On 05/07/20 13:27, jim--- via AMSAT-BB wrote:
Remember, just because you are interested in grid square chasing or DXing, not everybody is. There are people who could not care less about a rare grid square, state, or DX station. What they want to do is say Hi to their friends. <snip> Of course this discussion applies to far more than just FM satellite operation.
All,
I completely agree with Jim, and I'll go further:
Please, support AMSAT's mission to put bigger payloads, more bands, and more linear "bent-pipe" capability in orbit! Donate time, money, or talent to the cause. Not every project needs to be working on the space platform -- there's plenty of educational and advanced user terminal (SDR, dedicated hardware, etc.) development needed right here on Earth to fully utilize the amateur radio satellites.
We need to increase our utilization of every band open to us for Amateur Satellite service, so we don't lose them (such as the likely fate of 3.5 GHz, which includes a satellite allocation).
More orbiting bandwidth means more people participating in any way they want to, be it grid-chasing, DX, or simply chatting casually with an old or new friend.
--- Zach N0ZGO