[amsat-bb] Re: Need East Coast

[Clayton Coleman W5PFG]

Since becoming active on satellites again in April 2011, I have
managed to work 48 states on the FM transponders with portable
equipment.  I did not set out to accomplish this minor feat on FM
alone because I do also operate VO-52, AO-7, and FO-29 /P.  Hawaii is
impossible for me unless AO-7 is used.  New Hampshire is the other
state I need but I've got several options to get it confirmed if I
would just sit down and schedule one with friends.  Maine is not
common but New Hampshire seems less common in my ~8 month window of
activity.  All good award confirmations come to those who wait, right?
 What fun is chasing an award if it's easy?

There are lots of active grids, states, and countries available for
paper chasers on the birds.  More importantly, there are many genuine
and experienced operators for which the satellite community can be
grateful.  Whether a casual operator, a paper chaser, or DX-hound, the
current operational birds have a lot to offer proportionate to what
you put into working them.

My suspicion is there is a group of "been there, done that"
experienced operators that don't get on and operate much any more.
Maybe this is because there's not a HEO satellite, maybe they have all
the wall paper they want, perhaps they get annoyed the LIDs on FM
transponders, or maybe they are just waiting on the "next great bird"
to get them active again.  In any case, I would invite those of you
who have not operated the current satellites in recent times to get on
the air so that some of us "newcomers" have a chance to be acquainted
with you.

Looking forward to contact with you in 2012.

73,
Clayton
W5PFG


On Mon, Jan 2, 2012 at 8:32 PM, k6yk <k6yk at juno.com> wrote:
> There were actually a lot of easterners on AO-27 this day on the
> first pass for me, about 3.5 degree elevation max.   I heard no
> Maine, though. But I have worked almost every grid in Maine and
> most of the counties.  Actually all the grids in W1, 2, 3, 4 lands except
> one in Maine,  but not lately!
> Keep trying!  It doesn't happen overnight. Took me several years
> of waiting for Vermont and Delaware to finish WAS.
>
> 73,
> John, K6YK