Tucker, I hear what you're saying. But I'm pretty sure Dave is remembering a world of HEO's you may not have experienced, and it's not just having a shot of working Peter on RS-44 (as excited as I was to do it for the first time). I looked back through some log book pages from the early 90's, and what you find are things like regular, predictable contacts with friends all over the world, and the theoretical possibility of eventually working most any country you could find on HF, without the need for computer driven arrays and doppler correction. Sure, you could use them, but you could easily live without them. With a Yaesu sat rig, and enough antenna for a bit of ERP, the capabilities were amazing. AMSAT has a good plan they've committed to and followed, but reading Dave's sentiments I wonder if there aren't a fair number of people like Dave that would contribute to a dedicated HEO project, and volunteer to make that project happen. There is a chance that would cannibalize donations, perhaps, but my guess is that given the number of boomers that remember the good old days, there might be some untapped energy and resources that a dedicated, well-publicized effort would draw out. Scott ka9p
-----Original Message----- From: KI7UNJ Tucker via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org To: David J. Schmocker kj9idave@charter.net Cc: AMSAT BB amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thu, Jun 18, 2020 9:59 am Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] need HEO .. please..
David,
"Forgive me, for I am but a humble DXer. How is DXing possible without HEO?"
It's very possible to work a DX with just the LEO sats we have now, heck I'm in Oregon and have managed to work Spain and many other countries in that area. The east coast ops are able to work DEEP into the EU and even able to work EU with just FM on AO-91. 2M0SQL (Whom I have worked via LEO) is in Scotland is able to work all the way to the west coast of US via RS-44/AO-7 with passes almost daily, and yes those are LEO sats.
People who say "working DX isn't possible with LEO" need to take a look at orbits, and probably get our of their comfort zone, you won't get much DX on an overhead pass... you need to get out and work those 1* passes or venture out more and get up on a hill and work a negative degree pass. LEO DX is 100% possible!
Sadly, many are just complaining instead of using what we have and or donating. Many of said complainers have no concept of the design/skills/time/money/effort/programming/de-orbital requirements they think its just wham bam the sat is in space.
Read more about what AMSAT is doing to go higher, and DONATE all on this page! https://www.amsat.org/greater-orbit-larger-footprint-an-introduction-to-the-...
MEO or an HEO satellite sounds great and I can't wait, it would be fun and allow me to work many more DX.
/R KI7UNJ
On Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 4:57 AM David J. Schmocker via AMSAT-BB < amsat-bb@amsat.org> wrote:
Everyone: My thoughts are in full alignment with Joe's view.. "Why no HEO?" Without HEO, my interest in satellites is.. zero.
Forgive me, for I am but a humble DXer. How is DXing possible without HEO?
My donations start and increase in proportion to the satellite orbital height.
very 73,
Dave KJ9I
On 6/17/20 5:08 PM, Joe Leikhim via AMSAT-BB wrote:
Zach; As a long time member of AMSAT, I can assure you I did donate for the AO-40 project. But since that time there have been no significant HEO projects. LEO and primarily FM oriented satellites have been the rule. Year after year, the focus has been on these short term, low earth projects or ARISS.
Who cares if an HEO requires COTS space rated modules to be considered a payload? There is plenty of work to be done on the ground building an earth station.
Paul; Why no outreach to the industry. Elon Musk? A free AMSAT membership, some Honorary AMSAT Knighthood? Anybody ever give him a call?
I know part of this is ITAR and the US basically screwing ourselves by embargoing technology.
"Donate early, donate often.
- No amateur-built hardware on the satellite -- Yes, specifying and
overseeing development takes a LOT of work. I do this for my day job, not satellites, but just as complex. However, designing, building, testing, and deploying amateur-built hardware is what I feel AMSAT is all about. --- Zach N0ZGO"
"There are many political and economic factors that made the partnership with AMSAT-DL possible. "
"the most senior political official we've had who was active in amateur radio was Sen. Barry Goldwater. Currently, Rep. Greg Walden is the only amateur radio operator I'm aware of in high levels of government and he's retiring when his term ends in January.
73,
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Executive Vice President AMSAT"
I really just hear excuses when others ask the same question, why no HEO?
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