It is difficult for me to believe that there have been 1000 grids active in the last 5 years. When I first started in satellites I thought two or three hundred grids would be about it, but many things happened to move that estimate up. Last night I worked VY1RM in the Yukon for grid number 1000 with VO-52 at 2-3 degrees.

This total would not have been possible had it not been for the many who have gone to grids away from their home comfort zone and operated on the birds, sometimes under very difficult conditions. I thought it might be interesting to create a listing of those who have given me more than one NEW grid. Many have also operated in multiple grids that I already had. This list does not reflect the many who have given others NEW grids over the past five years.

UT1FG/MM 175 2M1EUB/P 4 XE1AO 3 ND9M 113 G7MAR/MM 4 AJ9K 2 WD9EWK 31 KB5WIA 4 K0BAM 2 WC7V 21 KB9BIT 4 K7CWQ 2 KD4ZGW 16 KI6YAA 4 K7DRA 2 K5OE 10 KK0SD 4 K7TRK 2 KB0RZD 10 VE6AB 4 KA0RID 2 KD8CAO 9 W5ACM 4 KC2LRC 2 AA5CK 8 WA8SME 4 KE7DOV 2 N5AFV 8 XE2AT 4 KG6NUB 2 XE3DX 8 XE2JA 4 KL1WE 2 KC0YBM 7 AA5PK 3 KL7AC 2 N5ZNL 7 CO6CBF 3 N0RC 2 VE8EV 7 DL7VTX 3 N3TL 2 W6GMT 7 G7KES/MM 3 VA3BL 2 N0JE 6 KC0ZHF 3 VE3NKL 2 N2SPI 6 LA4FPA 3 VE7JMN 2 VO1ONE 6 N9AMW 3 WA5KBH 2 WA4NVM 5 W6ZKH 3 XE1BRX 2 XE1AY 5 WA6ARA 3 XE2JTS 2 WA7HQD 3

UT1FG/MM tops the list from operations onboard cargo ships in 2009-2010-2011. Yuri is the ship's Master and has sailed across the Atlantic, around South America, through the Panama Canal, into the Caribbean and up the Atlantic coast to the St. Lawrence Seaway. Pictures of his most recent voyage on the Mottler are on my website. They were taken by Walt WP4T, Carmen WP3PJ, and Walner, WP4NYS. Wes KP4WES was also on board the Mottler. You may recall hearing his voice on one of the ARRISat-1 broadcasts. http://papays.com/sat/mottlerweb/page_01.htm

Next on the list is ND9M who recently operated /MM on a voyage from Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, across the Pacific, through the Panama Canal to Jacksonville FL and then on to Charleston SC. He got up in the middle of the night to work the birds. Jim has also operated from hundreds of grids in the US. He holds reverse-VUCC at 325 grids!

Patrick, WD9EWK is an experienced satellite rover and has made trips to Canada to put on the rare ones. He is always active traveling to Arizona grids and setting up AMSAT tables at hamfests in the West.

Next up is Kerry, WC7V. He has traveled to many of the DN grids by car and sometimes by flying there in his personal airplane. He continues to be active on all the birds.

Rob, KD4ZGW, is an over-the-road truck driver who has traveled all over the United States. He was very active from his big rig in many rare grids. He holds reverse-VUCC at 100 grids! Many have had the chance to meet him when he has traveled through their home town.

Jerry, K5OE, was a very active satellite operator years ago and has recently become active again. His cruise ship vacation netted quite a few water grids for me and for many others.

Gail, KB0RZD, is a very active satellite operator and has traveled to many rare grids around his QTH. His photo qsl cards give an idea of where he actually operated from. He continues to be an active, away from home, grid expeditioner.

My son Doug, KD8CAO, has traveled to many grids that I needed. He got me started in satellites and we have enjoyed the hobby together. He is on the AMSAT Operations Team and very active on the birds. He has designed both hardware and software that is used in my home station.

The list is huge and there are stories associated with each operator. They all have made life on the birds more interesting. Interest in satellites is higher now than at any time since I started 5 years ago. In the DX world, dxpeditions create challenges and activity. It's no different in satellites. It can get very crowded at times but it would be very boring if there was nothing new to work.

Most everyone lives close to another grid and sometimes those grids can be very rare. If there is no regular operator active in a particular grid, there will be many that need it. So if you are up for a challenge you will find the experience very satisfying.

Thanks again to everyone that made this milestone possible.

73, John K8YSE