[amsat-bb] Re: The Eagle has died.

[John B. Stephensen]

Eagle provides U/V so no one has to buy new equipment.

73,

John
KD6OZH

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Oler" <cvn65vf94 at msn.com>
To: <ericvo at telefonica.net>; <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2006 15:32 UTC
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: The Eagle has died.


> Eric.
>
> Delurking a tad longer.
>
> I've read and well understand the engineering points the folks on Eagle
are
> making.  I am curious if they have addressed some other issues.
>
> If they get the money to build the bird then the "community" which
supports
> this has agreed with their decision.  If they cant then well they cant.
The
> next step will be to see if they can get the "buy in" to buy the equipment
> that is going to be required for the new modes which they seem to be
banking
> the bird on.
>
> The irony is that they (on Eagle) are facing the same challenge that
> manufactors in the light sport airplane market are.  The LSA market right
> now is divided up between two different groups.  People who are spending
> large sums of money for brand new LSA vehicles and people who are buying
> Ercoupe like (read very old) LSA vehicles.  Right now an Ercoupe C is
about
> 10000 dollars more then a D...why?  The C is LSA qualified and goes for
> around 20-30K.  The cheapest "new" LSA goes for over 70K.
>
> The new LSA's have wonder instruments (LCD like displays...gee make me
think
> I am in the Boeing) and the ERcoupes have instruments in some cases older
> then I am.  But the ERcoupes are selling.
>
> Why?  They are what people can "buy into" the hobby for on the dollars
they
> are willing to spend.
>
> The question that I see in the amateur satellite community is do we want
> "wonderful modes" or do we prefer larger numbers.
>
> If they get the new modes on EAgle will it be with  hardware that is
easily
> buildable by the "average Ham"?  Does anyone here really see that like
AO-40
> where MDS converters could be pressed into service, all this stuff is goin
g
> to be "user friendly".
>
> The odd part is that the "tinkerers" in the community more or less rose to
> the challenge in terms of tinkering a setup for AO-40 S band.  yeah it
never
> worked with tiny dishes and the like.  But my guess is that this "easy
sat"
> approach is a goal that is a couple of bridges to far.  but put up a good
> sized dish and work on the installation to optimize it and the results
were
> pretty "impressive".
>
> Oh well I am not on the board and probably never will be and there are
smart
> people there.  They have made their decision.
>
> It will just be interesting to see if they can get the "money" support for
> their decisions.  Back home in Houston the folks who are selling the "new"
> LSA's have branched out into refurbishing LSA capable "classic"
> airplanes...that is what they are selling.
>
> I just wonder what would change if instead of a "wonder bird" every 15
> years...we had a steady supply of AO-10 vehicles.
>
> Robert Oler
>
> WB5MZO/portable  Life member AMSAT/ARRL
>
>
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