Re: [amsat-bb] NoN Technical (operational) questions

[Alain De Carolis <alain@xxxxxxxx>]

> I hate to open this can of worms, but with all of the recent mentions of
> MEMBERS-ONLY satellites MEMBERS-ONLY bb, etc, an idea comes to mind.
> Instead of an all or nothing approach, how about 'try before you buy'?

"Try before you buy" ?!? I tought this was Amateur Radio!

Excuse me, I am not an Amsat Member, but could you please explane what am I 
supposed to buy If I would eventually pay to use your satellite?
Isnt your satellite using part of MY radio spectrum in amateur radio bands?

Anyway the idea of a secret uplink is probably out of our times.
We are in year 2004, not in the 30's... 

> I'm not proposing that we exclude anyone, but the 'honor system' rarely
> works for the office coffee pot, much less a $600,000 satellite. I agree
> with what many others have said, non-members do not have much incentive to
> pay.
>
> Ideas?

If the "honor system" does not work for a $600,000 satellite, then a $600,000 
satellite does not work for Amateur Radio.

Amateur Radio is and should always be FREE for everyone, everywhere.
Hiding uplinks, or applying any other mean to avoid non members using the sat  
means EXCLUDING people from amateur radio and that is really really bad.

I would become an opponent of "private" satellites in the amateur radio 
spectrum and do my best to boycott such initiatives.

If you guys want to gain more members you should really re-think the worldwide 
distribution of AMSAT and the quality of the services you provide. (finally 
rebuilding the website is a step in the right direction)
Closing access to the satellites could be the end of Amsat, and also the end 
of Satellite Amateur Radio.

best 73's de Alain
iz6byy ww3ww
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