Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 13, Issue 383
So I work out the kinks for however long that takes.... a week, a month, etc. Then it sits at the ready, only needing an occasional test. Any emergency or public service work I do is most likely going to be from here in the shack anyway. Not all of us are able to be out in the field, on the front lines anymore. While I have great respect for those who rush to the scenes of emergencies with "go box" in hand, it's not something I can do. I agree that it would be boring if we all wanted to do the same thing. Crowded too! I just feel that the hobby in general and the satellite end especially, puts too much emphasis on the "easy" part these days. Let's keep pushing the "challenge" part too. I just don't feel there is enough emphasis on that anymore. In all things, balance. 73, Michael, W4HIJ On 11/17/2018 10:09 PM, Devin L. Ganger wrote:
Food for thought: it’s hard to use a service in an emergency if you haven’t worked out the kinks when there is no pressure.
People find challenge in all sorts of different aspects of the hobby. Think of how boring it would be if we all wanted to do the same thing! One ham’s challenge is another ham’s boredom — and that’s a feature, not a bug.
-- Devin L. Ganger (WA7DLG) email: devin@thecabal.org web: Devin on Earth cell: +1 425.239.2575
*From:* AMSAT-BB amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org on behalf of Michael mat_62@charter.net *Sent:* Saturday, November 17, 2018 5:55 PM *To:* amsat-bb@amsat.org *Subject:* Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 13, Issue 383 I pretty much agree with Bob here. I got into sats for the challenge. I pretty much despise the term easy-sat. Easy isn't fun to me. To each their own I guess. I certainly can see it's value for emergency use, but day to day use would be boring IMO. No sense of accomplishment. Just my thoughts.
73,
Michael, W4HIJ
-----Original Message----- From: Bob- W7LRD Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2018 5:17 PM To: amsat-bb Subject: [amsat-bb] an opinion
Regarding the newest GEO. Once the GEO bird is in position and
functioning,
we just fix our antennas to one spot, no doppler, no hunting the
satellite
down, no planning for the next access time, or direction, no
experimenting
with hardware or various antenna systems, no ongoing challenge. I
got into
satellites many years ago because of the hunting, because of the
difficulty
and challenge. This is the ultimate ?easy sat?. If one wants the
easy sat
this is your baby. Yes once established one can ?work? lots of dx
somewhat
analogous to a phone call. A highly elliptical orbit (AO40 sob sob)
makes
one actually work, learn, experiment, and yes have fun. My opinion
will no
doubt be different from others. No flames please, just a discussion. _______________________________________________
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Dear All,
I have been following these debates on the GEO (Es’Hail 2), and quite confused by the opinions of some. For example in the mail below:
No challenge: If one try to put up a relatively “cheap” station, he will fully understand the challenges of doing so, as commercial rigs not yet really available, even if it seems to be available, Kune example is quite expensive if we count the Dishes, low loss feeders, etc….).
I have been doing the exercise and now fully ready, and surely can state that it is not so easy than one may think, particularly on the Tx side.
This said, having a 200Khz bandwidth (for narrow band, CW, SSB etc…) open 24/7 is superb for Dx’ers (I am not one). More enabling reliable EMCOM for countries (Island States) such as mine in 3B8.
That said, ES’Hail 2 is a game changer (most welcome by me) whatever one opinion may have about this bird. This is the beauty of technology and in this particular case the near future will tell us whether it was a right thing to do or not, I believe it will be positive and hope to make my first QSO through it asap (fully ready).
Jean Marc (3B8DU)
On Nov 18, 2018, at 5:03 PM, Michael Mat_62@charter.net wrote:
So I work out the kinks for however long that takes.... a week, a month, etc. Then it sits at the ready, only needing an occasional test. Any emergency or public service work I do is most likely going to be from here in the shack anyway. Not all of us are able to be out in the field, on the front lines anymore. While I have great respect for those who rush to the scenes of emergencies with "go box" in hand, it's not something I can do. I agree that it would be boring if we all wanted to do the same thing. Crowded too! I just feel that the hobby in general and the satellite end especially, puts too much emphasis on the "easy" part these days. Let's keep pushing the "challenge" part too. I just don't feel there is enough emphasis on that anymore. In all things, balance. 73, Michael, W4HIJ On 11/17/2018 10:09 PM, Devin L. Ganger wrote:
Food for thought: it’s hard to use a service in an emergency if you haven’t worked out the kinks when there is no pressure.
People find challenge in all sorts of different aspects of the hobby. Think of how boring it would be if we all wanted to do the same thing! One ham’s challenge is another ham’s boredom — and that’s a feature, not a bug.
-- Devin L. Ganger (WA7DLG) email: devin@thecabal.org web: Devin on Earth cell: +1 425.239.2575
*From:* AMSAT-BB amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org on behalf of Michael mat_62@charter.net *Sent:* Saturday, November 17, 2018 5:55 PM *To:* amsat-bb@amsat.org *Subject:* Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 13, Issue 383 I pretty much agree with Bob here. I got into sats for the challenge. I pretty much despise the term easy-sat. Easy isn't fun to me. To each their own I guess. I certainly can see it's value for emergency use, but day to day use would be boring IMO. No sense of accomplishment. Just my thoughts.
73,
Michael, W4HIJ
-----Original Message----- From: Bob- W7LRD Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2018 5:17 PM To: amsat-bb Subject: [amsat-bb] an opinion
Regarding the newest GEO. Once the GEO bird is in position and functioning, we just fix our antennas to one spot, no doppler, no hunting the satellite down, no planning for the next access time, or direction, no experimenting with hardware or various antenna systems, no ongoing challenge. I got into satellites many years ago because of the hunting, because of the difficulty and challenge. This is the ultimate ?easy sat?. If one wants the easy sat this is your baby. Yes once established one can ?work? lots of dx somewhat analogous to a phone call. A highly elliptical orbit (AO40 sob sob) makes one actually work, learn, experiment, and yes have fun. My opinion will no doubt be different from others. No flames please, just a discussion. _______________________________________________
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Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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 AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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
Another thought — perhaps what you see as an over-emphasis on easy (as you are an established gam) is from another view an attempt by some to lower the barriers of entry in order to keep new people coming in to the hobby in general and this niche of it in particular?
-- Devin L. Ganger (WA7DLG) email: devin@thecabal.org web: Devin on Earth cell: +1 425.239.2575
________________________________ From: Michael mat_62@charter.net Sent: Sunday, November 18, 2018 5:03 AM To: Devin L. Ganger; amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 13, Issue 383
So I work out the kinks for however long that takes.... a week, a month, etc. Then it sits at the ready, only needing an occasional test. Any emergency or public service work I do is most likely going to be from here in the shack anyway. Not all of us are able to be out in the field, on the front lines anymore. While I have great respect for those who rush to the scenes of emergencies with "go box" in hand, it's not something I can do. I agree that it would be boring if we all wanted to do the same thing. Crowded too! I just feel that the hobby in general and the satellite end especially, puts too much emphasis on the "easy" part these days. Let's keep pushing the "challenge" part too. I just don't feel there is enough emphasis on that anymore. In all things, balance. 73, Michael, W4HIJ On 11/17/2018 10:09 PM, Devin L. Ganger wrote: Food for thought: it’s hard to use a service in an emergency if you haven’t worked out the kinks when there is no pressure.
People find challenge in all sorts of different aspects of the hobby. Think of how boring it would be if we all wanted to do the same thing! One ham’s challenge is another ham’s boredom — and that’s a feature, not a bug.
-- Devin L. Ganger (WA7DLG) email: devin@thecabal.orgmailto:devin@thecabal.org web: Devin on Earth cell: +1 425.239.2575
________________________________ From: AMSAT-BB amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.orgmailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org on behalf of Michael mat_62@charter.netmailto:mat_62@charter.net Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2018 5:55 PM To: amsat-bb@amsat.orgmailto:amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 13, Issue 383
I pretty much agree with Bob here. I got into sats for the challenge. I pretty much despise the term easy-sat. Easy isn't fun to me. To each their own I guess. I certainly can see it's value for emergency use, but day to day use would be boring IMO. No sense of accomplishment. Just my thoughts.
73,
Michael, W4HIJ
-----Original Message----- From: Bob- W7LRD Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2018 5:17 PM To: amsat-bb Subject: [amsat-bb] an opinion
Regarding the newest GEO. Once the GEO bird is in position and functioning, we just fix our antennas to one spot, no doppler, no hunting the satellite down, no planning for the next access time, or direction, no experimenting with hardware or various antenna systems, no ongoing challenge. I got into satellites many years ago because of the hunting, because of the difficulty and challenge. This is the ultimate ?easy sat?. If one wants the easy sat this is your baby. Yes once established one can ?work? lots of dx somewhat analogous to a phone call. A highly elliptical orbit (AO40 sob sob) makes one actually work, learn, experiment, and yes have fun. My opinion will no doubt be different from others. No flames please, just a discussion. _______________________________________________
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Nope, not at all. I never have and never will think that way. I'm a General class licensee who was grandfathered in because back in the day, one had to pass the General written to upgrade from Novice to Technician but got credit for 5 wpm code. When the code requirement was lowered to 5 wpm before eventually being dropped completely, all I needed was my CSCE, which I had, and I was instantly a General class. I have been derisively called a "no code General' more times than I can count even though I actually passed 5 wpm to get my Novice. When I was active on HF (my rig is fried right now) I worked CW on occasion but was never the crack CW op my late Father, the original W4HIJ, was. He was fine with that too, he just wanted me to have fun doing what I wanted. I am fine with an influx of new hams and new sat ops anyway we can get them. I just think because we seem to be bending over backwards to make sat contacts so easy that we end up hurting ourselves in the long run. After a while, I would think simply exchanging grid squares would get old for anyone. My own personal barrier has always been economics. I only was able to get into sats by parlaying some of the gear I inherited from my Father into a TS-2000X and even that was a struggle. My old Az/El rotator system was home brewed and so were my antennas. I had to sell my TS-2000X a couple years after buying it to pay for an unexpected and major car repair. Subsequent rigs and setups met the same fate because of various family medical expenses over the years. My latest foray into a base setup with my fried FT-991, a Funcube Dongle Pro + and an AMSAT preamp ended up doomed before it started. I'm sorry but you are barking up the wrong tree my friend!
Anyhow, more power to those who want to work a GEO sat. I guess it's good for the hobby. It just doesn't seem much of a challenge to me after procuring equipment and said procurement would be my greatest challenge! I'll be lucky to get my rig fixed and be back on even HF anytime in the near future. I wish I'd never sold my Flex 1500 but that's another story. 73, Michael, W4HIJ On 11/18/2018 12:55 PM, Devin L. Ganger wrote:
Another thought — perhaps what you see as an over-emphasis on easy (as you are an established gam) is from another view an attempt by some to lower the barriers of entry in order to keep new people coming in to the hobby in general and this niche of it in particular?
-- Devin L. Ganger (WA7DLG) email: devin@thecabal.org web: Devin on Earth cell: +1 425.239.2575
*From:* Michael mat_62@charter.net *Sent:* Sunday, November 18, 2018 5:03 AM *To:* Devin L. Ganger; amsat-bb@amsat.org *Subject:* Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 13, Issue 383 So I work out the kinks for however long that takes.... a week, a month, etc. Then it sits at the ready, only needing an occasional test. Any emergency or public service work I do is most likely going to be from here in the shack anyway. Not all of us are able to be out in the field, on the front lines anymore. While I have great respect for those who rush to the scenes of emergencies with "go box" in hand, it's not something I can do. I agree that it would be boring if we all wanted to do the same thing. Crowded too! I just feel that the hobby in general and the satellite end especially, puts too much emphasis on the "easy" part these days. Let's keep pushing the "challenge" part too. I just don't feel there is enough emphasis on that anymore. In all things, balance. 73, Michael, W4HIJ
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participants (3)
-
Devin L. Ganger -
Jean Marc Momple -
Michael