[amsat-bb] Re: S band downlink on P3E

Sat Sep 9 18:42:06 PDT 2006

This thread reminds me of the Engineering Cartoon  with the horse "as 
requested" and the camel "as delivered" and the caption, "This was 
engineered by a committee!"  Yes, there were comments about 1 hump or 2 
on the camel, but that is still in the "design stages".  Or was that 3 
sats in 13 years, I forget. ;-)

I just mailed my renewal and a little more as a donation to AMSAT-NA, 
and soon will send a check for the rest of the parts I need to make the 
S band downconverter work.  I have the L band signal to work AO-51 (and 
have worked her L/U) but I want to try her on L/S, too.  If I here more 
WiFi and cordless phones, than satelite contacts, well, I remember when 
11 meters was a HAM band and not the unlicensed band it is today.

The members (who bother to return their ballots) elected the Board who 
delegate to the VOLUNTEER committees  Let us give them time to spend 
most of their Volunteer time on doing this and not justifying to each 
member, one at a time, why the members pet agenda is not going to fly.

I'll step down from my soapbox and lurk some more.

73,
Jim WA4IVM
Amsat 31517
AO 51 on 51  (Yes, first ever sat contact in Feb and had it in less than 
the year it was offered)

David B. Toth wrote:

>At 11:41 PM 9/8/2006, Joe Westbrook wrote:
>  
>
>>It appears that Engineering has draw a line in the sand.
>>
>>Bob states:
>>"I offer the following.  If the board votes to change their vision
>>statement and not to build the spacecraft we are proposing,  I will
>>tender my resignation as VP Engineering since I will have failed to do
>>the job they elected me to  which was to produce a usable concept to
>>meet their vision."
>>
>>He speaks of "Leadership" but I would argue that a leader doesn't threaten
>>to quit if he fails to get his way, he sticks with the task at hand.  The
>>Objectives have changed as originally stated and it appears that the design
>>team is closed to entertaining any further ideas.
>>Sad.
>>    
>>
>
>Joe: if you took the time to stop being paranoid, you'd understand 
>that Bob is trying to do the honorable thing.
>What he is saying is that if the BoD has a vote of non-confidence in 
>him, he'll resign, and furthermore, if he was a BoD member, he'd 
>resign that too to make room for someone who the BoD would have more 
>confidence in ...
>
>I think this is just another example of "What have you done for me lately?!"
>
>No wonder people tire of volunteering - we accuse them all of being 
>crooked and deceitful, and when they try to be honorable, we crap on 
>them just a little bit more.
>
>Bob: I'm proud of you for being blunt and straight-forward, and I for 
>one am proud to be your friend.
>
>I wouldn't blame you for saying "shove it" and just quitting, but 
>stick it out - even a lot of the paranoid nay-sayers will eventually 
>understand what is going on.
>
>Dave VE3GYQ/W8
>Spencerville, OH
>
>
>
>
>
>  
>
>> In 1980 I was in the USAF assigned to the UK. I attended the RSGB's
>>Conference at the ole Ali Pali in North London.  My first exposure to
>>Amateur Satellite Service was with the AMSAT-UK Contingent who were
>>represented there.  I will never forget the cold reception this young (Yank)
>>Ham received from the AMSAT folks.  I came to the conclusion then that this
>>was an elitist group and I held that stereotype until I attended a Ham in
>>Austin, TX in 2003.
>>
>> The AMSAT Coordinator for Austin, TX was at the Hamfest, he had a demo set
>>up for AO-40 and I watched the contacts he made with other hams and I was
>>hooked.  This gentleman was very helpful. He patiently answered all of my
>>questions.  That day, I  purchased a downconverter and Bar-B-Que dish from
>>Bob (K5GNA) and proceeded to get on AO-40.  I have to say that is without a
>>doubt the most fun I have had with Ham Radio (39 years).  My small dish and
>>helix antenna are still up on the mast ready for the next HEO Bird.  I do
>>remember working the RS Satellites with relative little difficulty earlier,
>>with little mentoring , or cash out lay.  What happened to just having fun
>>on Ham Radio?  AO-40 was just challenging enough, I constructed my own
>>antennas, read all of the many on-line recourses available to learn how to
>>squeeze as much signal as possible on the S Band downlink.  I remembered
>>reliving the same types of experiences I had as a Novice making my first
>>contacts.
>>
>>Based on some of the post on this BB,  I can't help but think that this
>>contentious issue is more about having antenna real estate, power budget,
>>that support new applications.  The increased noise is simply a red herring
>>for those with more ambitious goals.
>>
>>I don't claim to speak for the rank and file, this is my opinion based
>>largely on recent post to the AMSAT BB.
>>
>>Regards,
>>- Joe K7ZT
>>
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Luc Leblanc VE2DWE" <lucleblanc6 at videotron.ca>
>>To: <AMSAT-BB at amsat.org>
>>Sent: Friday, September 08, 2006 1:55 PM
>>Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: S band downlink on P3E
>>
>>
>>    
>>
>>>I wrote:
>>>
>>>If AMSAT-NA is building sats in close circle they just have to openly
>>>admitted it
>>>even if admission is not a very spoken word.
>>>
>>>Things seems to evoluate! and evolution often passed by revolution. We
>>>learn once upon the time
>>>years ago some south the border choose to make a revolution as they seems
>>>it was the only one way
>>>to achieve their goals. Are we starting to learn from the past?
>>>
>>>He wrote
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>>>I am not interested in flying a carbon copy of P3E
>>>>when I know it makes no sense whatsoever.
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>I wrote:
>>>
>>>Who is driving AMSAT-NA an hollow BOD? an hollow president? Or a third
>>>builders
>>>manipulating wing
>>>who blackmail the BOD?
>>>
>>>None of them? I let the conclusion yours!
>>>
>>>
>>>He wrote:
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>>>If elected to the board, and it changes
>>>>direction,  I will offer my seat to the first alternate.
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>He wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>>>I am 52 years old and one of
>>>>the most active technical contributors in all of amateur radio
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>I wrote:
>>>
>>>Even the Goa'Uld the self proclaim gods can be replaced.... And i wrote "
>>>but your involvement is
>>>not questioned here"  no more blackmail please we used to be sick of this.
>>>It is a burden AMSAT-NA
>>>pull since too many years now, it is openly admitted and publicly show
>>>today. Remember why they
>>>celebrate on the 4th of July? an evolution or a revolution or both?
>>>
>>>To concluded the truth FINALLY came out. Now AMSAT-NA BOD what you will do
>>>with a majority of your
>>>members who wants to have S band downlink on Eagle? Nothing is perfect in
>>>the communication field
>>>why not simply build for this time a KISS HEO? As per this very clear text
>>>it seems we are going
>>>towards an evoluted cube type satellite who will be very far from AO-40
>>>and  where room seems to be
>>>scarce.
>>>
>>>My humble suggestion U/V S downlink and if there is still enough room an
>>>experimental mode.
>>>No switching is bad as it kills S mode downlink to only named this one.
>>>
>>>My financial service providers want to sell a special products but my
>>>client wants another one.
>>>Even if they asked me to pushed their prefer products client wants
>>>something else.
>>>
>>>After numerous discussion he finally agree that it is better to sell and
>>>deliver something than
>>>waiting for the few interested ones to buy their prefer one.
>>>
>>>All is a matter of choice and please BOD try to listen your membership
>>>just in case some can came
>>>back!
>>>
>>>We are speaking marketing here not science. Give what's the client desire
>>>once you will gain his
>>>trust you will able to do great things after and with his support.
>>>
>>>Amen!
>>>
>>>"-"
>>>The medium is the message...The content is the audience...;)
>>>
>>>Luc Leblanc VE2DWE
>>>Skype VE2DWE
>>>www.qsl.net/ve2dwe
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
>>>Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
>>>Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
>>Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
>>Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>>    
>>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
>Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
>Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>
>
>  
>