[amsat-bb] We Need FM Birds

[Bob Hammond]

Hi Brad,

Your points are very well taken.  Being one of those who ".... huge,
rotatable and elevating, computer controlled antenna system, connected to a
9700 in a permanent shack, with SDR.....", I sure don't consider anyone
without the above equipment as "little people".

I dial down the RF power of my 9700 to an indicated 10% for ALL satellite
operations.  This means my antenna output is less than 10W given coax line
losses.

I began in satellites with an ICOM IC-Z1A and Arrow antenna in 2000.  That
was, and still is, a lot of fun.  I plan to do more with that setup when
camping in remote spots and grid squares.

73,

Bob W7OTJ


On Thu, Mar 19, 2020 at 8:04 AM Brad Smith via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
wrote:

> <Hopefully, AMSAT and other entities will continue to make available FM
> satellites as well as more SSB satellites and APRS satellites, so everyone
> who wants to participate will have that opportunity.Steve AI9IN>
> I echo what Steve said. Those of us who love to rove and work outdoors
> enjoy the FM birds. We may not have the huge, rotatable and elevating,
> computer controlled antenna system, connected to a 9700 in a permanent
> shack, with SDR and thus to some hams may be just "little people," but we
> have fun with the FM birds. When it ceases to become fun, I get another
> hobby. I am a minimalist and love working portable, with an D72 or other
> smaller radio. I do not understand why any manufacturer would have made a
> radio that put out 75-100 watts in FM satellite mode. I have worked the
> birds since 2013, both linear and FM. The FM birds are just plain FUN and
> can get a person a lot of new grids, which is fun too. Please, guys, keep
> your power down, so we portables can have a chance to get in and mostly,
> give us a space to get in.  Brad KC9UQR
>
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