[amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 pass at 22:06 UTC 2011-10-01

[Clayton Coleman W5PFG]

Since I am relatively “green” myself to FM satellite rover operation,
I will share an observation from a recent grid expedition in West
Texas.  I’ve observed a behavior that I refer to as “Armageddon grid.”
 This means the rover operator is activating a grid for the last time
before the world meets a fiery demise and doesn't know it until he
gives his call and grid square.

This is an overview of an Armageddon grid activation:

1.	Rover station calls one of his friends or scheduled contact.

2.	Up to five stations immediately call the rover station in rapid
procession, not allowing a millisecond between calls for anyone to
answer.  Never mind the opportunity of the rover’s original station
called establishing contact.

3.	At this point, the rover station tries to complete his original
call (if/when the dust settles.)

4.	Typically what occurs is step 2-3 wind up in a loop for a period of
2-3 minutes thus effectively reducing the usable time for other
stations to make contact on the pass by one-third or more.

If operators would not treat working a rare grid as if the world is
coming to an end immediately after the pass, I believe rover stations
would have a much more pleasant time handing out new grids.

If you miss that desired grid today, doesn’t that leave opportunity
for you to work it on another day?

73
Clayton
W5PFG


On Sat, Oct 1, 2011 at 5:25 PM, Omar Alvarez <xe1aom at yahoo.com> wrote:
> What a shame this pass, just a few QSOs can be finished because all calling others without give a chance the complete the current QSO.
> What we need to fix that?....
>
>
> I will wait for a better pass.
>
> Have a nice weekend.
>
> Omar
> XE1AO
> DK89df
>
>
> ********************************
> M.C. Omar Alvarez Cárdenas
> Facultad de Telematica, U de C
> 316 1075
> xe1aom at ucol.mx
> omar_ac at hotmail.com
> ********************************
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