the see the display of all of the satellites available
via SatPC32 (which I show on a monitor for all to see during the entire
event as well as some of the Amsat videos from the symposiums and
meetings I show between passes) they are excited anew at the fact that
there is way more up there than "AO-51". And we're off to the races!
Sure, it won't be for a few hours until these satellites come into range
so they disperse and operate and experience the other stations or stay
and watch some of the Amsat videos and look at the display board I also
set up or chat with us more about satellites, but when the bird comes
into range they are back and ready! I have an external speaker in
addition to our headsets, so all can see the tracking and watch the
antennas (yes, we do the whole computer aided doppler antenna rotator
and stuff like that because I did my time with hand tuning and antenna
pointing and I know good when I experience it) an the excitement and
enthusiasm is contagious even back to the old guy like me which makes it
well worth the time spent on the equipment and displays.
Oh, so there are only about 5-10 people at a time at our station... well
yes, we're small and in the "country" but it's no less worth the
effort. But that's still maybe 20-30 people or more both hams and
visitors throughout the FD ops, and of those some will become more
interested and even though it may take a few years... now that I am not
there for FD this year, there are some others who were just observing a
year or two ago who are now willing to take up the challenge and do
their best at running a satellite station for the club FD. I don't know
their setup or the results yet, I hope to read that in the next few days
as they recover from heat and exhaustion and heat exhaustion but I'm
jazzed that I (we, ALL of us who get on the satellites and make the
contacts that give them the experience) may have played a part in that
coming about.
The FM birds are great for demos at the club meeting and hamfests and
such, but I leave them alone for FD. Well, not completely... I will
check them early Sunday morning and usually get the one contact for one
or two birds because it would probably be remiss of me to let the
opportunity slip by for the spectators and the points. But only if
there are no linear birds up at the time. And the spectators find that
the FM contact wasn't necessarily so great compared to the many we could
make with one linear satellite on one pass, but it is yet another facet
of what is available to them in the amateur radio satellite world.
Don't be sad, don't be mad, don't freak out about the rules for one day
of the year where chaos ensues due to the general physics of frequency
modulation on one channel with thousands of participants... why not
educate and enjoy!
I appreciate your time if you read this far, letting me share my
thoughts from far away as a devoted Amsat and ARRL member (please reply
off reflector if you have disagreements with my personal choices of
memberships) and one who has had the PLEASURE of working satellites with
many of you over the years. It's all good.
73,
Jerry
(HK/) N0JY
------------------------------
Message: 14
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:10:40 -0500
From: R Oler <orbitjet@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess
To: <ko6th_greg@xxxxxxx.xxx>, <gary_mayfield@xxxxxxx.xxx>,
<tim_cunningham@xxxxxxx.xxx>, Amsat BB <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <COL106-W507882425341EC27A26B38D6560@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-2022-jp"
What is to prevent someone from designating themselves "net control"? sorry
this plan is doomed Robert Oler WB5MZO Live member ARRL AMSAT NARS
> From: ko6th_greg@xxxxxxx.xxx
> To: gary_mayfield@xxxxxxx.xxxx tim_cunningham@xxxxxxx.xxxx
amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
> Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 22:02:49 -0700
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess
>
>
> I agree. Set aside a single FM satellite with a designated team of high
power operators who hand off net control duties as the bird crosses the
planet. Standard operating practice in picking out call sign fragments or
by 1st letter of the suffix, and working through the pileup. The folks on
the ground will catch on fast, and I bet we'd have more points awarded per
pass than with what we do today. And, in the spirit of emergency
preparedness, operating with a net control would be a whole lot closer to
normal. (And, no, I don't expect that we'd make a lot of use of FM Voice on
a LEO in a real emergency, but we'll never know how to work that eventual
HEO bird if we don't practice on something we do have.)
>
> Greg KO6TH
>
>
>
> > From: gary_mayfield@xxxxxxx.xxx
> > To: tim_cunningham@xxxxxxx.xxxx amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
> > Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 23:17:28 -0500
> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess
> >
> > You know there is something here. I worked some late night on 80
meters. The noise was high and signals were few. I came across a station
with a big signal, and worked him easily. Then I noticed he was working
lots of folks! I suspect he had put a lot more time and energy into his 80
meter station than we had into ours. Is it fair he gets to make more
contacts with his bigger better station? I think I would argue it is. It
is his reward for all of that effort. Did he make it possible for stations
that may not have otherwise made a contact 80 to make a contact? Yes, he
did. He was monopolizing the frequency, but it seemed to make for a lot of
contacts....
> >
> > Joe kk0sd
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxx [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxx On
Behalf Of Tim Cunningham
> > Sent: Monday, June 27, 2011 9:53 PM
> > To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess
> >
>
> {snip}
>
> >
> > It is time to move forward and change the course of chaos.
> >
> > My suggestion is to allow a Net Control type of operation. Let us say
you make 5, 10 or more sequential QSO's and pass it off to another station
who can capture and command the satellite, if there is one. Efficiency is
improved when there is a target. I guess my only point here is that doing
nothing will change nothing. We still have the 1 QSO limit so nobody has to
worry about a monopoly or somebody running up there point total. I would do
it and not claim a QSO point if needed in order to see it changed for the
better. When somebody hears a target station they will call it and/or the
target station can respond to those calling. This operation clearly netted
the most QSO's being made at a specific time in history. It also clears
traffic on the satellite faster when stations get their 100 bonus points for
the ARRL event or 1 point for the AMSAT event. At this point the other
station is dancing in the field bragging about their contact plus they would
not get any addition!
al!
> credit even if they made another contact anyway. Disallowing a net style
or control point for multiple contacts on an FM satellite only promotes
chaos. This is my point and a suggestion for the box.
> >
> > ?
> >
> > Thank you for your interest and sincerity in advance,
> >
> > Tim - N8DEU
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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 member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 6, Issue 349
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