[amsat-bb] Re: ""you may as well use Skype..."

[Tony Langdon]

At 02:18 AM 2/5/2011, Diane Bruce wrote:
>On Fri, Feb 04, 2011 at 08:03:59AM +0000, Gordon JC Pearce wrote:
> > On Thu, 2011-02-03 at 13:49 -0500, Diane Bruce wrote:
> >
> > > >
>...
> > It doesn't in my case.  I have *no interest at all* in operating
> > satellites that require a complex fixed station with computer tracking
> > and tuning.  None.  Doesn't interest me one bit.
>
>Which is why I was interested in AO-40, for all the same reasons.
>However, since I had already invested in setting up an AO-40 station,
>I might as well use it.

I'm certainly not interested in automated tracking, due to the cost 
and mechanical complexity.  I'm not good with anything mechanically 
complex.  AO-40 offered simple antenna pointing, which was one of its 
attractions.  Computer controlled tuning, I can manage that.


> > The fun part is communicating via simple inexpensive satellites, with
> > simple inexpensive hardware that you can make at home.  Really, you
>
>Well, sure no disagreement from me on that. But I would suggest a one
>design fits all idea. Make a simple simple satellite design that
>could be assembled in near mass production quantities, get them into
>orbit whenver opportunities prsent themselves.

This was suggested some time back for linear transponders, to make 
them available to the university groups building small satellites, so 
more linear birds would make it to LEO.

>Well, instead of thinking HEO for the time being, one simple design
>tossed up multiple times, on the same frequency pairs, to minimise
>tracking efforts is the way to go.

Worth a thought.  a constellation of LEOs could be quite 
useful.  There might be some interference issues to consider, though 
in some circumstances, Doppler can mitigate some of these 
issues.  SSB also has advantages here too, no capture effect.

73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL
http://vkradio.com