Dave,
Think the simple answer to get back to MEO/GEO/HEO has ultimately money, free rides are hard, QO-100 happened thanks to Qatar footing the bill, but you've had plenty responses to that.
Your comment about DX, There's still DX to be had on LEO, I know Chris NK1K has been doing really well working DXCCs and probably isn't far off 100, however I can say in my own experience there's still DX to be had I moved QTH and more importantly DXCC 2 years ago from Oxford, England to Elgin, Scotland (If you have bought Speyside whisky its on my doorstep)
I'm sitting around 70 DXCCs worked and nearly 300+ squares you can check my live grid map at https://logbooks.2m0sql.com/2m0sql/index.php/gridsquares/satellites
Note thats all LEO, not QO-100 still finishing off my ground station.
See you on the birds!
Peter, 2M0SQL
On Mon, 29 Jul 2019 at 00:06, David J. Schmocker via AMSAT-BB [email protected] wrote:
Everyone: Solution/recommendation: HEO ASAP (yes I am aware of GOLF) to make DX possible and bring in a new 'market' (revenue) and interest level to AMSAT.
Perspective (from an active and avid ham who is still on the sidelines about satellites) is:
disclaimer first: (if this offends anyone, I apologize in advance; for we all have varying interests).. and diversity is good).
My new very capable all-mode satellite radio and two new antennas (a G3RUH Helix and a WiMo 2m RHCP) are still in the box.. why?
- I am also building a large EME array that's all-consuming, and I have
yet to find a suitable (mechanically balanced) satellite rotor solution (and lack the time to build my own).
- Currently I see very little DX possible on satellites; therefore my
interest level in satellites is poor to moderate at best.
- My QTH has 60 foot trees and so putting something near ground here is
not feasible to work the pass-ends needed for DX.
I realize HEO is expensive.. but having DX possible would bring in a whole new 'market.' (revenue) DXers have money (consider the cost of current DXpeditions to places like Bouvet and view their operating budget and funding sources)
Again, I DO NOT mean to offend anyone with any other interests.. just stating my humble perspective.
OK.. if I did somehow offend anyone, I am sorry.. flames to me personally, not the list please..
very 73,
Dave KJ9I
P.S. I am not running for any AMSAT role.. merely stating my view that seems to be absent mostly from the traffic I've observed on the AMSAT-BB
On 7/28/19 10:31 AM, Ray Soifer via AMSAT-BB wrote:
I am not a candidate for the AMSAT BoD (been there, done that) nor am I endorsing or opposing anyone. Most of you know me; if not, please see my QRZ.com page. As the the then EVP, it was my fate to be Acting President during the failure and partial recovery of AO-40. AMSAT's basic problem is financial. Universities and even high schools get NASA up.money to build and launch Cubesats, while AMSAT's limited resources are slowly drying up.
I don't have a solution, but I am not running for the BoD. I urge those who are to put their solutions forward, not just their gripes. 73 Ray W2RS _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via [email protected]. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb