[amsat-bb] Satellite Field Day - Solutions Proposed

[Charles Hall <cahall@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've been reading the continuing thread on this reflector "Stop Your
Whining Already / Satellite Field Day" for some time now.  Until today,
I couldn't think of anything to contribute to the discussion.  Maybe a
"light bulb" is starting to glow, however.  I would like to contribute
some (hopefully) realistic solutions for consideration to the FM
satellite FD dilemma.

Here they are.  Maybe these can be used as seeds to generate the real
solution. 

1)  Disallow FM satellites on FD altogether.  (heavy duty flame suit on)
This is too extreme, but gets you thinking . . .  Unfortunately, it
would completely kill any incentive to set up and demonstrate satellite
capability for a large number of FD operations.  This would kill the
opportunity for the new guys and the prospective guys to try out
satellite operations.  This would keep small stations from being able to
get the FD satellite bonus points.  Not a real solution.  Kind of like
not using 146.52 on FD and other contests, however.

2)  Allow only one FM satellite contact on FD.  (medium duty flame suit
on)
This may start to open up the FM birds to more users.  This would let
the big guns get their one contact on FM and then get out of the way for
everyone else with other levels of stations to make their one contact. 
It might even keep the big guns off the FM birds altogether since FM
would only yield a single QSO.  Either way, the big guns would spend
most of their time and effort working the linear birds to get their QSO
count up high.  

3)  Allow only one FM satellite FD contact PLUS add another 50 or 100
bonus points for making 5 or more satellite contacts on linear birds. 
(no flame suit on?)
This potentially provides some incentives to upgrade satellite
capabilities.  Think about it, the first year you make a contact on an
FM bird and add 100 points to your FD score and you have a bunch of fun
doing it.  It might inspire you to muster a better station with SSB/CW
capability next year to get another 100 points (plus the QSO points).

What say?

73,
- Charlie, KC9LA
Sat op at K9LA 1A IN
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