[amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT Operating Areas (OA's)

[Edward Cole]

Tony,

What you describe is what we see in Alaska for 70-90% of a Leo 
pass.  Often I have had 15-min. exclusive use of a Leo as it comes 
over the N. Pole and descends over Alaska.  The end of this the 
footprint overlaps the Pacific NW and qualifies as OA/B.

I am not active on Leo for some time.  My antennas are down awaiting 
installation on a new short tower.  Winter has precluded getting much 
outside work done.  Short daylight hours also interfere.

Ed - KL7UW


At 11:28 AM 1/29/2008, Tony Langdon wrote:
>At 06:18 AM 1/30/2008, Robert Bruninga wrote:
>
> >The GLOBAL map of HAM radio activity is extremely diverse, with
> >probably 95% of the HAM Radio population all sharing only 5% of
> >the footprints of our satelites.  Trying to make "rules" without
> >accounting for this 400-to-1 diversity severly limits the
> >utility of our satellites.
>
>This is certainly a good point.  I'm sure few, if any in the US or
>Europe have experienced what I have on many occasions - an FM bird to
>themselves, and I'm also sure they've never had a ragchew on such a
>satellite.  Again, something you can do here, provided overs are kept
>short (30 sec or less), and decent breaks are left between them for
>others to break in and use the bird.  When I was active, it was an
>unspoken rule that breaking stations had priority, and any ragchew in
>progress would stop, until either the breaking station joined the
>ragchew, or all other activity on the bird had ceased.  I certainly
>don't recall issues with anyone hogging the satellites.
>
>This sort of operation might sound strange to the more congested
>areas, but it did help newcomers, who hadn't trained themselves to
>recognise the subtle change in the background noise, to find the
>downlink - hearing voices is a dead giveaway! :D  And of course,
>frequent invitations for stations to break in were given on air.
>
>
> >I propose that AMSAT endorse a global AMSAT map of "Operational
> >Areas".  There are 4 categories:
>
>Good idea.
>
>
> >OA/0 - Isolated.  Hawaii, Arctic, Antarctic, South Africa etc
>
>Yep, anything east of New Zealand would certainly qualify here too.
>
> >OA/A - Area, Regional. (Australia, NZ, Japan? Etc)
> >OA/B - Border (10% footprint overlap into OA/C areas
> >OA/C - Congested. USA, Europe
>
>Good idea.
>
>
> >Then if we ever need to make any flat statements about
> >operations, then it can very clearly be designated as to what
> >operating recommendations apply where.
>
>Agree here.
>
> >Anyone want to take a crack at drawing the map?
>
>I think this should be done as a collaborative project, since each of
>us has some idea of local satellite activity.  I can certainly
>forward yor idea to the active local operators down here for comment,
>if yo like.
>
>
> >This same map can also overlay the "INTERFERENCE" areas which
> >shows the footprint areas of HIGH QRM from pirates.  These
> >shaded areas would also help educate not only our users, but our
> >regulatory bodies as well.
>
>Again, agreed. :)  Also the satellite designers, if the band 
>affected is shown.
>
>73 de VK3JED
>http://vkradio.com
>
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73,
Ed - KL7UW
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