[amsat-bb] AMSAT-NA solution: DX (HEO) to attract more interest and revenue

[Daniel Schultz]

Jean Marc,

Yes, it is wonderful that hams in your hemisphere were offered this amazing
opportunity from Qatar. However, the economics of middle eastern royalty
differ somewhat from economics in our hemisphere, where corporate stockholder
value is the primary if not the only business consideration. We have had some
potential GEO opportunities with Intelsat and the US Air Force, but business
considerations eventually won out and the projects died. We will keep trying
to find one of these opportunities, but we must have a plan of action to
proceed on our own if a rich benefactor does not come forward. 

One of the factors that I did not mention in my previous missive is that we
are now in the era of "full cost accounting" in which it is much harder for a
project manager to bury the integration cost of an amateur satellite into his
general budget. 

73, Dan Schultz N8FGV

------ Original Message ------
Received: Mon, 29 Jul 2019 11:15:04 AM EDT
From: Jean Marc Momple <jean.marc.momple at gmail.com>
To: Daniel Schultz <n8fgv at usa.net>Cc: amsat-bb at amsat.org
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT-NA solution: DX (HEO) to attract more interest
and revenue

> Daniel,
> 
> One way around all the issues you mentioned is may be to "copy with pride"
the QO-100 GEO which has changed Radio Amateur satellites operations this part
of the world.
> 
> To explain;  we are now we are back to experimentation building PA’s,
feeds etc… also enabling new modes which where not possible before (ATV in
my case). For 3B8 this is fantastic as in spite active on LEO's since 1978,
not much to do as we are in the middle of the ocean, only a few guys reachable
on LEO good passes. Now we can QSO with half of the world on a bird, loud and
clear 24/7 e.g. 
> 
> What I mean is that trying to partner with some commercial operators to have
a HAM transponder on board of their satellite may be a solution, some may even
sponsor if we are convincing enough. More it would be fantastic to have
worldwide coverage with say 3 GEO’s, just a vision.
> 
> Some food for thought.
> 
> 73
> 
> 
> Jean Marc (3B8DU)