[amsat-bb] Re: where all the users

[John Price]

I have been very interested in the response to "were are the
operators". I guess everyone has there definition of fun. I guess my
thinking is "if you don't have a car ride the mule". I did not
operate AO-7 when it was the latest and greatest but I would think
there had to be many
who considered it wonderful. I suppose if bigger and better had not
come along it still would
be so. I too was spoiled by the HEO operations on AO-10,13,40. Fact is
they are gone. I guess
if the wait until position was applied there would be no one on HF
during the low sunspot
cycle either. Oh well, anyone interested in a short QSO to keep the
whiskers out of there
Sat rig meet me and Joe on AO-7.

73's << John

On Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 8:46 PM, Auke de Jong <sparkycivic at shaw.ca> wrote:
>
> I can only offer my own reason for being absent from VO-52 and AO-7:
> I find keeping-up with the doppler-tuning of these LEO-orbits to be
> frustrating.  It doesn't help that my rig is awkward in this mode, and my
> PC-control option has a problem I've yet to solve.  Add, to this, my manual
> rotator-controller, and it adds-up to several uncompleted contacts.  VO-52
> is, of course, harder than ao-7 because of it's height/speed.
>
> Considering just this reason by itself, HEO is much more inviting, because
> the doppler-effect is so greatly reduced.  I think this reason might be
> shared by several other HAM's on the BB,  even if they don't mention it.  I
> even feel a little embarassed to admit that I haven't been able to cope with
> the different rates of doppler-shift for uplink and downlink.
> I might have to put my old transciever (FT-726R) back on the air, just
> because it was a lot easier to control both VFO's mid-QSO to keep centered.
> I don't even think I've completed one, since I've gotten my relatively
> modern "satellite rig" FT-847, despite several attempts to do-so.
>
> I think that the FM birds are more populated due to their twofold
> advantage... very few tuning-steps to stay locked on RX and in some cases,
> no uplink tuning at all;  and FM gear is smaller and cheaper than anything
> available to work linear, especially portable/mobile.
>
> This would make an excellent poll, if we were on a messageboard-forum such
> as the one on www.narc.net, or maybe as a mail-back card sent to all
> members.
>
> I've been skipping/deleting all the other chatter regarding complaints for
> lack of a functioning HEO, etc etc.  I feel so much better for not having
> been infected by the negativity of others. I hope the storm dies-sown soon
> so that we can get back to what we do best... whatever it is!
> 73's
> Auke
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Price" <n4qwf1 at gmail.com>
> To: <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
> Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2008 2:16 PM
> Subject: [amsat-bb] where all the users
>
>
>>I have been reading about the need for HEO satellites and the reasons
>> we don't have them. I wonder why the folks that wont the
>> HEO's so bad never show up on AO-07 or VO-52. Most passes it is joe
>> K3SZH and maybe two others at most on AO-07 and
>> I hardly ever hear anyone on VO-52. The birds that have all the users
>> are the FM sats. I would love to see a HEO built but if we
>> are not going to use what we have what is the point.
>>
>> 73's << John
>>
>> --
>> N4QWF Amateur Radio Operator
>> AO-7,AO-27,SO-50,AO-51,VO-52,ISS
>> Internet N4QWF at AMSAT.ORG
>> Echolink nodes #110903 -L #388463
>> Formerly KC4AHW VK3FEZ
>> Amsat Member #27845
>> DXCC #33,478
>> VUCC SAT #135
>> WAS SAT #296
>> 51 on AO-51 #13
>> LON -79.256 LAT 37.459 Grid FM07il
>>>From the Foothills of the Blueridge
>>
>> *Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of
>> arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to
>> skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly
>> proclaiming - "WOW, What a ride!"
>> _______________________________________________
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>
>
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-- 
N4QWF Amateur Radio Operator
AO-7,AO-27,SO-50,AO-51,VO-52,ISS
Internet N4QWF at AMSAT.ORG
Echolink nodes #110903 -L #388463
Formerly KC4AHW VK3FEZ
Amsat Member #27845
DXCC #33,478
VUCC SAT #135
WAS SAT #296
51 on AO-51 #13
LON -79.256 LAT 37.459 Grid FM07il
>From the Foothills of the Blueridge

*Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of
arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to
skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly
proclaiming - "WOW, What a ride!"