You wrote on the AMSAT-BB message server ...
"Other then very very easy to use what is the BIG deal about the FM sats? I must be missing something since having a very bad out come when I did (once) to use one. I have got to be missing something."
I am not sure what you are "expecting" from the existing FM satellites.
I am in my mid-50s as far as age goes, and still get excited at the wonderful technology that the FM birds exhibit.
And although I have given my presentation entitled, "How to Work the FM Ham Satellites With Your HT" presentation more than 60 times to various clubs and audiences the past couple of years, I continue to find appreciative audiences for this aspect of this wonderful hobby.
SO ... I do not completely understand "where you're coming from" as you tell us that thius might not be a "big deal" in the ham radio world.
Yes, you and I know that workin' the FM sats is TRULY an example of the "line of sight" theory that we all read about while studying for our ham radio licenses.
But as I make my presentations to clubs all over North America, I continue to find appreciative audiences, as others seem to not realize that with a "mere" Technician" amateur radio so much more than just working stations across the valley or hitting those hilltop repeaters.
SO ... What's the "big deal?" It's something that "mere Technicians" can do in this magnificent hobby - in addition to "normal" voice privileges - and a privilege that is, IMHO, a truly remarkable and exciting aspect of "Amateur Radio."
Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com
Clint Bradford clintbradford@mac.com
I have been licensed for 31 years now. I have 8 band DXCC, 3 different VUCC awards on 6m, VUCC on 2m, 5 band worked all states, and 317 countries worked and confirmed, and I STILL get excited whenever I work a new grid on the FM satellites. Part of the fun is the challenge of getting thru the pileups on there.
73s John AA5JG
----- Original Message ----- From: "Clint Bradford" clintbradford@mac.com To: "AMSAT BB" amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 2:00 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: I'm Missing Somethin'
You wrote on the AMSAT-BB message server ...
"Other then very very easy to use what is the BIG deal about the FM sats? I must be missing something since having a very bad out come when I did (once) to use one. I have got to be missing something."
I am not sure what you are "expecting" from the existing FM satellites.
I am in my mid-50s as far as age goes, and still get excited at the wonderful technology that the FM birds exhibit.
And although I have given my presentation entitled, "How to Work the FM Ham Satellites With Your HT" presentation more than 60 times to various clubs and audiences the past couple of years, I continue to find appreciative audiences for this aspect of this wonderful hobby.
SO ... I do not completely understand "where you're coming from" as you tell us that thius might not be a "big deal" in the ham radio world.
Yes, you and I know that workin' the FM sats is TRULY an example of the "line of sight" theory that we all read about while studying for our ham radio licenses.
But as I make my presentations to clubs all over North America, I continue to find appreciative audiences, as others seem to not realize that with a "mere" Technician" amateur radio so much more than just working stations across the valley or hitting those hilltop repeaters.
SO ... What's the "big deal?" It's something that "mere Technicians" can do in this magnificent hobby - in addition to "normal" voice privileges - and a privilege that is, IMHO, a truly remarkable and exciting aspect of "Amateur Radio."
Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com
Clint Bradford clintbradford@mac.com
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
John. I have only been licensed since 1993, but STILL receive weird looks from my wife when, as I work an FM bird from my back yard in Riverside, CA, as I exclaim, "Karen, I'm working Canada!!!"
To ME, it's a ham contact at a Watt or two ... to my beloved wife, jokingly, a situation of "Clint, anything wrong with your cell phone - which calls the planet no problem ..."
(In all honesty, my wife is much more knowledgable than that ... she only "fakes" being surprised by what ham FM sats accomplish."
And so it goes ...
Clint
participants (2)
-
Clint Bradford -
John Geiger