[amsat-bb] Re: Public Relations Lacking

[Stefan Wagener]

This ARISS guide is very useful for schools and communities seeking a voice
contact with the ISS. It is a procedure "manual" for a very specific
purpose to guide applicants in the process for one specific goal, the
contact. While the guide clearly fulfills its purpose and is used widely in
preparation, it does not even mention AMSAT (however refers to the ARRL).
However, the format and purpose is NOT useful for engaging individuals
and/or groups involved in cubesats and amateur radio.



What is needed is a “101 on CubeSats and Amateur Radio” document/guide that
at certain levels of detail clearly outlines the benefits, pitfalls and
processes involved in using amateur radio within a planned cubesat project.
It should preferably be written by AMSAT (available in the store?) however
the amateur radio satellite community at large is a great resource. In
essence, we need to tell folks not how (necessarily) but why they should
include us and clearly outline the benefits (assuming we have a few).



All universities and even schools have in general a very effective
communication group/department and their ability to promote their projects
for fundraising purposes speaks volume. The lack of engagement by these
groups with our community is based on previous experience and/or ignorance.
Both of these are something we as a community have to take responsibility
for. Negative experience based on cubesat bashing has done a lot of damage
(based on very personal experience) and the lack of clearly outlining the
benefits, our expertise, specific services and other tangible factors is
also a factor.



If, and I say if, engaging the cubesat community is a priority of AMSAT
(NA), it will require time, resources and a full commitment by the board
and yes, most of all volunteers. What could help is for example having a
working group chaired by a VP for cubesats (small satellites) and having
the annual meeting in partnership with one of the annual cubesat symposiums
for a joint conference. However, the board will have to decide how
important that is in comparison to other priorities. In the meantime, it is
up to the individuals making an effort on the local level.


My 2 cents, and I am going back working on our local ARISS project.


Stefan


On Wed, Nov 20, 2013 at 11:56 AM, Clint Bradford
<clintbrad4d at earthlink.net>wrote:

> >Is the guide available ...
>
> This is not the exact one I used for our ARISS contact ... but it is close
> ...
>
> https://files.secureserver.net/0fgxMFjvG2DaFC
>
> I will upload the other one tonight - to the same folder.
>
> Clint
> 909-241-7666 - cell
>
> ----------------------------------
> Clint Bradford, K6LCS
> http://www.clintbradford.com
>