July 2008 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

New schedule uploaded to AO-27
by George Henry 18 Jul '08

18 Jul '08

I just noticed that a new schedule was uploaded to AO-27 on June 29th... Users of the Java schedule lister will want to make sure that you have updated the TOPR.TXT and EPOCH.TXT files to the latest versions. 73, George, KA3HSW

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Re: Icom IC-2820
by Clint Bradford 18 Jul '08

18 Jul '08

Make sure SUB BAND AUDIO MUTE is OFF, and, yes, this is a true dual- receive - and complex! - mobile rig. >>... My dealer is clueless.... Then change dealers. Any dealer who wouldn't take the time to pull an owners manual or look it up on the manufacturer's Web ste for you doesn't care about its clients. Take your six hundred bucks elsewhere. Clint Bradford, K6LCS

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Re: How volunteerism works...
by Ken Ernandes 18 Jul '08

18 Jul '08

Bob - good diplomatic explanation! 73, Ken Ernandes N2WWD -----Original Message----- >From: Robert Bruninga <bruninga(a)usna.edu> >Sent: Jul 18, 2008 9:14 AM >To: AMSAT-BB(a)AMSAT.Org >Subject: [amsat-bb] How volunteerism works... > >Again we see lots and lots of ideas of what "needs to be >done"... And most of them are pointed at better "management"... >Or better "direction" of what is being done (by others)... > >The issue in an all volunteer organization is not "what" needs >to be done, but who will step forward and do it, not the >"management and direction" but the actual WORK. That requires >volunteers with the knowledge, skills, time and energy, and >thick skin, Especially under the hail of rocks and stones from >the peanut gallery... > >Counter productive to getting the work we need done (volunteers >we need) is the attitude from the peanut gallery about getting >in there and "kicking butt" and "better management"... You do >that in an all volunteer organization and soon there is nothing >left but managers and butt kickers and complainers. > >This happens in every aspect of ham radio all the way down to >the local clubs and all the way to the top. You'd think by now >that the old-fuds who clamour for more effort (from others) have >about 30 years of experience with how this does NOT work in ham >radio. Progress is made by self motivated individuals who see a >need and jump in to fill it. > > It is very simple! > >If you can contribute "work" then jump in and do it. Othwerwise >"get out of the way" and contribute money, food, encouragement, >and assistance to those that do. "Ankle-biting, naysaying, and >complaining" accomplish absolutely nothing forward. If you >don't like the direction things are going, then jump in and go >another way and see if you can find followers (workers, not >ditto-heads)... But get out of the way of those that are making >progress in their direction... That's the only way progress is >made in volunteer organizations... > >This is surely what this old-fud has learned in the last 30 >years... >Bob, WB4APR > >_______________________________________________ >Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. 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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Vanishing Hams
by K5GNA＠aol.com 18 Jul '08

18 Jul '08

Hi All, I read the article yesterday that Frank had referred to and forwarded it to a few friends. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I received this URL today. Read number 16. _http://www.walletpop.com/specials/top-25-things-vanishing-from-america?i_ (http://www.walletpop.com/specials/top-25-things-vanishing-from-america?i) cid=100214839x1205495530x1200282778 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Every time I go to an annual swapfest, the average age of attendees is one year older. We need to spend some time reaching out to a younger generation or #16 on the list will come true. Many years ago, it was in the national interest to have a cadre of trained radio operators. Today, with CB, Cell Phones, cordless phones, FRS, etc. -- everyone is a radio operator. Now, military communications is done with a keyboard or microphone -- pretty much universal skills now. As the article mentions, the airwaves are valuable property and we could lose them. Although the Amateur Radio Community shines when there is loss of communications during a disaster, with newer technology, even that could change. A few years ago at the 2002 AMSAT meeting in Ft. Worth, Tony, AA2TX was giving a talk on his antennas made from cardboard boxes and aluminum foil. There was a grade school class in attendance with their teacher. When the talk was over, the kids swarmed over the boxes and aluminum foil to make antennas with great enthusiasm. Very inspiring -- this is the kind of reaching out we need. Instead of our self serving pursuit of DXCC, WAS, VUCC, WAC and others, maybe the ARRL needs to sponsor an award for bringing new Hams into the community. Otherwise, someday, no one will remember what those letters even stood for. 73 & TNX, Bob K5GNA **************Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live music scene in your area - Check out TourTracker.com! (http://www.tourtracker.com?NCID=aolmus00050000000112)

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WTB: Bird 4410-15 element
by Joe W2KJ 18 Jul '08

18 Jul '08

Still looking for a Bird 4410-15 element for my 4410A wattmeter. This 100W element covers 1.0Ghz to 1.8 Ghz. Anyone out there have a spare?? 73, Joe W2KJ

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AMSAT-UK Colloquium - Just 3 Days Left to Book
by Trevor 18 Jul '08

18 Jul '08

There are just 3 days left to place a booking for the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium. The 23rd AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will be held at the University of Surrey, Guildford, England from Friday 25th until Sunday 27th July. Dr Rob Gowen, Department of Space & Climate Physics (Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London and Coordinator of the UK Lunar Penetrator Consortium) will give the keynote speech on "Science Penetrators for the UK MoonLITE mission". There will be presentations from AMSAT-DL on both the eagerly awaited P3E satellite and the pioneering Mars Orbiter P5A. This will be the first private venture spacecraft to travel to the Red Planet providing Radio Amateurs with some true DX signals. The Delfi-C3 team will be giving presentations on their exiting new satellite. Its SSB/CW 435/145 linear transponder will activated soon and is sure to prove popular with satellite enthusiasts world-wide. The Colloquium is open to all Radio Amateurs and SWL's. Either day passes or full packages comprising overnight accommodation and meals are available. An online booking service is available with PayPal, Visa and Master Card payments accepted. For further details see http://www.uk.amsat.org/Colloquium/ A site map showing location of the Management Building and the adjacent main car park and conference visitors parking can be seen at http://www.uk.amsat.org/images/stories/uosmap6.jpg Travel information: http://www.uk.amsat.org/content/view/23/52/ AMSAT-UK Tel: +44 (0)1258 453959 Email: g3wgm(a)amsat.org Web: http://www.uk.amsat.org/ ---- 73 Trevor M5AKA ---- __________________________________________________________ Not happy with your email address?. Get the one you really want - millions of new email addresses available now at Yahoo! http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/ymail/new.html

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where all the users
by WILLIAMS MICHAEL 18 Jul '08

18 Jul '08

If the HEO is launched, they will come. Mike K9QHO AMSAT 33589

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Torture
by ANTHONY JAPHA 18 Jul '08

18 Jul '08

Bird Admirers, I've been reading the bb and feel like I'm emerging from a torture chamber. (That can't really be the case because torture is illegal here--or is it?) We have serious problems as an organization, though it's tough to be specific because the info we're given on the subjects closest to our hearts has been so woefully inadequate. From the viewpoint of a long time AMSAT member (LM183) that seems indisputable. It's possible that a great deal of this unpleasantness could have been avoided if the folks who are aware of the facts would have made them widely available. The membership is entitled to know quickly when important things change, whether that's a change in approach to getting a new bird up, a fundamental change in design philosophy for a new bird, financial difficulties, or a significant personnel change. We've been given next to nothing, and naturally that breeds discomfort, to say the least. NO MORE PABLUM, PLEASE. Unless our leaders have given up completely on HEOs, and I don't think they have, a development schedule is a must. No serious project, whether built by paid pros, volunteers, or elves, can be pursued without one. (Schedules for project components change, it's true, and when that happens, the master schedule is usually adjusted, and a new one is promulgated.) In our case, because the launch is so uncertain, perhaps the final milestone on our project schedule should be "Ready for Spaceship Integration" or some such. There is widely used computer based project management software available. Without a well-known and well-disseminated development schedule, there is no project, and our leadership should understand that. What about financial, management, and technical resources? We know that there are serious--possibly fatal--financial obstacles to launch. But what about other constraints? Is there enough money to develop and build the bird or not? I have never heard a statement on the matter. What are the specific areas in which technical and managerial volunteers are needed? My sense is that if the outlook for resources is that we'll have enough for everything except the launch, then we should get Eagle and/or the Intelsat thing ready as fast as prudently possible. Everyone--designers, builders, Board, membership at large-- will have a great sense of achievement. Then, if it comes to naught, we'll all know that we did what we could. As it stands, it seems it would take a great deal of time--years-- to be ready even if a launch opportunity appeared. But then again, I'm not at all sure of that, because for information we have available is, well, woefully inadequate. One final thought: I'm just as tired of reading posts that come down hard on "complainers and whiners" as I am of the rest of it. We do have very serious unresolved issues that threaten the future of our piece of this great hobby. Why shouldn't people complain about that and urge resolution? Calls to "stop complaining and volunteer" strike me as rather hollow. What is it that we're volunteering for, envelope stuffing (everyone can do it), building something (very few can do it), strategic thinking (many think they can do it)? Again, give us the facts and, with the impressive talent we can draw from, we'll come up with some answers. Without the facts, we won't. 73, Tony, N2UN

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Re: NAMASTE AND EAGLE PROJECT ARE DEAD!!!
by John Mock KD6PAG 17 Jul '08

17 Jul '08

Software and hardware design skills are not at all the same as people and management skills. I can tell you from years of experience that the best designers are often not the best managers (to say the least). But for many years, management positions have been the only way up and that has not always had the best results. Hence there has evolved in the software business (at least) the senior position of chief architect. Thus someone will exemplary technical skills is recognized (and paid) accordingly, and expected to manage the design, not the people. This gives a project the guidance it really needs without putting such a technically valuable person into a management position that (s)he may not be well suited for. I don't know if this is at all applicable to AMSAT-NA, but perhaps it is at least worth thinking about. Respectfully submitted, -- KD6PAG (Networking Old-Timer, Satellite QRPer) --------------------

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AMSAT-NA, our future
by Dave Guimont 17 Jul '08

17 Jul '08

My mission has been successful. The recent diatribes (mine) brought a lot of the people out of the woodwork. And if the shoe fits, wear it...I am just looking for information... Now some facts: Project Oscar launched AO7 (ssb,cw) 34 years ago, a LEO. India launched VO52 (ssg. cw) 3 years ago, a LEO. Both very successful for many qso's, simultaneously, and miraculously AO7 came back to life. I can certainly understand that AMSAT-NA cannot afford a HEO...Hopefully, AMSAT-DL can. Now the questions (for the Board of Directors, or anyone that has the answers). What are our future plans for launching another hamsat? And when? If no launch plans are in the mill, what will be done with the funds we presently have? For what is the money now being spent?? Why are we in existence?? 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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