Satellite SDR: Seeing IS NOT Hearing
I happen to be a fan of using Software Defined Radio (SDR) to receive amateur satellites. It is an inexpensive way to view all the signals appearing on a satellite's passband simultaneously. While I don't normally run SDR full time at my station, from time to time I use it to monitor activity on busy satellite passes because I can view and record all activity.
As a result of more people using SDR on satellites, I have discovered an operating trait that warrants some discussion and evaluation.
On more than one occasion, I have given a call to a very specific station, and instead of my intended target had another SDR-based station appear on frequency immediately saying "QRZ? QRZ?" rather than wait and listen to who is calling on the frequency. The SDR user saw a signal on their waterfall and clicked on it. They "pounced" on what they perceived to be another station looking to make contact which might not necessarily be the case.
I've see the same thing happen a few times with pileups. There is an existing pileup in progress when the SDR station comes into the footprint. Rather than wait a short period to listen, they click on the new signal in their waterfall, and immediately proceed to "QRZ" on the frequency of the pileup, sometimes interrupting the flow of existing contacts.
Just today I heard this scenario: Station 1 calls CQ. Station 2 went to answer. The SDR user clicked on the waterfall, heard only part of the callsign of Station 2, and proceeded to call Station 2, ignoring the possibility that Station 2 was attempting to QSO with someone else.
It seems to me the visual nature of SDR waterfalls is causing a temporary lapse in judgement when it comes to a basic ham radio principle that we apply to satellite operating -- listen with our ears before transmitting.
SDR is a great listening tool. With great power comes great responsibility.
73 Clayton W5PFG
Clayton, are you sure you weren't listening to SO-50 :-)
73 Jeff kb2m
-----Original Message----- From: Clayton Coleman Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2017 2:29 PM To: AMSAT-BB Subject: [amsat-bb] Satellite SDR: Seeing IS NOT Hearing
I happen to be a fan of using Software Defined Radio (SDR) to receive amateur satellites. It is an inexpensive way to view all the signals appearing on a satellite's passband simultaneously. While I don't normally run SDR full time at my station, from time to time I use it to monitor activity on busy satellite passes because I can view and record all activity.
As a result of more people using SDR on satellites, I have discovered an operating trait that warrants some discussion and evaluation.
On more than one occasion, I have given a call to a very specific station, and instead of my intended target had another SDR-based station appear on frequency immediately saying "QRZ? QRZ?" rather than wait and listen to who is calling on the frequency. The SDR user saw a signal on their waterfall and clicked on it. They "pounced" on what they perceived to be another station looking to make contact which might not necessarily be the case.
I've see the same thing happen a few times with pileups. There is an existing pileup in progress when the SDR station comes into the footprint. Rather than wait a short period to listen, they click on the new signal in their waterfall, and immediately proceed to "QRZ" on the frequency of the pileup, sometimes interrupting the flow of existing contacts.
Just today I heard this scenario: Station 1 calls CQ. Station 2 went to answer. The SDR user clicked on the waterfall, heard only part of the callsign of Station 2, and proceeded to call Station 2, ignoring the possibility that Station 2 was attempting to QSO with someone else.
It seems to me the visual nature of SDR waterfalls is causing a temporary lapse in judgement when it comes to a basic ham radio principle that we apply to satellite operating -- listen with our ears before transmitting.
SDR is a great listening tool. With great power comes great responsibility.
73 Clayton W5PFG _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Clayton,
Good topic!
I would suggest that this behavior is not confined to SDR or satellite QSOs, but pervades all modes and bands of our hobby. I am guilty of this, but more due to excitement than intention. The good advice that is not confined just to ham radio, listen first, listen again, always applies, or as one local ham suggests, put mind in gear before the mouth. Not to sound like Miss Manners, but perhaps one of the unique aspects of our hobby is to always be considerate of the other operators. I always appreciate those ham's who mentor by example with kindness and absence of judgement.
Thanks for mentioning!
Chuck N7BFO
On 3/25/2017 11:29 AM, Clayton Coleman wrote:
I happen to be a fan of using Software Defined Radio (SDR) to receive amateur satellites. It is an inexpensive way to view all the signals appearing on a satellite's passband simultaneously. While I don't normally run SDR full time at my station, from time to time I use it to monitor activity on busy satellite passes because I can view and record all activity.
As a result of more people using SDR on satellites, I have discovered an operating trait that warrants some discussion and evaluation.
On more than one occasion, I have given a call to a very specific station, and instead of my intended target had another SDR-based station appear on frequency immediately saying "QRZ? QRZ?" rather than wait and listen to who is calling on the frequency. The SDR user saw a signal on their waterfall and clicked on it. They "pounced" on what they perceived to be another station looking to make contact which might not necessarily be the case.
I've see the same thing happen a few times with pileups. There is an existing pileup in progress when the SDR station comes into the footprint. Rather than wait a short period to listen, they click on the new signal in their waterfall, and immediately proceed to "QRZ" on the frequency of the pileup, sometimes interrupting the flow of existing contacts.
Just today I heard this scenario: Station 1 calls CQ. Station 2 went to answer. The SDR user clicked on the waterfall, heard only part of the callsign of Station 2, and proceeded to call Station 2, ignoring the possibility that Station 2 was attempting to QSO with someone else.
It seems to me the visual nature of SDR waterfalls is causing a temporary lapse in judgement when it comes to a basic ham radio principle that we apply to satellite operating -- listen with our ears before transmitting.
SDR is a great listening tool. With great power comes great responsibility.
73 Clayton W5PFG _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Whether tuning blind or with full SDR vision, transmitting without listening to assess the situation is massively counterproductive. As noted, it disrupts the on-going communication and isn’t any more likely to get a response. HF, VHF, or SATs it all works the same.
Jim Wilson www.k5nd.blog
On Mar 25, 2017, at 2:05 PM, CEE [email protected] wrote:
Clayton,
Good topic!
I would suggest that this behavior is not confined to SDR or satellite QSOs, but pervades all modes and bands of our hobby. I am guilty of this, but more due to excitement than intention. The good advice that is not confined just to ham radio, listen first, listen again, always applies, or as one local ham suggests, put mind in gear before the mouth. Not to sound like Miss Manners, but perhaps one of the unique aspects of our hobby is to always be considerate of the other operators. I always appreciate those ham's who mentor by example with kindness and absence of judgement.
Thanks for mentioning!
Chuck N7BFO
On 3/25/2017 11:29 AM, Clayton Coleman wrote:
I happen to be a fan of using Software Defined Radio (SDR) to receive amateur satellites. It is an inexpensive way to view all the signals appearing on a satellite's passband simultaneously. While I don't normally run SDR full time at my station, from time to time I use it to monitor activity on busy satellite passes because I can view and record all activity.
As a result of more people using SDR on satellites, I have discovered an operating trait that warrants some discussion and evaluation.
On more than one occasion, I have given a call to a very specific station, and instead of my intended target had another SDR-based station appear on frequency immediately saying "QRZ? QRZ?" rather than wait and listen to who is calling on the frequency. The SDR user saw a signal on their waterfall and clicked on it. They "pounced" on what they perceived to be another station looking to make contact which might not necessarily be the case.
I've see the same thing happen a few times with pileups. There is an existing pileup in progress when the SDR station comes into the footprint. Rather than wait a short period to listen, they click on the new signal in their waterfall, and immediately proceed to "QRZ" on the frequency of the pileup, sometimes interrupting the flow of existing contacts.
Just today I heard this scenario: Station 1 calls CQ. Station 2 went to answer. The SDR user clicked on the waterfall, heard only part of the callsign of Station 2, and proceeded to call Station 2, ignoring the possibility that Station 2 was attempting to QSO with someone else.
It seems to me the visual nature of SDR waterfalls is causing a temporary lapse in judgement when it comes to a basic ham radio principle that we apply to satellite operating -- listen with our ears before transmitting.
SDR is a great listening tool. With great power comes great responsibility.
73 Clayton W5PFG _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via [email protected]. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Not to mention inconsistent with good operating practice which given the guidance of the FCC is tantamount to a regulation.
On Sat, Mar 25, 2017 at 3:20 PM, Jim Wilson [email protected] wrote:
Whether tuning blind or with full SDR vision, transmitting without listening to assess the situation is massively counterproductive. As noted, it disrupts the on-going communication and isn’t any more likely to get a response. HF, VHF, or SATs it all works the same.
Jim Wilson www.k5nd.blog
On Mar 25, 2017, at 2:05 PM, CEE [email protected] wrote:
Clayton,
Good topic!
I would suggest that this behavior is not confined to SDR or satellite
QSOs, but pervades all modes and bands of our hobby. I am guilty of this, but more due to excitement than intention. The good advice that is not confined just to ham radio, listen first, listen again, always applies, or as one local ham suggests, put mind in gear before the mouth. Not to sound like Miss Manners, but perhaps one of the unique aspects of our hobby is to always be considerate of the other operators. I always appreciate those ham's who mentor by example with kindness and absence of judgement.
Thanks for mentioning!
Chuck N7BFO
On 3/25/2017 11:29 AM, Clayton Coleman wrote:
I happen to be a fan of using Software Defined Radio (SDR) to receive amateur satellites. It is an inexpensive way to view all the signals appearing on a satellite's passband simultaneously. While I don't normally run SDR full time at my station, from time to time I use it to monitor activity on busy satellite passes because I can view and record all activity.
As a result of more people using SDR on satellites, I have discovered an operating trait that warrants some discussion and evaluation.
On more than one occasion, I have given a call to a very specific station, and instead of my intended target had another SDR-based station appear on frequency immediately saying "QRZ? QRZ?" rather than wait and listen to who is calling on the frequency. The SDR user saw a signal on their waterfall and clicked on it. They "pounced" on what they perceived to be another station looking to make contact which might not necessarily be the case.
I've see the same thing happen a few times with pileups. There is an existing pileup in progress when the SDR station comes into the footprint. Rather than wait a short period to listen, they click on the new signal in their waterfall, and immediately proceed to "QRZ" on the frequency of the pileup, sometimes interrupting the flow of existing contacts.
Just today I heard this scenario: Station 1 calls CQ. Station 2 went to answer. The SDR user clicked on the waterfall, heard only part of the callsign of Station 2, and proceeded to call Station 2, ignoring the possibility that Station 2 was attempting to QSO with someone else.
It seems to me the visual nature of SDR waterfalls is causing a temporary lapse in judgement when it comes to a basic ham radio principle that we apply to satellite operating -- listen with our ears before transmitting.
SDR is a great listening tool. With great power comes great
responsibility.
73 Clayton W5PFG _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
Opinions expressed
are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views
of AMSAT-NA.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
program!
Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via [email protected]. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
Opinions expressed
are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
AMSAT-NA.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
program!
Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via [email protected]. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (5)
-
CEE -
Clayton Coleman -
Jeff -
Jim Wilson -
Robert McGwier