Hi Clayton!
Since I am relatively “green” myself to FM satellite rover operation,
I've been reading your recent grid-expedition exploits here on the -BB. Hope to catch you on from some of those places in the near future.
I will share an observation from a recent grid expedition in West Texas. I’ve observed a behavior that I refer to as “Armageddon grid.” This means the rover operator is activating a grid for the last time before the world meets a fiery demise and doesn't know it until he gives his call and grid square.
<snip>
If you miss that desired grid today, doesn’t that leave opportunity for you to work it on another day?
Most who operate from the rare grids are already aware of the rareness of the grid(s). This is why the operators are on from there much of the time. Beyond the constant wall of callers who do not allow a gap for the station in the rare grid(s) to respond, it is entirely possible that the station won't be on from that grid again. Whether it is a shipborne station who will be in another grid after that pass or someone on a road trip who can't stay in that grid for whatever reason (travel schedule, weather, etc.), that is why it sometimes sounds like what you describe.
I can go over the list of 60 grids I have worked from over the past few years, and there are at least 10 that have not been on the air since my trip(s) to them. Add in the new operators who were not on the air before, and there could be a large crowd trying to work that rare grid. It does *not* justify poor operating procedure by those trying to make that QSO. Just be ready to deal with it, with a good station and your good operating procedure.
Now, time to get ready for an upcoming VO-52 pass from the back yard... :-)
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/