At 09:37 AM 4/2/2011, you wrote:
I have been following this discussion with some interest. I too have experienced working AO-51 in areas where the footprint is over relatively low population areas.
Despite being thrilled by my first contacts from VK4 (my home state) my enthusuiasm on AO-51 operation quickly wained due to a few "big gun" operators who seemed to consider AO-51 a private chat channel. Often passes would be completely monopolised by two or three operators leaving no gaps for other stations. Sadly when these "guns" were out of footprint there was seldom anybody to the north to contact.
I haven't worked AO-51 in a while. Last attempt was using the base station, but the antennas aren't too good. I'll have to drag out the portable station sometime and see how I go. :)
Down here in VK0 I'm pretty sure I'm the first to get the footprint and have noticed the same beahviour. Unless of course I call first (which I have done on only a few occassions). Being a "rare" stations has it's advatages!
Yes, very rare. VK0 is the only VK call are I haven't worked via satellite. :)
I guess the bottom line is to spend more time listening, have a little patience, courtesy and respect for other hams. This needs to apply to the "guns" as much as anybody else.
In the SO-35 days, I was a relative big gun, even with portable gear. I found it best to sit back, as well as occasionally help a new station score a contact.
Whilst there has been a lot of discussion about how to reign in the rogues surely the simplest solution is to ignore them? It's a practice I use in any pile-up and is an opportunity for people to change their operating behaviour.
Yep, ignoring is best, though I might make a passing comment without acknowledging their call, in the hope they get the hint.
73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com