Hector, CO6CBF, made his first satellite QSO back on January 27th, 2011 on the AO-51 satellite. He didn't have much help getting started but he read and built an antenna and made that contact after he could successfully hear others on the satellite.
I've only worked 3 Cuban stations, CO8TW in FL20, CO5LU in EL93 and Hector CO6CBF in EL92. EL92 is rare. I did not have it and neither did KO4MA, K6YK or NI7P/exN7SFI. I sent the card to Hector before I did any research on the mail issues. It turns out that mail from Cuba to the USA has been suspended by the Cuban government due to delays with our TSA screening incoming mail. Cuba feels that this delay is unacceptable. You would think that mail from the USA to Cuba would be refused also but that is not the case. Hector reported being very surprised to receive a card from me with an IRC in tact. The mail from the USA to Cuba works. Sending IRC's is acceptable. Green stamps would not be acceptable.
Now the problem was how to return cards from Cuba to the USA. Hector has friends that live in the US but visit Cuba from time to time. He was finally able to send a number of cards back with his friend and they in turn mailed them to me for distribution.
There are 75 QSL cards in the mail now from Hector, CO6CBF. Just two of them are in envelopes received by Hector, however, he reports that since that time, he has received several envelopes from the US.
There were a few cards with incorrect callsigns. I did my best to determine the intended recipient but there may be some errors on my part. If you get a card addressed to you for a contact you made with Hector but your callsign is wrong, simply send a card to him and he will send one back via the above mentioned process. Be patient.
Please remember that Hector's first language is not English. If he gets your callsign wrong, it is likely due to your not using phonetics. There is no need to discuss phonetics; just use them when making a QSO with Hector.
The QSL cards are smaller than the standard QSL, 3-1/2" x 5-1/2". That is because the only printer that Hector has right now will not print that size. He is trying to fix another printer that will allow the full size card to be printed.
Hector has shared his plans for future satellite grid operations. He will be trying to activate every grid in Cuba and may do some water grids as well. His biggest problem right now is a portable UHF radio. He has 2 meter portables but nothing to take on the road for UHF. It is unfortunate that we cannot send him a radio due to restrictions, however, other countries like Canada and Mexico could. If there is anyone outside the US that has a UHF portable that would cover the satellite band and would like to help Hector, please consider sending it to him. He is trying to build a uhf to 2meter downconverter that could be used with a 2m HT but the outcome is unknown. Anything you build for UHF receive has to be very sensitive as satellites run very low power. An HT would be the best solution.
So if you are one of the lucky 73 who gets a QSL card from Hector, unsolicited, please take the time to make one out and return it to him. He is trying to get his VUCC and it's a lot more difficult for him than it is for us. An IRC always helps. Please do not send cards to me.
Thank you Hector for getting on the birds from Cuba. You have given many of us a new grid as well as a new DXCC entity!
73, John K8YSE
John,
The timing of your post was fortuitous. I'm just catching up on QSL's and I had worked Hector on 2 Apr. I was about to send him an email asking how to handle the QSL request. I'll keep my eyes on the mailbox.
Did you happen to note the calls he QSL'd? Might help someone who worked him but doesn't get a card for whatever reason figure out the details.
It was nice to get Cuba in the books.
73 Rick K7TEJ
---- John Papay [email protected] wrote:
Hector, CO6CBF, made his first satellite QSO back on January 27th, 2011 on the AO-51 satellite. He didn't have much help getting started but he read and built an antenna and made that contact after he could successfully hear others on the satellite.
I've only worked 3 Cuban stations, CO8TW in FL20, CO5LU in EL93 and Hector CO6CBF in EL92. EL92 is rare. I did not have it and neither did KO4MA, K6YK or NI7P/exN7SFI. I sent the card to Hector before I did any research on the mail issues. It turns out that mail from Cuba to the USA has been suspended by the Cuban government due to delays with our TSA screening incoming mail. Cuba feels that this delay is unacceptable. You would think that mail from the USA to Cuba would be refused also but that is not the case. Hector reported being very surprised to receive a card from me with an IRC in tact. The mail from the USA to Cuba works. Sending IRC's is acceptable. Green stamps would not be acceptable.
Now the problem was how to return cards from Cuba to the USA. Hector has friends that live in the US but visit Cuba from time to time. He was finally able to send a number of cards back with his friend and they in turn mailed them to me for distribution.
There are 75 QSL cards in the mail now from Hector, CO6CBF. Just two of them are in envelopes received by Hector, however, he reports that since that time, he has received several envelopes from the US.
There were a few cards with incorrect callsigns. I did my best to determine the intended recipient but there may be some errors on my part. If you get a card addressed to you for a contact you made with Hector but your callsign is wrong, simply send a card to him and he will send one back via the above mentioned process. Be patient.
Please remember that Hector's first language is not English. If he gets your callsign wrong, it is likely due to your not using phonetics. There is no need to discuss phonetics; just use them when making a QSO with Hector.
The QSL cards are smaller than the standard QSL, 3-1/2" x 5-1/2". That is because the only printer that Hector has right now will not print that size. He is trying to fix another printer that will allow the full size card to be printed.
Hector has shared his plans for future satellite grid operations. He will be trying to activate every grid in Cuba and may do some water grids as well. His biggest problem right now is a portable UHF radio. He has 2 meter portables but nothing to take on the road for UHF. It is unfortunate that we cannot send him a radio due to restrictions, however, other countries like Canada and Mexico could. If there is anyone outside the US that has a UHF portable that would cover the satellite band and would like to help Hector, please consider sending it to him. He is trying to build a uhf to 2meter downconverter that could be used with a 2m HT but the outcome is unknown. Anything you build for UHF receive has to be very sensitive as satellites run very low power. An HT would be the best solution.
So if you are one of the lucky 73 who gets a QSL card from Hector, unsolicited, please take the time to make one out and return it to him. He is trying to get his VUCC and it's a lot more difficult for him than it is for us. An IRC always helps. Please do not send cards to me.
Thank you Hector for getting on the birds from Cuba. You have given many of us a new grid as well as a new DXCC entity!
73, John K8YSE
Sent via [email protected]. 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
Hi John!
There are 75 QSL cards in the mail now from Hector, CO6CBF. Just two of them are in envelopes received by Hector, however, he reports that since that time, he has received several envelopes from the US.
My CO6CBF QSL card and SASE arrived at my PO box today. The envelope appeared to have made the round-trip intact, going first to Cuba and then for the return trip through Miami and Cleveland. Many thanks to John for being the maildrop to get the cards distributed, and - of course - to Hector for being there for the QSO and then sending the QSL cards with his friend to the US.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
Hi John!
I received my CO6CBF QSL card as well . Thank you for forwarding the card to me :o) Very special thanks to Hector for activating that gird .
Yanko aka NX9G
----- Original Message -----
From: "Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)" [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2011 2:27:31 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Hector CO6CBF EL92
Hi John!
There are 75 QSL cards in the mail now from Hector, CO6CBF. Just two of them are in envelopes received by Hector, however, he reports that since that time, he has received several envelopes from the US.
My CO6CBF QSL card and SASE arrived at my PO box today. The envelope appeared to have made the round-trip intact, going first to Cuba and then for the return trip through Miami and Cleveland. Many thanks to John for being the maildrop to get the cards distributed, and - of course - to Hector for being there for the QSO and then sending the QSL cards with his friend to the US.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
_______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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
Mine came today as well, again, john, thanks for facilitating this. Much appreciated
Clear Skies
Rick Tejera Editor SACnews, Public Outreach Coordinator Saguaro Astronomy Club Phoenix, Arizona www.saguaroastro.org [email protected] K7TEJ, AMSAT 38452
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Yanko P. Yankov Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2011 16:36 To: [email protected] Cc: [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Hector CO6CBF EL92
Hi John!
I received my CO6CBF QSL card as well . Thank you for forwarding the card to me :o) Very special thanks to Hector for activating that gird .
Yanko aka NX9G
----- Original Message -----
From: "Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)" [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2011 2:27:31 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Hector CO6CBF EL92
Hi John!
There are 75 QSL cards in the mail now from Hector, CO6CBF. Just two of them are in envelopes received by Hector, however, he reports that since that time, he has received several envelopes from the US.
My CO6CBF QSL card and SASE arrived at my PO box today. The envelope appeared to have made the round-trip intact, going first to Cuba and then for the return trip through Miami and Cleveland. Many thanks to John for being the maildrop to get the cards distributed, and - of course - to Hector for being there for the QSO and then sending the QSL cards with his friend to the US.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
_______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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
_______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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
I am away from home for 20 days, Hector informed me that sent a QSL card to me when I go home I know if I get the mail. then I will reply confirming for the EK36, EK19 and EK18. I have worked for these grids.
David XE3DX
Need to ask something, may be silly to some:
- The ARRL can give an account of LoTW for Hector ...? or hector can create ..? is it possible ..?
That would be the best solution for him, and also find a QSL manager.
Thanks if anyone can answer the first question.
if you think I can help in mexico to be a bridge to Hector via airmail I'm ready to help, many years ago sent a box to Cuba for the Cuban Federation of Amateur radio equipment too old, no problem, not if Now everything has changed from Mexico to Cuba.
Dave XE3DX
It was great to receive Hector's very nice QSL card in the mail today! I have started uploading my contacts to LOTW for the benefit of those that use it. However, it is of no use to me because: 1) I am not an ARRL member so I am not eligible to apply for their awards. The QSL cards I receive are, themselves, my awards. I have nothing against the ARRL but all the money I have budgeted for amateur radio organizations goes to AMSAT. 2) The internet, email, etc., are great but can't provide the thrill I get when I open my mailbox and find a real, honest-to-goodness QSL card. Yes, I know postage and printing costs money and if I didn't spend the money on postage, paper, and ink, I could afford to donate more to AMSAT.
Evidently, many of you agree with me because, to date, I have mailed 423 QSL cards and have received 304. That is a much higher percentage than verifications I have gotten via LOTW.
73, Chuck, KM9U
----- Original Message ----- From: "David Maciel" [email protected] To: "Grupo Amsat BB" [email protected] Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2011 21:48 Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Hector CO6CBF EL92
Need to ask something, may be silly to some:
- The ARRL can give an account of LoTW for Hector ...?
or hector can create ..? is it possible ..?
That would be the best solution for him, and also find a QSL manager.
Thanks if anyone can answer the first question.
if you think I can help in mexico to be a bridge to Hector via airmail I'm ready to help, many years ago sent a box to Cuba for the Cuban Federation of Amateur radio equipment too old, no problem, not if Now everything has changed from Mexico to Cuba.
Dave XE3DX
Sent via [email protected]. 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
Hi Chuck!
It was great to receive Hector's very nice QSL card in the mail today! I have started uploading my contacts to LOTW for the benefit of those that use it.
Great! Thanks for those uploads to LOTW.
Evidently, many of you agree with me because, to date, I have mailed 423 QSL cards and have received 304. That is a much higher percentage than verifications I have gotten via LOTW.
That might not be entirely correct. LOTW has only been available for VUCC applications for 3 months, and many satellite operators have not bothered with LOTW until that announcement. I do enjoy sending and receiving QSL cards, and have not stopped that even though I am also uploading QSOs to LOTW. More stations are uploading satellite QSOs to LOTW, and now ARRL needs to start processing the VUCC applications it has (among those, my initial satellite VUCC application).
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
participants (7)
-
David Maciel -
John Papay -
KM9U -
Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) -
Rick Tejera -
saguaroastro＠cox.net
-
Yanko P. Yankov