I share the frustration of everyone trying to work AO-51 and AO-27 on a busy weekend pass, but as a relative newbie I think the FM birds serve a purpose, in light of the huge cost difference between an FM only and an all-mode VHF/UHF rig.
If it had not been so easy and inexpensive to work via AO-51, don't think I would have tried to work any sat. For me and probably many others, the good experiences on the FM sats led me to upgrade and work via AO-7 and VO-52, and I hope more like these are launched soon.
Judging from the crowded state of the FM birds and the relative lack of activity on the sats with linear transponders, it seems that, for all their deficiencies, the FM birds are still a popular choice. Just need to keep teaching the need for brevity, clarity of speech, and proper power and antennas.
73, Bill NZ5N --- [email protected] wrote:
The answer to all of these ridiculous arguments on
calling protocol is, of course, quit building FM voice 2 user satellites, like AO51.
AO7, is what, 25 years old, none of those problems existed there, and still don't today.
Blame those that encouraged and built AO51....
A lot of us voiced our disapproval at the time it was proposed, mostly for that very reason....and lost...
Why was it built??
____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ