[amsat-bb] Re: AO-16 Insight ?

[w7lrd@comcast.net]

How do you spell high altitude mode "A", as in RS-15 (sobsob).  I could work Europe from Seattle with an old two meter all mode radio.  Simple, cheap gear hours and hours of enjoyment.
73 Bob W7LRD
Seattle

--
"if this were easy, everyone would be doing it"

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "John Henderson" <jah at ec.rr.com> 

> All, 
> 
> 
> 
> With the re-birth of A0-16, it is really wonderful to see the reaction of 
> all the folks who have worked the bird. Even with the odd configuration, 
> fading signals and tuning problems ,every message posted has reflected an 
> air of excitement and a sense of accomplishment. 
> 
> 
> 
> Maybe, there are some things AMSAT leadership and us members can garner from 
> this event. 
> 
> 
> 
> - LEOS aren't all bad 
> 
> - Simple frequency plans are good 
> 
> - No specialized amateur equipment is needed for a sat contact 
> 
> - Push/advertise the use of your existing gear to a prospective 
> member 
> 
> 
> 
> With all the talk and plans going on right now relative to new sats with 
> 1.2g/2.4g and sophisticated modes ( I understand the technical advantages 
> from the satellite point of view) that require expensive equipment and 
> antenna setups, maybe what we need to excite the membership ( and attract 
> new members) is to re-think where we should be heading. 
> 
> 
> 
> I am not suggesting HEO/GEO's are not needed because I want to work all 
> states myself and would love a larger footprint. 
> 
> 
> 
> The major issue at hand is attracting ,building and retaining a membership 
> base that will allow us to financially move forward with such products. We 
> can't do that by requiring high dollar outlays by prospective members for 
> new gear and antenna setups. That said, there is an argument for HEO/GEO's 
> on that ground in that you don't need a lot more gear, etc. but you do need 
> down converters and uplink transmitters for the higher freqs not normally 
> found in the 2/70 rigs the majority of hams have in the shacks. 
> 
> 
> 
> The need for increasing the membership base is critical, not only in AMSAT, 
> but in ham radio as a whole. We will not survive if ham radio in a broader 
> sense does not do well. We are but a small percentage of that decreasing 
> total. Ever wonder why Yaesu dropped the FT-847 and Icom hasn't built a 
> IC910H Pro version? 
> 
> 
> 
> Maybe our number one priority, instead of human space missions and building 
> facilities at a college, should be growing our membership base with a keep 
> it simple approach in the near future. 
> 
> 
> 
> Certainly, my view is limited as compared to AMSAT leadership. They have a 
> much broader and deeper view of the situation, but as an Area Coordinator 
> who goes to ham fests and schools in our area, what I always hear is " the 
> high cost of satellite setups". Once you get beyond the hand held they are 
> correct, particularly if we move away from technology present in most ham 
> shacks. 
> 
> 
> 
> I just re-read the Mission Statement on the AMSAT website and could not find 
> much about new members. I did find a lot about human space flight, 
> educational programs, HEO's and yes LEO's. 
> 
> 
> 
> If the stated objectives and mission statement reflects our members wants 
> and desires, I must assume I am not in tune with the average AMSAT member 
> when I read these statements and scratch my head and wonder if this reflects 
> the correct direction. It all sounds very good, technically intriguing, and 
> challenging but it also sounds expensive. 
> 
> 
> 
> Please understand this is not a condemnation of our officers and please do 
> not let this start a thread like we had a month a so ago, but if you chose 
> to reply be thoughtful and purposeful in your comments. I am willing to 
> stand corrected. 
> 
> 
> 
> With regards, 
> 
> 
> 
> John 
> 
> John Henderson N4NAB 
> 
> Area Coordinator- Eastern NC 
> 
> 212 Bayside Drive 
> 
> Cape Carteret, NC 28584 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________ 
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