Luc, I am not too sure what you are attempting to imply in your post.

First up there are 8 members of the operations group. Their task is to analyse the numerous requests that are submitted to ao-51modes at amsat.org and prepare a schedule in conjunction with the command stations. On occasions it becomes nigh on impossible to facilitate all the requests, so some are held over to the following month. As you are aware that schedule is posted to the Amsat-NA site at http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/CTNews.php OR If there is a delay in posting to the Amsat-NA site, a post is made to the amsat-bb, which Drew did on this occasion.

In respect to command stations there are currently two, plus and one in training. Operating a command station is a dedicated and responsible task. It also requires a commitment to be able to drop tasks at hand and attend to daily commanding tasks and analysis, not to mention the training to become a command station.

Your assertion that if Drew is not available, then the World stops is totally incorrect. In Drew's post that you have misunderstood, is that he was responsible for executing the new mode changes. He stated that he encountered an equipment problem and the remainder of the tasks would be executed over subsequent passes. This was a totally responsible action on his behalf. The tasks that were not fulfilled did not place AO-51 in jeopardy.

What you overlooked is that the Operations Group and the Command Stations are all dedicated volunteers, and most work for a living. However we do work as a team, day in, day out.

Best regards, Colin VK5HI Member AO-51 Operations Group.

-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org]On Behalf Of Luc Leblanc Sent: Monday, 2 November 2009 19:41 To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Cc: eu-amsat@yahoogroups.com Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 S band off

On 1 Nov 2009 at 19:44, Andrew Glasbrenner wrote:

Date sent: Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:44:38 -0500 From: Andrew Glasbrenner glasbrenner@mindspring.com Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-51 S band off To: Amsat-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org, AO51 Modes ao51-modes@amsat.org

...

The S band transmitter is now off, and 435.150 telemetry is

back on. The

...

L uplink is not yet back on for the PBBS. I had some temporary

equipment

...

problems here and instead of risking getting halfway through

some steps

...

and failing, I am stretching the mode change out over a few passes.

435.300 is back up to over 500 mw.

The L uplink for the PBBS should be back on tomorrow, and the new schedule should be posted by tomorrow night. Sorry for the delay.

73, Drew KO4MA

As we can read on the AMSAT-NA web site there is an operation group who is supposed "to create the monthly schedule for the satellite. AO- 51" But who is on this command team? Why it take's on paper 5 folks to create a schedule? Is theses same folks cannot also be able to command the satellite? It will reduced the work load for Drew as he seems to be the only one to cope with the all work load and if he's not available the world stops until he can resume his work on the satellite.

Here is what it is written on AMSAT-NA web page

"The AO-51 Operations Group is made up of Amsat Members who are also AO-51 users. The Operations Group works with the Command Team to create the monthly schedule for the satellite. AO-51 Operations Group is KO4MA, N8MH, OZ1MY, VK5HI, WA4SXM, N8BBQ, KD8CAO."

PS. A team is normally made with 2 and more:)

"-"

Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe DSTAR urcall VE2DWE WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

---

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