Hi!
After over 3 1/2 years working the satellites, getting on the air for around 6000 satellite QSOs followed by requesting QSL cards from stations across the USA, I was able to complete one of my goals when I started on the satellites - work and confirm QSOs with all 50 US states. I had my applications and cards for the satellite Worked All States award reviewed here in Phoenix a couple of weeks ago, and the certificate arrived today. :-)
Out here in the western part of North America, it is possible to work all 50 states with the existing group of LEO satellites we have. In fact, it can be done with just the FM satellites from out here if there are stations on from each of the states. My application used QSL cards from contacts only on the 3 FM satellites (AO-27, AO-51, SO-50). There is no special endorsement for doing that; the WAS certificate has "OSCAR" to identify this as a satellite WAS, along with the serial number for this version of the WAS (#309) and the date it was issued (last Thursday, 6 August). I wanted to use cards from only the FM-satellite QSOs, as that was one of the two goals I wanted to do when I started out in late 2005 (the other thing was to get QSL cards from at least 100 grids, for the satellite VUCC award).
I'll use many of the same cards toward the AMSAT Sexagesimal award (confirming contacts with at least 60 US states/Canadian provinces/DXCC countries), and then do the bigger task of assembling a satellite VUCC application (I'm somewhere between 250 and 300 grids confirmed). Or I can go back on the radio, and leave that paperwork for some other time. :-) In any event, thanks to all the stations over 3 1/2 years that got on the air from the different states - and for sending those QSL cards to confirm the contacts.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
Hi Patrick and the group,
Congratulations on the Satellite WAS! Quite a feat, even from the western US, like you stated has an easier chance of obtaining such an award due to the geography. Sorry I couldn't get a QSO with you will on your last excursion to eastern AZ.
73,
Jeff WB3JFS Las Vegas, NV DM26
----- Original Message ----- From: "Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)" amsat-bb@wd9ewk.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 10:37 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] satellite WAS #309
Hi!
After over 3 1/2 years working the satellites, getting on the air for around 6000 satellite QSOs followed by requesting QSL cards from stations across the USA, I was able to complete one of my goals when I started on the satellites - work and confirm QSOs with all 50 US states. I had my applications and cards for the satellite Worked All States award reviewed here in Phoenix a couple of weeks ago, and the certificate arrived today. :-)
Out here in the western part of North America, it is possible to work all 50 states with the existing group of LEO satellites we have. In fact, it can be done with just the FM satellites from out here if there are stations on from each of the states. My application used QSL cards from contacts only on the 3 FM satellites (AO-27, AO-51, SO-50). There is no special endorsement for doing that; the WAS certificate has "OSCAR" to identify this as a satellite WAS, along with the serial number for this version of the WAS (#309) and the date it was issued (last Thursday, 6 August). I wanted to use cards from only the FM-satellite QSOs, as that was one of the two goals I wanted to do when I started out in late 2005 (the other thing was to get QSL cards from at least 100 grids, for the satellite VUCC award).
I'll use many of the same cards toward the AMSAT Sexagesimal award (confirming contacts with at least 60 US states/Canadian provinces/DXCC countries), and then do the bigger task of assembling a satellite VUCC application (I'm somewhere between 250 and 300 grids confirmed). Or I can go back on the radio, and leave that paperwork for some other time. :-) In any event, thanks to all the stations over 3 1/2 years that got on the air from the different states - and for sending those QSL cards to confirm the contacts.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
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
Congratulations Patrick!
That is a wonderful achievement - one that way fewer than the 308 before have accomplished (i.e., Satellite WAS on the LEO satellites).
Thanks, too, for all your work to activate grids in your part of the world. Many of us appreciate it very much.
73,
Tim - N3TL
________________________________ From: Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) amsat-bb@wd9ewk.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 1:37:04 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] satellite WAS #309
Hi!
After over 3 1/2 years working the satellites, getting on the air for around 6000 satellite QSOs followed by requesting QSL cards from stations across the USA, I was able to complete one of my goals when I started on the satellites - work and confirm QSOs with all 50 US states. I had my applications and cards for the satellite Worked All States award reviewed here in Phoenix a couple of weeks ago, and the certificate arrived today. :-)
Out here in the western part of North America, it is possible to work all 50 states with the existing group of LEO satellites we have. In fact, it can be done with just the FM satellites from out here if there are stations on from each of the states. My application used QSL cards from contacts only on the 3 FM satellites (AO-27, AO-51, SO-50). There is no special endorsement for doing that; the WAS certificate has "OSCAR" to identify this as a satellite WAS, along with the serial number for this version of the WAS (#309) and the date it was issued (last Thursday, 6 August). I wanted to use cards from only the FM-satellite QSOs, as that was one of the two goals I wanted to do when I started out in late 2005 (the other thing was to get QSL cards from at least 100 grids, for the satellite VUCC award).
I'll use many of the same cards toward the AMSAT Sexagesimal award (confirming contacts with at least 60 US states/Canadian provinces/DXCC countries), and then do the bigger task of assembling a satellite VUCC application (I'm somewhere between 250 and 300 grids confirmed). Or I can go back on the radio, and leave that paperwork for some other time. :-) In any event, thanks to all the stations over 3 1/2 years that got on the air from the different states - and for sending those QSL cards to confirm the contacts.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
_______________________________________________ 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
Patrick,
Kudos from me as well. What an accomplishment.
Greg N3MVF
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Tim Lilley Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 8:08 AM To: amsat-bb@wd9ewk.net; amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: satellite WAS #309
Congratulations Patrick!
That is a wonderful achievement - one that way fewer than the 308 before have accomplished (i.e., Satellite WAS on the LEO satellites).
Thanks, too, for all your work to activate grids in your part of the world. Many of us appreciate it very much.
73,
Tim - N3TL
________________________________ From: Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) amsat-bb@wd9ewk.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 1:37:04 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] satellite WAS #309
Hi!
After over 3 1/2 years working the satellites, getting on the air for around 6000 satellite QSOs followed by requesting QSL cards from stations across the USA, I was able to complete one of my goals when I started on the satellites - work and confirm QSOs with all 50 US states. I had my applications and cards for the satellite Worked All States award reviewed here in Phoenix a couple of weeks ago, and the certificate arrived today. :-)
Out here in the western part of North America, it is possible to work all 50 states with the existing group of LEO satellites we have. In fact, it can be done with just the FM satellites from out here if there are stations on from each of the states. My application used QSL cards from contacts only on the 3 FM satellites (AO-27, AO-51, SO-50). There is no special endorsement for doing that; the WAS certificate has "OSCAR" to identify this as a satellite WAS, along with the serial number for this version of the WAS (#309) and the date it was issued (last Thursday, 6 August). I wanted to use cards from only the FM-satellite QSOs, as that was one of the two goals I wanted to do when I started out in late 2005 (the other thing was to get QSL cards from at least 100 grids, for the satellite VUCC award).
I'll use many of the same cards toward the AMSAT Sexagesimal award (confirming contacts with at least 60 US states/Canadian provinces/DXCC countries), and then do the bigger task of assembling a satellite VUCC application (I'm somewhere between 250 and 300 grids confirmed). Or I can go back on the radio, and leave that paperwork for some other time. :-) In any event, thanks to all the stations over 3 1/2 years that got on the air from the different states - and for sending those QSL cards to confirm the contacts.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
_______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ 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
Hi Patrick, first like the others, I would like to thank you for helping me out tremendously in achieving VUCC on satellites, even though I still haven't contacted a card checker to actually get the award.
For me though, the way things are, it looks like I'll be able to work the 49 states, but Hawaii is impossible at this time due to my location in south Florida.
One thing that concerns me is what in the world do you plan to do when you retire? I don't know your age, but at this rate, I think you will have seen just about every grid in the states. I think you once told me you knew another language or two, other than Spanish - you might have to learn Chinese so you can retire over there. After all, they have a huge country, and a lot of grids!
I'm still waiting to get back on the birds once Yaesu tells me what's wrong with my rotors. It's gone back and forth from Florida to California several times already. Counting the distance of the satellite contacts, and the distance the post office has taken that thing from coast to coast, could be a new record - someone should create the 'MMR Award", most miles rotor award.
73 de W4AS Sebastian
On Aug 11, 2009, at 1:37 AM, Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) wrote:
Hi!
After over 3 1/2 years working the satellites, getting on the air for around 6000 satellite QSOs followed by requesting QSL
Hi Sebastian (and the group)!
Hi Patrick, first like the others, I would like to thank you for helping me out tremendously in achieving VUCC on satellites, even though I still haven't contacted a card checker to actually get the award.
Thanks, and also thanks to the others who posted here and sent me directly messages congratulating me on this award.
I'm with you... I could apply for VUCC, but have been putting it off for some time. First it was "I'm over 100 grids confirmed, I'll wait until I reach 125 to apply". Then I decided to wait until I reached 150, 200, 250, and now I think I will wait to reach 300 grids confirmed before applying. No matter when I do that, it will be a fair amount of work to get the cards sorted and then listed on the paperwork - followed by finding a card checker with little or nothing to do on a Saturday. :-)
For me though, the way things are, it looks like I'll be able to work the 49 states, but Hawaii is impossible at this time due to my location in south Florida.
For many east of the Rockies, AO-7 would be - and has been - the only way to get Hawaii via satellite.
One thing that concerns me is what in the world do you plan to do when you retire? I don't know your age, but at this rate, I think you will have seen just about every grid in the states. I think you once told me you knew another language or two, other than Spanish - you might have to learn Chinese so you can retire over there. After all, they have a huge country, and a lot of grids!
Retirement is not on the radar right now. As for visiting all the grids in the US, I think there are a few who are way ahead of me (N5AFV and WI7P, ex-N7SFI, are certainly well out in front there).
Hope to hear you on again, soon.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
participants (5)
-
Greg Dober -
Jeff Yanko -
Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) -
Sebastian -
Tim Lilley