I could see how writing down calls would help you work sats. It forces you to really try and hear and understand the callsign of the person you're trying to work.
What I do is when I hear a callsign I repeat it exactly as the op said it in my head. This usually allows me to say it back when I want to call them. Occasionally I get mixed up when people call me and I can't repeat their call fully/accurately and I'll just say QSL as I know I have it on my recording. I prefer not to do that of course.
Do what works for you!
73, John Brier KG4AKV On Thu, Dec 13, 2018 at 12:45 PM Ryan Noguchi via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
I certainly wouldn't rule out real-time logging by hand during the pass. It may not be that difficult to position one's equipment to leave a free hand to log heard calls and grids (and identify completed QSOs) during a pass while receiving. That's exactly what I do, and I'm always pedestrian-mobile when working the satellites. Sometimes I use my car's trunk as a writing surface, but I'm carrying everything else on my person. One hand holds the antenna, and the other holds a PTT switch (for the linears) or presses the PTT switch on my earpiece only when I transmit, and writes when I'm receiving. Recording audio is fine for post-pass confirmation but provides no aid to the operator during the pass. Real-time hand-logging made a huge and immediate positive impact on my ability to work the satellites.
73, Ryan AI6DO
On Thursday, December 13, 2018, 8:50:25 AM PST, John Brier <johnbrier@gmail.com> wrote:Don't forget to record at least yourself, if not the radio audio if you can get the audio connections working right (you might have to use a splitter). Repeat the callsign of the station you worked so the recorder picks it up. That way you know who you contacted. There is no time to write stuff down while holding all that gear.
73, John Brier KG4AKV
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