OK, I admit I was one of them - (managed a QSO with 6Y5RA in Jamaica as well!)
But I did think that the QRP repeater was OK to use if K5D were _not on_, and we are told that they are not going to be on until next week!
As one of the first in the country (from SW Florida) to hear AO-51 when its going North, I do listen to ensure that K5D are not operating - I don't expect them to be until next week as I said above so once there is a break in the Spanish language, I assumed it was OK to transmit!
Not really sure how you are going to ensure that no-one uses this mode as how many users to the South of us are AMSAT members or read the AMSAT website pages! Once the bird reaches into the US, listeners are going to hear activity and think its ok to proceed as normal!
David KG4ZLB/M0ZLB www.kg4zlb.com
Andrew Glasbrenner wrote:
I'm really disappointed in the fact that so many users are ignoring the request to leave the 435.150 downlink open for K5D while over Desecheo. It's really simple, if gridsquare FK68 is in the footprint there shouldn't be any QSOs or calls that don't involve K5D. Once FK68 is out of the footprint, it's QRP rules. If you are not sure when they are out of the footprint, then stand down for the entire pass or until you hear someone say they are out of the footprint.
The consequences of even a few users ignoring this is that others will feel it is OK and pile on, and when K5D does show up they might just not even bother to try to break through the normal chaos.
Satellite operators are considered by many to be the cream of the crop when it comes to ham radio. Let's live up to this and exercise a little self control and make this easy for both us and the DXpedition.
73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT-NA VP Operations
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