While I certainly agree with the intent of the QRP transponder on AO-51; you might want to consider the possibility that the station calling CQ may not be aware of it. Not all the hams who work, or attempt to work the satellites are active on this reflector, or even read up on how to properly work a satellite.
I always try to send an email to the person who can't hear anything, and 9 times out of 10 I receive an email back thanking me for letting them know they were heard, and asking me why they can't seem to hear anything. It then translates into a bit of Elmering to get them to put up either better antennas or just send them towards some of the articles on the Amsat web page.
A number of those hams are now active 'new' hams on the birds. If you have his call, why not send them a nice email, saying they were heard, and it's not proper etiquette to call CQ on an FM satellite continuously; and point them to this reflector or the AMSAT web.
Recently on this reflector there have been several posts about the over abundance of activity, abuse and interference on AO-51; even one that surprised the heck out of me from one of the AMSAT officers. Seems to me that we might need another LEO or 2 to tied us over since the loss of AO-27 and AO-16. While it seems that most of the posts on here eventually go on a tangent towards the lack of a HEO, the use of the LEOS are exponentially going up. Just my .02 worth.
73 de W4AS Sebastian
On Feb 20, 2009, at 9:51 PM, John Price wrote:
During the over head pass this evening of AO-51 on the QRP transponder there was a station that called QC from AOS to LOS. He obviously could not hear himself or anyone else. A couple of stations tried to call him and got no answer. I wont give the call but I am sure he it was him. What a shame! Hard to believe anyone would be that inconsiderate. I don't know if the DX was on or not but they sure would have had no chance if they were. Then someone started sending music towards the end of the pass. How bad is ham radio going to get before we all get feed up and find another hobby? Sure is causing me to rethink my opinion.
-- N4QWF Amateur Radio Operator