... no simple guide for beginners ...

There are few other on-line resources if your tastes and preferences take you toward Facebook and Twitter where thousands follow the satellite world (for example - ~14K following on Twitter). Just search for AMSAT on these media.

Also there is an AMSAT talkgroup on Brandmeister DMR (TG 98006) where the QSOs range from what's for dinner, who's roaming, how to get on a satellite, balloon launch preps, satellites, on-air testing of rigs.

And this here, amsat-bb has been the original forum for decades.

Hope this gives some more options ...