Hello from Seattle
I read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or something like, "no one to talk to". The unusual conclusion, we have too many satellites! I never thought this ham would even think of it. If I look at Satpc32 with "only" a dozen listed, in fast forward a bewildering barrage of circles floats across the screen. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it just spreads us out and at times, there is, "no one to talk to". I do testing like try different power levels, talk to myself til as close to AOS as I can get. You know the drill. From what I read there are more on the starting block. I'd like to see more L band time, maybe a bird with a S band DL a MEO, a HEO- I know, idle comments. We have the five & dime coming at us, which sounds like a whole other world, I'm looking forward to it. Then there is the massive off air time making all this stuff work. Currently testing between two L band antennas and between two different 70cm antennas. At this time I have my Satpc32 talking fine with the radio but not with the rotor. A com port issue which currently I can not figure out. Assistance solicited. On the ISS it would be fun to see one of the "hams" up there have that "burning in the belly" to yuck it up, get WAS, VUCC, DXCC or whatever. Again, just idle comments not a criticism of the ARISS system. Sunny day in Seattle, xyl says yard work.
73 Bob W7LRD
Seattle
Its not too many satellites, not enough ops! -------- Original message --------From: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net Date: 3/15/18 6:23 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] idle comments Hello from Seattle
I read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or something like, "no one to talk to". The unusual conclusion, we have too many satellites! I never thought this ham would even think of it. If I look at Satpc32 with "only" a dozen listed, in fast forward a bewildering barrage of circles floats across the screen. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it just spreads us out and at times, there is, "no one to talk to". I do testing like try different power levels, talk to myself til as close to AOS as I can get. You know the drill. From what I read there are more on the starting block. I'd like to see more L band time, maybe a bird with a S band DL a MEO, a HEO- I know, idle comments. We have the five & dime coming at us, which sounds like a whole other world, I'm looking forward to it. Then there is the massive off air time making all this stuff work. Currently testing between two L band antennas and between two different 70cm antennas. At this time I have my Satpc32 talking fine with the radio but not with the rotor. A com port issue which currently I can not figure out. Assistance solicited. On the ISS it would be fun to see one of the "hams" up there have that "burning in the belly" to yuck it up, get WAS, VUCC, DXCC or whatever. Again, just idle comments not a criticism of the ARISS system. Sunny day in Seattle, xyl says yard work.
73 Bob W7LRD
Seattle _______________________________________________ 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
I agree Joe, the FM birds are covered up with ops and very few of us on the ssb/cw birds.
Dave KN4OK em64vh
-----Original Message----- From: Joe N3XLS via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org To: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thu, Mar 15, 2018 6:43 pm Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments
Its not too many satellites, not enough ops!-------- Original message --------From: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net Date: 3/15/18 6:23 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] idle comments Hello from SeattleI read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or something like, "no one to talk to". The unusual conclusion, we have too many satellites! I never thought this ham would even think of it. If I look at Satpc32 with "only" a dozen listed, in fast forward a bewildering barrage of circles floats across the screen. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it just spreads us out and at times, there is, "no one to talk to". I do testing like try different power levels, talk to myself til as close to AOS as I can get. You know the drill. From what I read there are more on the starting block. I'd like to see more L band time, maybe a bird with a S band DL a MEO, a HEO- I know, idle comments. We have the five & dime coming at us, which sounds like a whole other world, I'm looking forward to it. Then there is the massive off air time making all this stuff work. Currently testing between two L band antennas and between two different 70cm antennas. At this time I have my Satpc32 talking fine with the radio but not with the rotor. A com port issue which currently I can not figure out. Assistance solicited. On the ISS it would be fun to see one of the "hams" up there have that "burning in the belly" to yuck it up, get WAS, VUCC, DXCC or whatever. Again, just idle comments not a criticism of the ARISS system. Sunny day in Seattle, xyl says yard work.73 Bob W7LRDSeattle_______________________________________________Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum availableto all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressedare 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______________________________... via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum availableto all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressedare 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
Joe,
I agree also. That is why I posted a message to the AMSAT-BB, back in September of last year,advocating the use of DSB modulation as a mode on the linear transponder satellites. Here, in part, is what I said:
What I propose, then, is the use of well-disciplined DSB (double sideband) modulation as a means of lowering the cost bar while providing interoperability with SSB voice stations that are working the satellites. What I mean by 'well-disciplined' DSB is as follows:
- Baseband audio bandwidth sharply limited to 2.5 KHz, resulting in RF
bandwidth or 5 KHz. This would realistically enable three to fifteen simultaneous 'channels' depending upon the linear bird being used. 2) Power output would be limited to just a couple of Watts. This is all that is really necessary to access the linear birds in most situations. It would reduce the possibility of signal interference. The cost of the PA would be relatively low. 3) The RF oscillator would be accurate and computer controlled (e.g. Silicon Labs Si570), which would enable active Doppler compensation via software with CAT control (e.g. gpredict).
Current SDR technologies already enable inexpensive, multi-band receiver solutions. The desired sensitivity and selectivity of the SDR receiver ultimately drives the receiver cost. The performance of the receiver, then depends upon the budget of the station builder. Solutions for every budget are now available, ranging from dirt cheap hardware derived from RTL-SDR dongles to more capable devices (e.g. SDRplay, AirSpy, FunCube Dongle).
At the sacrifice of some bandwidth, the following advantages can be had with using DSB modulation:
- DSB modulation is relatively easy to achieve. The band-limited audio
is fed into a double-balanced mixer, bandpass filtered for harmonics, and fed into a PA for transmission. The resulting hardware is comparatively inexpensive to construct and to tune. 2) Sideband inversion caused by some linear birds is no longer an issue. Having both sidebands present in DSB modulation means that the correct sideband will always be available for reception. 3) Interoperability with SSB stations would be maintained, as DSB modulation is a superset of SSB modulation.
This would require a homebrew solution, as there are no commercially-available DSB transmitters for VHF/UHF that I'm aware of. Such a rig, once again, would be relatively easy to construct and test. This is an experiment I would like to try.
Some may gripe that this approach wastes bandwidth on the linear transponder satellites. That may true but it is bandwidth that is currently underutilized. So what is the harm, if any, of using DSB when the potential end result could be increasing the number of users of the linear transponder satellites?
73,
Mac Cody / AE5PH
On 03/15/2018 06:42 PM, Joe N3XLS via AMSAT-BB wrote:
Its not too many satellites, not enough ops! -------- Original message --------From: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net Date: 3/15/18 6:23 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] idle comments Hello from Seattle
I read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or something like, "no one to talk to". The unusual conclusion, we have too many satellites! I never thought this ham would even think of it. If I look at Satpc32 with "only" a dozen listed, in fast forward a bewildering barrage of circles floats across the screen. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it just spreads us out and at times, there is, "no one to talk to". I do testing like try different power levels, talk to myself til as close to AOS as I can get. You know the drill. From what I read there are more on the starting block. I'd like to see more L band time, maybe a bird with a S band DL a MEO, a HEO- I know, idle comments. We have the five & dime coming at us, which sounds like a whole other world, I'm looking forward to it. Then there is the massive off air time making all this stuff work. Currently testing between two L band antennas and between two different 70cm antennas. At this time I have my Satpc32 talking fine with the radio but not with the rotor. A com port issue which currently I can not figure out. Assistance solicited. On the ISS it would be fun to see one of the "hams" up there have that "burning in the belly" to yuck it up, get WAS, VUCC, DXCC or whatever. Again, just idle comments not a criticism of the ARISS system. Sunny day in Seattle, xyl says yard work.
73 Bob W7LRD
Seattle _______________________________________________ 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
On 03/15/18 21:07, Mac A. Cody wrote:
At the sacrifice of some bandwidth, the following advantages can be had with using DSB modulation:
- DSB modulation is relatively easy to achieve. The band-limited audio
is fed into a double-balanced mixer, bandpass filtered for harmonics, and fed into a PA for transmission. The resulting hardware is comparatively inexpensive to construct and to tune. 2) Sideband inversion caused by some linear birds is no longer an issue. Having both sidebands present in DSB modulation means that the correct sideband will always be available for reception. 3) Interoperability with SSB stations would be maintained, as DSB modulation is a superset of SSB modulation.
Why not use the new LimeSDR Mini and do a SDR-based design for satellite work? It already has separate TX and RX paths, ready for duplex operation.
One simply, for various values of simple, needs to design a receiver/transmitter design to go into the Altera FPGA, bolt on a suitable CODEC (might I suggest the MAX9860?), and then add some filtering and a PA.
[Mic/Spkr] <---> [MAX9960] <---> [FPGA] <---> [Limechip] <--> PA/Filter
I'd bolt on a LCD, rotary encoder, and a few buttons for user I/O. No PC needed for control. Add antenna and you're done.
You'd have a complete all-mode (SSB, AM, FM, etc.) solution for perhaps $200.
(This is a back-burner project for me -- I won't be offended if anyone gets there first. hihi)
--- Zach N0ZGO
Not only is the equipment to get on linear satellites more expensive, they also require more skill to operate OR even more equipment for automatic control (if your equipment can be controlled). That is why the FM satellites are so busy, inexpensive hardware + lower skill requirements = more people will try it.
The SDR market will surely help on the receiving side, but it is the transmission side that causes the big hurdle.
Hopefully with the coming warmer weather I'll be able to get more experience with my linear setup. It is not all that great standing out in below freezing temperatures with wind and attempting to learn how to operate two radios and hold an arrow at the same time.
73, Don KB2YSI
On Mar 16, 2018 14:02, "Zach Metzinger" zmetzing@pobox.com wrote:
On 03/15/18 21:07, Mac A. Cody wrote:
At the sacrifice of some bandwidth, the following advantages can be had with using DSB modulation:
- DSB modulation is relatively easy to achieve. The band-limited audio
is fed into a double-balanced mixer, bandpass filtered for harmonics, and fed into a PA for transmission. The resulting hardware is comparatively inexpensive to construct and to tune. 2) Sideband inversion caused by some linear birds is no longer an issue. Having both sidebands present in DSB modulation means that the correct sideband will always be available for reception. 3) Interoperability with SSB stations would be maintained, as DSB modulation is a superset of SSB modulation.
Why not use the new LimeSDR Mini and do a SDR-based design for satellite work? It already has separate TX and RX paths, ready for duplex operation.
One simply, for various values of simple, needs to design a receiver/transmitter design to go into the Altera FPGA, bolt on a suitable CODEC (might I suggest the MAX9860?), and then add some filtering and a PA.
[Mic/Spkr] <---> [MAX9960] <---> [FPGA] <---> [Limechip] <--> PA/Filter
I'd bolt on a LCD, rotary encoder, and a few buttons for user I/O. No PC needed for control. Add antenna and you're done.
You'd have a complete all-mode (SSB, AM, FM, etc.) solution for perhaps $200.
(This is a back-burner project for me -- I won't be offended if anyone gets there first. hihi)
--- Zach N0ZGO
_______________________________________________ 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
Hi Zack,
I honestly wish I had a LimeSDR Mini. I learned about it just about a month ago. Don't have the funds at the moment to divert to getting one. I'd almost be willing to sell my SDRPlay RSP2 in order to get one. In the meantime, I'm trying to cobble something together to be able to work the linear birds.
I understand that SSB and CW have been the 'mandated' modes used to work the linear birds for a long time. SSB use appears to be the predominant mode of operation. I'm still not hearing, though, any real arguments against the use of DSB as a means to drastically lowering the barfor transmit to the linear satellites.DSB could be implemented with relatively simple analog hardware that would avoid the complexity of DSP development and I/Q modulation balancing.
Mac / AE5PH
On 03/16/2018 01:01 PM, Zach Metzinger wrote:
On 03/15/18 21:07, Mac A. Cody wrote:
At the sacrifice of some bandwidth, the following advantages can be had with using DSB modulation:
- DSB modulation is relatively easy to achieve. The band-limited audio
is fed into a double-balanced mixer, bandpass filtered for harmonics, and fed into a PA for transmission. The resulting hardware is comparatively inexpensive to construct and to tune. 2) Sideband inversion caused by some linear birds is no longer an issue. Having both sidebands present in DSB modulation means that the correct sideband will always be available for reception. 3) Interoperability with SSB stations would be maintained, as DSB modulation is a superset of SSB modulation.
Why not use the new LimeSDR Mini and do a SDR-based design for satellite work? It already has separate TX and RX paths, ready for duplex operation.
One simply, for various values of simple, needs to design a receiver/transmitter design to go into the Altera FPGA, bolt on a suitable CODEC (might I suggest the MAX9860?), and then add some filtering and a PA.
[Mic/Spkr] <---> [MAX9960] <---> [FPGA] <---> [Limechip] <--> PA/Filter
I'd bolt on a LCD, rotary encoder, and a few buttons for user I/O. No PC needed for control. Add antenna and you're done.
You'd have a complete all-mode (SSB, AM, FM, etc.) solution for perhaps $200.
(This is a back-burner project for me -- I won't be offended if anyone gets there first. hihi)
--- Zach N0ZGO
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
Unfortunately, I've been roving the past couple weeks and operating from several uncommon Grids/Gridlines and usually find no one or only one on the Linear SATs. Does that make me want to drive to some odd place and set up to rarely make a QSO? People shouldn't worry abt being exactly zero-beat, if that puts them off. Just get close & we'll find you. If people keep avoiding them, eventually no one will bother using them, period. Maybe, the "Easy SATs" are so easy that folks don't bother with the others. 73, Bob K8BL /4/5/9 ________________________________ From: Joe N3XLS via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org To: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 6:43 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments
Its not too many satellites, not enough ops! -------- Original message --------From: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net Date: 3/15/18 6:23 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] idle comments Hello from Seattle
I read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or something like, "no one to talk to". The unusual conclusion, we have too many satellites! I never thought this ham would even think of it. If I look at Satpc32 with "only" a dozen listed, in fast forward a bewildering barrage of circles floats across the screen. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it just spreads us out and at times, there is, "no one to talk to". I do testing like try different power levels, talk to myself til as close to AOS as I can get. You know the drill. From what I read there are more on the starting block. I'd like to see more L band time, maybe a bird with a S band DL a MEO, a HEO- I know, idle comments. We have the five & dime coming at us, which sounds like a whole other world, I'm looking forward to it. Then there is the massive off air time making all this stuff work. Currently testing between two L band antennas and between two different 70cm antennas. At this time I have my Satpc32 talking fine with the radio but not with the rotor. A com port issue which currently I can not figure out. Assistance solicited. On the ISS it would be fun to see one of the "hams" up there have that "burning in the belly" to yuck it up, get WAS, VUCC, DXCC or whatever. Again, just idle comments not a criticism of the ARISS system. Sunny day in Seattle, xyl says yard work.
73 Bob W7LRD
Seattle
I admit that the launches of AO-91 and 92 have reduced my linear operating time. As much as I enjoy operating on the linear sats, operating portable as I do, I'm not going to be able to operate every pass. I have made fewer than two dozen linear sat QSOs this year.
Perhaps some linear satellite operating days are in order where everyone decides to work as many passes of the XWs as possible or CAS-4B or UKube-1 or something. FO-29 and AO-7 do seem to draw a decent amount of activity still.
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 11:00 PM, R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net wrote:
Unfortunately, I've been roving the past couple weeks and operating from several uncommon Grids/Gridlines and usually find no one or only one on the Linear SATs. Does that make me want to drive to some odd place and set up to rarely make a QSO? People shouldn't worry abt being exactly zero-beat, if that puts them off. Just get close & we'll find you. If people keep avoiding them, eventually no one will bother using them, period. Maybe, the "Easy SATs" are so easy that folks don't bother with the others. 73, Bob K8BL /4/5/9 ________________________________ From: Joe N3XLS via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org To: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 6:43 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments
Its not too many satellites, not enough ops! -------- Original message --------From: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net Date: 3/15/18 6:23 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] idle comments Hello from Seattle
I read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or something like, "no one to talk to". The unusual conclusion, we have too many satellites! I never thought this ham would even think of it. If I look at Satpc32 with "only" a dozen listed, in fast forward a bewildering barrage of circles floats across the screen. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it just spreads us out and at times, there is, "no one to talk to". I do testing like try different power levels, talk to myself til as close to AOS as I can get. You know the drill. From what I read there are more on the starting block. I'd like to see more L band time, maybe a bird with a S band DL a MEO, a HEO- I know, idle comments. We have the five & dime coming at us, which sounds like a whole other world, I'm looking forward to it. Then there is the massive off air time making all this stuff work. Currently testing between two L band antennas and between two different 70cm antennas. At this time I have my Satpc32 talking fine with the radio but not with the rotor. A com port issue which currently I can not figure out. Assistance solicited. On the ISS it would be fun to see one of the "hams" up there have that "burning in the belly" to yuck it up, get WAS, VUCC, DXCC or whatever. Again, just idle comments not a criticism of the ARISS system. Sunny day in Seattle, xyl says yard work.
73 Bob W7LRD
Seattle _______________________________________________ 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
Paul,
Having "Linear SAT Activity Days" is a GREAT idea!
Maybe an AMSAT "Linear SAT 100" Award for 100 Q's would be interesting. Perhaps, endorsable, too.
73, Bob K8BL
________________________________ From: Paul Stoetzer n8hm@arrl.net To: R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net Cc: Joe N3XLS n3xls@yahoo.com; Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 10:06 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments - Idle SATs
I admit that the launches of AO-91 and 92 have reduced my linear operating time. As much as I enjoy operating on the linear sats, operating portable as I do, I'm not going to be able to operate every pass. I have made fewer than two dozen linear sat QSOs this year.
Perhaps some linear satellite operating days are in order where everyone decides to work as many passes of the XWs as possible or CAS-4B or UKube-1 or something. FO-29 and AO-7 do seem to draw a decent amount of activity still.
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 11:00 PM, R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net wrote:
Unfortunately, I've been roving the past couple weeks and operating from several uncommon Grids/Gridlines and usually find no one or only one on the Linear SATs. Does that make me want to drive to some odd place and set up to rarely make a QSO? People shouldn't worry abt being exactly zero-beat, if that puts them off. Just get close & we'll find you. If people keep avoiding them, eventually no one will bother using them, period. Maybe, the "Easy SATs" are so easy that folks don't bother with the others. 73, Bob K8BL /4/5/9 ________________________________ From: Joe N3XLS via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org To: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 6:43 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments
Its not too many satellites, not enough ops! -------- Original message --------From: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net Date: 3/15/18 6:23 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] idle comments Hello from Seattle
I read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or something like, "no one to talk to". The unusual conclusion, we have too many satellites! I never thought this ham would even think of it. If I look at Satpc32 with "only" a dozen listed, in fast forward a bewildering barrage of circles floats across the screen. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it just spreads us out and at times, there is, "no one to talk to". I do testing like try different power levels, talk to myself til as close to AOS as I can get. You know the drill. From what I read there are more on the starting block. I'd like to see more L band time, maybe a bird with a S band DL a MEO, a HEO- I know, idle comments. We have the five & dime coming at us, which sounds like a whole other world, I'm looking forward to it. Then there is the massive off air time making all this stuff work. Currently testing between two L band antennas and between two different 70cm antennas. At this time I have my Satpc32 talking fine with the radio but not with the rotor. A com port issue which currently I can not figure out. Assistance solicited. On the ISS it would be fun to see one of the "hams" up there have that "burning in the belly" to yuck it up, get WAS, VUCC, DXCC or whatever. Again, just idle comments not a criticism of the ARISS system. Sunny day in Seattle, xyl says yard work.
73 Bob W7LRD
Seattle _______________________________________________ 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
How about an 88 on 88 or 40 on 4B award?
73, Mike Diehl W8LID
On Mar 15, 2018, at 23:46, R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net wrote:
Paul,
Having "Linear SAT Activity Days" is a GREAT idea!
Maybe an AMSAT "Linear SAT 100" Award for 100 Q's would be interesting. Perhaps, endorsable, too.
73, Bob K8BL
From: Paul Stoetzer n8hm@arrl.net To: R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net Cc: Joe N3XLS n3xls@yahoo.com; Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 10:06 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments - Idle SATs
I admit that the launches of AO-91 and 92 have reduced my linear operating time. As much as I enjoy operating on the linear sats, operating portable as I do, I'm not going to be able to operate every pass. I have made fewer than two dozen linear sat QSOs this year.
Perhaps some linear satellite operating days are in order where everyone decides to work as many passes of the XWs as possible or CAS-4B or UKube-1 or something. FO-29 and AO-7 do seem to draw a decent amount of activity still.
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 11:00 PM, R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net wrote: Unfortunately, I've been roving the past couple weeks and operating from several uncommon Grids/Gridlines and usually find no one or only one on the Linear SATs. Does that make me want to drive to some odd place and set up to rarely make a QSO? People shouldn't worry abt being exactly zero-beat, if that puts them off. Just get close & we'll find you. If people keep avoiding them, eventually no one will bother using them, period. Maybe, the "Easy SATs" are so easy that folks don't bother with the others. 73, Bob K8BL /4/5/9 ________________________________ From: Joe N3XLS via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org To: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 6:43 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments
Its not too many satellites, not enough ops! -------- Original message --------From: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net Date: 3/15/18 6:23 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] idle comments Hello from Seattle
I read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or something like, "no one to talk to". The unusual conclusion, we have too many satellites! I never thought this ham would even think of it. If I look at Satpc32 with "only" a dozen listed, in fast forward a bewildering barrage of circles floats across the screen. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it just spreads us out and at times, there is, "no one to talk to". I do testing like try different power levels, talk to myself til as close to AOS as I can get. You know the drill. From what I read there are more on the starting block. I'd like to see more L band time, maybe a bird with a S band DL a MEO, a HEO- I know, idle comments. We have the five & dime coming at us, which sounds like a whole other world, I'm looking forward to it. Then there is the massive off air time making all this stuff work. Currently testing between two
L
band antennas and between two different 70cm antennas. At this time I have my Satpc32 talking fine with the radio but not with the rotor. A com port issue which currently I can not figure out. Assistance solicited. On the ISS it would be fun to see one of the "hams" up there have that "burning in the belly" to yuck it up, get WAS, VUCC, DXCC or whatever. Again, just idle comments not a criticism of the ARISS system. Sunny day in Seattle, xyl says yard work.
73 Bob W7LRD
Seattle _______________________________________________ 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
Plain QSO's or grids? I might be able to do 40 contacts by years end.
An award is a goal, goals are easy to quantify, and you can see progress as you are working towards them.
73, Don KB2YSI
On Fri, Mar 16, 2018, 08:07 Mike Diehl diehl.mike.a@gmail.com wrote:
How about an 88 on 88 or 40 on 4B award?
73, Mike Diehl W8LID
On Mar 15, 2018, at 23:46, R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net wrote:
Paul,
Having "Linear SAT Activity Days" is a GREAT idea!
Maybe an AMSAT "Linear SAT 100" Award for 100 Q's would be interesting. Perhaps, endorsable, too.
73, Bob K8BL
From: Paul Stoetzer n8hm@arrl.net To: R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net Cc: Joe N3XLS n3xls@yahoo.com; Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net;
amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 10:06 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments - Idle SATs
I admit that the launches of AO-91 and 92 have reduced my linear operating time. As much as I enjoy operating on the linear sats, operating portable as I do, I'm not going to be able to operate every pass. I have made fewer than two dozen linear sat QSOs this year.
Perhaps some linear satellite operating days are in order where everyone decides to work as many passes of the XWs as possible or CAS-4B or UKube-1 or something. FO-29 and AO-7 do seem to draw a decent amount of activity still.
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 11:00 PM, R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net wrote: Unfortunately, I've been roving the past couple weeks and operating from several uncommon Grids/Gridlines and usually find no one or only one on the Linear SATs. Does that make me want to drive to some odd place and set up to rarely make a QSO? People shouldn't worry abt being exactly zero-beat, if that puts them off. Just get close & we'll find you. If people keep avoiding them, eventually no one will bother using them, period. Maybe, the "Easy SATs" are so easy that folks don't bother with the others. 73, Bob K8BL /4/5/9 ________________________________ From: Joe N3XLS via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org To: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 6:43 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments
Its not too many satellites, not enough ops! -------- Original message --------From: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net
Date: 3/15/18 6:23 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] idle comments
Hello from Seattle
I read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common
denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or something like, "no one to talk to". The unusual conclusion, we have too many satellites! I never thought this ham would even think of it. If I look at Satpc32 with "only" a dozen listed, in fast forward a bewildering barrage of circles floats across the screen. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it just spreads us out and at times, there is, "no one to talk to". I do testing like try different power levels, talk to myself til as close to AOS as I can get. You know the drill. From what I read there are more on the starting block. I'd like to see more L band time, maybe a bird with a S band DL a MEO, a HEO- I know, idle comments. We have the five & dime coming at us, which sounds like a whole other world, I'm looking forward to it. Then there is the massive off air time making all this stuff work. Currently testing between tw o
L
band antennas and between two different 70cm antennas. At this time I
have my Satpc32 talking fine with the radio but not with the rotor. A com port issue which currently I can not figure out. Assistance solicited. On the ISS it would be fun to see one of the "hams" up there have that "burning in the belly" to yuck it up, get WAS, VUCC, DXCC or whatever. Again, just idle comments not a criticism of the ARISS system. Sunny day in Seattle, xyl says yard work.
73 Bob W7LRD
Seattle _______________________________________________ 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
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
Don, Be careful about making suggestions about increasing activity on the Linear SATs! You may get personally ATTACKED in direct e-mails like I did. There are people out there that hate Gridders and feel the Linear SATs are to be held aside so they can have them to themselves for having chats with each other day after day. I won't reveal the gentleman's ID, but you can read excerpts of some of the e-mails that came to me directly for merely suggesting something to increase activity on his private Linear SATs. Or, save your blood pressure and skip his comments below. (So much hate!) 73, Bob K8BL
---------------------------------------------------------------
Simply stated you are the problem with this hobby today.
Go get in your car and prove the laws of propagation again and again from strips of dirt only people like you care about. Yeah that’s real modern HAHAHAHA
Talk to your same cronies over and over yelling a new grid at them. You call that fun ‘eh. Sats work, get over it, you don’t have to keep proving it. It simple to understand that.
Once again I say we don’t need your kind on the linear sats. Stay on FM and do us all a favor.
The mess I refer to is the operating practices of those on the FM birds. People calling over one another, not allowing someone to get a confirmation of their contact before yelling their call and grid out once again, and now I hear you have a jammer on 91 and 92. What frustration do you think is causing that ?
I don’t care what other hams do. Each have their own preferences,.. What I don’t like is someone coming up with a great “idea” to get more activity on what is now an enjoyable aspect of the hobby that I enjoy. I have to put up with nonsense contests every weekend on HF but I can go to WARC bands to get away from it. Don’t be looking to crap up my linear sats and turn them into the mess that’s on the FM sats. Its disgraceful what goes on there. Honestly I don’t think it will come to that since people have to use more that a pair of $25 boufangs and an arrow to get on linear sats.
________________________________
From: Don KB2YSI kb2ysi@gmail.com To: Mike Diehl diehl.mike.a@gmail.com Cc: R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org; Paul Stoetzer n8hm@arrl.net Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2018 8:58 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments - Idle SATs
Plain QSO's or grids? I might be able to do 40 contacts by years end.
An award is a goal, goals are easy to quantify, and you can see progress as you are working towards them.
73, Don KB2YSI
On Fri, Mar 16, 2018, 08:07 Mike Diehl diehl.mike.a@gmail.com wrote:
How about an 88 on 88 or 40 on 4B award? 73, Mike Diehl W8LID
On Mar 15, 2018, at 23:46, R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net wrote: Paul, Having "Linear SAT Activity Days" is a GREAT idea! Maybe an AMSAT "Linear SAT 100" Award for 100 Q's would be interesting. Perhaps, endorsable, too. 73, Bob K8BL ________________________________ From: Paul Stoetzer n8hm@arrl.net To: R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net Cc: Joe N3XLS n3xls@yahoo.com; Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 10:06 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments - Idle SATs
I admit that the launches of AO-91 and 92 have reduced my linear operating time. As much as I enjoy operating on the linear sats, operating portable as I do, I'm not going to be able to operate every pass. I have made fewer than two dozen linear sat QSOs this year.
Perhaps some linear satellite operating days are in order where everyone decides to work as many passes of the XWs as possible or CAS-4B or UKube-1 or something. FO-29 and AO-7 do seem to draw a decent amount of activity still.
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 11:00 PM, R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net wrote: Unfortunately, I've been roving the past couple weeks and operating from several uncommon Grids/Gridlines and usually find no one or only one on the Linear SATs. Does that make me want to drive to some odd place and set up to rarely make a QSO? People shouldn't worry abt being exactly zero-beat, if that puts them off. Just get close & we'll find you. If people keep avoiding them, eventually no one will bother using them, period. Maybe, the "Easy SATs" are so easy that folks don't bother with the others. 73, Bob K8BL /4/5/9 ________________________________ From: Joe N3XLS via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org To: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 6:43 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments
Its not too many satellites, not enough ops!
-------- Original message --------From: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net Date: 3/15/18 6:23 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] idle comments
Hello from Seattle
I read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or something like, "no one to talk to". The unusual conclusion, we have too many satellites! I never thought this ham would even think of it. If I look at Satpc32 with "only" a dozen listed, in fast forward a bewildering barrage of circles floats across the screen. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it just spreads us out and at times, there is, "no one to talk to". I do testing like try different power levels, talk to myself til as close to AOS as I can get. You know the drill. From what I read there are more on the starting block. I'd like to see more L band time, maybe a bird with a S band DL a MEO, a HEO- I know, idle comments. We have the five & dime coming at us, which sounds like a whole other world, I'm looking forward to it. Then there is the massive off air time making all this stuff work. Currently testing between two L band antennas and between two different 70cm antennas. At this time I have my Satpc32 talking fine with the radio but not with the rotor. A com port issue which currently I can not figure out. Assistance solicited. On the ISS it would be fun to see one of the "hams" up there have that "burning in the belly" to yuck it up, get WAS, VUCC, DXCC or whatever. Again, just idle comments not a criticism of the ARISS system. Sunny day in Seattle, xyl says yard work.
73 Bob W7LRD Seattle
______________________________________________
Hi Bob,
You may get personally ATTACKED in direct e-mails
Yeah, sometimes there is a bit of boorish behavior, it seems more via the internet than in direct conversations. I've shrugged off, or laughed off some interesting replies over the years ...
When I reported in the ANS bulletins AMSAT-DL's success using their big dish to accomplish the Earth-Venus-Earth path I received an e-mail from an Official Observer citing me for promoting poor amateur radio practices. No regular ham has a 20 meter dish and temporary authority to experiment with a few kilowatts on S-band.
When I mentioned that ARISSat-1 was in a way a Russian satellite since it had a Russian callsign, the experiment on board was by a Russian university, it was deployed by Russian cosmonauts on a Russian EVA ... I was warned by private e-mail that he was considering suing me if I kept promoting such un-American thoughts like that.
A private e-mail informed me that AMSAT had been taken out of that individual's will because of stuff I said.
I hear you on the satellites often. I spend most of my time tweaking my telemetry reception but I still hear the voice traffic ... you keep handing out the grids :-) Since telemetry doesn't count for Field Day I'll be switching over to voice on the linear sats so there goes the neighborhood for sure!
-- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm@amsat.org
JoAnne, Thanks for the kind words and support. Opposition usually spurs me on to continue when I'm wrongfully attacked. It is so sad in this day and age that a mere suggestion can cause such rage from narrow-minded people/groups. Actually, I feel the interest in Gridding has been a major factor in the great amount of activity on SATs and the trigger for many technological improvements in equipment, software and techniques. TNX & 73, Bob K8BL ________________________________ From: JoAnne K9JKM joanne.k9jkm@gmail.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2018 11:35 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments - Idle SATs/Gridders
Hi Bob,
You may get personally ATTACKED in direct e-mails
Yeah, sometimes there is a bit of boorish behavior, it seems more via the internet than in direct conversations. I've shrugged off, or laughed off some interesting replies over the years ...
When I reported in the ANS bulletins AMSAT-DL's success using their big dish to accomplish the Earth-Venus-Earth path I received an e-mail from an Official Observer citing me for promoting poor amateur radio practices. No regular ham has a 20 meter dish and temporary authority to experiment with a few kilowatts on S-band.
When I mentioned that ARISSat-1 was in a way a Russian satellite since it had a Russian callsign, the experiment on board was by a Russian university, it was deployed by Russian cosmonauts on a Russian EVA ... I was warned by private e-mail that he was considering suing me if I kept promoting such un-American thoughts like that.
A private e-mail informed me that AMSAT had been taken out of that individual's will because of stuff I said.
I hear you on the satellites often. I spend most of my time tweaking my telemetry reception but I still hear the voice traffic ... you keep handing out the grids :-) Since telemetry doesn't count for Field Day I'll be switching over to voice on the linear sats so there goes the neighborhood for sure!
-- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm@amsat.org
_______________________________________________ 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
The best part is "...my linear sats...". What an asshat.
-----Original Message----- From: R.T.Liddy Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2018 10:52 AM To: Don KB2YSI ; Mike Diehl Cc: amsat-bb ; Paul Stoetzer Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments - Idle SATs/Gridders
Don, Be careful about making suggestions about increasing activity on the Linear SATs! You may get personally ATTACKED in direct e-mails like I did. There are people out there that hate Gridders and feel the Linear SATs are to be held aside so they can have them to themselves for having chats with each other day after day. I won't reveal the gentleman's ID, but you can read excerpts of some of the e-mails that came to me directly for merely suggesting something to increase activity on his private Linear SATs. Or, save your blood pressure and skip his comments below. (So much hate!) 73, Bob K8BL
---------------------------------------------------------------
I don’t care what other hams do. Each have their own preferences,.. What I don’t like is someone coming up with a great “idea” to get more activity on what is now an enjoyable aspect of the hobby that I enjoy. I have to put up with nonsense contests every weekend on HF but I can go to WARC bands to get away from it. Don’t be looking to crap up my linear sats and turn them into the mess that’s on the FM sats. Its disgraceful what goes on there. Honestly I don’t think it will come to that since people have to use more that a pair of $25 boufangs and an arrow to get on linear sats.
Wow, Bob. My condolences on your blood pressure!
In the spirit of the original mission of the founders of the ARRL to educate and encourage fellow hams, I have also done what I can to teach and encourage hams to start working linear satellites, to pay forward the assistance I recently received myself from many on this list to start working linear satellites. You can learn much and have a lot of fun on FM birds, frustrations notwithstanding, but nothing is more satisfying than learning to operate two SSB radios to work a low elevation AO-7 or FO-29 pass in a short window of time, culminating in a successful contact with a very distant and exotic DX location not possible to reach via FM. As many here have pointed out, there’s plenty of bandwidth on linear birds, and I have often heard long ragchews about rainfall amounts and shack equipment modifications occurring at the same time in the linear passband along with DX chasers exchanging grids and newbies calling CQ!
The curmudgeon only serves to highlight the original point of encouraging more folks, especially the next generation of hams, to learn, experiment, and work linear birds. I’ll consider my own mission complete when the curmudgeon can tune through the passband on “his linear sats" to hear conversations of millennials and younger from rare “strips of dirt” not just exchanging grids and having fun, but also discussing the best artisanal avocado toast, the melancholy angst of unrequited love, debates over the best new wave death metal guitarist, and environmentally-friendly cloth diapering techniques to best protect the bottoms of the next generation of hams.
73! Adam, K0FFY
On Mar 17, 2018, at 10:52 AM, R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net wrote:
Don, Be careful about making suggestions about increasing activity on the Linear SATs! You may get personally ATTACKED in direct e-mails like I did. There are people out there that hate Gridders and feel the Linear SATs are to be held aside so they can have them to themselves for having chats with each other day after day. I won't reveal the gentleman's ID, but you can read excerpts of some of the e-mails that came to me directly for merely suggesting something to increase activity on his private Linear SATs. Or, save your blood pressure and skip his comments below. (So much hate!) 73, Bob K8BL
Simply stated you are the problem with this hobby today.
Go get in your car and prove the laws of propagation again and again from strips of dirt only people like you care about. Yeah that’s real modern HAHAHAHA
Talk to your same cronies over and over yelling a new grid at them. You call that fun ‘eh. Sats work, get over it, you don’t have to keep proving it. It simple to understand that.
Once again I say we don’t need your kind on the linear sats. Stay on FM and do us all a favor.
The mess I refer to is the operating practices of those on the FM birds. People calling over one another, not allowing someone to get a confirmation of their contact before yelling their call and grid out once again, and now I hear you have a jammer on 91 and 92. What frustration do you think is causing that ?
I don’t care what other hams do. Each have their own preferences,.. What I don’t like is someone coming up with a great “idea” to get more activity on what is now an enjoyable aspect of the hobby that I enjoy. I have to put up with nonsense contests every weekend on HF but I can go to WARC bands to get away from it. Don’t be looking to crap up my linear sats and turn them into the mess that’s on the FM sats. Its disgraceful what goes on there. Honestly I don’t think it will come to that since people have to use more that a pair of $25 boufangs and an arrow to get on linear sats.
From: Don KB2YSI kb2ysi@gmail.com To: Mike Diehl diehl.mike.a@gmail.com Cc: R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org; Paul Stoetzer n8hm@arrl.net Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2018 8:58 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments - Idle SATs
Plain QSO's or grids? I might be able to do 40 contacts by years end.
An award is a goal, goals are easy to quantify, and you can see progress as you are working towards them.
73, Don KB2YSI
On Fri, Mar 16, 2018, 08:07 Mike Diehl diehl.mike.a@gmail.com wrote:
How about an 88 on 88 or 40 on 4B award? 73, Mike Diehl W8LID
On Mar 15, 2018, at 23:46, R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net wrote: Paul, Having "Linear SAT Activity Days" is a GREAT idea! Maybe an AMSAT "Linear SAT 100" Award for 100 Q's would be interesting. Perhaps, endorsable, too. 73, Bob K8BL ________________________________ From: Paul Stoetzer n8hm@arrl.net To: R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net Cc: Joe N3XLS n3xls@yahoo.com; Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 10:06 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments - Idle SATs
I admit that the launches of AO-91 and 92 have reduced my linear operating time. As much as I enjoy operating on the linear sats, operating portable as I do, I'm not going to be able to operate every pass. I have made fewer than two dozen linear sat QSOs this year.
Perhaps some linear satellite operating days are in order where everyone decides to work as many passes of the XWs as possible or CAS-4B or UKube-1 or something. FO-29 and AO-7 do seem to draw a decent amount of activity still.
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 11:00 PM, R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net wrote: Unfortunately, I've been roving the past couple weeks and operating from several uncommon Grids/Gridlines and usually find no one or only one on the Linear SATs. Does that make me want to drive to some odd place and set up to rarely make a QSO? People shouldn't worry abt being exactly zero-beat, if that puts them off. Just get close & we'll find you. If people keep avoiding them, eventually no one will bother using them, period. Maybe, the "Easy SATs" are so easy that folks don't bother with the others. 73, Bob K8BL /4/5/9 ________________________________ From: Joe N3XLS via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org To: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 6:43 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments
Its not too many satellites, not enough ops!
> -------- Original message --------From: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net Date: 3/15/18 6:23 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] idle comments
Hello from Seattle
I read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or something like, "no one to talk to". The unusual conclusion, we have too many satellites! I never thought this ham would even think of it. If I look at Satpc32 with "only" a dozen listed, in fast forward a bewildering barrage of circles floats across the screen. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it just spreads us out and at times, there is, "no one to talk to". I do testing like try different power levels, talk to myself til as close to AOS as I can get. You know the drill. From what I read there are more on the starting block. I'd like to see more L band time, maybe a bird with a S band DL a MEO, a HEO- I know, idle comments. We have the five & dime coming at us, which sounds like a whole other world, I'm looking forward to it. Then there is the massive off air time making all this stuff work. Currently testing between two L band antennas and between two different 70cm antennas. At this time I have my Satpc32 talking fine with the radio but not with the rotor. A com port issue which currently I can not figure out. Assistance solicited. On the ISS it would be fun to see one of the "hams" up there have that "burning in the belly" to yuck it up, get WAS, VUCC, DXCC or whatever. Again, just idle comments not a criticism of the ARISS system. Sunny day in Seattle, xyl says yard work.
73 Bob W7LRD Seattle
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
An operation event would be great idea! I was told that ssb/cw equipment is expensive, true, but i know lots of hams not using those HF+vhf/uhf radios they got! Everyone should try to get those hams more active. a local club level opetation event will work well too Take an arrow, pick a weekend got to the park. some hot dogs and have some fun! What if awards where split up as well. FM only/ linear only/mixed?
-------- Original message --------From: "R.T.Liddy" k8bl@ameritech.net Date: 3/15/18 11:46 PM (GMT-05:00) To: Paul Stoetzer n8hm@arrl.net Cc: Joe N3XLS n3xls@yahoo.com, Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net, amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments - Idle SATs Paul,
Having "Linear SAT Activity Days" is a GREAT idea!
Maybe an AMSAT "Linear SAT 100" Award for 100 Q's would be interesting. Perhaps, endorsable, too.
73, Bob K8BL
________________________________ From: Paul Stoetzer n8hm@arrl.net To: R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net Cc: Joe N3XLS n3xls@yahoo.com; Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 10:06 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments - Idle SATs
I admit that the launches of AO-91 and 92 have reduced my linear operating time. As much as I enjoy operating on the linear sats, operating portable as I do, I'm not going to be able to operate every pass. I have made fewer than two dozen linear sat QSOs this year.
Perhaps some linear satellite operating days are in order where everyone decides to work as many passes of the XWs as possible or CAS-4B or UKube-1 or something. FO-29 and AO-7 do seem to draw a decent amount of activity still.
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 11:00 PM, R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net wrote:
Unfortunately, I've been roving the past couple weeks and operating from several uncommon Grids/Gridlines and usually find no one or only one on the Linear SATs. Does that make me want to drive to some odd place and set up to rarely make a QSO? People shouldn't worry abt being exactly zero-beat, if that puts them off. Just get close & we'll find you. If people keep avoiding them, eventually no one will bother using them, period. Maybe, the "Easy SATs" are so easy that folks don't bother with the others. 73, Bob K8BL /4/5/9 ________________________________ From: Joe N3XLS via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org To: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 6:43 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments
Its not too many satellites, not enough ops! -------- Original message --------From: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net Date: 3/15/18 6:23 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] idle comments Hello from Seattle
I read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or something like, "no one to talk to". The unusual conclusion, we have too many satellites! I never thought this ham would even think of it. If I look at Satpc32 with "only" a dozen listed, in fast forward a bewildering barrage of circles floats across the screen. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it just spreads us out and at times, there is, "no one to talk to". I do testing like try different power levels, talk to myself til as close to AOS as I can get. You know the drill. From what I read there are more on the starting block. I'd like to see more L band time, maybe a bird with a S band DL a MEO, a HEO- I know, idle comments. We have the five & dime coming at us, which sounds like a whole other world, I'm looking forward to it. Then there is the massive off air time making all this stuff work. Currently testing between two L band antennas and between two different 70cm antennas. At this time I have my Satpc32 talking fine with the radio but not with the rotor. A com port issue which currently I can not figure out. Assistance solicited. On the ISS it would be fun to see one of the "hams" up there have that "burning in the belly" to yuck it up, get WAS, VUCC, DXCC or whatever. Again, just idle comments not a criticism of the ARISS system. Sunny day in Seattle, xyl says yard work.
73 Bob W7LRD
Seattle _______________________________________________ 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
At least part of the problem is that all-mode VHF/UHF equipment is expensive. The FM satellites are busy because you can work them with an HT. The linear birds are empty because you need to spend a month's (or more) wages to get on.
Steve AI9IN
Its not too many satellites, not enough ops!
-------- Original message --------From: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net Date: 3/15/18 6:23 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] idle comments Hello from Seattle
I read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or something like, "no one to talk to".
The latest radios might be expensive, but there are plenty second-hand multimode bits of kit available could also save money and use an SDR for the receiver so a single FT-817 works.
Linears aren't empty, the issue is that a few certain satellites get underused for various reasons.
I'd support an activity event on the linear birds.
Peter, 2M0SQL
On 16 March 2018 at 12:26, skristof@etczone.com wrote:
At least part of the problem is that all-mode VHF/UHF equipment is expensive. The FM satellites are busy because you can work them with an HT. The linear birds are empty because you need to spend a month's (or more) wages to get on.
Steve AI9IN
Its not too many satellites, not enough ops!
-------- Original message --------From: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net Date: 3/15/18 6:23 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] idle comments Hello from Seattle
I read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or something like, "no one to talk to". _______________________________________________ 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
Maybe we are over reacting. Consider the number of new people who are getting involved. It might take them some time to gear up. I believe many newbie FM ops will get into the linears as they gain experience and invest in equipment. A lot of us are getting old and have time on their hands. It’s possible others work have family commitments etc. I don’t ever expect every bird to be occupied all the time. Nor do I ever expect that it will be easy to break through when they are busy. I’m sure the novelty of the newness to several new birds is wearing off. Maybe people have or haven’t found their away “other birds” or telemetry. Regardless, events and awards may help. Anyone can sponsor one, have at it.
EMike McCardel, AA8EM Rotating Editor AMSAT News Service Sent from my iPhone
On Mar 16, 2018, at 8:26 AM, skristof@etczone.com wrote:
At least part of the problem is that all-mode VHF/UHF equipment is expensive. The FM satellites are busy because you can work them with an HT. The linear birds are empty because you need to spend a month's (or more) wages to get on.
Steve AI9IN
Its not too many satellites, not enough ops!
-------- Original message --------From: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net Date: 3/15/18 6:23 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] idle comments Hello from Seattle
I read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or something like, "no one to talk to". _______________________________________________ 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
Paul,
In spite of not real interest to US Om’s, just to share, I am active on all birds and making a lot of measurements such as minimum EIRP required for each bird etc.. Will eventually share with the community when ready/having some time to put all in a proper document. All XW-2X on voice are very good and strong signal on all passes this side.
That said, I am also trying to automate the station for automatic telemetry reporting to the SAT operators and one major issue is with XW-2X satellites, in spite I can decode easily the CW beacon, in spite strong rf, the digital telemetry seems to be impossible to decode (sometimes work for XW-2A). Fortunately CAS-4A and CAS-4B are so easy as a comparison, same for AO-73, Nayif and the Fox series and others.
Therefore an open question to the BB and CAMSAT if you decode well the digital telemetry of XW-2X sats please share how you do it as I am quite lost.
73
Jean Marc (3B8DU)
On Mar 16, 2018, at 7:06 AM, Paul Stoetzer n8hm@arrl.net wrote:
I admit that the launches of AO-91 and 92 have reduced my linear operating time. As much as I enjoy operating on the linear sats, operating portable as I do, I'm not going to be able to operate every pass. I have made fewer than two dozen linear sat QSOs this year.
Perhaps some linear satellite operating days are in order where everyone decides to work as many passes of the XWs as possible or CAS-4B or UKube-1 or something. FO-29 and AO-7 do seem to draw a decent amount of activity still.
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 11:00 PM, R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net wrote:
Unfortunately, I've been roving the past couple weeks and operating from several uncommon Grids/Gridlines and usually find no one or only one on the Linear SATs. Does that make me want to drive to some odd place and set up to rarely make a QSO? People shouldn't worry abt being exactly zero-beat, if that puts them off. Just get close & we'll find you. If people keep avoiding them, eventually no one will bother using them, period. Maybe, the "Easy SATs" are so easy that folks don't bother with the others. 73, Bob K8BL /4/5/9 ________________________________ From: Joe N3XLS via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org To: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 6:43 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments
Its not too many satellites, not enough ops! -------- Original message --------From: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net Date: 3/15/18 6:23 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] idle comments Hello from Seattle
I read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or something like, "no one to talk to". The unusual conclusion, we have too many satellites! I never thought this ham would even think of it. If I look at Satpc32 with "only" a dozen listed, in fast forward a bewildering barrage of circles floats across the screen. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it just spreads us out and at times, there is, "no one to talk to". I do testing like try different power levels, talk to myself til as close to AOS as I can get. You know the drill. From what I read there are more on the starting block. I'd like to see more L band time, maybe a bird with a S band DL a MEO, a HEO- I know, idle comments. We have the five & dime coming at us, which sounds like a whole other world, I'm looking forward to it. Then there is the massive off air time making all this stuff work. Currently testing between two
L
band antennas and between two different 70cm antennas. At this time I have my Satpc32 talking fine with the radio but not with the rotor. A com port issue which currently I can not figure out. Assistance solicited. On the ISS it would be fun to see one of the "hams" up there have that "burning in the belly" to yuck it up, get WAS, VUCC, DXCC or whatever. Again, just idle comments not a criticism of the ARISS system. Sunny day in Seattle, xyl says yard work.
73 Bob W7LRD
Seattle _______________________________________________ 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
It is a fact that I get on the birds infrequently, often it's a timing issue of when I have free time vs. what is going to pass during that time. Taking that into account as you are reading this, the last couple or three times I was on a linear bird which would have been 1H 2017 to my recollection, nobody wanted to have a rag-chew or even a short weather/shack/shoe-size QSO. Grid exchange was it. Honestly, I don't care about grids or awards although I will work some when they are out in the rare spots on the FM birds if the timeslot fits just to have them in the log in case I change my mind some year (love that you can just do that with ham radio, change your interest/tactics any given day). So I haven't tried so much to get on a linear pass after that, it wasn't what I was looking for. CQ for the whole pass to exchange grids three or four times. This is not an editorial on what current op trends are, just my two cents worth on the subject. Maybe I hit the birds during a lull in rag-chew interest.
Jerry Buxton, NØJY
On 3/15/2018 22:06, Paul Stoetzer wrote:
I admit that the launches of AO-91 and 92 have reduced my linear operating time. As much as I enjoy operating on the linear sats, operating portable as I do, I'm not going to be able to operate every pass. I have made fewer than two dozen linear sat QSOs this year.
Perhaps some linear satellite operating days are in order where everyone decides to work as many passes of the XWs as possible or CAS-4B or UKube-1 or something. FO-29 and AO-7 do seem to draw a decent amount of activity still.
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 11:00 PM, R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net wrote:
Unfortunately, I've been roving the past couple weeks and operating from several uncommon Grids/Gridlines and usually find no one or only one on the Linear SATs. Does that make me want to drive to some odd place and set up to rarely make a QSO? People shouldn't worry abt being exactly zero-beat, if that puts them off. Just get close & we'll find you. If people keep avoiding them, eventually no one will bother using them, period. Maybe, the "Easy SATs" are so easy that folks don't bother with the others. 73, Bob K8BL /4/5/9 ________________________________ From: Joe N3XLS via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org To: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 6:43 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments
Its not too many satellites, not enough ops! -------- Original message --------From: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net Date: 3/15/18 6:23 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] idle comments Hello from Seattle
I read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or something like, "no one to talk to". The unusual conclusion, we have too many satellites! I never thought this ham would even think of it. If I look at Satpc32 with "only" a dozen listed, in fast forward a bewildering barrage of circles floats across the screen. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it just spreads us out and at times, there is, "no one to talk to". I do testing like try different power levels, talk to myself til as close to AOS as I can get. You know the drill. From what I read there are more on the starting block. I'd like to see more L band time, maybe a bird with a S band DL a MEO, a HEO- I know, idle comments. We have the five & dime coming at us, which sounds like a whole other world, I'm looking forward to it. Then there is the massive off air time making all this stuff work. Currently testing between two
L
band antennas and between two different 70cm antennas. At this time I have my Satpc32 talking fine with the radio but not with the rotor. A com port issue which currently I can not figure out. Assistance solicited. On the ISS it would be fun to see one of the "hams" up there have that "burning in the belly" to yuck it up, get WAS, VUCC, DXCC or whatever. Again, just idle comments not a criticism of the ARISS system. Sunny day in Seattle, xyl says yard work.
73 Bob W7LRD
Seattle _______________________________________________ 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
Now I have had some nice ragchews on FO29 the past couple of days. There seems to be a group from W6 land that get on their quite reqularly and QSO with each other.
73 John AF5CC
On Sat, Mar 17, 2018 at 2:13 PM, Jerry Buxton n0jy@amsat.org wrote:
It is a fact that I get on the birds infrequently, often it's a timing issue of when I have free time vs. what is going to pass during that time. Taking that into account as you are reading this, the last couple or three times I was on a linear bird which would have been 1H 2017 to my recollection, nobody wanted to have a rag-chew or even a short weather/shack/shoe-size QSO. Grid exchange was it. Honestly, I don't care about grids or awards although I will work some when they are out in the rare spots on the FM birds if the timeslot fits just to have them in the log in case I change my mind some year (love that you can just do that with ham radio, change your interest/tactics any given day). So I haven't tried so much to get on a linear pass after that, it wasn't what I was looking for. CQ for the whole pass to exchange grids three or four times. This is not an editorial on what current op trends are, just my two cents worth on the subject. Maybe I hit the birds during a lull in rag-chew interest.
Jerry Buxton, NØJY
On 3/15/2018 22:06, Paul Stoetzer wrote:
I admit that the launches of AO-91 and 92 have reduced my linear operating time. As much as I enjoy operating on the linear sats, operating portable as I do, I'm not going to be able to operate every pass. I have made fewer than two dozen linear sat QSOs this year.
Perhaps some linear satellite operating days are in order where everyone decides to work as many passes of the XWs as possible or CAS-4B or UKube-1 or something. FO-29 and AO-7 do seem to draw a decent amount of activity still.
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 11:00 PM, R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net wrote:
Unfortunately, I've been roving the past couple weeks and operating from several uncommon Grids/Gridlines and usually find no one or only one on the Linear SATs. Does that make me want to drive to some odd place and set up to rarely make a QSO? People shouldn't worry abt being exactly zero-beat, if that puts them off. Just get close & we'll find you. If people keep avoiding them, eventually no one will bother using them, period. Maybe, the "Easy SATs" are so easy that folks don't bother with the others. 73, Bob K8BL /4/5/9 ________________________________ From: Joe N3XLS via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org To: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 6:43 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments
Its not too many satellites, not enough ops! -------- Original message --------From: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net
Date: 3/15/18 6:23 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] idle comments
Hello from Seattle
I read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common
denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or something like, "no one to talk to". The unusual conclusion, we have too many satellites! I never thought this ham would even think of it. If I look at Satpc32 with "only" a dozen listed, in fast forward a bewildering barrage of circles floats across the screen. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it just spreads us out and at times, there is, "no one to talk to". I do testing like try different power levels, talk to myself til as close to AOS as I can get. You know the drill. From what I read there are more on the starting block. I'd like to see more L band time, maybe a bird with a S band DL a MEO, a HEO- I know, idle comments. We have the five & dime coming at us, which sounds like a whole other world, I'm looking forward to it. Then there is the massive off air time making all this stuff work. Currently testing between two
L
band antennas and between two different 70cm antennas. At this time
I have my Satpc32 talking fine with the radio but not with the rotor. A com port issue which currently I can not figure out. Assistance solicited. On the ISS it would be fun to see one of the "hams" up there have that "burning in the belly" to yuck it up, get WAS, VUCC, DXCC or whatever. Again, just idle comments not a criticism of the ARISS system. Sunny day in Seattle, xyl says yard work.
73 Bob W7LRD
Seattle _______________________________________________ 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
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
Sign of the times! Younger hams, like me, like the thrill of the chase. Im going to quote a young teenager that wanted to know what ham radio was about and i told them about chasing DX. Grids, counties,states etc. I got the comment of its like the app Pokemon Go then? EXACTLY! There is still room for ragchewing. If thats what someone wants to do. I honestly admire some of the guys who can hold the pass and have a ragchew qso. My setup isnt great. I can hold some very well, others not so much. Of course im tracking everything manually. Labor of love in the moment!
-------- Original message --------From: John Geiger af5cc2@gmail.com Date: 3/17/18 3:18 PM (GMT-05:00) To: Jerry Buxton n0jy@amsat.org Cc: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments - Idle SATs Now I have had some nice ragchews on FO29 the past couple of days. There seems to be a group from W6 land that get on their quite reqularly and QSO with each other.
73 John AF5CC
On Sat, Mar 17, 2018 at 2:13 PM, Jerry Buxton n0jy@amsat.org wrote:
It is a fact that I get on the birds infrequently, often it's a timing issue of when I have free time vs. what is going to pass during that time. Taking that into account as you are reading this, the last couple or three times I was on a linear bird which would have been 1H 2017 to my recollection, nobody wanted to have a rag-chew or even a short weather/shack/shoe-size QSO. Grid exchange was it. Honestly, I don't care about grids or awards although I will work some when they are out in the rare spots on the FM birds if the timeslot fits just to have them in the log in case I change my mind some year (love that you can just do that with ham radio, change your interest/tactics any given day). So I haven't tried so much to get on a linear pass after that, it wasn't what I was looking for. CQ for the whole pass to exchange grids three or four times. This is not an editorial on what current op trends are, just my two cents worth on the subject. Maybe I hit the birds during a lull in rag-chew interest.
Jerry Buxton, NØJY
On 3/15/2018 22:06, Paul Stoetzer wrote:
I admit that the launches of AO-91 and 92 have reduced my linear operating time. As much as I enjoy operating on the linear sats, operating portable as I do, I'm not going to be able to operate every pass. I have made fewer than two dozen linear sat QSOs this year.
Perhaps some linear satellite operating days are in order where everyone decides to work as many passes of the XWs as possible or CAS-4B or UKube-1 or something. FO-29 and AO-7 do seem to draw a decent amount of activity still.
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 11:00 PM, R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net wrote:
Unfortunately, I've been roving the past couple weeks and operating from several uncommon Grids/Gridlines and usually find no one or only one on the Linear SATs. Does that make me want to drive to some odd place and set up to rarely make a QSO? People shouldn't worry abt being exactly zero-beat, if that puts them off. Just get close & we'll find you. If people keep avoiding them, eventually no one will bother using them, period. Maybe, the "Easy SATs" are so easy that folks don't bother with the others. 73, Bob K8BL /4/5/9 ________________________________ From: Joe N3XLS via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org To: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 6:43 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments
Its not too many satellites, not enough ops! -------- Original message --------From: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net
Date: 3/15/18 6:23 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] idle comments
Hello from Seattle
I read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common
denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or something like, "no one to talk to". The unusual conclusion, we have too many satellites! I never thought this ham would even think of it. If I look at Satpc32 with "only" a dozen listed, in fast forward a bewildering barrage of circles floats across the screen. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it just spreads us out and at times, there is, "no one to talk to". I do testing like try different power levels, talk to myself til as close to AOS as I can get. You know the drill. From what I read there are more on the starting block. I'd like to see more L band time, maybe a bird with a S band DL a MEO, a HEO- I know, idle comments. We have the five & dime coming at us, which sounds like a whole other world, I'm looking forward to it. Then there is the massive off air time making all this stuff work. Currently testing between two
L
band antennas and between two different 70cm antennas. At this time
I have my Satpc32 talking fine with the radio but not with the rotor. A com port issue which currently I can not figure out. Assistance solicited. On the ISS it would be fun to see one of the "hams" up there have that "burning in the belly" to yuck it up, get WAS, VUCC, DXCC or whatever. Again, just idle comments not a criticism of the ARISS system. Sunny day in Seattle, xyl says yard work.
73 Bob W7LRD
Seattle _______________________________________________ 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
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
What's so nice about the Linear SATs is that there is quite enough bandwidth for various interests to coexist and enjoy their desired activity. Fun for all! Bob K8BL ________________________________ From: Jerry Buxton n0jy@amsat.org To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2018 2:14 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments - Idle SATs
It is a fact that I get on the birds infrequently, often it's a timing
issue of when I have free time vs. what is going to pass during that time.
Taking that into account as you are reading this, the last couple or
three times I was on a linear bird which would have been 1H 2017 to my
recollection, nobody wanted to have a rag-chew or even a short
weather/shack/shoe-size QSO. Grid exchange was it. Honestly, I don't
care about grids or awards although I will work some when they are out
in the rare spots on the FM birds if the timeslot fits just to have them
in the log in case I change my mind some year (love that you can just do
that with ham radio, change your interest/tactics any given day).
So I haven't tried so much to get on a linear pass after that, it wasn't
what I was looking for. CQ for the whole pass to exchange grids three
or four times.
This is not an editorial on what current op trends are, just my two
cents worth on the subject. Maybe I hit the birds during a lull in
rag-chew interest.
Jerry Buxton, NØJY
Jerry,
Back in the AO-10, AO-13, and AO-40 days when passes lasted hours, it was nice to be able to talk for 20-30 minutes with someone and get to know them. When the P3 Promised Orbit arrives, we may need to brush up on the art of conversation by working 20m or the local repeater.
73,
Alan WA4SCA
<-----Original Message----- <From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Jerry <Buxton <Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2018 14:14 PM <To: amsat-bb@amsat.org <Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments - Idle SATs < <It is a fact that I get on the birds infrequently, often it's a timing <issue of when I have free time vs. what is going to pass during that time. <Taking that into account as you are reading this, the last couple or <three times I was on a linear bird which would have been 1H 2017 to my <recollection, nobody wanted to have a rag-chew or even a short <weather/shack/shoe-size QSO. Grid exchange was it. Honestly, I don't <care about grids or awards although I will work some when they are out <in the rare spots on the FM birds if the timeslot fits just to have them <in the log in case I change my mind some year (love that you can just do <that with ham radio, change your interest/tactics any given day). <So I haven't tried so much to get on a linear pass after that, it wasn't <what I was looking for. CQ for the whole pass to exchange grids three <or four times. <This is not an editorial on what current op trends are, just my two <cents worth on the subject. Maybe I hit the birds during a lull in <rag-chew interest. < <Jerry Buxton, NØJY < <On 3/15/2018 22:06, Paul Stoetzer wrote: <> I admit that the launches of AO-91 and 92 have reduced my linear <> operating time. As much as I enjoy operating on the linear sats, <> operating portable as I do, I'm not going to be able to operate every <> pass. I have made fewer than two dozen linear sat QSOs this year. <> <> Perhaps some linear satellite operating days are in order where <> everyone decides to work as many passes of the XWs as possible or <> CAS-4B or UKube-1 or something. FO-29 and AO-7 do seem to draw a <> decent amount of activity still. <> <> 73, <> <> Paul, N8HM <> <> On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 11:00 PM, R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net wrote: <>> Unfortunately, I've been roving the past couple weeks and operating <>> from several uncommon Grids/Gridlines and usually find no one or only <>> one on the Linear SATs. Does that make me want to drive to some odd <>> place and set up to rarely make a QSO? People shouldn't worry abt <>> being exactly zero-beat, if that puts them off. Just get close & we'll <>> find you. If people keep avoiding them, eventually no one will bother <>> using them, period. Maybe, the "Easy SATs" are so easy that folks don't <>> bother with the others. <>> 73, Bob K8BL /4/5/9 <>> ________________________________ <>> From: Joe N3XLS via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org <>> To: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org <>> Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 6:43 PM <>> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments <>> <>> <>> <>> Its not too many satellites, not enough ops! <>> -------- Original message --------From: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net <Date: 3/15/18 6:23 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org <Subject: [amsat-bb] idle comments <>> Hello from Seattle <>> <>> I read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common <denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or <something like, "no one to talk to". The unusual conclusion, we have too <many satellites! I never thought this ham would even think of it. If I look at <Satpc32 with "only" a dozen listed, in fast forward a bewildering barrage of <circles floats across the screen. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it just <spreads us out and at times, there is, "no one to talk to". I do testing like try <different power levels, talk to myself til as close to AOS as I can get. You know <the drill. From what I read there are more on the starting block. I'd like to see <more L band time, maybe a bird with a S band DL a MEO, a HEO- I know, idle <comments. We have the five & dime coming at us, which sounds like a whole <other world, I'm looking forward to it. Then there is the massive off air time <making all this stuff work. Currently testing between two <> L <>> band antennas and between two different 70cm antennas. At this time I <have my Satpc32 talking fine with the radio but not with the rotor. A com port <issue which currently I can not figure out. Assistance solicited. On the ISS it <would be fun to see one of the "hams" up there have that "burning in the <belly" to yuck it up, get WAS, VUCC, DXCC or whatever. Again, just idle <comments not a criticism of the ARISS system. Sunny day in Seattle, xyl says <yard work. <>> <>> 73 Bob W7LRD <>> <>> Seattle <>> _______________________________________________ <>> 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 <> <> < < <_______________________________________________ <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
Alan, I really miss those birds! I had a blast back then but still get excited with the current birds.
Dave KN4OK
-----Original Message----- From: Alan wa4sca@gmail.com To: 'Jerry Buxton' n0jy@amsat.org; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Sat, Mar 17, 2018 2:55 pm Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments - Idle SATs
Jerry,Back in the AO-10, AO-13, and AO-40 days when passes lasted hours, it was nice to be able to talk for 20-30 minutes with someone and get to know them. When the P3 Promised Orbit arrives, we may need to brush up on the art of conversation by working 20m or the local repeater.73,AlanWA4SCA<-----Original Message-----<From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Jerry<Buxton<Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2018 14:14 PM<To: amsat-bb@amsat.org<Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments - Idle SATs<<It is a fact that I get on the birds infrequently, often it's a timing<issue of when I have free time vs. what is going to pass during that time.<Taking that into account as you are reading this, the last couple or<three times I was on a linear bird which would have been 1H 2017 to my<recollection, nobody wanted to have a rag-chew or even a short<weather/shack/shoe-size QSO. Grid exchange was it. Honestly, I don't<care about grids or awards although I will work some when they are out<in the rare spots on the FM birds if the timeslot fits just to have them<in the log in case I change my mind some year (love that you can just do<that with ham radio, change your interest/tactics any given day).<So I haven't tried so much to get on a linear pass after that, it wasn't<what I was looking for. CQ for the whole pass to exchange grids three<or four times.<This is not an editorial on what current op trends are, just my two<cents worth on the subject. Maybe I hit the birds during a lull in<rag-chew interest.<<Jerry Buxton, NØJY<<On 3/15/2018 22:06, Paul Stoetzer wrote:<> I admit that the launches of AO-91 and 92 have reduced my linear<> operating time. As much as I enjoy operating on the linear sats,<> operating portable as I do, I'm not going to be able to operate every<> pass. I have made fewer than two dozen linear sat QSOs this year.<><> Perhaps some linear satellite operating days are in order where<> everyone decides to work as many passes of the XWs as possible or<> CAS-4B or UKube-1 or something. FO-29 and AO-7 do seem to draw a<> decent amount of activity still.<><> 73,<><> Paul, N8HM<><> On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 11:00 PM, R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net wrote:<>> Unfortunately, I've been roving the past couple weeks and operating<>> from several uncommon Grids/Gridlines and usually find no one or only<>> one on the Linear SATs. Does that make me want to drive to some odd<>> place and set up to rarely make a QSO? People shouldn't worry abt<>> being exactly zero-beat, if that puts them off. Just get close & we'll<>> find you. If people keep avoiding them, eventually no one will bother<>> using them, period. Maybe, the "Easy SATs" are so easy that folks don't<>> bother with the others.<>> 73, Bob K8BL /4/5/9<>> ________________________________<>> From: Joe N3XLS via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org<>> To: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org<>> Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 6:43 PM<>> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] idle comments<>><>><>><>> Its not too many satellites, not enough ops!<>> -------- Original message --------From: Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net<Date: 3/15/18 6:23 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org<Subject: [amsat-bb] idle comments<>> Hello from Seattle<>><>> I read the bb almost thoroughly throughout the day. A small common<denominator is subtly appearing. I read, "I was on the bird all alone", or<something like, "no one to talk to". The unusual conclusion, we have too<many satellites! I never thought this ham would even think of it. If I look at<Satpc32 with "only" a dozen listed, in fast forward a bewildering barrage of<circles floats across the screen. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it just<spreads us out and at times, there is, "no one to talk to". I do testing like try<different power levels, talk to myself til as close to AOS as I can get. You know<the drill. From what I read there are more on the starting block. I'd like to see<more L band time, maybe a bird with a S band DL a MEO, a HEO- I know, idle<comments. We have the five & dime coming at us, which sounds like a whole<other world, I'm looking forward to it. Then there is the massive off air time<making all this stuff work. Currently testing between two<> L<>> band antennas and between two different 70cm antennas. At this time I<have my Satpc32 talking fine with the radio but not with the rotor. A com port<issue which currently I can not figure out. Assistance solicited. On the ISS it<would be fun to see one of the "hams" up there have that "burning in the<belly" to yuck it up, get WAS, VUCC, DXCC or whatever. Again, just idle<comments not a criticism of the ARISS system. Sunny day in Seattle, xyl says<yard work.<>><>> 73 Bob W7LRD<>><>> Seattle<>> _______________________________________________<>> 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<><><<<_______________________________________________<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______________________________... via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum availableto all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressedare 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
On 3/17/2018 14:54, Alan wrote:
Back in the AO-10, AO-13, and AO-40 days when passes lasted hours, it was nice to be able to talk for 20-30 minutes with someone and get to know them. When the P3 Promised Orbit arrives, we may need to brush up on the art of conversation by working 20m or the local repeater.
Ah yes, pining for the fjords. I do appreciate the way that learning to converse while hearing myself 1/4 second delayed was a harbinger of easily working modern day online meetings...
Jerry Buxton, NØJY
participants (19)
-
Adam Whitney -
Alan -
Bob- W7LRD -
davekn4ok＠aol.com -
Don KB2YSI -
E.Mike McCardel -
Glenn Miller - AA5PK -
Jean Marc Momple -
Jerry Buxton -
JoAnne K9JKM -
Joe N3XLS -
John Geiger -
Mac A. Cody -
Mike Diehl -
Paul Stoetzer -
Peter Goodhall -
R.T.Liddy -
skristof＠etczone.com -
Zach Metzinger