[amsat-bb] Re: The Eagle has died, my original point.

[John B. Stephensen]

There seems to be some misunderstanding of the purpose of Eagle as some 
people who responded are fixated on the digtal transponder and shortchange 
the analog transponder.

Eagle provides AO-10-like service, with analog (i.e SSB, CW, etc.) mode B 
(called UV in AO-40) available 100% of the time. Since 99% (if not more) of 
the satellite operators have this, it seems to me that satellite operators 
can use the satellite. The Eagle design also makes mode B available more of 
the year, unlike AO-10, AO-13, AO-40 and P3E where the transponder use must 
be limited and even eliminated entirely during certain seasons. The separate 
digital transponder would operate in parallel and not affect analog 
operation. Its purpose is to attact new users to help pay for these 
satellites.

The only issue that I can see is whether an AO-13-like S-band downlink is 
critical. Neither P3E or Eagle can do what AO-40 did on S-band as the 
membership asked for smaller, AO-10/AO-13 size, satellites. I was able to 
use AO-13 mode-S for U.S. contacts on AO-13 but all my DX contacts were in 
mode B. I was talking to stations in Australia on mode B during the last 
orbit as atmospheric friction caused the transponder to fail.

The idea of putting Eagle in an equatorial orbit should also be of 
particular interest to VK users as it makes the satellite equally available 
to those in the southern and northern hemispheres.

73,

John
KD6OZH

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Keith Bainbridge" <vk6xh at arach.net.au>
To: <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 23:51 UTC
Subject: [amsat-bb] The Eagle has died, my original point.


> As I started this thread perhaps I should finish it.
> My original point was the ratio of Satellite operators to experimenters
> must be about 50:1, so it makes far more sense to put up a bird that
> people will and more importantly  " can " use than continually
> developing more and more sophisticated modes etc.
> The biggest thrill I've had in 25 years as a Ham is to work 67 countries
> and all continents in the 18 months or so that I discovered AO-40. I'd
> played with AO 7  etc back in 80-81 but  this was " FUN " and thats the
> point I tried to make with my earlier post.
> I will donate to P3E as it will give me many options to use the gear I
> already have. There are no other options for me, living in Western
> Australia, Leo's are a complete waste of time and money, I can talk to
> myself on every pass on any satellite going over, no one else will be
> there to reply !! Well maybe the same 2 or 3 people.
> If Amsat NA must persue the Eagle option then please be prepared to
> revert back to AO-13 / AO-40 type birds when it fails.
> Can we finish this hread of mine now please?
> 73
> Keith
>
> -- 
> Keith Bainbridge
> VK6XH & VK6DXR
>
> Vice-President    Northern Corridor Radio Group    (  VK6ANC )
> Amsat NA 35338
> TenTec Omni VI, FlexRadio SDR 1000 , 5 Band Spiderbeam.
> Wireless Institute of Australia
> Previous calls include VK6DXC, VK6BRK,G6HHV, G0HEI & G1GHZ
>
> You're just jealous 'cos the voices only speak to me.........
>
> http:/www.qrz.com/vk6xh
>
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