Re: [sarex] Re: Weekend MIR report from EU

[Francisco Costa <nop06152@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Chris and all

Sorry the late reply, but I've just returned from holidays.


C.M. vd Berg wrote:

> 1. As far as the Ham-work of Haignere on board is concerned I have the same
> experience.
> 
> But there is in my opinion one problem:   discipline by radio-amateurs means
> that they have to listen before calling.  During QSO-activities done by
> amateurs on earth they are supposed to hear each other. But when there is a
> MIR-pass only those amateurs can hear each other when they are in range of
> each other. Haignere hears them all and so he gets a enormous pile up, which
> is not the case at the people on earth.
> 
> Of course they have to wait until a convernient opportunity to call, but the
> question is:
> When?   If they hear Haignere calling specific amateurs (mostly by using the
> 2 last letters of the call) they of course have to keep quiet. But when
> Haignere says:  Spacestation MIR  QRZ,  this means that he is waiting for
> spontanuous calls.
> 
> I heard some Dutch amateurs (PA0BAY, PA3GXJ, PA0CVL, etc.) reacting after
> they heard: R0MIR QRZ. During these calls I did not hear other stations, but
> I realise that at that moment several amateurs in England, Belgium, France
> and possibly already Italy were calling. So indeed a heavy blow to the
> patience of Haignere and I also admire the way in which he tried to please
> as many persons as possible, but the amateurs trying to get at least a reply
> are not to blame.
> 
> At least he tried to create some order in the chaos by asking for calls from
> only one country, for instance Great Brittain or Germany. May be this helped
> somewhat, but I can understand that also amateurs in other regions were
> waiting for the moment that it was their turn.
> 
> The reproach of Haignere to amateurs which showed a lack of discipline is
> only right if this concerns those amateurs who could hear each other.


I agree absolutly with you. 
The main problem is there is always someone who will break the rule. 
There is no way to control a pile-up with that kind of caracteristics!
But there are a couple ways to minimize it (eg, split, multiple uplinks,
cross band, etc.) The "only" problem it's it all depends on the
operator!!!
And, as all know, the guys that have been working us from up there
are mainly trainned to be astronauts. Not top dx operators!!!
If in the past this kind of problem wasn't so dramatic, it was just 
because MIR hamradio capabilities weren't wide known, and the operators
were more interested in semi-private qso's, with "selected" operators!
On a world-wide large operation (like JP did) it was obviously this
kind of thing was going to happen. It's just human kind nature.

On another hand, there was a second question: "the last two"!
IMHO this technic was well implemented to help JP to control the crowed. 
The only problem was most of times he only got the last two letters 
of the call, and move to another station. This wasn't very pleasant,
particulary because most ham stations don't consider the QSO is fully 
acomplished until FULL call's are exchanged. So, some keep on calling
until they heard is full call...
I don't say this is wrong. It only reveals a sense of honesty of these
stations, but unfortunatly it don't reduce QRM... 
So, what to do???

I think this period "after MIR before ISS" will be good to reflect 
about all this questions. Problems must be WELL equationated and
reflected. If so, I'm sure GOOD solutions will appear. 
I'm preety sure ARISS team have much discussed all TECHNICAL
questions. But haven't heard a word about OPERATION details...
It's useless a good station if the operator(s) don't know how 
to work with it... 

Above all, keep one thing in mind: it's impossible to control 
an indisciplinated crowed! You just have to deal with it.
I think who designed Pacsat protocol understood it very well!!!

73 F.Costa, CT1EAT
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