Wes NA1ME, I enjoyed reading your article. Since moving to a new QTH 3 years ago after living in the previous QTH for 42 years,I have not replaced the multitude of antennas that I once had. That includes Satelliteantennas which had been high on a roof-tower complete with AZ-EL rotators. That hasresulted in my only SAT operations being as a Rover. I have roved all over the US andCanada and to KL7. My joy is giving new Grids to those folks striving for Gridmaster.You can see the numerous Grids activated on my QRZ page. Much of my operating is on the Linear SATs since the chaos and mayhem on the FMbirds can be more than I wish to deal with. Although my main enjoyment in Ham Radiois operating HF CW (with a fair amount of FT8/4), my SAT operating is Phone. WorkingCW from the tailgate of my SUV has not been in my repertoire as of yet. Drifting up the Band on Linear SATs? I admit that am GUILTY! The rig is an IC-820 andthe antenna is an Arrow on a tripod. Operation in all respects is manual. Trying to adjustfor Doppler and tuning for callers and adjust AZ-EL on the antenna while making QSOsis almost the limit of my capabilities. So, drifting up the Band happens until I endup landing on someone's existing Freq/QSO. Then, I nudge my TX down again a fewKHz. My long-time friend and mentor, John K8YSE, has sent me info on a device that can beused without a computer to adjust my XCVR for Doppler. It's from CSN Technologies.I'll be looking into getting one of those if it is compatible with my IC-820. When I set up at a rove location, I try to be about 5 KHz below center on the downlinkso as not to bother regular QSO folks above center. My desire is also not to bother theCW folks that I expect to be very low in the Bandpass. If you hear me on and want a CWQSO, I'll answer you by using the Tone-Pad on my Mic. HIHI 73, Bob K8BL
Monday, August 23, 2021, 04:03:39 PM EDT, Wes Baden [email protected] wrote:
My two cents. When I joined AMSAT two years ago, I received several written materials about best operating practices (even though, as I discovered, information was out of date and not being practiced any longer). One was: CW below the center of the bandpass, SSB above it, on linear satellites. I quickly discovered, however, SSB stations were operating both below and above center, and CW stations, while generally below center, sometimes could be heard above it. Is a return to the future appropriate? That is, CW and SSB where they supposedly existed once upon a time? For the past 18 months, as a CW guy 75% of the time, I start calling CQ or listening for CW activity beginning about 5 kHz below center and drift down in frequency during a pass (not having Doppler software). But I'm not sure if even that much space is needed for CW ops, especially given that activity on satellites seems to be about 3/4 SSB and 1/4 CW. I'd be happy to see just the bottom 5-10 kHz of any bandpass reserved for CW, if some sort of band plan is adopted and comes into general use. That also would get me off my butt and finally install Doppler software. I'd also love to see "CW activity days," scheduled on a regular basis, for example the first Saturday of every month, but that just may be my pipe dream. Also, the AMSAT material that I received two years ago contemplated "The One True Rule," which seems to have disappeared unless I'm not seeing it on the air. Another return to the future? That is, holding a receive frequency and nudging transmit frequency around? Of course, that does not solve the problem of stations drifting through the receive frequency that you're keeping constant, which happens now. Constantly adjusting power downward is a good operating practice that definitely needs emphasis. I've discovered, while operating, that I've often needed to reduce power a lot more often than tinkering with tuning manually. And yes, CW ops should be encouraged to use SSB filtering, not CW filtering, on receive. Great idea. You'll be able to take quick action to avoid QRM'ing others. Also, I don't know how many juicy DX stations I've worked (48 entities now) because they were a little off frequency--and I still heard them with the SSB filter on, but I never would have if I had used a CW filter. Finally, re digital modes: I'm not a fan, but if allowed on linear satellites, educating ops to reduce power to a minimum is critically important, so as not to QRM CW and SSB stations elsewhere in the bandpass. Digital modes limited to a certain swatch of the bandpass, if a band plan is adopted? Say the uppermost 5-10 kHz? All this said, I find that the vast majority of ops, 90-95%, are very courteous on the air and make use of best operating practices. I don't feel soured in any way, operating CW and SAT on linear satellites. It's still a magical experience for this OT, who started in 1957 with a Heathkit AT-1 and Hallicrafter S-38D receiver. Wes NA1ME
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