Hi,
Question. I know that a QSO WITH the ISS does not count as a space contact for FD. Is it also true that a contact THROUGH the digi does not count? I got a call from a local FD group, and the Q&A list does not explicitly rule that out. Or at least it can be read that way. It looks as if the "amateur radio satellite" part does knock it out.
Alan WA4SCA
Q. Why doesn't our contact with the International Space Station count for the satellite bonus? A. While the ISS is be definition, the purpose of the satellite QSO bonus is to complete an Earth to Earth contact via an amateur radio satellite.
Contacts through the amateur radio system on the ISS do count as a satellite contact. So, if you make a voice contact via the crossband repater on ISS or via the packet Digi then your contact counts. It is the contact with the ISS crew that does not (as previously stated) count as a contact via an amateur radio satellite.
Kenneth - N5VHO
________________________________
From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org on behalf of Alan P. Biddle Sent: Tue 6/24/2008 2:39 PM To: AMSAT-BB Subject: [amsat-bb] APRS through ISS and FD
Hi,
Question. I know that a QSO WITH the ISS does not count as a space contact for FD. Is it also true that a contact THROUGH the digi does not count? I got a call from a local FD group, and the Q&A list does not explicitly rule that out. Or at least it can be read that way. It looks as if the "amateur radio satellite" part does knock it out.
Alan WA4SCA
Q. Why doesn't our contact with the International Space Station count for the satellite bonus? A. While the ISS is be definition, the purpose of the satellite QSO bonus is to complete an Earth to Earth contact via an amateur radio satellite.
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Thanks for the clarification. I don't question it, but is there an "official" reference I can pass back to the questioners?
Alan WA4SCA
I should add that I am looking for something concerning the ARRL FD rules. I have already found an explanation for the AMSAT FD rules, but they are not always the same.
Alan WA4SCA
The ARRL Field Day rules are available at http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2008/fd.html . Rule 7.3.7 covers satellite QSOs, and states "The QSO must be between two Earth stations through a satellite."
73,
George, KA3HSW
"Alan P. Biddle" APBIDDLE@UNITED.NET wrote: I should add that I am looking for something concerning the ARRL FD rules. I have already found an explanation for the AMSAT FD rules, but they are not always the same.
Alan WA4SCA
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George,
Thanks for the pointer. I already had both the HTML and PDF version. Section 7.3.7 says that the 100 point bonus requires contact through "an amateur radio satellite," while later it uses the text you quoted which does not use the work "amateur.". The ISS is definitely not an amateur satellite, even though it has a ham station on it. In fact, there was a nice Russian FM repeater several years ago which was bolted to a communications or scientific satellite, somewhat similar to what is currently being proposed for a geosynchronous bird which, would appear to be the same thing.
So, can you legally get the 100 point bonus going through the ISS? It is nitpicking question, but then lawyers and contest judges just love those.
73s,
Alan WA4SCA
I'm pretty sure that the ARRL defines an "amateur radio satellite" as any satellite carrying an amateur radio payload (RS-10/11 and RS-12/13 are probably the Russian satellites you are thinking of). So, yes, the ISS should count as a satellite QSO, and/or for the 100 point bonus, as long as it was either operating in the crossband (voice) repeater mode, or digipeating, and you actually made a two-way contact with another station on the ground. At least, they allowed all of my contacts thru the crossband repeater a couple of years ago....
A quick e-mail to contests at arrl dot org should get you a definitive answer, though.
73,
George, KA3HSW
"Alan P. Biddle" APBIDDLE@UNITED.NET wrote: George,
Thanks for the pointer. I already had both the HTML and PDF version. Section 7.3.7 says that the 100 point bonus requires contact through "an amateur radio satellite," while later it uses the text you quoted which does not use the work "amateur.". The ISS is definitely not an amateur satellite, even though it has a ham station on it. In fact, there was a nice Russian FM repeater several years ago which was bolted to a communications or scientific satellite, somewhat similar to what is currently being proposed for a geosynchronous bird which, would appear to be the same thing.
So, can you legally get the 100 point bonus going through the ISS? It is nitpicking question, but then lawyers and contest judges just love those.
73s,
Alan WA4SCA
Gee, it is a FCC apprived transmitter for the ham band. The folks that operate it are all hams as far as I know. It operates in the ham satellite band. Sure it is riding on a governement owned station but then AO-27 is riding with a commerical satellite is it not? It has a ham callsign. RS0ISS is in the call book. Someone must clear this up. What else is required to be a ham satellite?
On Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 1:07 PM, Alan P. Biddle APBIDDLE@united.net wrote:
George,
Thanks for the pointer. I already had both the HTML and PDF version. Section 7.3.7 says that the 100 point bonus requires contact through "an amateur radio satellite," while later it uses the text you quoted which does not use the work "amateur.". The ISS is definitely not an amateur satellite, even though it has a ham station on it. In fact, there was a nice Russian FM repeater several years ago which was bolted to a communications or scientific satellite, somewhat similar to what is currently being proposed for a geosynchronous bird which, would appear to be the same thing.
So, can you legally get the 100 point bonus going through the ISS? It is nitpicking question, but then lawyers and contest judges just love those.
73s,
Alan WA4SCA
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (4)
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Alan P. Biddle -
George Henry -
John Price -
Ransom, Kenneth G. (JSC-OC)[BAR]