[amsat-bb] Simple logic - STOP CALLING!

[J. Boyd (JR2TTS)]

On Tue, 23 Feb 2016 12:17:41 -0800, Bryan KL7CN <bryan at kl7cn.net> wrote:

> Agree, Clayton.
> 
> To me, the best approach is to be a good example when live on the satellites.
> 
> There have been times when I have sent a note to an obviously new
> operator after a pass. The tone of the note is encouragement, with some
> examples of how things are done most efficiently (no CQ, no signal
> report, listening for a second or two after talking). That kind of
> written admonition seems to work best.

If I may add my own still-meager experiences, because they have been
significantly different from the prevailing "culture" of satellite
operation in the United States.

I operate in Japan (PM85jl) and have worked SO-50, AO-85, and FO-29 so
far. FO-29 is rather straightforward, being a SSB bird and as such is
approached in the same fashion as 2m SSB phone on the ground (find a
clear frequency, call/send CQ, exchange RS(T) and QTH). But while I have
not yet worked any FM satellite from the US side, operating practices
are apparently different from those I have observed over here -- in
Japan, China, Korea, and Russia, you will often hear CQs and signal
report exchanges (always 59, of course), and nobody gives grid locators.
JA domestic contacts will exchange JCC numbers, but I have never
obtained a grid locator from anyone, so eventually I stopped giving mine.

I also notice that FM sat passes, even SO-50 on a sunny Saturday
afternoon, are less hectic than what everybody describes the US
experience to be. I end up working the same people over and over, so
exchanges turn out to be more of the "oh hi Bob, nice hearing you again"
variety. I hope I can shake that mentality the next time I go to the US
and take a stab at working SO-50 from there, because it seems an
entirely different way of operating.

Regardless of which country I'm in, I still can't seem to wrap my head
around the concept of right-of-way on an FM bird. I want lots of
contacts, but I also don't want to hog the repeater. I throw my callsign
out when I can, but if there are a lot of callers I usually shut up to
avoid stepping on anyone, and end up with two or three contacts in 12
minutes. It's like walking through a room full of cats -- I'm so
concentrated on not stepping on any tails that I get nothing else done.


-- 
J. Boyd, JR2TTS/NI3B
the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp
http://www.flickr.com/photos/the2belo/
http://www.qrz.com/db/JR2TTS
Twitter: @Minus2_C