FM Satellites: Good Operating Practices for Beginning and Experienced Operators
Sean Kutzko, KX9X, has written a helpful document explaining good operating practices for working FM satellites. It's been posted to the AMSAT website at https://www.amsat.org/fm-satellites-good-operating-practices-for-beginning-a...
A PDF version is also available at https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/FM-Satellites-Bes...
73,
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Executive Vice President Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT-NA)
On 12/11/17 14:55, Paul Stoetzer wrote:
Sean Kutzko, KX9X, has written a helpful document explaining good operating practices for working FM satellites. It's been posted to the AMSAT website at https://www.amsat.org/fm-satellites-good-operating-practices-for-beginning-a...
While I think that _most_ of these guidelines are good, I disagree with #6.
6. Rare/Portable Stations Take Priority
This prioritizes the chase-a-grid-square game players, which not everyone cares about.
If you want to play that game, go use a linear bird with more available bandwidth. The easy sats should be reserved for new satellite operators, which, buy definition, will be less experienced and not care much about your fancy grid squares.
73,
--- Zach N0ZGO
Actually, grid squares are not "fancy". They're quite simple really. They are just 1° latitude x 2° longitude boundaries.
Cheers & 73, Tucker W4FS
On Dec 11, 2017 4:49 PM, "Zach Metzinger" zmetzing@pobox.com wrote:
On 12/11/17 14:55, Paul Stoetzer wrote:
Sean Kutzko, KX9X, has written a helpful document explaining good operating practices for working FM satellites. It's been posted to the AMSAT website at https://www.amsat.org/fm-satellites-good-operating-
practices-for-beginning-and-experienced-operators/
While I think that _most_ of these guidelines are good, I disagree with #6.
6. Rare/Portable Stations Take Priority
This prioritizes the chase-a-grid-square game players, which not everyone cares about.
If you want to play that game, go use a linear bird with more available bandwidth. The easy sats should be reserved for new satellite operators, which, buy definition, will be less experienced and not care much about your fancy grid squares.
73,
--- Zach N0ZGO
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Hi Zach- The entire point reads:
"It is common for satellite operators to take their equipment with them to portable locations, to transmit from rare grid squares or other DX countries. Courtesy should be extended to these stations; they are providing a rare location to all satellite operators and will be at that location for a limited time. If you hear a station on from a rare grid or DXCC entity, use good judgement before calling stations in more common grids. If the rarer station is working a lot of people on a pass, it may be best to let that station work as many people as possible. There will always be another pass to work more common stations. Info on how to know when rare stations will be on is at the bottom of this list."
I understand your statement that the FM satellites should be reserved for newcomers. Newcomers come in many different countries and locales, and some of those newcomers like to go on vacations or business trips that happen to be in a rare grid. Grid chasing is one of the primary forms of recreation on the satellites; indeed, the grid square is the default exchange for all satellite QSOs. My point said that operators should "use good judgement" when you're on a pass that will feature a station in a rare location.
Veteran satellite operator John, K8YSE, wrote about the same thing several years ago on his web site:
"
A Word about signing "PORTABLE"
You can say and do whatever you want regarding operating "portable" or "handheld" or "on the Arrow" etc., but it doesn't provide much useful information with one exception: When you stated you were operating "portable" under the FCC rules in the 1960's, it meant you were not at your home station location. It had nothing to do with operating with an HT or on emergency battery power. This was an FCC requirement back then but now it is not. When operating today, be sure to say you are /portable when you are not at home and especially when you are operating in a grid different from your home grid. Hearing someone signing "portable" should set off alarm bells that you might want to work this station and may want to give them airtime to work as many stations as they can. After all, they have gone to the trouble to operate away from their "home comfort zone" to possibly give someone a new grid. But if others sign "portable" when they are in their backyard on an HT, this indicator won't mean much. Consider using "portable" only when you are away from home. If the pass is not crowded, have at it. But if it is, you'll have the opportunity to work everyone again later, whereas the "portable" station may only be there for that pass. Give the portable station as much airtime as possible so that everyone can make a contact, possibly for a new grid. Common sense should prevail. Listen, figure out what is going on, and then operate appropriately. But above all, be courteous."
http://www.papays.com/sat/general.html
As I emphasized throughout my Best Practices document, we all have to try and work together to find a bit of order during FM passes. If an op is going to be in a high-demand grid square or DXCC entity, I'm personally going to choose to try and work only that station (if I need the unit) or lay back entirely and let the rarer station work the pass; there's another pass or another satellite coming by soon that I can work for recreation. This courtesy has been extended to me several times when I've activated rare grids, and I want to make sure I extend that courtesy to others.
Some people don't care about grid chasing, and that's fine. But some do. And rare stations aren't on every pass. Being flexible and approaching from a spirit of shared use benefits all in the long run, and makes it more inviting for people to take gear to rarer locales. It's an easy way for ops to get a taste of being on the other side of a pileup, if they wish.
Hope to work you soon. Sean Kutzko Amateur Radio KX9X
On Monday, December 11, 2017, 4:48:46 PM EST, Zach Metzinger zmetzing@pobox.com wrote:
On 12/11/17 14:55, Paul Stoetzer wrote:
Sean Kutzko, KX9X, has written a helpful document explaining good operating practices for working FM satellites. It's been posted to the AMSAT website at https://www.amsat.org/fm-satellites-good-operating-practices-for-beginning-a...
While I think that _most_ of these guidelines are good, I disagree with #6.
6. Rare/Portable Stations Take Priority
This prioritizes the chase-a-grid-square game players, which not everyone cares about.
If you want to play that game, go use a linear bird with more available bandwidth. The easy sats should be reserved for new satellite operators, which, buy definition, will be less experienced and not care much about your fancy grid squares.
73,
--- Zach N0ZGO
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Thanks Sean for doing the document!
73s Bob N4HY
On Mon, Dec 11, 2017 at 5:25 PM, Sean K. via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
Hi Zach- The entire point reads:
"It is common for satellite operators to take their equipment with them to portable locations, to transmit from rare grid squares or other DX countries. Courtesy should be extended to these stations; they are providing a rare location to all satellite operators and will be at that location for a limited time. If you hear a station on from a rare grid or DXCC entity, use good judgement before calling stations in more common grids. If the rarer station is working a lot of people on a pass, it may be best to let that station work as many people as possible. There will always be another pass to work more common stations. Info on how to know when rare stations will be on is at the bottom of this list."
I understand your statement that the FM satellites should be reserved for newcomers. Newcomers come in many different countries and locales, and some of those newcomers like to go on vacations or business trips that happen to be in a rare grid. Grid chasing is one of the primary forms of recreation on the satellites; indeed, the grid square is the default exchange for all satellite QSOs. My point said that operators should "use good judgement" when you're on a pass that will feature a station in a rare location.
Veteran satellite operator John, K8YSE, wrote about the same thing several years ago on his web site:
"
A Word about signing "PORTABLE"
You can say and do whatever you want regarding operating "portable" or "handheld" or "on the Arrow" etc., but it doesn't provide much useful information with one exception: When you stated you were operating "portable" under the FCC rules in the 1960's, it meant you were not at your home station location. It had nothing to do with operating with an HT or on emergency battery power. This was an FCC requirement back then but now it is not. When operating today, be sure to say you are /portable when you are not at home and especially when you are operating in a grid different from your home grid. Hearing someone signing "portable" should set off alarm bells that you might want to work this station and may want to give them airtime to work as many stations as they can. After all, they have gone to the trouble to operate away from their "home comfort zone" to possibly give someone a new grid. But if others sign "portable" when they are in their backyard on an HT, this indicator won't mean much. Consider using "portable" only when you are away from home. If the pass is not crowded, have at it. But if it is, you'll have the opportunity to work everyone again later, whereas the "portable" station may only be there for that pass. Give the portable station as much airtime as possible so that everyone can make a contact, possibly for a new grid. Common sense should prevail. Listen, figure out what is going on, and then operate appropriately. But above all, be courteous."
http://www.papays.com/sat/general.html
As I emphasized throughout my Best Practices document, we all have to try and work together to find a bit of order during FM passes. If an op is going to be in a high-demand grid square or DXCC entity, I'm personally going to choose to try and work only that station (if I need the unit) or lay back entirely and let the rarer station work the pass; there's another pass or another satellite coming by soon that I can work for recreation. This courtesy has been extended to me several times when I've activated rare grids, and I want to make sure I extend that courtesy to others.
Some people don't care about grid chasing, and that's fine. But some do. And rare stations aren't on every pass. Being flexible and approaching from a spirit of shared use benefits all in the long run, and makes it more inviting for people to take gear to rarer locales. It's an easy way for ops to get a taste of being on the other side of a pileup, if they wish.
Hope to work you soon. Sean Kutzko Amateur Radio KX9X
On Monday, December 11, 2017, 4:48:46 PM EST, Zach Metzinger <zmetzing@pobox.com> wrote:
On 12/11/17 14:55, Paul Stoetzer wrote:
Sean Kutzko, KX9X, has written a helpful document explaining good operating practices for working FM satellites. It's been posted to the AMSAT website at https://www.amsat.org/fm-satellites-good-operating-
practices-for-beginning-and-experienced-operators/
While I think that _most_ of these guidelines are good, I disagree with #6.
- Rare/Portable Stations Take Priority
This prioritizes the chase-a-grid-square game players, which not everyone cares about.
If you want to play that game, go use a linear bird with more available bandwidth. The easy sats should be reserved for new satellite operators, which, buy definition, will be less experienced and not care much about your fancy grid squares.
73,
--- Zach N0ZGO
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Nothing wrong with that guideline, it’s just common sense. Doesn’t have anything to do with what you call “chase-a-grid” game players. Last Saturday I was operating as WX4TOR at a weather station in Ruskin Florida, for Skywarn recognition day. The grid was EL87, but no one cared about that, I didn’t even include it in the exchange most of the time. I got on a couple of FM passes, AO-85 and AO-91. People on the pass seemed to want to work me (a “special event” station which I don’t even have the ability to QSL for), as well as Patrick, WD9EWK who was at a hamfest in Arizona.
AO-85 was a fun pass, patrick and I worked many stations who were calling both of us. AO-91 also went well, until another op at his home station in Arizona began calling every person he heard - including several who were not calling him, rather they were calling me and/or Patrick! Instead of allowing the portable station who a person was calling answer, this op called them instead! Around 1/2 of the pass was tied up in this manner, while this op worked a bunch of people he could easily work on any pass, any day. At least 2 people who called me, I was not able to answer because of this other op who used enough power that my attempts to reply were drowned out; and I heard the same happen to Patrick several times.
Why do I mention this? Because THAT is what Sean’s “Rule 6” is intended to address. Who cares about grid squares particularly...it’s just courteous to give priority to the guy who has taken his time to stand out along the side of a road, at a hamfest, doing a demo for a club, or yes even handing out rare grid squares or DX entities.
73 from someone who’s been on both sides of the pileup.
- Matthew nj4y
Sent from my iPhone
On Dec 11, 2017, at 16:48, Zach Metzinger zmetzing@pobox.com wrote:
On 12/11/17 14:55, Paul Stoetzer wrote: Sean Kutzko, KX9X, has written a helpful document explaining good operating practices for working FM satellites. It's been posted to the AMSAT website at https://www.amsat.org/fm-satellites-good-operating-practices-for-beginning-a...
While I think that _most_ of these guidelines are good, I disagree with #6.
- Rare/Portable Stations Take Priority
This prioritizes the chase-a-grid-square game players, which not everyone cares about.
If you want to play that game, go use a linear bird with more available bandwidth. The easy sats should be reserved for new satellite operators, which, buy definition, will be less experienced and not care much about your fancy grid squares.
73,
--- Zach N0ZGO
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
I was one of the people who was trying to work WX4TOR that day. I was able to work Patrick at his hamfest, but try as I might, on at least 2 AO-91 passes, I was not able to get through to Matthew. He heard me calling him, but as he said, it didn't happen. Would have liked to have that "interesting" one in my logbook, confirmed or not.
On Mon, Dec 11, 2017 at 4:38 PM, Matthew Stevens matthew@mrstevens.net wrote:
Nothing wrong with that guideline, it’s just common sense. Doesn’t have anything to do with what you call “chase-a-grid” game players. Last Saturday I was operating as WX4TOR at a weather station in Ruskin Florida, for Skywarn recognition day. The grid was EL87, but no one cared about that, I didn’t even include it in the exchange most of the time. I got on a couple of FM passes, AO-85 and AO-91. People on the pass seemed to want to work me (a “special event” station which I don’t even have the ability to QSL for), as well as Patrick, WD9EWK who was at a hamfest in Arizona.
AO-85 was a fun pass, patrick and I worked many stations who were calling both of us. AO-91 also went well, until another op at his home station in Arizona began calling every person he heard - including several who were not calling him, rather they were calling me and/or Patrick! Instead of allowing the portable station who a person was calling answer, this op called them instead! Around 1/2 of the pass was tied up in this manner, while this op worked a bunch of people he could easily work on any pass, any day. At least 2 people who called me, I was not able to answer because of this other op who used enough power that my attempts to reply were drowned out; and I heard the same happen to Patrick several times.
Why do I mention this? Because THAT is what Sean’s “Rule 6” is intended to address. Who cares about grid squares particularly...it’s just courteous to give priority to the guy who has taken his time to stand out along the side of a road, at a hamfest, doing a demo for a club, or yes even handing out rare grid squares or DX entities.
73 from someone who’s been on both sides of the pileup.
- Matthew nj4y
Sent from my iPhone
On Dec 11, 2017, at 16:48, Zach Metzinger zmetzing@pobox.com wrote:
On 12/11/17 14:55, Paul Stoetzer wrote: Sean Kutzko, KX9X, has written a helpful document explaining good operating practices for working FM satellites. It's been posted to the AMSAT website at https://www.amsat.org/fm-satellites-good-operating-
practices-for-beginning-and-experienced-operators/
While I think that _most_ of these guidelines are good, I disagree with
#6.
- Rare/Portable Stations Take Priority
This prioritizes the chase-a-grid-square game players, which not everyone cares about.
If you want to play that game, go use a linear bird with more available bandwidth. The easy sats should be reserved for new satellite operators, which, buy definition, will be less experienced and not care much about your fancy grid squares.
73,
--- Zach N0ZGO
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
Opinions expressed
are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
AMSAT-NA.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
program!
Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Zach While I respect your views on #6 I disagree Rovers spend lots of time and personal funds to activate rare and non-ham populated grids for FMer's As the Ham Creed states - a Ham is always courteous to all operations 73 Dan VA3MA
On Mon, Dec 11, 2017 at 4:49 PM Zach Metzinger zmetzing@pobox.com wrote:
On 12/11/17 14:55, Paul Stoetzer wrote:
Sean Kutzko, KX9X, has written a helpful document explaining good operating practices for working FM satellites. It's been posted to the AMSAT website at
https://www.amsat.org/fm-satellites-good-operating-practices-for-beginning-a...
While I think that _most_ of these guidelines are good, I disagree with #6.
- Rare/Portable Stations Take Priority
This prioritizes the chase-a-grid-square game players, which not everyone cares about.
If you want to play that game, go use a linear bird with more available bandwidth. The easy sats should be reserved for new satellite operators, which, buy definition, will be less experienced and not care much about your fancy grid squares.
73,
--- Zach N0ZGO
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sir,
I see the point you're trying to make. However, I have a couple of thoughts:
1) Dismissing others' interests in amateur radio only leads to them to dismiss yours. 2) Asking people to recognize others' interests and *consider* adjusting their *current* operational practices accordingly is simply the basis of good situational awareness. Indeed, it is simply an expansion of "listen before you transmit" -- you are listening to see if there is an unusual amount of operational activity on a given pass. 3) I qualify as a "new satellite operator" and while I can only speak for myself, I do not fit your characterization. While I do not know if I will pursue the grid-based awards, I know that it is a strong and attractive component to satellite ops, and sooner or later I suspect I'll end up both hunting them and going to activate the out-of-the-way grids in my area. 4) We newbies also need to learn one very, very important aspect about this hobby that is not emphasized enough -- PATIENCE. Things are always changing. Things are always cycling. Problems take time to chase down. New skills take time to acquire and perfect. There is always another pass. Teaching the fundamentals of "your neighbor isn't going to operate the way you do and that's okay, so learn how to co-exist" is one of the most basic skills amateur radios operators CAN and SHOULD be modeling and learning.
However, perhaps the community can come up with some appropriate verbiage and guidelines with which to amend Sean's guide around selecting appropriate satellites for the kind of operation you're doing. Ease of use is one factor to consider, but ubiquity is another. With a Baofeng and a cheap antenna, I can hit the FM birds AND start chasing grid squares. If we force the grid chasers off FM, that makes it a much more expensive proposition and means it's less likely the newbies are going to find it and get involved. Are certain satellites considered the same as simplex calling frequencies (and should they be)? Are the first X minutes of a pass reserved for new operators (and how do you determine when the first X minutes are, a non-trivial problem)?
-- Devin L. Ganger (WA7DLG) email: devin@thecabal.org web: Devin on Earth cell: +1 425.239.2575
-----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Zach Metzinger Sent: Monday, December 11, 2017 1:48 PM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] FM Satellites: Good Operating Practices for Beginning and Experienced Operators
On 12/11/17 14:55, Paul Stoetzer wrote:
Sean Kutzko, KX9X, has written a helpful document explaining good operating practices for working FM satellites. It's been posted to the AMSAT website at https://www.amsat.org/fm-satellites-good-operating-practices-for-begin ning-and-experienced-operators/
While I think that _most_ of these guidelines are good, I disagree with #6.
6. Rare/Portable Stations Take Priority
This prioritizes the chase-a-grid-square game players, which not everyone cares about.
If you want to play that game, go use a linear bird with more available bandwidth. The easy sats should be reserved for new satellite operators, which, buy definition, will be less experienced and not care much about your fancy grid squares.
73,
--- Zach N0ZGO
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Well done on all counts!
Given that grid chasing will be even much more popular in 2018, it's good to see the special comments around that activity!
-- bag
Bryan KL7CN/W6 Location: CM98, usually E-Mail: bryan@KL7CN.net Telephone/SMS: 408-836-7279
On Dec 11, 2017, at 12:55, Paul Stoetzer n8hm@amsat.org wrote:
Sean Kutzko, KX9X, has written a helpful document explaining good operating practices for working FM satellites. It's been posted to the AMSAT website at https://www.amsat.org/fm-satellites-good-operating-practices-for-beginning-a...
A PDF version is also available at https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/FM-Satellites-Bes...
73,
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Executive Vice President Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT-NA) _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
I have just been sitting back and listening to all of the traffic and QRM on every pass, hoping for the new to wear off and then I can make a few contacts.
Wishing us all a great new year, and lets remember that ham radio is supposed to be FUN.
Stephen N7DJX dn13
participants (11)
-
Bryan KL7CN -
Devin L. Ganger -
H. Stephen Nipper -
Matthew Stevens -
Mike Thompson -
Paul Stoetzer -
Robert McGwier -
Sean K. -
Tucker McGuire -
VA3MA - Dan Howard -
Zach Metzinger