[amsat-bb] Re: Eagle's New Design

[Bill Ress]

Eric,

Really nice meeting you at the Symposium along with all the other great
folks in attendance.

After attending the Symposium, like you, I too came away with the strong
feeling that the Eagle team will listen to legitimate concerns and that they
presented and approved an Eagle satellite system that I now can "fully"
support.

This -bb will likely recognize me as one of several who has been vocal about
trying to counter the strong negative feelings held my some members of Eagle
team about our L and S band satellite frequency allocations.

While I have said that I agree with the future potential for problems in
these bands, I felt there we can finds ways to mitigate the impacts - and
that feeling hasn't changed. In fact, at the conference, there were
presentations by IARU and ARRL representatives that said if we don't occupy
and utilize our allocations, both amateur and amateur satellite on VHF to
microwave, we will "surely" lose them.

Well - - - - I am very pleased to note, if you haven't seen the release yet,
that Eagle will be including a linear L band up and S band down mode.

I'd like to think that the comments and debate held here on the -bb might
have had some influence on this decision and would like to thank the many
for participating in the discourse - both pro and con.

Some features of the satellite, namely the ACP (Advanced Communication
Package), which are the digital modes, will likely cause some gas pains for
many who might not yet understand or appreciate the reasoning for them (I
WAS ONE). The concern for the added "potential" for the complexity and
reliability of this new mode was raised from the floor during the General
Meeting. I can tell you the team convinced me through their responses that
while the satellite business is by its nature very risky, they are fully
aware of that fact and will be designing and testing to reduce the potential
for "failure."

We will "all" have the opportunity to review and critique the designs as
they evolve through Eaglepedia - - unlike any other prior satellite building
project. I'm also convinced that the Eagle team will respect and give
consideration to all of us who wish to act as "peer reviewers" and present
constructive opinions and suggestions.

So lets get on with the business of building Eagle and getting it launched.

Oh yah - - - as Eric points out, VOTE yes - if you can accept this new
proposed Eagle satellite - by sending in any donations you can live with.

Regards...Bill - N6GHz

-----Original Message-----
From: amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org]On
Behalf Of Eric H. Christensen
Sent: Sunday, October 08, 2006 9:50 AM
To: amsat-bb at amsat.org
Subject: [amsat-bb] Eagle's New Design


I have to say that I have been very critical of the Eagle development
team with their plans for the bird.  At the time I did not agree with
their recommendations nor did I agree with their decisions.  I WAS
WRONG.

While I am quite relieved with the new plan for Eagle, which includes
a linear transponder for V/U and L/S along with the new digital
"Advanced Communications Payload", there is no excuse for my previous
words.  Contrary to popular belief, the satellite builders and the
Eagle team are not out to just build whatever they want but rather to
build what will work.  There is no way that they would spend the many
hours it takes to build all the pieces and parts it takes to make a
satellite to send up something that no one will use or that won't work.

I don't know if EaglePedia has been updated with the latest and
greatest information but I was very impressed with Bob McGwier's
presentation on the latest configuration of Eagle.  If you weren't
able to attend the annual symposium then please keep an eye out on the
website (amsat.org) for the latest and greatest information on the
project.  Take a look at the new information and then make sure you
let everyone know that you support Eagle by going to
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/eagle/#donating and donating.  It is
very important that we all pitch in and help fund this project so that
construction can move forward.  From my understanding, we raised quite
a bit of money at the symposium but we need more.  Help the amateur
satellite community and join the President's Club and/or donate
directly to the Eagle project.  It is the future of our community.

73s,
Eric KF4OTN
kf4otn at amsat.org
http://www.ericsatcom.net


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