Re: [amsat-bb] Those were the days
Paul,
Yes, there's certainly less interest in satellite operating than 30-40 years agp, but here's what we did.
Most satellite DXers were also active HF DXers, and any time we worked someone in a country or state we needed on OSCAR, we would talk up satellte operating. :The informal leaders of this actiivity were Ben, W2BXA, and Pat, G3IOR. Ben is now SK but Pat is very much alive and kicking at 84. Unfortunately, though, the only operating he does these days is FM on his local repeaters.
Since most of the people we worked already had good 10m setups, all they needed to get on Mode A was a 2m transmitter and antenna. They usually could cannibalize the latter from their FM rigs or borrow one from a neighbor, so all they needed was the transmitter. Ben got a few used Ameco TX-62s and appropriate crystals, and we appointed him AMSAT Loaner Equipment Manager. A DX station op could borrow a TX-62 free for several months, as long as he agreed to put it on the air and, when the loan was over, ship it to the next borrower at his own expense. That arrangement worked fine for several years until AO-10 came along. A bit like Drew loaning equipment to the K1N guys.
Glad to see activity perking up. Hope it keeps going.
73 Ray W2RS
While the 817 in Navassa does indeed belong to me, AMSAT does have a IC-910, two Arrows, and a D7 full duplex HT available for loan. The D7 and a now retired Arrow went to K5D.
What I need help with is identifying dxpeditions, convincing them that they can do satellite, then convincing them to practice ahead of time. I'd be glad to set this up as a position within operations for the right volunteer.
73, Drew KO4MA
Sent from my iPhone
On Feb 12, 2015, at 10:33 AM, RSoifer1@aol.com wrote:
Paul,
Yes, there's certainly less interest in satellite operating than 30-40 years agp, but here's what we did.
Most satellite DXers were also active HF DXers, and any time we worked someone in a country or state we needed on OSCAR, we would talk up satellte operating. :The informal leaders of this actiivity were Ben, W2BXA, and Pat, G3IOR. Ben is now SK but Pat is very much alive and kicking at 84. Unfortunately, though, the only operating he does these days is FM on his local repeaters.
Since most of the people we worked already had good 10m setups, all they needed to get on Mode A was a 2m transmitter and antenna. They usually could cannibalize the latter from their FM rigs or borrow one from a neighbor, so all they needed was the transmitter. Ben got a few used Ameco TX-62s and appropriate crystals, and we appointed him AMSAT Loaner Equipment Manager. A DX station op could borrow a TX-62 free for several months, as long as he agreed to put it on the air and, when the loan was over, ship it to the next borrower at his own expense. That arrangement worked fine for several years until AO-10 came along. A bit like Drew loaning equipment to the K1N guys.
Glad to see activity perking up. Hope it keeps going.
73 Ray W2RS _______________________________________________ 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://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (2)
-
Andrew Glasbrenner -
RSoifer1＠aol.com