Re: [amsat-bb] An observation from a non member

["KC6UQH" <kc6uqh@xxxxxxx>]

Tim,
As a new ham I worked AO10, and 13, When AO-40 was launched I also built up
equipment to work it and I did, many Countries from Japan to Germany and
many  in-between. To accomplish this, I used books, contact with people I
knew in AMSAT and the AMSAT Journal which used to be a wealth of
information.
I joined the bb because I could not  find much about the remaining satelites
for this years Field Day after the failure of AO-40. The information posted
on FO 20 and 29 was over a year old. Eventually over the bb some info
surfaced that confirmed my listening efforts. Some of the info was helpful,
but it did no prepare me for the Field Day onslaught of lids that were loud
but unable to hear me comming back on the frequencies I received them on. I
could hear myself transmitting through the bird and I heard them but they
did not hear me.
I made one contact on SO50, that is all we were allowed on a FM bird and
then listened the station I made contact with make ten more contacts on the
same bird with other stations.!
I spent two weekends working stations on FO-29 for practice, and making
several contacts, even got into a roundtable, and then their was Field Day!
Again I was conforted to find many others saying the samethings I had
observed, after all misery loves company!
Reading the AMSAT bb cannot compare with having a 20 minute QSO on AO-40
with a fellow Ham in England that was also into microwave contesting. I
spent several enjoyable days on that satellite, listening to the long list
of expensive station equipment only to reply I am working the satelite using
a 10 turn helix on a six foot step ladder, in my back yard, and I had a good
or better signal on the bird than they did!
I did in fact spend less than $600.00 for the whole station. Besides the
diatribe here there is some good advice, and we are all waiting for another
good HEO Bird. AO-40 was too much fun not to hope we can do it again!

Art, KC6UQH


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim Holmes" <W8TAH@zoominternet.net>
To: <amsat-bb@amsat.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2004 4:26 AM
Subject: [amsat-bb] An observation from a non member


> Good Morning!!
>
> I have been lurking on this list for some time hoping to learn a bit
> more about satellite operation and to determine if joining AMSAT would
> be a wise use of my hard earned dollars.  I would like to point out a
> few things that I have noticed from my perspective as a non member.
>
> The level of rancor and dispute on this list is very high.  I certainly
> understand the need for an open forum for members ad others to air out
> their questions, problems, and disuputes.  I, however am wondering about
> the wisdom of doing it on a listserv that is advertised on the AMSAT
> website as the place to find information about using satellites etc.  In
> the past several weeks, (particulary since the symposium) the "political
> " posts have been beating out the "technical" by roughly 3 to 1.  Even
> as a somewhat experienced ham (5 years now)  I find this to be quite a
> put off.  I wonder what it does to those who are new to amateur radio or
> satellites.  To be honest the content and conduct of this list has made
> me seriously consider wether or not I really want to join amsat.   If I
> was a new ham who just stumbled across this list, I would be pretty well
> convinced that all the members of amsat do is grumble, and argue and
> never actually use the satellites that a few have worked so hard to
> construct and orbit.
>
> Please take this in the spirit in which it was offered -- as
> constructive criticism -- not as a slam or a flame, and consider whats
> happening.
>
> Thanks for listening
>
> Timothy A. Holmes
> W8TAH - Amateur Extra Operator
> Hopefull Satellite Operator
> ----
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