Dear Les N1LF,
You wrote "Do wish more operators would be more considerate when the bird is busy" that rings a bell. In the last six months or so, the fun of getting into the easy sats is attracting more hams. It is getting more crowded than ever, and the simple recommendation from AMSAT (below) is starting to make much more sense...
As a good practice, AMSAT recommends NOT to call stations that one has QSO-ed in the recent past, giving others a better chance, esp., when someone has taken the trouble to put a new grid on the air. I do notice some of the "seasoned" hams practice this quite literally. Something to think about...
73!Umeshk6vug
On Saturday, February 16, 2019, 8:30:47 PM PST, Les Rayburn [email protected] wrote:
Those are good suggestions. I try to write down calls and grid squares by “reading the mail” on other QSO’s. Then I call that specific station.
I rarely (if ever) just throw out my call. Sometimes when I’m up late at night I’ll do that, or even call CQ but only when the bird is dead quiet.
I’ve got a TH-D72A, and an ELK antenna configured for portable operation. Just waiting on warm and dry days to give it a try from the backyard. This winter has been one of the wettest on record here.
Do wish more operators would be more considerate when the bird is busy. My “wish list” would include:
Make one QSO, then just monitor the rest of the pass—unless someone calls you. Check Twitter to see if anyone is activating a rare grid. If so, let them control the flow of contacts on the bird. This is especially true of Western grids. Often the pass is very short for those grids, and stations in the East have a limited time to work them. But the bird is often filled with Eastern stations working other Eastern stations during the whole pass. Resist turning up the power to “muscle” your way in.
During one pass earlier this evening, I listened to a single QRO station make 5 or 6 contacts during a very crowded pass—simply by muscling other stations, talking over other operators, etc.
We clearly need more FM birds because the demand is very high. Meanwhile a lot of the linear satellites are empty or nearly so.
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF Maylene, AL EM63nf AMSAT #38965, ARRL Life Member, CVHS Life Member, SVHF Member
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