[amsat-bb] GeoSat OSCAR-2024 Positive comments, no, whining....(Was need HEO..please..)

[Jean Marc Momple]

Mattias,

Thanks for having corrected the matter which may have created wrong perceptions.

Thanks to AMSAT DL, QARS and the sponsors who made such a great Radio Amateur bird possible, again congratulations for that.

That said I wish to confirm/comment your last paragraph, as follows:

In the Indian Ocean FR (mainly Reunion Island and 3B* Mauritius) we are only a few Hams. With HF not going through these days the hobby was somehow left on the side by some and QO-100 has really revived the activities.

To share my personal case I was able to experiment microwave (2.4/10GHz) and modes such as ATV for the first time in my Ham life (licensed since 1977) as there was no-one around to be able to contact on these bands and modes. Now building a 3m dish experiment different types of feeds etc.. (some other local guys also and even students).

In a nutshell a new world (or at least a half one) made available to us, many experimentations and learnings. I feel like again being 16 (age when I got my licence) as building antennas again, feeds, assembly of various components to build the QO-100 station.

I just hope the ones not in coverage presently will get a in a Ham GEO coverage soon and hopefully will fully understand what it means really.

73



Jean Marc (3B8DU)



> On Jun 20, 2020, at 12:29 PM, Matthias Bopp via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
> 
> Paul,
> 
> With all due respect. I already tried to explain to you less than 48 hours ago: this is not just a simple retuned hardware on QO-100
> 
> You stated "It’s important to note that QO-100 is not an amateur payload at all."
> 	The payload was specified by AMSAT and during the design AMSAT did participate in all critical design reviews. AMSAT indeed first intended to build the transponders themselves.
> 	The owner of the satellite did trust the technical knowhow of AMSAT but for safety and insurance reasons the hardware was built by a professional company.
> 	Of course, QO-100 was coordinated via IARU and fully qualifies as an amateur satellite (payload). Therefore, it got the number 100 (from AMSAT-NA).
> 
> You stated "The two transponders in amateur use are on-orbit commercial spares modified to tune to amateur frequencies."
> 	Let me explain it in simple words so you understand: you cannot simply retune a WCDMA cellphone and use it as a 2m FM handheld transceiver
> 	The hardware in commercial satellite transponders is not meant to be a linear transponder with an AGC etc. 
> 	In addition, there are no 2.4GHz/10GHz transponders on commercial satellites.
> 	Thus, the hardware had to be custom built for QO-100. The same is true for the uplink and downlink antennas. The only parts which are reused are the TWT PAs. 
> 
> So please, if you need help to understand the architecture or the published block diagram of the amateur payload please contact the responsible people of AMSAT-DL and they will be happy to help you.
> But please stop commenting about a satellite you have apparently no clue about or you do not understand the underlying technology.
> 
> In any case, meanwhile there more than 1000 happy users in more than 100 countries who are enjoying QO-100 using many different operating modes. 
> QO-100 has stimulated a lot of technical activities in the microwave bands and a lot of radio amateurs, who never used the microwave bands, learned how to build and operate a station with 13cm uplink and 10 GHz downlink.
> 
> Kind regards
> 
> Matthias
> 
> www.dd1us.de
> 
> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org> Im Auftrag von Paul Stoetzer via AMSAT-BB
> Gesendet: Samstag, 20. Juni 2020 06:21
> An: Joe Leikhim <rhyolite at leikhim.com>
> Cc: amsat-bb at amsat.org
> Betreff: Re: [amsat-bb] GeoSat OSCAR-2024 Positive comments, no, whining....(Was need HEO..please..)
> 
> Joe,
> 
> It’s important to note that QO-100 is not an amateur payload at all. The two transponders in amateur use are on-orbit commercial spares modified to tune to amateur frequencies. And, of course, there’s the risk that the spares may be needed for commercial service some day.
> 
> The issue is that to get an American company to do this, you need millions of dollars up front and then probably millions of dollars a year to support it. It’s been looked into multiple times over the years and no one is willing to just give that away or even quote a price that’s remotely reasonable.
> 
> I do take issue with your choice of words in describing GOLF-TEE as “baby steps.” GOLF is a project that AMSAT has committed a large amount of money and man-hours to. It is a very significant project and will lead us back to HEO. Our engineering team is doing tremendous work and deserves the full support and encouragement of the amateur community. Sadly, I feel that support is often lacking and, frankly, our volunteers deserve better than that.
> 
> If you want a HEO, support AMSAT and GOLF in any way that you can. AMSAT is 100% committed and I am personally 100% committed to making this happen for the community.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
> Executive Vice President
> AMSAT
> 
> On Sat, Jun 20, 2020 at 00:01 Joe Leikhim via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
> wrote:
> 
>> Robert;
>> 
>> AMSAT has been in HEO before and can get there again.
>> 
>> The idea of my proposal is to piggy back on a willing commercial 
>> satellite. The owner of that satellite would be handling the necessary 
>> regulatory issues/problems.  This idea has been proposed before but 
>> convincing a commercial satellite owner to attach unproven payload has 
>> always been an negative argument. No longer, because OSCAR-100 is 
>> proven hardware and it should be considered.
>> 
>> Meanwhile GOLF-TEE can continue to take baby steps.
>> 
>> Looking for ideas to promote this idea. Be positive.
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> Joe Leikhim
>> 
>> 
>> Leikhim and Associates
>> 
>> Communications Consultants
>> 
>> Oviedo, Florida
>> 
>> JLeikhim at Leikhim.com
>> 
>> 407-982-0446
>> 
>> WWW.LEIKHIM.COM
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
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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!
> Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
> _______________________________________________
> 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!
> Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb