Re: [amsat-bb] Intersting Stats on VUCC

["Bruce Paige" <kk5do@xxxxxxxx>]

There is no rule that says you have to QSL the grid square or even give the 
grid square for the VUCC award.  The only rule is that you have to have a 2-way 
qso. If you acknowledge each other's callsign, then you have a 2-way QSO. The 
grid square can be looked up on QRZ or taken off the person's QSL card. I hate 
to hear someone ask over and over, What is your grid?. Such a waste of time.

Couldn't tell you which is easier... VUCC or 20/60/100 in the AMSAT awards. It 
would depend on your position in the U.S. as to weather you are in the center 
of the country and can work states on both sides on a LEO or on a left coast 
and very rarely get a chance to work Maine/VT. Those in Florida cannot work 
Alaska or Hawaii. Here in Houston, we get about 1 to 2 minutes on a far west 
pass to work Alaska and can never get Hawaii. 

73...bruce



Date sent:      	Thu, 23 Sep 2004 22:35:05 -0500
From:           	Grant Zehr <grant@dzehr.com>
Subject:        	Re: [amsat-bb] Intersting Stats on VUCC
To:             	kk5do@AMSAT.Org, amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org

> I got to 100 satellite grid squares, initially mostly on RS-12 and RS-13. 
> Getting to 100 grid squares was a little harder on birds with analog 
> transponders, in my opinion.  You had to find the station, get yourself on
> freq., track the doppler, and as a matter of courtesy, it was expected that you
> would actually talk to the other operator a bit!  The FM birds are the best tool
> for getting to VUCC, however.  The super quick grid exchange contacts on FM
> birds lets you total up grids much quicker.
> 
> If we insisted on complete exchanges, however, it might drop the totals a 
> bit.  Here's what I would call a complete exchange:
> 
> 1.  W2ABC this is N9XYZ in EN-50
> 2.  N9XYZ this is W2ABC in FN-30.  QSL your EN-50.
> 3.  W2ABC this is N9XYZ, QSL your FN-30.  Thanks and 73!
> 
> That's not long, but here's what I often hear on the FM birds:
> 
> 1. W2ABC FN-30
> 2. N9XYZ EN-50
> 3. Roger
> 
> Is this really a two way contact?   I find myself operating this way on FM sats,
> also, but sometimes I'm not sure whether I really had a QSO.  IMHO I think we
> should slow down the pace on the FM sats enough to allow folks to at least be
> sure complete calls and grid numbers are exchanged.
> 
> I think the AMSAT Oscar Sexagesimal and Century awards may be "better" 
> satellite awards than the VUCC.  The Sexagesimal award can be achieved on 
> the LEO satellites (FM included) but does require a little more planning and
> watching orbits etc.  The Century award is dificult on LEOs, but possible from
> some locations.  All the awards have their place, which is to encourage regular
> use of the birds from day to day as operators try to reach the goals they set
> for themselves.
> 
> Thanks Bruce for helping keep track of all the awards and applications from the
> rest of us!
> 
> 73,
> Grant Zehr AA9LC
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bruce Paige" <kk5do@arrl.net>
> To: <amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2004 7:44 PM
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Intersting Stats on VUCC
> 
> 
> >I was just pondering over the October issue of QST and while looking at the
> > "VUCC Awards" noticed that there have been more 10GHz VUCC awards issued than
> > Satellite. 10GHz #152 was just issued as was Satellite #138. In fact 222MHz is
> > just about to catch up with us as #122 was just issued.
> >
> >....... The fact remains that I bet there are more people
> > operating satellite than 10GHz. If you think that getting 100 grids on
> > satellite is difficult, give it a try on 10GHz and try to work 5 grids.
> >
> > 73...bruce
> >
> >
> >
> > Bruce Paige, KK5DO
> ----
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Bruce Paige, KK5DO                             
                     
AMSAT VP-User Services & Awards Manager        
  
ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE     
          
Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0200z on W0KIE AMC-7, 
T5, 7.5Mhz
Also streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com  
              
Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News   
http://www.arrl.org
----
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