[amsat-bb] GEO sats

[Joe Leikhim]

Michael;

I have no particular interest in EMCOMM, but is silly to think that LEO 
satellites have much value for that. A GEO would in fact be useful for 
EMCOMM.

I have built an earth station, worked all sorts of satellites AO-10, 
AO-13, etc. negotiating Doppler etc. In my station had no automatic 
positioning of the rotors. It was up to me to point to the correct AZ 
EL. I only more recently got controllers and really it was for the 
challenge of making them work. So I was pretty busy when there was a 
pass. But then, those satellites had an apogee where they appeared to 
stand still and the band would open up for a long time. It was bliss.

I never did get to work AO-40. I did have the pleasure of hearing its 
engineering beacon full quieting on a tiny Standard C508 inside my car 
on a road trip.

Lets be honest, none of that work putting an earth station together is 
as challenging as putting together AO-40 or any of the predecessor 
satellites.  But those days and those folks are gone. AMSAT in my 
opinion is in a rut of negative thinking. I have seen the same cycle of 
projects for years since AO-40. There are a ton of reasons why we cannot 
do something which is why I want that thread to be a positive one.

-- 
Joe Leikhim


Leikhim and Associates

Communications Consultants

Oviedo, Florida

JLeikhim at Leikhim.com

407-982-0446

WWW.LEIKHIM.COM