Hi!
I just heard from Beny XE2YBG, who made a quick trip north of his city in Tamaulipas state in northeastern Mexico to be in a different grid (EL04) last night for an AO-51 pass. Beny told me he worked 9 different stations, mostly XE stations, during a pass at 0136 UTC (about 87 degrees maximum elevation for his location). He was hoping to work more stations in the US, but many of the stations calling him were not using the international phonetic alphabet and were not using individual digits for their grids. He does not understand much English, but can deal with the standard (international) phonetic alphabet and the individual digits OK.
For example, if I called Beny in English and wanted to give him my information, I would use the following (if operating in grid DM33)...
"Whiskey-Delta-Nine-Echo-Whiskey-Kilo, Delta-Mike-Three-Three"
Say each letter phonetically, and each digit in the grid locator - not "Delta-Mike-Thirty-Three".
Many of the Mexican satellite operators understand "QSO English", and not much more. They would enjoy making more contacts with stations throughout the USA and Canada, but their limited grasp of the English language means we (at least those of us outside Mexico who do not speak Spanish) need to remember that when calling those stations. Please be aware of this, and you may end up working some new and unusual grids via satellite from those XE stations (some of whom are starting to look at their maps, and make trips to other grids).
There are some of the XE satellite operators who are fluent in English. Even with them, following these suggestions (phonetic alphabet, individual digits in grid locators) would be a good thing, and a good habit to get into - for the times you work an XE station with limited fluency in English.
Thanks and 73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) wrote:
Hi!
I just heard from Beny XE2YBG, who made a quick trip north of his city in Tamaulipas state in northeastern Mexico to be in a different grid (EL04) last night for an AO-51 pass. Beny told me he worked 9 different stations, mostly XE stations, during a pass at 0136 UTC (about 87 degrees maximum elevation for his location). He was hoping to work more stations in the US, but many of the stations calling him were not using the international phonetic alphabet and were not using individual digits for their grids. He does not understand much English, but can deal with the standard (international) phonetic alphabet and the individual digits OK.
For example, if I called Beny in English and wanted to give him my information, I would use the following (if operating in grid DM33)...
"Whiskey-Delta-Nine-Echo-Whiskey-Kilo, Delta-Mike-Three-Three"
Say each letter phonetically, and each digit in the grid locator - not "Delta-Mike-Thirty-Three".
Many of the Mexican satellite operators understand "QSO English", and not much more. They would enjoy making more contacts with stations throughout the USA and Canada, but their limited grasp of the English language means we (at least those of us outside Mexico who do not speak Spanish) need to remember that when calling those stations. Please be aware of this, and you may end up working some new and unusual grids via satellite from those XE stations (some of whom are starting to look at their maps, and make trips to other grids).
There are some of the XE satellite operators who are fluent in English. Even with them, following these suggestions (phonetic alphabet, individual digits in grid locators) would be a good thing, and a good habit to get into - for the times you work an XE station with limited fluency in English.
Thanks and 73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
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Hi Patrick,
I have been diligently waiting and trying to work the XE stations. It is as exciting for me as I suppose it for them. The other night I had a call from XE2BRL I was not sure on his suffix so I asked him to repeat to be sure and when he came back he was covered up by QRM by other stations trying to get him that I never was able to complete the QSO or grid squares. I know the passes are short but for fringe area to fringe are on the foot print I sure wish folks would give some consideration. I try to keep my transmissions short and consider other folks needs over mine. I will keep trying though. I do have confirmation from Japan on the other hand... That was pretty cool.
73, Dale - KL7XJ BP40
Hi Dale!
I have been diligently waiting and trying to work the XE stations. It is as exciting for me as I suppose it for them.
You bet! When XE2RV reported his contact with you, and his station for that contact (HT/handheld Yagi), that was the encouragement others needed.
The other night I had a call from XE2BRL I was not sure on his suffix so I asked him to repeat to be sure and when he came back he was covered up by QRM by other stations trying to get him that I never was able to complete the QSO or grid squares. I know the passes are short but for fringe area to fringe are on the foot print I sure wish folks would give some consideration. I try to keep my transmissions short and consider other folks needs over mine. I will keep trying though.
Thank you!
I do have confirmation from Japan on the other hand... That was pretty cool.
That is cool!
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
participants (2)
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Dale-KL7XJ -
Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)