[amsat-bb] FM Satellites: Good Operating Practices for Beginning and Experienced Operators

Tue Dec 12 14:36:36 UTC 2017

Thanks Sean for doing the document!

73s
Bob
N4HY

On Mon, Dec 11, 2017 at 5:25 PM, Sean K. via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
wrote:

> Hi Zach-
> The entire point reads:
>
> "It is common for satellite operators to take their equipment with them to
> portable locations, to transmit from rare grid squares or other DX
> countries. Courtesy should be extended to these stations; they are
> providing a rare location to all satellite operators and will be at that
> location for a limited time. If you hear a station on from a rare grid or
> DXCC entity, use good judgement before calling stations in more common
> grids. If the rarer station is working a lot of people on a pass, it may be
> best to let that station work as many people as possible. There will always
> be another pass to work more common stations. Info on how to know when rare
> stations will be on is at the bottom of this list."
>
> I understand your statement that the FM satellites should be reserved for
> newcomers. Newcomers come in many different countries and locales, and some
> of those newcomers like to go on vacations or business trips that happen to
> be in a rare grid.
> Grid chasing is one of the primary forms of recreation on the satellites;
> indeed, the grid square is the default exchange for all satellite QSOs. My
> point said that operators should "use good judgement" when you're on a pass
> that will feature a station in a rare location.
>
> Veteran satellite operator John, K8YSE, wrote about the same thing several
> years ago on his web site:
>
> "
>
> A Word about signing "PORTABLE"
>
>
>
> You can say and do whatever you want regarding operating "portable" or
> "handheld" or "on the Arrow" etc., but it doesn't provide much useful
> information with one exception: When you stated you were operating
> "portable" under the FCC rules in the 1960's, it meant you were not at your
> home station location. It had nothing to do with operating with an HT or on
> emergency battery power. This was an FCC requirement back then but now it
> is not. When operating today, be sure to say you are /portable when you are
> not at home and especially when you are operating in a grid different from
> your home grid. Hearing someone signing "portable" should set off alarm
> bells that you might want to work this station and may want to give them
> airtime to work as many stations as they can. After all, they have gone to
> the trouble to operate away from their "home comfort zone" to possibly give
> someone a new grid. But if others sign "portable" when they are in their
> backyard on an HT, this indicator won't mean much. Consider using
> "portable" only when you are away from home. If the pass is not crowded,
> have at it. But if it is, you'll have the opportunity to work everyone
> again later, whereas the "portable" station may only be there for that
> pass. Give the portable station as much airtime as possible so that
> everyone can make a contact, possibly for a new grid. Common sense should
> prevail. Listen, figure out what is going on, and then operate
> appropriately. But above all, be courteous."
>
> http://www.papays.com/sat/general.html
>
> As I emphasized throughout my Best Practices document, we all have to try
> and work together to find a bit of order during FM passes. If an op is
> going to be in a high-demand grid square or DXCC entity, I'm personally
> going to choose to try and work only that station (if I need the unit) or
> lay back entirely and let the rarer station work the pass; there's another
> pass or another satellite coming by soon that I can work for recreation.
> This courtesy has been extended to me several times when I've activated
> rare grids, and I want to make sure I extend that courtesy to others.
>
> Some people don't care about grid chasing, and that's fine. But some do.
> And rare stations aren't on every pass. Being flexible and approaching from
> a spirit of shared use benefits all in the long run, and makes it more
> inviting for people to take gear to rarer locales. It's an easy way for ops
> to get a taste of being on the other side of a pileup, if they wish.
>
> Hope to work you soon.
> Sean Kutzko Amateur Radio KX9X
>
>     On Monday, December 11, 2017, 4:48:46 PM EST, Zach Metzinger <
> zmetzing at pobox.com> wrote:
>
>  On 12/11/17 14:55, Paul Stoetzer wrote:
> > Sean Kutzko, KX9X, has written a helpful document explaining good
> > operating practices for working FM satellites. It's been posted to the
> > AMSAT website at
> > https://www.amsat.org/fm-satellites-good-operating-
> practices-for-beginning-and-experienced-operators/
>
> While I think that _most_ of these guidelines are good, I disagree with #6.
>
> 6. Rare/Portable Stations Take Priority
>
> This prioritizes the chase-a-grid-square game players, which not
> everyone cares about.
>
> If you want to play that game, go use a linear bird with more available
> bandwidth. The easy sats should be reserved for new satellite operators,
> which, buy definition, will be less experienced and not care much about
> your fancy grid squares.
>
> 73,
>
> --- Zach
> N0ZGO
>
>
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> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
> expressed
> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
> AMSAT-NA.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
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-- 
Bob McGwier
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