Dave,
It is obvious that there is a whole generation of Leo-FM sat users that are clueless of what ham radio on a Heo linear-tranponder is like. Although it must be harder than a cell phone since so many cannot seem to figure out how to operate on the Leos...I would say it is not "much" harder than using the local repeater.
I offer an analogy: Compare all the ham radio contacts that are done on HF with the same number of folks trying to talk thru a single FM repeater! First it cannot be done; second the attempt results in total chaos with "big fish" eating the little fishes!
I am waiting for the next Heo and hoping it survives better than the last one.
73 Ed - KL7UW
At 12:31 PM 5/14/2008, Dave Guimont wrote:
John, the operation of FM voice satellites is a travesty for ham radio...
I've been licensed for 57 years, on amateur satellites for 33 years (Oscar 7) and the FM voice operation is the most ridiculous aberration I've witnessed in all of amateur radio...Pandemonium exists here also!!
It is pretty obvious NO COMMUNICATION exists on AO51, all of their communication is on here. Why do they bother to turn the radio on???
Many of us attended AMSAT a lot conventions in an attempt to discourage throwing that money "down the tubes" on FM voice, to no avail. Someone had an "ax to grind", and several of the existing "powers that be" in AMSAT-NA told me to "mind my own business". They were obviously the "ax grinders".
FM voice on the amateur satellites is about equal to the same degree of difficulty as a cell phone operation!
No wonder our membership is deteriorating.
Ancient AO7 and present VO52 hopefully are keeping some interest, until Europe launches P3E....
That's where my donations go.....
At 10:14 AM 5/13/2008, you wrote:
In 17 years of satellite operating - and literally thousands of QSO's, I'm proud of the fact that I have actually had 2 - (that's two, folks) - QSO's on FM. I believe the last one was W3SM/OE on AO-27 about 10 years ago.
For want of something better to do today I went outside with my arrow aerial, a MYCOM handheld scanner and a little IC-E91 (also handheld) to have a listen to AO-51 ... (I've heard it described
as a "zoo").
I monitored the 16:15Z pass over Russia/LA/Europe/UK and what I heard can only be described as the worst operating I've heard in 41 years of radio.
I also sincerely hope that the standard of operating (read: disipline/ proceedure) is better in North America than it is in Europe - actually, I've listened via N1DID and Echolink, as well as the promo video so I know it is.
73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1@san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...
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