While we are collecting cents! AO-40 a HEO was available for up to 12 hours each pass. Doppler and antenna pointing happened slowly for most of the pass. I had one antenna on a step ladder the other on a tripod. A slight adjustment every half hour was all that was needed. I worked 10 foreign countries and all across the US. I could set up and work at my leisure as many Stations as I wanted to. 1/2 to one hour QSO's were common. It was not rush and set up your gear have a 5 minute hair raising QSO experience, controlling Doppler on two frequencies using one knob, or throwing out a perfectly good operating radio because the computer control doesn't work. Art, KC6UQH
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Larry Gerhardstein Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2010 6:58 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] My $0.02 worth
I don't feel a bit sorry for those who gripe on this BB about there not being enough HEO birds, too many FM birds (operators), not enough linear transponders, or the like. Yesterday, I encountered a nice FO-29 pass with maxEL about 60 degrees here at my QTH. I heard no one, yet I could hear my CW/SSB downlink signal from the bird loud and clear. For awhile the footprint covered the entire 48 state region. I thus called CQ for nearly 15 minutes, but no one (that's zero, na-da) came back to my calls.
Then later there was a good VO-52 pass and I did manage to work N6PAA, very good clear SSB signals both ways. But during the 10-15 minutes of that pass, I heard no one else in a QSO or calling CQ etc.
I think before we start making complaints about the current state of affairs, we seriously consider making use of those resources we do have at present. And then make a financial donation to the various AMSAT's and teams working to make future birds possible. We all want another HEO with lots of modes/bands, but complaining will not make one magically appear.
73, Larry W7IN, DN27, Plains Montana.
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