[amsat-bb] Poor Operators

Thu Mar 19 21:46:52 UTC 2020

One thing I recommend for better operating practice is buying a
quality-brand radio with a good receive sensitivity. I started my first
couple years doing satellites with a Baofeng and just upgraded my antenna
to an Arrow II Leo Satellite antenna thinking that would be enough. Yes, I
made a few successful QSOs. It was a bit difficult, but they were even
confirmed on LoTW. Now that I've have a chance to see side-by-side
performance of that with my Yaesu, I realize I probably could not hear much
of what was going on and was probably stepping on people I couldn't hear
during the lower parts of the pass. I'd now strongly recommend anyone find
a cheap (as in features, not quality), used, dual-band Japanese radio over
wasting time with a cheap (as in quality) Chinese radio. I've seen them
sold for as little as $70 on GigaParts and it will probably do you better
even using it's whip antenna over a Baofeng with a good Yagi.

I have made several, easy QSOs using my current Yaesu FT-3DR during a less
crowded period where I was talking back an forth with someone for about a
minute on a 50 degree pass. No one else but us were on. I could hear him
easily with just a cheap $15 whip antenna I got on Amazon. The receiver in
that radio is just not on the same order of magnitude as a Baofeng and I
apologize for anyone I stepped on trying to use that Chinese radio. Another
interesting comparison was when I used a cheap $25 RTL-SDR dongle with my
phone as my ears on 70cm and used my Baofeng with just a whip. I didn't
hear much on the Baofeng, but I was able to use SDRTouch on Android to
record the pass and operate in full-duplex with my Baofeng. That's when I
realized that that cheap HT had plenty of transmit power to make it into
the satellite, but the hard part was all about the receive. The SDR, being
software-based, has a small amount of latency, but I could stop talking
pretty quick when I realized someone else was on. I have a variety of
recordings of my experiences if someone is interested in hearing what can
be done with a simple and cheap setup.

My final thoughts on this would be to point out the power levels and signal
strengths involved. While my HTs can transmit around 4-5 watts, most
satellites are much weaker. I believe AO-91 is 100 mW only? Someone correct
me if I'm wrong. The ISS is a strong satellite at 5 watts, I believe. Some
satellites send CW at only 10 mW, but I can still hear them on my RTL-SDR.
It's really about having a good receiver so you can hear what is going on.
Transmitters are easy to make, but a good receiver is hard.

- Loren
K7IW

On Thu, Mar 19, 2020 at 2:21 PM KI7UNJ Tucker via AMSAT-BB <
amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:

> Another "TIP" for the operator(s) who seem to be unable/refuse to say
> the callsign they want to work. Screaming out "gridline station" or "roving
> station" then your call trying to get them over and over.. is annoying.
>
> As another op said to them once on the air "you want my gird say my call"
>
>
>
> On Thu, Mar 19, 2020 at 12:54 PM John Geiger via AMSAT-BB <
> amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
>
> > Using phonetics can really help also, especially if you have letters that
> > sound alike in your call, such as T and D.
> >
> > 73 John W5TD
> >
> > On Thu, Mar 19, 2020 at 2:40 PM John Kludt via AMSAT-BB <
> > amsat-bb at amsat.org>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > All,
> > >
> > > There is another practice that I have not seen addressed here that
> makes
> > > thing really tough - talking way too fast.  I understand the reason but
> > > fast talking just leads to the request for repeats which means more
> > traffic
> > > and/or busted Q's.  So in addition to turn down the power how about
> > > talking just a little slowly and more clearly?
> > >
> > > Just a suggestion.
> > >
> > > John K4SQC
> > >
> > > On Thu, Mar 19, 2020 at 3:03 PM Isaac C via AMSAT-BB <
> amsat-bb at amsat.org
> > >
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > ps -. it was SO-50, pass 11:58 local time, Mar 12.
> > > >
> > > > On Thursday, March 19, 2020, Isaac C <shorenicehere at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Mike,
> > > > > I am Isaac, W4ITC, grid FM14.
> > > > > I am maybe two weeks ahead of you in the newbie category. I just
> got
> > my
> > > > > first QSO/QSL on March 12.
> > > > > I connected with W0NBC.
> > > > > After me, you can hear WB3CSY do an expert connection with someone
> > > else.
> > > > > I listened to many passed before I was brave enough to talk. It
> > > probably
> > > > > shows.
> > > > > My rig is qty 2 Baofengs @ 5w with a WA5VJB home-made antenna.
> > > > >
> > > > > Best luck.
> > > > >
> > > > > https://drive.google.com/file/d/14YSF3hL6NBtRMkcw3gDcx8VURQ3dB
> > > > > UNl/view?usp=drivesdk
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > On Thursday, March 19, 2020, Mike Wilhelm via AMSAT-BB <
> > > > amsat-bb at amsat.org>
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >> I've been collecting equipment and waiting for the right time to
> try
> > > and
> > > > >> get on a bird.  Life is too busy...
> > > > >> Anyway, it might be helpful if there were a few audio examples we
> > > could
> > > > >> pass on to newbies and uninformed operators of good and bad
> > operating.
> > > > I
> > > > >> would recommend beeping out any parts of the call sign for any
> > > examples
> > > > of
> > > > >> poor operation.  I'd sure like to hear them.  Maybe even post them
> > to
> > > a
> > > > >> section on the AMSAT page covering operating?  I apologize if this
> > is
> > > > >> already out there...back to that too busy thing again.  I haven't
> > had
> > > > many
> > > > >> opportunities to take my FT-470 outside with my Arrow and chase a
> > > bird.
> > > > >> The QSOs I've heard seem like they go so fast and I'd hate to
> annoy
> > > > anyone
> > > > >> by being the slowpoke.
> > > > >> 73!  Mike AF5AT
> > > > >>
> > > > >> On Thu, Mar 19, 2020 at 12:52 PM Brad Smith via AMSAT-BB <
> > > > >> amsat-bb at amsat.org>
> > > > >> wrote:
> > > > >>
> > > > >> > I am a minimalist because I want to be a minimalist. I
> understand
> > > that
> > > > >> the
> > > > >> > FM bird is nothing more than a repeater and the strongest signal
> > > takes
> > > > >> the
> > > > >> > bird, even if someone else is talking. "Someone else is talking"
> > is
> > > > the
> > > > >> > rude part. Last weekend, I was chasing a rover and got "KC9" out
> > and
> > > > >> into
> > > > >> > the bird (I work full duplux, so know that I was in) and someone
> > > took
> > > > >> over
> > > > >> > by stepping on me. Luckily, I got him anyway, but someone was
> high
> > > > power
> > > > >> > and more important than me. That's the way contesters work.
> But, I
> > > > don't
> > > > >> > want to plaster someone's call on the board. I just hope that
> the
> > > > >> person is
> > > > >> > a member and thinks about it. Getting into a peeing contest with
> > > > >> someone is
> > > > >> > not beneficial to anybody, including the hobby. It used to be
> that
> > > if
> > > > >> one
> > > > >> > said "handheld" or "portable" guys would give them a break, but
> > that
> > > > >> > doesn't happen anymore. The birds are too crowded for that.
> There
> > > are
> > > > >> > several people in my ham clubs that want to try satellite
> > operation
> > > > and
> > > > >> > myself and my friend Rick (WA9JBQ) loves to
> > > > >> >  mentor them and teach them the proper way to operate. Not
> > everyone
> > > > has
> > > > >> > this benefit. I don't know what the answer is. Last Spring one
> ham
> > > was
> > > > >> an
> > > > >> > extremely poor operator on the birds, but is now a better
> > operator.
> > > > So,
> > > > >> > something works. But there is always the tendency to crank up
> the
> > > > power
> > > > >> to
> > > > >> > get the station that you want, if you have the power available.
> It
> > > is
> > > > >> like
> > > > >> > guys who I know that run 1,500 watts on FT8 to get what they
> > want. I
> > > > >> guess
> > > > >> > it is going to happen and we have to live with that fact.
> > > > >> >
> > > > >> > As soon as I solve my equipment problem with my 847 and the
> > weather
> > > > >> turns
> > > > >> > warmer, I will be back on the linear birds. I sure do miss
> FO-29.
> > > Brad
> > > > >> > KC9UQR
> > > > >> > _______________________________________________
> > > > >> > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum
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> membership.
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> > > > >> > expressed
> > > > >> > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official
> > > views
> > > > of
> > > > >> > AMSAT-NA.
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> > > > >> _______________________________________________
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> > > > _______________________________________________
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> > > _______________________________________________
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> > > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
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> > >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
> Opinions
> > expressed
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>
>
> --
> *Casey Tucker  KI7UNJ*
> _______________________________________________
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