[amsat-bb] [VHFcontesting] [VHF] 5 Band VUCC Award

Mon Apr 22 20:46:34 UTC 2019

I don’t like the idea of them being in the same award, I don’t see why they
couldn’t be considered another band. I see satellites as different but
equal. I’ve done a bit of 2m/70cm roving during contests, but I definitely
wouldn’t consider myself qualified to talk about the intricacies of it.
Same with working AO-10/13 decades ago. Not all satellite QSOs are
comparable to throwing an antenna on a tripod and parking it there for
hours and working the world on a HEO sat. While it’s incredibly easy to
work an FM sat overhead, a monkey could do it on a baofeng blindfolded,
it’s equally easy to work a simplex QSO over a few miles. All domains have
their areas of difficulty, and what I personally enjoy in satellites is the
short windows at or below the horizon, where a theoretical window may not
even exist or where it’s there for a matter of seconds. Over the three
years I’ve been licensed, I’ve activated 417 grids and 28 DXCCs on
satellites, flying my little plane around Alaska and driving over 80,000
miles for it, so don’t underestimate the efforts and the costs rovers go
through to put grids on the air on satellites. And we don’t even have
contests. Making contacts beyond the maximum theoretical range of a
satellite is no easy feat. So go ahead and say we’re different, we sure
are, but don’t say we aren’t worthy.

73,
Gabe
AL6D/VE6NJH

On Mon, Apr 22, 2019 at 12:28 PM K7XC Tim Marek <k7xcnv1 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Gabe,
>
> Please don't think I am am anti satellite,
>
> I was active for years on AO-10 and AO-13 and the Russian LEO birds of 2up
> and 10 down, etc.
>
> What I am Against is an Award that allows credits from both in the same
> award...
>
> ASSISTED QSOs IE: Satellites, Repeaters, Etc
>                           and
> UNASSISTED QSOs IE: Tropo, Es, MS, EME, etc
>
> Within the SAME AWARD!
>
> It makes no sense to mix the two in one award as they are Apple and
> Oranges IE: Not the same animal.
>
> Weather I have made any recent Satellite contacts or not has no bearing on
> my point!
>
>
> 73s de Tim - K7XC - DM09jh.. sk
>
> Adapt, Overcome, Succeed!
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Apr 22, 2019 at 8:08 PM Gabriel Zeifman <gabrielzeifman at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> This is an intriguing observation, considering satellite VUCC has been
>> around for years. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you on one of our “repeater
>> like” satellites?
>>
>> 73,
>> Gabe
>> AL6D/VE6NJH
>>
>> On Mon, Apr 22, 2019 at 11:55 AM K7XC Tim Marek via AMSAT-BB <
>> amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
>>
>>> A 5 Band VUCC award sound interesting. Would it allow existing VUCC
>>> contacts already in LOTW
>>> to be used for credit or require all New & Separate ones?
>>>
>>> Currently the existing VUCC rules however state that Repeater Like QSOs
>>> are
>>> NOT allowed,
>>> and that means NO Satellites!
>>>
>>> I agree with the rules as written and cant support adding Non Terrestrial
>>> contacts to a Terrestrial award!
>>>
>>> If we allow this to happen it muddies the waters from that point on,
>>> disrespecting everyone who in the
>>> past worked their butts off to accomplish something not easy to do. The
>>> fact it was hard made the goal
>>> worth chasing. The argument its too hard and discourages others Holds No
>>> Water. If you want something
>>> bad enough you will do whats needed to get it.
>>>
>>> I reject your proposal to include Satellite QSOs with Terrestrial QSOs
>>> and
>>> encourage others to do as well.
>>>
>>> 73s de Tim - K7XC - DM09jh... sk
>>>
>>> Adapt, Overcome, Succeed!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Apr 22, 2019 at 3:32 PM Les Rayburn <les at highnoonfilm.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> > John,
>>> >
>>> > My proposal would allow “Satellite VUCC” to count towards 5BVUCC. The
>>> idea
>>> > is to allow the ARRL to create the new award with minimal programming
>>> > changes needed to LoTW and minimal cost to implement.
>>> >
>>> > So far, this suggestion has netted over 40 replies to me in less than
>>> 12
>>> > hours. Response has been very positive. I would urge anyone who
>>> supports
>>> > this effort to contact their ARRL Section Managers and let them know
>>> about
>>> > the idea—and that you’d like to see it implemented.
>>> >
>>> > In the Southeast Section, we’re lucky to have Greg Sarratt, W4OZK as
>>> our
>>> > representative. Greg is active on VHF/UHF weak signal already. Need to
>>> get
>>> > him on the satellites more though!
>>> >
>>> > :-)
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > 73,
>>> >
>>> > Les Rayburn, N1LF
>>> > Maylene, AL
>>> > EM63nf
>>> > AMSAT #38965, ARRL Life Member, CVHS Life Member, SVHF Member
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > > On Apr 22, 2019, at 8:11 AM, John Brier <johnbrier at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> > >
>>> > > Would this proposed 5 band VUCC allow satellite and direct contacts?
>>> > >
>>> > > On Mon, Apr 22, 2019 at 9:01 AM David Kerl via AMSAT-BB
>>> > > <amsat-bb at amsat.org <mailto:amsat-bb at amsat.org>> wrote:
>>> > >>
>>> > >> Hello Les,
>>> > >> That should generate some incentive for more V/U/uwave activity. I
>>> would
>>> > >> certainly work towards that end.
>>> > >> Dave
>>> > >> N9HF
>>> > >> el99
>>> > >>
>>> > >> "Back in my day" doesn't have a place in ham radio any more.
>>> > >>
>>> > >>
>>> > >> On Sun, Apr 21, 2019 at 10:50 PM Les Rayburn via VHF <
>>> > vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu <mailto:vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu>>
>>> > >> wrote:
>>> > >>
>>> > >>> Lady & Gentlemen,
>>> > >>>
>>> > >>> Not certain if my earlier message was received. No reply from
>>> anyone on
>>> > >>> the distribution list. Here it is again, in case the first one was
>>> > lost in
>>> > >>> cyberspace.
>>> > >>>
>>> > >>> In an effort to stimulate activity on VHF/UHF bands beyond 70 CM,
>>> I’d
>>> > like
>>> > >>> to suggest the creation of a Five Band VUCC (5B VUCC) award that
>>> would
>>> > >>> closely mirror the 5 Band DXCC Award.
>>> > >>>
>>> > >>> Successful applicants would need to achieve VUCC status on five or
>>> > more of
>>> > >>> the VHF/UHF bands to be eligible for the larger award. A special
>>> > >>> certificate and pin could be created to honor recipients.
>>> > >>>
>>> > >>> My feeling is that this award would encourage greater activity on
>>> the
>>> > >>> VHF/UHF bands, especially on bands that have less use like 222,
>>> 1296,
>>> > and
>>> > >>> higher microwave bands. This increased activity encourages the
>>> sale of
>>> > more
>>> > >>> gear, helps protect our spectrum from commercial interests, and
>>> > advances
>>> > >>> the state of the radio art.
>>> > >>>
>>> > >>> Please let me know if you think this idea has any merit, or what I
>>> > could
>>> > >>> do to help support the creation of the new award. As always,
>>> grateful
>>> > for
>>> > >>> your service to the hobby.
>>> > >>>
>>> > >>>
>>> > >>>
>>> > >>> 73,
>>> > >>>
>>> > >>> Les Rayburn, N1LF
>>> > >>> 121 Mayfair Park
>>> <https://maps.google.com/?q=121+Mayfair+Park+%0D%0A+Maylene,+AL+35114&entry=gmail&source=g>
>>>
>>> <https://maps.google.com/?q=121+Mayfair+Park+%0D%0A+Maylene,+AL+35114&entry=gmail&source=g>>
>>> >>> Maylene, AL 35114
>>> <https://maps.google.com/?q=121+Mayfair+Park+%0D%0A+Maylene,+AL+35114&entry=gmail&source=g>
>>> > >>> EM63nf
>>> > >>> AMSAT #38965, ARRL Life Member, CVHS Life Member, SVHF Member
>>> > >>>
>>> > >>>
>>> > >>>
>>> > >>>
>>> > >>> _______________________________________________
>>> > >>> VHF mailing list
>>> > >>> VHF at w6yx.stanford.edu <mailto:VHF at w6yx.stanford.edu>
>>> > >>> https://w6yx.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/vhf <
>>> > https://w6yx.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/vhf>
>>> > >>>
>>> > >> _______________________________________________
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>>