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CX2SA > SATDIG 11.12.17 00:24l 735 Lines 33587 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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To : SATDIG@WW
Today's Topics:
1. Re: Behavior on FM Satellites (Mike Thompson)
2. Re: Behavior on FM Satellites (JoAnne Maenpaa)
3. Re: FUNcube-1 (AO-73) mode switch (wouter weggelaar)
4. Re: Behavior on FM Satellites (Adrian Engele)
5. Re: Behavior on FM Satellites (Bernie and Cheryl)
6. Re: Behavior on FM Satellites (Stefan Wagener)
7. Re: Behavior on FM Satellites (Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL)
8. Behavior on FM Satellites (Ron sieloff)
9. Re: Behavior on FM Satellites (JoAnne K9JKM)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2017 18:24:34 +0000
From: Mike Thompson <zryder94@xxxxx.xxx>
To: Paul Stoetzer <n8hm@xxxx.xxx>
Cc: "amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxxx <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Behavior on FM Satellites
Message-ID:
<CAGD5MUFbHgUX5Dm8Nc1_Ep22zwHuXAwxFzxgx6jVLDSLjKhooQ@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
I couldn?t have said it better myself, Paul. The behavior I have witnessed
on AO-91 lately is about as far from examples of good operating practice as
I can imagine. We can all do better.
On Sun, Dec 10, 2017 at 12:06 PM Paul Stoetzer <n8hm@xxxx.xxx> wrote:
> Good afternoon,
>
> During the last AO-91 pass, there were many interesting stations on,
> but in particular there were two low power rovers in rare grids: FG8OJ
> was in FK95 and C6AWD/MM (AC0RA) was in FL25 (an entirely wet grid
> that the ship will only be in for a short period of time).
>
> Yet, even while those two were in the footprint, stations were calling
> other fixed stations that they can work on any pass of any satellite,
> day or night. Right now, we have 14 satellites where you can make a
> QSO with a guy next door. There's no need to work a hundred stations
> on every pass of AO-91, especially when two guys in rare grids with
> low power equipment are attempting to hand them out. It's all about
> situational awareness. Pay attention to what grid ops are going to be
> on a pass (monitoring Twitter, Facebook, and the BB prior to a pass
> are handy for this), listen before you transmit, noting anything that
> seems rare, and wait to make other QSOs until the rare stations are
> out of the footprint. And please don't keep calling stations when they
> are out of the footprint. Learn your geography and/or look at a map,
> please!
>
> This is how I approached the pass: From monitoring Twitter, I was well
> aware that there would be two rare rovers on (the two I mentioned
> before). I did not need FG8OJ in FK95, so I did not call him. However,
> FL25 is a hole in my map. When I heard C6AWD/MM in FL25, I made my
> call, worked him, and then didn't attempt any more QSOs until he was
> out of the footprint (this included not responding to a person that
> called me).
>
> I know this is not the first time this topic has been raised, but
> behavior has been especially terrible since the launch of AO-91.
> Eventually, I and others will be forced to name and shame stations
> engaged in poor behavior. FM satellites are wonderful in that the
> simple, inexpensive equipment required to work them opens up the
> amateur satellite hobby to a large number of people. However, since
> they are a single channel covering a wide area, they also demand a
> good amount of situational awareness and courtesy when operating.
>
> 73,
>
> Paul, N8HM
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2017 12:35:47 -0600
From: "JoAnne Maenpaa" <k9jkm@xxxxxxx.xxx>
To: <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Behavior on FM Satellites
Message-ID: <001201d371e5$b2dfb090$189f11b0$@xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> There's no need to work a hundred stations on every pass of AO-91,
> especially when two guys in rare grids with low power equipment are
> attempting to hand them out. It's all about situational awareness.
I remember situations like this arising during AO-51 operation. Of
particular note beside working 100 stations on a 10 minute pass were those
fellows on AO-51 with enough aluminum and RF wattage to capture the AO-51
receiver then greet each other every morning like they hadn't spoken for 20
years. They would then give each other a weather report. This was followed
with a status of breakfast report. We often found out someone's dog needed
to step outside! Then the same 3 or 4 fellows would repeat this again on the
next pass. They would begin with the missing-person from 20 years ago
greetings ... even though they had already greeted each other 90 minutes
ago.
Other operators began note these boorish manners and after a while much of
that behavior was gradually moderated and mostly went away.
--
73 de JoAnne K9JKM
k9jkm@xxxxx.xxx
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2017 20:59:59 +0100
From: wouter weggelaar <pa3weg@xxxxx.xxx>
To: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] FUNcube-1 (AO-73) mode switch
Message-ID:
<CAKXf1rG9rwoSchND60WC9Pdr+xhajFid1KJdKMx_nOuWhwVePA@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Hi all,
AO-73 / FUNcube-1 is now in autonomous mode with low power telemetry
and the transponder on in eclipse, and high power telemetry in
sunlight.
The next switch is expected coming Friday PM.
73s Wouter PA3WEG and the FUNcube team.
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2017 21:06:55 +0000 (UTC)
From: Adrian Engele <aa5uk@xxxxx.xxx>
To: "amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxxx <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>, Paul Stoetzer
<n8hm@xxxx.xxx>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Behavior on FM Satellites
Message-ID: <1174188048.1980319.1512940015505@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Paul,
Well stated! Unfortunately that is often the state of affairs on the FM
satellites, but not always.? I believe we need a combination of community
mentoring the new ops and perhaps reminding the more experienced ops to back
off and let newer ops get the contact when there are rare grid rover
operations in effect.?? I agree the repeated contacts by fixed stations is
frankly getting out of hand. What is benefit?? When a pass is dead late at
night, have at it; when rovers are in the field lets show some situational
awareness of letting others get that grid.
Unfortunately I have experienced this time and again over the many vacations
from Cayman and other locations on the FM satellites. Between the South
American taxis, illegal cordless phones,? the keyer uppers/whistlers and the
regulars working each other over and over again, it just makes you think,
why do I even bother to give out a grid that many operators with modest
stations really need when you can't even get into the satellite. That is one
of the major reasons I hardly bothered to operate on FM when I last operated
from EK99 and FK09 from Grand Cayman and Little Cayman in June. I only
operated on one SO-50 pass when I was briefly in FK09. On a bright note, the
passes on the linear satellites were quick, professional and courteous. They
were actually enjoyable passes despite the horrible mosquito infestation
this year.? It was still worth it. I fully understand a linear setup is not
in the budget for many operators.
I have a big dilemma,? I plan on going back end of February for two weeks to
GC and LC and with AO-91 now live,? there will surely be a demand for EK99
from FM only operators.? So the big question, should I even bother taking
satellite gear with me as I am already taking my new IC-7300 with me to work
HF?? Is it worth going through the aggravation of another lid-fest from a DX
grid?? I have even given thought of only taking my newly acquired TH-D74
instead of dragging 2 x FT-817's and only working some ISS passes on APRS. I
don't think anybody has done that before from ZF. I know of some local ops
that periodically get on the FM satellites.
I am open to hearing thoughts from the AMSAT Community's , trying to find a
good reason why I should even bother this time around. Ultimately my
vacation and relaxation comes first.
73, Adrian AA5UK -? ZF2AE
On Sunday, December 10, 2017, 12:07:47 PM CST, Paul Stoetzer
<n8hm@xxxx.xxx> wrote:
Good afternoon,
During the last AO-91 pass, there were many interesting stations on,
but in particular there were two low power rovers in rare grids: FG8OJ
was in FK95 and C6AWD/MM (AC0RA) was in FL25 (an entirely wet grid
that the ship will only be in for a short period of time).
Yet, even while those two were in the footprint, stations were calling
other fixed stations that they can work on any pass of any satellite,
day or night. Right now, we have 14 satellites where you can make a
QSO with a guy next door. There's no need to work a hundred stations
on every pass of AO-91, especially when two guys in rare grids with
low power equipment are attempting to hand them out. It's all about
situational awareness. Pay attention to what grid ops are going to be
on a pass (monitoring Twitter, Facebook, and the BB prior to a pass
are handy for this), listen before you transmit, noting anything that
seems rare, and wait to make other QSOs until the rare stations are
out of the footprint. And please don't keep calling stations when they
are out of the footprint. Learn your geography and/or look at a map,
please!
This is how I approached the pass: From monitoring Twitter, I was well
aware that there would be two rare rovers on (the two I mentioned
before). I did not need FG8OJ in FK95, so I did not call him. However,
FL25 is a hole in my map. When I heard C6AWD/MM in FL25, I made my
call, worked him, and then didn't attempt any more QSOs until he was
out of the footprint (this included not responding to a person that
called me).
I know this is not the first time this topic has been raised, but
behavior has been especially terrible since the launch of AO-91.
Eventually, I and others will be forced to name and shame stations
engaged in poor behavior. FM satellites are wonderful in that the
simple, inexpensive equipment required to work them opens up the
amateur satellite hobby to a large number of people. However, since
they are a single channel covering a wide area, they also demand a
good amount of situational awareness and courtesy when operating.
73,
Paul, N8HM
_______________________________________________
Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2017 14:27:30 -0700
From: Bernie and Cheryl <hamdan@xx.xxxxxx.xxx>
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Behavior on FM Satellites
Message-ID: <5f4a29e9-8c5e-0a12-0d70-66a1390831f2@xx.xxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
Dear Folks:
I certainly don't want to argue with the central premise, i.e., that
when there's a rare grid square, it is good operating practice to back
off of the bird and let everyone have a crack at working the "DX".?
Neither do I have a problem with good operating practice dictating that
people not hog the bird (as has been described by Paul and other
posters).? I do have a problem with public shaming, especially if not
preceded with a congenial email suggesting that the operator in question
give people a chance. Most folks have their email addresses on QRZ.com.
The important thing to remember is that AMSAT hasn't published (to my
knowledge) a rule stating that /only/ certain types of QSO's can occur
on the FM satellites.? I just looked at the website and there is a
section called "Working Your First Satellite" and I don't see anything
on there like that.? The section on "Communications Satellites" has
nothing like that either.? Unless the control operators of the satellite
(e.g., AO-91) made a decision in that vein, then the bird is open to all
comers.
Paul's post mentioned that the FM birds open up the hobby to a lot of
people.? That means the FM birds are going to have new people on them,
and I think good operating practice indicates that people are welcomed
on satellites, and if they make a mistake, the "suggestion" to improve
their operating practice occurs in such a way that they aren't shamed,
i.e., a tasteful email or perhaps even a snail mail.
His post also mentioned that he monitored Twitter and took some other
steps while preparing for the pass.? I have to be honest and say I'm not
a big social media person.? I only opened up a Facebook page last year,
and don't really know or care to know how to get on Twitter.? Other than
checking when AOS occurs, I typically don't do that much preparation for
a pass.? I don't think that disqualifies me from being able to operate
on the birds.? Like I said above, I will back off if I'm aware that
there's a rare grid square on there, but I don't always know that's the
case.? All of us are coming within the footprint of the bird at
different times, and so the newest person in the footprint won't always
know what's happening at that moment.
I guess the reason why this thread affected me to the point that I felt
the need to reply is that I could see the situation degenerating very
quickly into a war between two classes of operators.? And then, given
the nature of FM birds, it will be impossible for anyone to use them (it
would be relatively easy for one angry operator to jam the bird during a
pass), short of handing out CTSS tone codes to a select group.? Until
something like that happens, the satellites are a shared resource, and
we're always going to be faced with folks who screw up unintentionally.
I'd just hate to see a flame war on the birds like we sometimes see on
the internet.
I'm not suggesting that satellite operating is "The Wild Wild West".? I
think it's just a matter of education, and courtesy.
Admittedly, I'm on the FM birds rarely (I've operated AO-91 exactly
once).? I prefer the linear transponder satellites with their
opportunity to have a real conversation as opposed to shouting out grid
squares, but recognize (as Adrian points out in his post) that the setup
for those birds requires more infrastructure that may be beyond a lot of
people.? However, I've been around a while (my first satellite QSO was
on RS-10 back in 1994) and I remember how excited I was when I made my
first QSO's, and know how devastated I would have been if someone called
me out in a public forum because I did something wrong that I didn't
know was wrong.
All I'm asking for is that all operators in good faith be granted a
modicum of courtesy, and we should be careful before deciding that
someone is acting in bad faith.? I love this hobby and my heart aches at
some of the stuff I've heard on 75 meters, and on the local 2 meter
repeaters. ? I'd hate to see that transfer over to the satellite
community, which by and large, seems to be pretty professional.
See you all on the birds.? 73 de Bernie, KF0QS
On 12/10/2017 11:35 AM, JoAnne Maenpaa wrote:
>> There's no need to work a hundred stations on every pass of AO-91,
>> especially when two guys in rare grids with low power equipment are
>> attempting to hand them out. It's all about situational awareness.
> I remember situations like this arising during AO-51 operation. Of
> particular note beside working 100 stations on a 10 minute pass were those
> fellows on AO-51 with enough aluminum and RF wattage to capture the AO-51
> receiver then greet each other every morning like they hadn't spoken for 20
> years. They would then give each other a weather report. This was followed
> with a status of breakfast report. We often found out someone's dog needed
> to step outside! Then the same 3 or 4 fellows would repeat this again on the
> next pass. They would begin with the missing-person from 20 years ago
> greetings ... even though they had already greeted each other 90 minutes
> ago.
>
> Other operators began note these boorish manners and after a while much of
> that behavior was gradually moderated and mostly went away.
>
> --
> 73 de JoAnne K9JKM
> k9jkm@xxxxx.xxx
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2017 15:41:47 -0600
From: Stefan Wagener <wageners@xxxxx.xxx>
To: Bernie and Cheryl <hamdan@xx.xxxxxx.xxx>
Cc: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Behavior on FM Satellites
Message-ID:
<CAKu8kHBEzTdC81vfGr0-sRqDFwNAxF3HLk5g5zzMFj+5d3amQQ@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Thank you Bernie,
I very much appreciated your post and "cooling" things down.
Well done,
Stefan, VE4NSA
On Sun, Dec 10, 2017 at 3:27 PM, Bernie and Cheryl <hamdan@xx.xxxxxx.xxx>
wrote:
> Dear Folks:
>
> I certainly don't want to argue with the central premise, i.e., that when
> there's a rare grid square, it is good operating practice to back off of
> the bird and let everyone have a crack at working the "DX". Neither do I
> have a problem with good operating practice dictating that people not hog
> the bird (as has been described by Paul and other posters). I do have a
> problem with public shaming, especially if not preceded with a congenial
> email suggesting that the operator in question give people a chance. Most
> folks have their email addresses on QRZ.com.
>
> The important thing to remember is that AMSAT hasn't published (to my
> knowledge) a rule stating that /only/ certain types of QSO's can occur on
> the FM satellites. I just looked at the website and there is a section
> called "Working Your First Satellite" and I don't see anything on there
> like that. The section on "Communications Satellites" has nothing like
> that either. Unless the control operators of the satellite (e.g., AO-91)
> made a decision in that vein, then the bird is open to all comers.
>
> Paul's post mentioned that the FM birds open up the hobby to a lot of
> people. That means the FM birds are going to have new people on them, and
> I think good operating practice indicates that people are welcomed on
> satellites, and if they make a mistake, the "suggestion" to improve their
> operating practice occurs in such a way that they aren't shamed, i.e., a
> tasteful email or perhaps even a snail mail.
>
> His post also mentioned that he monitored Twitter and took some other
> steps while preparing for the pass. I have to be honest and say I'm not a
> big social media person. I only opened up a Facebook page last year, and
> don't really know or care to know how to get on Twitter. Other than
> checking when AOS occurs, I typically don't do that much preparation for a
> pass. I don't think that disqualifies me from being able to operate on the
> birds. Like I said above, I will back off if I'm aware that there's a rare
> grid square on there, but I don't always know that's the case. All of us
> are coming within the footprint of the bird at different times, and so the
> newest person in the footprint won't always know what's happening at that
> moment.
>
> I guess the reason why this thread affected me to the point that I felt
> the need to reply is that I could see the situation degenerating very
> quickly into a war between two classes of operators. And then, given the
> nature of FM birds, it will be impossible for anyone to use them (it would
> be relatively easy for one angry operator to jam the bird during a pass),
> short of handing out CTSS tone codes to a select group. Until something
> like that happens, the satellites are a shared resource, and we're always
> going to be faced with folks who screw up unintentionally. I'd just hate to
> see a flame war on the birds like we sometimes see on the internet.
>
> I'm not suggesting that satellite operating is "The Wild Wild West". I
> think it's just a matter of education, and courtesy.
>
> Admittedly, I'm on the FM birds rarely (I've operated AO-91 exactly
> once). I prefer the linear transponder satellites with their opportunity
> to have a real conversation as opposed to shouting out grid squares, but
> recognize (as Adrian points out in his post) that the setup for those birds
> requires more infrastructure that may be beyond a lot of people. However,
> I've been around a while (my first satellite QSO was on RS-10 back in 1994)
> and I remember how excited I was when I made my first QSO's, and know how
> devastated I would have been if someone called me out in a public forum
> because I did something wrong that I didn't know was wrong.
>
> All I'm asking for is that all operators in good faith be granted a
> modicum of courtesy, and we should be careful before deciding that someone
> is acting in bad faith. I love this hobby and my heart aches at some of
> the stuff I've heard on 75 meters, and on the local 2 meter repeaters.
> I'd hate to see that transfer over to the satellite community, which by and
> large, seems to be pretty professional.
>
> See you all on the birds. 73 de Bernie, KF0QS
>
>
>
> On 12/10/2017 11:35 AM, JoAnne Maenpaa wrote:
>
>> There's no need to work a hundred stations on every pass of AO-91,
>>> especially when two guys in rare grids with low power equipment are
>>> attempting to hand them out. It's all about situational awareness.
>>>
>> I remember situations like this arising during AO-51 operation. Of
>> particular note beside working 100 stations on a 10 minute pass were those
>> fellows on AO-51 with enough aluminum and RF wattage to capture the AO-51
>> receiver then greet each other every morning like they hadn't spoken for
>> 20
>> years. They would then give each other a weather report. This was followed
>> with a status of breakfast report. We often found out someone's dog needed
>> to step outside! Then the same 3 or 4 fellows would repeat this again on
>> the
>> next pass. They would begin with the missing-person from 20 years ago
>> greetings ... even though they had already greeted each other 90 minutes
>> ago.
>>
>> Other operators began note these boorish manners and after a while much of
>> that behavior was gradually moderated and mostly went away.
>>
>> --
>> 73 de JoAnne K9JKM
>> k9jkm@xxxxx.xxx
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>>
>>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2017 14:58:49 -0700
From: "Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL" <vlfiscus@xxx.xxx>
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Behavior on FM Satellites
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20171210145313.0288e3f8@xxx.xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
Funny,
With years of continuous building of single channel
satellites, I would have thought everyone would have
gotten used to it by now.
>ducking<
KB7ADL
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2017 15:59:36 -0500
From: Ron sieloff <rsieloff@xxxxxx.xxx>
To: n8hm@xxxx.xxxx amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] Behavior on FM Satellites
Message-ID: <76185A97-3E77-41D7-80F5-FFA39A55894C@xxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
I haven?t been on the birds in a week or so, so I know I haven?t been
causing grief. Thank goodness.
I am new to satellites. I thought your email was very informative and
educational. As a newbie, I have been just happy successfully copying a
rapid fire call sign in my head and being a newbie, not paying attention to
the grids (as frankly I need most of them anyway). Your note will help me
think about the grids more and give an ear to the rare ones. Only running
5w and normally just getting trampled on by the higher power guys. Have
also noted a few that do hog the satellite by ending a QSO with a new QC and
repeating it over and over during the pass. They dont even give others the
chance to call them. I do agree we could do more to share the birds a bit
better than we do.
Thanks again and best wishes for Christmas
Ron
NU8N
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2017 16:11:43 -0600
From: "JoAnne K9JKM" <joanne.k9jkm@xxxxx.xxx>
To: "'Bernie and Cheryl'" <hamdan@xx.xxxxxx.xxx>, <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Behavior on FM Satellites
Message-ID: <5a2db120.82956b0a.34bd6.2f71@xx.xxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Good thoughts on the topic Bernie.
Myself, I don't advocate public calling out and shaming. In fact I don't
even recall the callsigns of the AO-51 operators causing difficulties
because I don't recall that ever being exposed. It was just the general
discussion among the group of the situation which led to operator changes
for the better.
--
73 de JoAnne K9JKM
k9jkm@xxxxx.xxx
> -----Original Message-----
> From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxx On Behalf Of Bernie and
> Cheryl
> Sent: Sunday, December 10, 2017 3:27 PM
> To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Behavior on FM Satellites
>
> Dear Folks:
>
> I certainly don't want to argue with the central premise, i.e., that
> when there's a rare grid square, it is good operating practice to back
> off of the bird and let everyone have a crack at working the "DX".
> Neither do I have a problem with good operating practice dictating that
> people not hog the bird (as has been described by Paul and other
> posters). I do have a problem with public shaming, especially if not
> preceded with a congenial email suggesting that the operator in question
> give people a chance. Most folks have their email addresses on QRZ.com.
>
> The important thing to remember is that AMSAT hasn't published (to my
> knowledge) a rule stating that /only/ certain types of QSO's can occur
> on the FM satellites. I just looked at the website and there is a
> section called "Working Your First Satellite" and I don't see anything
> on there like that. The section on "Communications Satellites" has
> nothing like that either. Unless the control operators of the satellite
> (e.g., AO-91) made a decision in that vein, then the bird is open to all
> comers.
>
> Paul's post mentioned that the FM birds open up the hobby to a lot of
> people. That means the FM birds are going to have new people on them,
> and I think good operating practice indicates that people are welcomed
> on satellites, and if they make a mistake, the "suggestion" to improve
> their operating practice occurs in such a way that they aren't shamed,
> i.e., a tasteful email or perhaps even a snail mail.
>
> His post also mentioned that he monitored Twitter and took some other
> steps while preparing for the pass. I have to be honest and say I'm not
> a big social media person. I only opened up a Facebook page last year,
> and don't really know or care to know how to get on Twitter. Other than
> checking when AOS occurs, I typically don't do that much preparation for
> a pass. I don't think that disqualifies me from being able to operate
> on the birds. Like I said above, I will back off if I'm aware that
> there's a rare grid square on there, but I don't always know that's the
> case. All of us are coming within the footprint of the bird at
> different times, and so the newest person in the footprint won't always
> know what's happening at that moment.
>
> I guess the reason why this thread affected me to the point that I felt
> the need to reply is that I could see the situation degenerating very
> quickly into a war between two classes of operators. And then, given
> the nature of FM birds, it will be impossible for anyone to use them (it
> would be relatively easy for one angry operator to jam the bird during a
> pass), short of handing out CTSS tone codes to a select group. Until
> something like that happens, the satellites are a shared resource, and
> we're always going to be faced with folks who screw up unintentionally.
> I'd just hate to see a flame war on the birds like we sometimes see on
> the internet.
>
> I'm not suggesting that satellite operating is "The Wild Wild West". I
> think it's just a matter of education, and courtesy.
>
> Admittedly, I'm on the FM birds rarely (I've operated AO-91 exactly
> once). I prefer the linear transponder satellites with their
> opportunity to have a real conversation as opposed to shouting out grid
> squares, but recognize (as Adrian points out in his post) that the setup
> for those birds requires more infrastructure that may be beyond a lot of
> people. However, I've been around a while (my first satellite QSO was
> on RS-10 back in 1994) and I remember how excited I was when I made my
> first QSO's, and know how devastated I would have been if someone called
> me out in a public forum because I did something wrong that I didn't
> know was wrong.
>
> All I'm asking for is that all operators in good faith be granted a
> modicum of courtesy, and we should be careful before deciding that
> someone is acting in bad faith. I love this hobby and my heart aches at
> some of the stuff I've heard on 75 meters, and on the local 2 meter
> repeaters. I'd hate to see that transfer over to the satellite
> community, which by and large, seems to be pretty professional.
>
> See you all on the birds. 73 de Bernie, KF0QS
>
>
> On 12/10/2017 11:35 AM, JoAnne Maenpaa wrote:
> >> There's no need to work a hundred stations on every pass of AO-91,
> >> especially when two guys in rare grids with low power equipment are
> >> attempting to hand them out. It's all about situational awareness.
> > I remember situations like this arising during AO-51 operation. Of
> > particular note beside working 100 stations on a 10 minute pass were
> those
> > fellows on AO-51 with enough aluminum and RF wattage to capture the AO-51
> > receiver then greet each other every morning like they hadn't spoken for
> 20
> > years. They would then give each other a weather report. This was
> followed
> > with a status of breakfast report. We often found out someone's dog
> needed
> > to step outside! Then the same 3 or 4 fellows would repeat this again on
> the
> > next pass. They would begin with the missing-person from 20 years ago
> > greetings ... even though they had already greeted each other 90 minutes
> > ago.
> >
> > Other operators began note these boorish manners and after a while much
> of
> > that behavior was gradually moderated and mostly went away.
> >
> > --
> > 73 de JoAnne K9JKM
> > k9jkm@xxxxx.xxx
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
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Subject: Digest Footer
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Sent via amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx.
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AMSAT-NA.
Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
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End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 12, Issue 325
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