Re: [amsat-bb] Inclusion (satcoms?)
But if the goal of satellite operation is from the shack-potato position, why not just use the internet and not bother.
Don't forget the TOTAL FAILURE of the original SAT-PHONE industry when they ignored cellphones and fiber. No one would bother with a sat-phone when their $9/mo cell phone could do the job almost 99% of the time and call anywhere on the planet. The only thing SAT-PHONEs turned out to be good for are wilderness communications, and there are plenty of places on earth that fit that category. Probably 90% of the earths surface is a wireless desert. But the 99% of the worlds population lives in that wired-10%.
I have also heard that these days, " all of the satellite communications carried by all the comm satellites worldwide could fit on a SINGLE fiber.
The value of ham radio is providing communications where other systems cannot. And of course, playing with toys just for fun.
Bob, Wb4APR
-----Original Message-----
I've heard comments that basically imply anyone who wants to go outside with an HT and wave a yagi around is stupid.
Standing outside with a yagi in hand and the monsoon trickling down my neck isn't for me. It is demonstrably a valid way to make contacts and an excellent way to demonstrate how satellite operation can occur with minimalist equipment.
But as far as I'm concerned, it IS NOT the ultimate objective of a satellite operator....
On 07/22/2014 11:05 AM, Robert Bruninga wrote:
The value of ham radio is providing communications where other systems cannot. And of course, playing with toys just for fun.
I'd flip that around. With the Internet, mobile phones and other ubiquitous communications, about the sole reason left for ham radio to exist is **education**. And playing with toys just for fun is often quite educational as well.
Ham radio provides a hands-on opportunity to teach and learn radio (and electronics) technology, and you still can't find anything like it anywhere else.
Emergency communications is still in there somewhere, but in all honesty I now see it as a distant second.
And if one is to teach oneself communications and electronics technology through ham radio, then ham radio really ought to use something like the communications and electronics technologies that the outside world is using today, not just those the world was using 40 years ago.
--Phil
On Sat, Jul 26, 2014 at 11:31:51PM -0700, Phil Karn wrote:
On 07/22/2014 11:05 AM, Robert Bruninga wrote:
The value of ham radio is providing communications where other systems cannot. And of course, playing with toys just for fun.
I'd flip that around. With the Internet, mobile phones and other ubiquitous communications, about the sole reason left for ham radio to exist is **education**. And playing with toys just for fun is often quite educational as well.
Ham radio provides a hands-on opportunity to teach and learn radio (and electronics) technology, and you still can't find anything like it anywhere else.
Agreed and this is the primary focus I took when doing up our club brochure. http://www.db.net/~db/oarc_db_brochure.pdf Our future is with the young is education. The idea of sitting in your livingroom talking to people all over the world is something doable with modern technology (even IRC!) not hamradio. This is the wrong approach.
Emergency communications is still in there somewhere, but in all honesty I now see it as a distant second.
I agree.
And if one is to teach oneself communications and electronics technology through ham radio, then ham radio really ought to use something like the communications and electronics technologies that the outside world is using today, not just those the world was using 40 years ago.
Yes. SSB is a technology the phone company first used and they have moved on to digital.
--Phil _______________________________________________ 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
-- Diane
participants (3)
-
Diane Bruce -
Phil Karn -
Robert Bruninga