[amsat-bb] Re: My $0.02 worth

[Bob- W7LRD]

Ditto Larry- I believe we should use what we have till we wear them out! 

73 Bob W7LRD 

AO-7 fan 






----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Larry Gerhardstein" <W7IN at montana.com> 
To: amsat-bb at amsat.org 
Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2010 6:58:04 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific 
Subject: [amsat-bb]  My $0.02 worth 

I don't feel a bit sorry for those who gripe on this BB about there not being enough HEO birds, too many FM birds (operators), not enough linear transponders, or the like. Yesterday, I encountered a nice FO-29 pass with maxEL about 60 degrees here at my QTH. I heard no one, yet I could hear my CW/SSB downlink signal from the bird loud and clear. For awhile the footprint covered the entire 48 state region. I thus called CQ for nearly 15 minutes, but no one (that's zero, na-da) came back to my calls. Then later there was a good VO-52 pass and I did manage to work N6PAA, very good clear SSB signals both ways. But during the 10-15 minutes of that pass, I heard no one else in a QSO or calling CQ etc. I think before we start making complaints about the current state of affairs, we seriously consider making use of those resources we do have at present. And then make a financial donation to the various AMSAT's and teams working to make future birds possible. We all want another HEO with lots of modes/bands, but complaining will not make one magically appear. 73, Larry W7IN, DN27, Plains Montana. 
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