[amsat-bb] Re: What frequency do I use?

[Tim Goodrich]

I concur with the idea of having AO-51 configurations remain in effect for a
longer time period.

Tim
KC2DDS/AG

-----Original Message-----
From: WB2LLP [mailto:wb2llp at optonline.net] 
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 6:16 PM
To: AMSAT -BB
Subject: [amsat-bb] What frequency do I use?

As of late Thursday  afternoon the ARISS site was showing  the 145.99/437.80
pair in two locations.  Unfortunately  one location was the inverse of the
other.  Which was correct?   If I had packed up my equipment and gone out to
work the ISS repeater, and heard nothing because I picked the wrong
frequency pair I would come home rather frustrated/irritated.   

AO-51 is a wonderfully capable machine and the controllers are doing a
wonderful job of  changing the satellite capabilities which encourages the
newcomer to improve his station  and the old timer to dust off his AO-40
hardware.  Unfortunately, for any number of reasons, the satellite
capabilities and frequencies have been changing rather quickly. If a user
does not check  the AMSAT website, and the AMSAT BBS before trying to hear
the satellite he risks hearing nothing and getting frustrated thinking that
there is something wrong with his equipment or his understanding of  the
process.

I would like to suggest that the  controllers give some serious thought to
more stability in the AO-51 configuration.  Maybe the configuration periods
should  be at least 2 weeks so that people have a better chance of knowing
the hardware and frequencies of the satellite. Also, the person trying a new
configuration has a few consecutive days to get the bugs out of his
station.  Additionally, make sure the information presented on the AMSAT and
ARISS sites is correct. 

73 de WB2LLP   Gene