April 2020 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Contacts with N6DNM from CM99/98 and DM08/09 grids on Apr 9, 10, 11
by Dmitry Mizin 12 Apr '20

12 Apr '20

Hi there, As I am stuck here in Tahoe region, I did a few mini roves to those grids making 131 contacts overall. All uploaded to LOTW where 81 were confirmed. I know I've worked many ops for the first time (and this sometimes true even for those who worked me before) and often other operator will make mistake with my call. So, if you do need confirmation for those grids - make sure you have my call correctly - N6DNM. If confirmations are still missing for you, email me directly with details and I will verify it on my side. Thank you all for contacts and looking forward to catching you later! Dmitry N6DNM

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Past Satellite Ham
by Brad Smith 11 Apr '20

11 Apr '20

<I talked to Julia on the phone about 2 months ago. She is well. Just busyand has not been on the birds.I told her about DMR and the AMSAT TG.Hopefully we will be able to "work" her there.> Thank you, Rick. Great to know that she is well. We have worked on SO-50 many times. I , too would love to get into the AMSAT net, if they could do it on a repeater that also does D-Star. Brad KC9UQR

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Efficient Contacts
by Brad Smith 11 Apr '20

11 Apr '20

< Cannot this be done more efficiently in only 4 transmissions instead of 5? > Most people do it in 3 transmissions. My call, your call, with my grid.Reply, with grid.QSL and your call. With the crowding on the FM birds, one has to get as inventive as one can. Lots of times, the QSL gets stepped on by a more powerful station. It happens all the time to me, as a portable. Lots of hams will still call it a contact. If I get stepped on , I try to come back to the station again. But sometimes-------------. Brad KC9UQR

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4/11 14:30z AO-92
by Roy Dean 11 Apr '20

11 Apr '20

To those in the northeast, it appears that somebody might be setting up a repeater on the 70cm uplink frequency of AO-92 (at least that's what it sounded like). I got one call sign (from NH), but there is no email address shown on QRZ to inquire about it. Might want to keep this in mind when operating the early passes on AO-92. --Roy K3RLD

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Gagarin Cup International DX Contest
by Brennan Price 11 Apr '20

11 Apr '20

There are several ways in which the Yuri Gagarin International DX Contest (CW only) is unique. One of them is that satellite QSOs count. While radiosport on satellites may seem concerning, the level of activity (at least in North America) is usually no more consuming than AMSAT CW Activity Day every New Year's Day, and certainly less consuming than Field Day (or a typical weekend FM pass). I feel it can conducted responsibly, and I am going to try this year. I invite you to join me. I plan to be QRV as time permits in this year's contest, which runs from 2100 UTC Saturday to 2100 UTC Sunday. Recommended CQ format is CQ GC de [call]. Exchange is RST (don't complicate things--599 means no more and no less than "I hear you" in the radiosport context, so send 599) and ITU Zone (8 for me). I will operate via the functional XW-2x satellites, the CAS-4x satellites, and EO-88. I will not try AO-7, as CW is more prone to cause a mode change, all other things being equal. I'll be toward the lower end of the passband when the satellite passes westish or northish from my back deck in FM18iv. I hope to work some of you. I commit to keeping my EIRP low and enjoying the passes with other users. 73 de Brennan N4QX

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Re: [amsat-bb] what is a good contact?
by Ev Tupis 11 Apr '20

11 Apr '20

This issue comes up with regularity. The answer is simple. If you want a direct answer...scroll to the last paragraph of this email. ----- Background ----- Let's play out a scenario from the point of a 3rd party listening to two sides of a valid QSO from the "old days" of voice-based meteor scatter communications: Man's Voice: CQ W2AAA CQ W2AAA CQ W2AAA Break Woman's Voice: W2AAA K0ZZ W2AAA K0ZZ W2AAA K0ZZBreak Man's Voice: K0ZZ W2AAA K0ZZ W2AAA K0ZZ W2AAA Break Woman's Voice: W2AAA S5 W2AAA S5 W2AAA S5 Break Man's Voice: Roger S5 S4 Roger S5 S4 Roger S5 S4 Break Woman's Voice: Roger S4 73 Roger S4 73 Roger S4 73 Break Man's Voice: Roger Roger Roger Break Woman's Voice: Roger Roger Roger Break Man's Voice: Roger Roger Roger Break Woman's Voice: Roger Roger Roger Break Man's Voice: Roger Roger Roger Break Woman's Voice: Roger Roger Roger Break (silence) Unless you were part of the QSO or had engaged in this particular agreed upon protocol before, you would have no way to decipher what just happened. I could explain everything that happened (including the fact that the Man's side of the QSO didn't copy enough to agree that a QSO had occurred during the last exchange and required three repeats until their QSO Protocol was satisfied)... but ultimately, the point is: A QSO is "valid" when two parties agree to a protocol (or follow an events' established protocol) and follow it to their satisfaction. Doing so honorably is part of the hobby. Regards, Ev, W2EV Chairman, Rochester VHF Group The Rochester VHF Group

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AMSAT Freq Guide April 2019
by W0JW John 10 Apr '20

10 Apr '20

I came into this posting late so if this has already been shared sorry for the band width. But if not this site will give you a lot of information. 73 John W0JW EN31be http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/satslist.htm

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AMSAT Freq Guide April 2019
by Ron VE8RT 10 Apr '20

10 Apr '20

I rely a lot on the AMSAT frequency guide, to at least double check the software (GPredict). There are several satillites listed on the April 2019 (latest guide I have) that I have no data for, TLE's or transponder. Maybe if I'd been following this list more closely I'd be up to date. They are no longer in service, or would I find them identified as something else? My 475 CAT control worked very well on the latest pass of XW-2B, too bad I couldn't hear anyone else on the west coast. Ron VE8RT -- Ron VE8RT <ve8rt(a)yknwt.ca>

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Re: [amsat-bb] what is a good contact?
by Roy Dean 10 Apr '20

10 Apr '20

> > I believe > most people use grids because then you are also elligible for all the > awards that go with grid collection. Of course, now that I think about it, if you use LotW or QSL cards, you pretty much get the grid for free no matter what - so honestly maybe grid exchange is popular just because it's quick and straight forward, and works best for people that are listening to ongoing QSOs and need specific grids? --Roy K3RLD

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Re: [amsat-bb] what is a good contact?
by Roy Dean 10 Apr '20

10 Apr '20

> > Grid squares are required, is there an alternative other than RST? > Ron VE8RT I think all you need to do is exchange ANY type of information (other than your callsign, of course - which IS mandatory). So, grid, first name, occupation, what you had for dinner, etc. I believe most people use grids because then you are also elligible for all the awards that go with grid collection. I also believe that using a recording (that you actually made yourself on the pass) is totally legit. Using a recording from a satnogs station 500 miles away - not so much. I'm not a grid-chaser, per se - so I'm sure somebody else will give you the official position on both questions. --Roy K3RLD

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