[amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT Board of Directors Candidates

[Michael Tondee]

I can't for the life of me understand the point in people using terms 
that tend  to divide AMSAT into different groups or warring factions. 
The last thing in the world this organization needs right now is to be 
divided about anything.
  I don't think the people you derisively refer to as " FM'ers" would be 
at all upset if some type of linear transponder flew on any new bird. I 
think when you get right down to it, everybody wants the same thing 
which is a variety of sats with different mode capabilities that will 
interest and accommodate all sat operators. I think all of us want an 
HEO if at all possible. The thing is though some of us seem to be more 
in tune with the realities of the modern world and realize that the 
launches are not financially feasible. We don't live in some type of 
fantasy land where we think  launch opportunities grow on trees. We make 
due with what we have and try to enjoy ourselves instead of pining away 
for the "good old days". We try to support the BOD in whatever endeavor 
or direction that they feel is best for the organization right now. Do 
you honestly think they are lying to you when they tell you that 
financially feasible HEO launches are not available at present? Or that 
it's not possible to include a linear transponder in a cubesat which 
appears to be the only viable option we have for launches right now? 
That must be it! It must be some kind of conspiracy that has been 
hatched  by those dastardly scourge of the earth "FM'ers". :-)
  Right now I'm an "FMer" because that's all the capability I have right 
at present. I could have bought another TS-2000X like I used to have and 
be on the existing linear birds but I blew my wad on a Flex 5000 because 
frankly, I feel it is a far superior radio to anything else on the 
market. It will take me quite sometime to save the money for the 
upcoming V/U module that will give me linear transponder access again, 
maybe even a couple of years, but for now I'm  I  try to be happy with 
the capability I do have which is a portable FM sat setup.
  I don't think that myself or anyone else should be labeled and looked 
down upon for simply trying to enjoy ourselves on the birds in the best 
way we can.
73,
Michael, W4HIJ


On 6/17/2010 3:06 PM, Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL wrote:
> At 05:11 PM 6/16/2010 -0400, G0MRF at aol.com wrote:
>    
>> In a message dated 16/06/2010 22:09:24 GMT Daylight Time, vlfiscus at mcn.net
>> writes:
>> Why does everything always have to be FM all the time.
>> KB7ADL
>>
>>
>> But doesn't Arissat-1 include a linear transponder ??
>>
>> David
>>      
>
>
> Arissat will be fun, but objects launched from the ISS don't stay in orbit
> all that long. The linear transponder is going to have to compete for time
> with all the other downlink  modes&  experiments the bird can do.  I'm
> thinking the linear transponder probably won't be turned on much, because
> it might upset the FM'ers.
>
> KB7ADL
>
>
>
>
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