Re: [amsat-bb] a place for QRP ops

["Edward R. Cole" <al7eb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>From: Estes Wayne-W10191 <W10191@motorola.com>
>Ed Cole wrote:
>
>Now, regarding Wayne's proposal to segregate operators with excellent
>receiving systems...no! no! no!  Wrong idea...probably wouldn't work
>anyway.  The right approach is if you KNOW that you can't hear well...then
>don't call CQ.  Look for stations you CAN hear and call them!
>
>Wayne replies:
>
>A friendly disagreement here.  QRP operators must EXPECT to get "stepped
on" if they operate with very weak signals in the busy part of the
transponder.  I don't think there really needs to be a designated QRP zone,
but QRP operators would be wise to avoid the busy parts of the
transponder...unless they don't mind somebody with "marginal" ears calling
CQ on top of them.  Even somebody with "average ears" might not hear the
weakest CW signals if they don't have a narrow CW filter.
>
>It's the same philosophy as having a designated weak signal sub-band on
2m.  Wouldn't it be kind of dumb to attempt EME contacts in the repeater
sub-band?  Or even the satellite sub-band?  By definition, the only way
weak signal operators can avoid QRM is to separate themselves from
"ordinary people" who can't hear their weak signal.

Well we do disagree.

I think that stations that operate at 10 dB below the beacon by
transmitting at say 10w on the uplink are not QRP.  They are operating
responsibly by not using more than their share of the xponder power. 

When I operate at 10w at low squint my signal is very easy arm-chair copy
on the speaker!  So are many other stations that are operating at
reasonable uplink levels.  When a station operates at a level equal to the
beacon yet cannot hear my signal at 50w [2 Kw ERP], then he needs to work
on improving his receiving system if he hopes to talk to many stations.
This is an extreme example, but I have encountered a couple such stations
on AO-40, already.

They call and call CQ, yet can't make out anyone that replies to them.  For
those stations I think my advise is correct...find a station you can hear
and call them.  If you cannot hear hardly any stations, then you may want
to improve things.  Telling the majority of well-designed, responsibly
operated stations to go off by them self will actually result in there
being only a very few "lonely" stations left...they call them "alligators".
 If you regularly need 50-200w uplink on 435 MHz on AO-40 then you are one!
{unless you are using a dipole, that is}

I would maintain that like EME, satellite opeartions ARE a form of weak
signal communications.  Of course, with a well designed station the signals
are almost arm-chair.  I have received EME signals that are arm-chair copy
coming from large well-designed stations.  W5UN copies guys running 100w on
the satellite antennas off of the moon...he has a very large array and a
super receiving system.  He has also worked station using only 50w on his
system.

It is still true: "you must hear 'em to work 'em"

Ed





----
Via the amsat-bb mailing list at AMSAT.ORG courtesy of AMSAT-NA.
To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe amsat-bb" to Majordomo@amsat.org