Mr. Kubiac,
Just before checking email and reading this post from you, I heard myself in CW on AO-7 Mode B for more than 20 minutes - using a station that I'll bet is far less appropriate and effective than the one you have collecting dust. I mention that because AO-7, FO-29 and VO-52 are wonderful satellites with linear transponders that hardly anyone uses. And for the past several months, amateurs around the world have been able to make unique and - I believe, at least - historic contacts on AO-16 using a V-FM/U-SSB configuration. That Grand Old Girl has about reached her final LOS for at least several years, which is sad.
My point simply is to suggest to you that, as I write this, there as many satellites in orbit that appear to be at least close to what you are calling for as there are LEO FM satellites - but only if you include the ISS in the latter. Without the ISS repeater, the linear satellites outnumber the currently active LEO FM satellites.
I am a member of AMSAT, but also a member of ARRL. Following your logic, I should drop my ARRL membership because the league supports a lot of activities and modes that I have no interest in. And with all due respect, sir - it's not that you cannot use the "stinking" satellites that are in orbit. You choose not to.
I don't see how that choice - or the choice to NOT support the only organization that can, feasibly, get a satellite that doesn't stink into orbit for amateur use - helps the cause. Maybe you can help me understand.
73 to all,
Tim - N3TL Athens, Ga. - EM84ha
-------------- Original message from "Jack K." [email protected]: --------------
I hesitate to toss my two cents in as I am not a member of AMSAT and have not been one for a long time as AMSAT apparently has moved in directions my interests do not lie. I still read the bb messages and I still want to get back on the sats, but 15 second more or less contacts do no interest me regardless of what the mode is. I have no interest in chasing sates to listen to their telemetry - My feeling is that if I can not use the stinking thing, then I am not going to support it.
So until there are some SSB high level sats going up or there is something beyond the "lets talk about it" stage my efforts and my wallet won't support AMSAT or anyone else. Yeah I know I am by using the BB and yes that makes me a moocher, but on the other hand maybe someone will read it and take a hint and once more I will have something usefull to me and my efforts and bucks will once more flow outward instead of just dusting my old Sat equipment which I should have sold long ago, but kept believing that one day AMSAT would have a high level Sat again that actually worked when it went up
DE KD1PE
Sent via [email protected]. 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