Angelo N5UXT
Thank you for writing. I have had quite a few responses direct to me and off the AMSAT BB . . . but since your email provided me the opportunity to reply to ALL and copy the BB I am using that opportunity . . .the direct responses have all been favorable . . . I still do not read AMSAT BB . . . thanks to all who have written direct . . .
. . . I usually end up operating from some island ( DX Country ) every year. . . this year my operation was from VP5 land and it was all CW a few weeks ago . . . I do not operate split frequency . . . I am old school and I am able to run pile ups at high rates like K5D without telling the callers where to go to call . . . I consider (and many of my old school peers join me) spreading stations out over 5khz to 10 khz a disgrace . . . I hear a DX station taking up 5 khz to 10 khz of spectrum which just shows poor operating because they can not pick out stations unless they are spread out so wide. . . I usually respond to callers within 1 khz of my operating frequency . . . . infrequently responding to sharp operators who call below my frequency (and in the clear) . . . I also operate without using the CW filters so I can hear more stations at once and use the filter in my brain to pick out stations . . . it is a skill that has taken decades to achieve . . .my CW speed usually is 35 + wpm . . .I suggest that those who want to learn how to operate CW DX purchase Bob Locher, W9KNI's book on : How to Work DX . . . ARRL sells it . . . Bob and I went to college together 50 years ago and he makes the famous Bencher paddles . . .
You and I can agree that there are different cultures, that is life . . . I consider myself somewhat of an iconoclast in today's culture but mainstream when it comes to getting things done efficiently and effectively . . . making the maximum QSOs in the shortest time frame . .. that is how the game is played on a DXpedition like K5D . . .
years ago (1952) the DX on Ten Meters had privileges below 28.5 mhz on AM phone and that is where a lot of the DX operated. American hams did not have operating privileges below 28.5 and operated split (on phone) . . . you adapted if you wanted to catch the DX and it took some ingenuity . . .things do change and folks need to adapt . . . but spreading out so wide shows poor operating ability on the DX operator . .
what is abundantly clear on AO 51 is a lack of respect for your fellow operator . . . an intolerance for patience . . . when some well known operators go to a rare grid square (grid square collecting as you know is a common addiction to the AO 51 operator) and announce that they are operating portable from Grid XX xx folks just call CQ or operate on top of the station who has taken time and spent money to go somewhere for their fellow operator . . . an example of lack of respect and us old timers call that being a LID . . .
like others I have taken the time to email or call on the telephone operators who have NO EARS (can not hear but continue to call to the annoyance of the community) . . . I have helped several and received their gratitude . . . others told me to mind my own business . . . I do not feel I should mind my own business . . . it is MY BUSINESS that all hams show respect to others and to the hobby that most of us love . . . I still enjoy CW on the transponder satellites from time to time . . . most of those that have replied direct to me and off AMSAT BB agree with me and feel that AO 51 is a shining example of CB Radio at its worst. . . it is what it is (modern saying) . .
as for flaming . . . there is no place for lack of civility . . . thanks for your view point . . .attempting to work DX on a satellite via an FM repeater is a fool's folly . . . I personally know several of the K5D operators. . . I doubt that they had any idea of what to expect from their satellite experience . . . they do now . . . having operated on several large DXpeditions where RATE (total number of QSOs) is the goal there will be a reluctance in the future to allocate the hauling of gear and the expenditure of time to working the satellites . . . just my opinion . . . I do favor free speech and civility. . . thank you for taking the time to write . .
NO I have not left this (satellite) part of the hobby . . . I got back on after being off for 30 years plus and successfully achieved a goal of making a contact with the International Space Station (ISS) . . . that was one of my biggest thrills in ham radio . . I cherish the recording of that exchange . . .
my current station for the birds is a good one with elevation and azimuth control and 12 db + yagis . . . also computer assist on control of the doppler effect . . . learning how to assemble such a station and integrate the software and hardware was a learning experience . . . the operating just helps me validate my ability to do it properly . . .I had assistance from others who heard me making some mistakes .. . I owe then a debt of gratitude for their help . . . . .I doubt that the LIDS on AO51 use the sophistication that is available to them . . . that is why the transponders (SSB/CW) are free of poor operating . . . and how you get suprised by having stations like HR1LW call you on CW on VO 52 . . .
you might even hear me on AO 51 again . . . I learned long ago never to rule out anything . . . but like a lot of folks I try to avoid listening to poor operating by LIDS . . .
73 Jim W9VNE