<I don't mean to suggest there's anything wrong with easy. I just think, as a selling point, it's run it's course is all. How many times are you going to watch a guy at a hamfest with an HT and a handheld? antenna exchange grid squares? I would think sooner or later people just walk on by.? "Seen it already, where's the new rigs?" > There is room in this hobby for all types of radio/satellite contact. I have recently introduced two other hams to satellites by "waving an antenna." They both bought Arrow 2 antennas and now are having great fun with the birds. If I had a rotor system on a tripod, these people would have passed it up as too complicated. Our ham club is going to build our own stressed moxon antennas so everyone can work the birds. Depending if one is trying to get people into the satellite hobby or dazzle them with technology, one has to tailor the display to the crowd. Yes, I belong to the KISS club. (Keep It Simple Stupid) But on the other hand, I do work the SSB birds, receive SSTV images from the ISS and am learning to send packets. I welcome the new ideas. If I have to buy a new radio, so be it. If I have to pay for some air time, so be it. If I have a learning curve, so be it. But I still will be the low life out there waving an Arrow 2 antenna because it is fun, gets the job done, and still gives me a thrill. And all my neighbors think I should have a tin foil hat as I stand in my yard with my antenna in the air. Brad KC9UQR
An antenna rotator may be overkill; but my arm gets tired holding the Arrow in one position too long. I really like using a Tripod with a Pistol Grip for quick aiming. Robert MacHale. KE6BLR Ham Radio License. http://spaceCommunicator.club/aprs%C2%A0 . Supporting Boy Scout Merit Badges in Radio, Robotics, and Space Exploration
On Thursday, August 1, 2019, 11:32:39 AM PDT, Brad Smith via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
<I don't mean to suggest there's anything wrong with easy. I just think, as a selling point, it's run it's course is all. How many times are you going to watch a guy at a hamfest with an HT and a handheld? antenna exchange grid squares? I would think sooner or later people just walk on by.? "Seen it already, where's the new rigs?" > There is room in this hobby for all types of radio/satellite contact. I have recently introduced two other hams to satellites by "waving an antenna." They both bought Arrow 2 antennas and now are having great fun with the birds. If I had a rotor system on a tripod, these people would have passed it up as too complicated. Our ham club is going to build our own stressed moxon antennas so everyone can work the birds. Depending if one is trying to get people into the satellite hobby or dazzle them with technology, one has to tailor the display to the crowd. Yes, I belong to the KISS club. (Keep It Simple Stupid) But on the other hand, I do work the SSB birds, receive SSTV images from the ISS and am learning to send packets. I welcome the new ideas. If I have to buy a new radio, so be it. If I have to pay for some air time, so be it. If I have a learning curve, so be it. But I still will be the low life out there waving an Arrow 2 antenna because it is fun, gets the job done, and still gives me a thrill. And all my neighbors think I should have a tin foil hat as I stand in my yard with my antenna in the air. Brad KC9UQR
_______________________________________________ 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Satellites are constantly moving and spinning which requires an almost constant movement to keep the Arrow properly oriented. With the exception of AO7 and FO29, most passes are only about 10-11 minute maximum. I can’t think of a single time where I’ve held my antenna in the same position for a satellite pass. YMMV.
Jeff WE4B
On Aug 1, 2019, at 4:30 PM, Robert MacHale via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
An antenna rotator may be overkill; but my arm gets tired holding the Arrow in one position too long. I really like using a Tripod with a Pistol Grip for quick aiming. Robert MacHale. KE6BLR Ham Radio License. http://spaceCommunicator.club/aprs . Supporting Boy Scout Merit Badges in Radio, Robotics, and Space Exploration
On Thursday, August 1, 2019, 11:32:39 AM PDT, Brad Smith via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
<I don't mean to suggest there's anything wrong with easy. I just think, as a selling point, it's run it's course is all. How many times are you going to watch a guy at a hamfest with an HT and a handheld? antenna exchange grid squares? I would think sooner or later people just walk on by.? "Seen it already, where's the new rigs?" > There is room in this hobby for all types of radio/satellite contact. I have recently introduced two other hams to satellites by "waving an antenna." They both bought Arrow 2 antennas and now are having great fun with the birds. If I had a rotor system on a tripod, these people would have passed it up as too complicated. Our ham club is going to build our own stressed moxon antennas so everyone can work the birds. Depending if one is trying to get people into the satellite hobby or dazzle them with technology, one has to tailor the display to the crowd. Yes, I belong to the KISS club. (Keep It Simple Stupid) But on the other hand, I do work the SSB birds, receive SSTV images from the ISS and am learning to send packets. I welcome the new ideas. If I have to buy a new radio, so be it. If I have to pay for some air time, so be it. If I have a learning curve, so be it. But I still will be the low life out there waving an Arrow 2 antenna because it is fun, gets the job done, and still gives me a thrill. And all my neighbors think I should have a tin foil hat as I stand in my yard with my antenna in the air. Brad KC9UQR
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: https://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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Couple of things - There is something about satellites that attracts people's attention. Every time I have had the opportunity to setup a portable satellite station people spend the most time with me than any other hasm activity. Actually, the time between passes is the most busy answering questions about satellites. When the pass happens, I have been often pleasantly surprised at the number of visitors congregating to watch. The things that thrills them the most is how small these birds are and that you can be heard almost everywhere in North America. Umesh, k6vug On Thursday, August 1, 2019, 2:38:33 PM PDT, Jeff Johns via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote: Satellites are constantly moving and spinning which requires an almost constant movement to keep the Arrow properly oriented. With the exception of AO7 and FO29, most passes are only about 10-11 minute maximum. I can’t think of a single time where I’ve held my antenna in the same position for a satellite pass. YMMV.
Jeff WE4B
On Aug 1, 2019, at 4:30 PM, Robert MacHale via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
An antenna rotator may be overkill; but my arm gets tired holding the Arrow in one position too long. I really like using a Tripod with a Pistol Grip for quick aiming. Robert MacHale. KE6BLR Ham Radio License. http://spaceCommunicator.club/aprs . Supporting Boy Scout Merit Badges in Radio, Robotics, and Space Exploration
On Thursday, August 1, 2019, 11:32:39 AM PDT, Brad Smith via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
<I don't mean to suggest there's anything wrong with easy. I just think, as a selling point, it's run it's course is all. How many times are you going to watch a guy at a hamfest with an HT and a handheld? antenna exchange grid squares? I would think sooner or later people just walk on by.? "Seen it already, where's the new rigs?" > There is room in this hobby for all types of radio/satellite contact. I have recently introduced two other hams to satellites by "waving an antenna." They both bought Arrow 2 antennas and now are having great fun with the birds. If I had a rotor system on a tripod, these people would have passed it up as too complicated. Our ham club is going to build our own stressed moxon antennas so everyone can work the birds. Depending if one is trying to get people into the satellite hobby or dazzle them with technology, one has to tailor the display to the crowd. Yes, I belong to the KISS club. (Keep It Simple Stupid) But on the other hand, I do work the SSB birds, receive SSTV images from the ISS and am learning to send packets. I welcome the new ideas. If I have to buy a new radio, so be it. If I have to pay for some air time, so be it. If I have a learning curve, so be it. But I still will be the low life out there waving an Arrow 2 antenna because it is fun, gets the job done, and still gives me a thrill. And all my neighbors think I should have a tin foil hat as I stand in my yard with my antenna in the air. Brad KC9UQR _______________________________________________
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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (4)
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Brad Smith -
Jeff Johns -
k6vug＠sbcglobal.net -
Robert MacHale