[amsat-bb] Re: My First Satellite Contacts

[Bob- W7LRD]

I hear that comment about the linear satellites, "costing a lot".  For years I ran a couple of single band all mode transceivers.  Probably 20 years old and you have to adjust for doppler correction with that big knob.  However they work quite well and can be had for the cost of a "bell and whistle" hand held.  Hamfests, ebay they're all over the place. 

73 Bob W7LRD 

Seattle 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rick Tejera" <saguaroastro at cox.net> 
To: "Ben Napper" <ben.napper at gmail.com>, amsat-bb at amsat.org 
Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 9:19:09 PM 
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: My First Satellite Contacts 

Ben, 

  

Congratulations and welcome to the kool-aid. You never forget your first 
satellite contact, mine was W6AJP 21 July @ 0100UT on AO-51. 

  

Your comments are spot on. What's the saying? We have two ears so we should 
listen twice as much as we talk. 

  

Like you, I'd love to get on the linear birds, but it's just not financially 
feasible right now. Someday.... 

  

I use both HRD and N3FPJ's Contact log. I also keep a paper log as well and 
Just recently set up for LotW. HRD is free and N3FPJ does ask for a $19 
registration fee, But I tend to lean that way, $19 is not a big expense in 
my book and I like the way it work better. Hat being said I upload to LotW 
from HRD, because I've figured that part out first :). Try 'em both (N3FPJ 
has a 45 day free demo period) and go with what works best for you. 

  

  

Go here for information about LotW and Satellite logging: 

  

http://www.arrl.org/files/file/LoTW%2520Instructions/N5JB.pdf 

  

Again Welcome to the birds. Hope to work you soon. 

  

73 

Clear Skies 

  

Rick Tejera 

Saguaro Astronomy Club 

Phoenix, Arizona 

www.saguaroastro.org 

saguaroastro at cox.net 

K7TEJ, AMSAT 38452 

  

-----Original Message----- 
From: amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On 
Behalf Of Ben Napper 
Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 14:32 
To: amsat-bb at amsat.org 
Subject: [amsat-bb] My First Satellite Contacts 

  

Wow! 

  

I've been grinning ear-to-ear for a little while now that I have my first 

satellite contacts completed.  I find it astonishing that a hobby as mundane 

sounding as Amateur Radio can have any aspect of it that is 

as exhilarating as this experience has been.  From the day I got my Tech 

ticket, I've wanted to work the birds, but, being a younger ham, life takes 

its turns.  Thank you to my #1 - K8YSE, #2 - AC0RA, #3 - W7JPI, #4 - WA4NV, 

and #5 - K8TL. 

  

That said, I've learned a few things while lurking on here and the 

satellites. 

 - Be patient. There's a lot of hams and only a few FM birds. (I'd love to 

get into the linear birds too, but I'd need congressional approval from the 

wife for the budgetary consideration required to make that a reality.) 

 - Don't try to transmit on the bird's downlink frequency.  No matter how 

hard you try, you will be doing a lot of talking to yourself. 

 - Clean up the dog poo in the backyard. 

  

Now, some questions: I want to use Ham Radio Deluxe as my log (unless I hear 

of something that is much better) and I'm setup for LotW.  How often should 

I upload to LotW?  Are there any gotchas with logging satellite contacts? 

 Best practices? 

  

Also, I want to (eventually) do paper QSL cards.  If you do them, how do you 

usually handle them?  Who do you recommend to use to get them made? 

  

Thanks, 

  

Ben Napper - KC0PCQ 

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