Jerry,
Back in the AO-10, AO-13, and AO-40 days when passes lasted hours, it was nice to be able to talk for 20-30 minutes with someone and get to know them. When the P3 Promised Orbit arrives, we may need to brush up on the art of conversation by working 20m or the local repeater.
73,
Alan WA4SCA
<-----Original Message----- <From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Jerry <Buxton <Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2018 14:14 PM <To: amsat-bb@amsat.org <Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments - Idle SATs < <It is a fact that I get on the birds infrequently, often it's a timing <issue of when I have free time vs. what is going to pass during that time. <Taking that into account as you are reading this, the last couple or <three times I was on a linear bird which would have been 1H 2017 to my <recollection, nobody wanted to have a rag-chew or even a short <weather/shack/shoe-size QSO. Grid exchange was it. Honestly, I don't <care about grids or awards although I will work some when they are out <in the rare spots on the FM birds if the timeslot fits just to have them <in the log in case I change my mind some year (love that you can just do <that with ham radio, change your interest/tactics any given day). <So I haven't tried so much to get on a linear pass after that, it wasn't <what I was looking for. CQ for the whole pass to exchange grids three <or four times. <This is not an editorial on what current op trends are, just my two <cents worth on the subject. Maybe I hit the birds during a lull in <rag-chew interest. < <Jerry Buxton, NØJY < <On 3/15/2018 22:06, Paul Stoetzer wrote: <> I admit that the launches of AO-91 and 92 have reduced my linear <> operating time. As much as I enjoy operating on the linear sats, <> operating portable as I do, I'm not going to be able to operate every <> pass. I have made fewer than two dozen linear sat QSOs this year. <> <> Perhaps some linear satellite operating days are in order where <> everyone decides to work as many passes of the XWs as possible or <> CAS-4B or UKube-1 or something. FO-29 and AO-7 do seem to draw a <> decent amount of activity still. <> <> 73, <> <> Paul, N8HM <> <> On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 11:00 PM, R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net wrote: <>> Unfortunately, I've been roving the past couple weeks and operating <>> from several uncommon Grids/Gridlines and usually find no one or only <>> one on the Linear SATs. Does that make me want to drive to some odd <>> place and set up to rarely make a QSO? People shouldn't worry abt <>> being exactly zero-beat, if that puts them off. Just get close & we'll <>> find you. If people keep avoiding them, eventually no one will bother <>> using them, period. Maybe, the "Easy SATs" are so easy that folks don't <>> bother with the others. <>> 73, Bob K8BL /4/5/9 <>> ________________________________ <>> From: Joe N3XLS via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org <>> To: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org <>> Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 6:43 PM <>> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments <>> <>> <>> <>> Its not too many satellites, not enough ops! <>> -------- Original message --------From: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net <Date: 3/15/18 6:23 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org <Subject: [amsat-bb] idle comments <>> Hello from Seattle <>> <>> I read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common <denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or <something like, "no one to talk to". The unusual conclusion, we have too <many satellites! I never thought this ham would even think of it. If I look at <Satpc32 with "only" a dozen listed, in fast forward a bewildering barrage of <circles floats across the screen. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it just <spreads us out and at times, there is, "no one to talk to". I do testing like try <different power levels, talk to myself til as close to AOS as I can get. You know <the drill. From what I read there are more on the starting block. I'd like to see <more L band time, maybe a bird with a S band DL a MEO, a HEO- I know, idle <comments. We have the five & dime coming at us, which sounds like a whole <other world, I'm looking forward to it. Then there is the massive off air time <making all this stuff work. Currently testing between two <> L <>> band antennas and between two different 70cm antennas. At this time I <have my Satpc32 talking fine with the radio but not with the rotor. A com port <issue which currently I can not figure out. Assistance solicited. On the ISS it <would be fun to see one of the "hams" up there have that "burning in the <belly" to yuck it up, get WAS, VUCC, DXCC or whatever. Again, just idle <comments not a criticism of the ARISS system. Sunny day in Seattle, xyl says <yard work. <>> <>> 73 Bob W7LRD <>> <>> Seattle <>> _______________________________________________ <>> Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb <> _______________________________________________ <> Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb <> <> < < <_______________________________________________ <Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb