Unlike 20 meters, where everyone is transmitting on their OWN equipment, AO-51 is a "repeater" in the sky, owned & controlled by AMSAT, and the rights to use of which can be withdrawn or restricted at any time. Just like the owner/control operator(s) of a terrestrial repeater, Drew (and every other control op) has the absolute right to shut down/reprogram the satellite for ANY reason he deems fit. Further, AMSAT has the right to ban anyone from using the satellite, under penalty of law, just as a repeater owner can control who may use his repeater or any of its features.
If someone was incessantly whistling, causing interference by keying up dead carriers over other stations without ID'ing, or pulling other similar shenanigans on any of the terrestrial repeaters that I am a control op for, I would have shut it down...
George, KA3HSW
----- Original Message ----
From: "Gary "Joe" Mayfield" gary_mayfield@hotmail.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thu, March 31, 2011 7:01:50 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: -={Echo Madness}=-
[snip]
AO-51 is a zoo at times, so is 20 meters during contests. It is the nature of the beast. As time goes on people will figure out how to make contacts, whether it is change birds, change times, or change tactics. I believe limiting access is a bad idea.
[snip]