GM sat ops,

I am now home in Utah and have just finished uploading all of my satellite QSOs to LoTW. If you use LoTW, and I hope you do, please remember that even though I signed C6AQD/MM on the air my uploads do not include the /MM.

Many of you were probably wondering why I was a no show on some of juicy passes I was in. For instance, on the 0122 to 0145 UTC pass of SO-50 when I was in FN73 on October 3rd I thought I could operate from my deck, but then I realized that the pass started on the other side of the ship and behind me, so on that pass I only worked KB1RVT and KC1EXK. On the next pass from 0303 to 0315 UTC, however, I went topside and was able to work ten stations from FN73.

Since this was a cruise that included my XYL and another couple the prearranged plans we had made it so that I missed operating from FN63 on 10/05/16 for the 0148 to 0201 UTC pass of SO-50.

I was hoping to work FN51 and thought for sure it was going to happen because near the top third of the grid we were traveling at only 8 knots but by the time the sat passed over I noticed we had sped up considerably to 22 knots and were in FN50. Not only was that a disappointment for missing FN51 but my receiver went deaf and on the 1628 to 1640 UTC pass of SO-50 on 10/06/16 I only worked one station, KB1RVT, and he was very weak. On the next pass, 1808 to 1821 UTC, we were in FN60 and I heard absolutely nothing from the sat. That's when I concluded that I must have an open or a shorted coax cable.

As a reminder, please upload my call as C6AQD without the /MM. Also, If you have already uploaded our QSO and LOTW doesn't show the contact credited to you then let me know via this email address lee.ernstrom@rcwilley.com and I will recheck my upload to make sure we match.

For those of you who don't use LOTW and would like a paper QSL send me an email and I will get you one. No need for your card nor SASE, just send an email request.

I made 50 contacts on this cruise from these grids: FN50, FN52, FN61, FN72, FN73 and FN84. I hope I made some of you happy :)

Doc, C6AQD/MM (WA7HQD)