Re: [amsat-bb] Why do satellites?

[Bruce Robertson <broberts@xxxxxx>]

I would give different answers for a fellow ham and a non-ham. I assume
this person is a fellow ham who sees satellites as 800km-high repeaters. I
list here some of the less-expected reasons that his fellow hams enjoy
satellite communications:

- Technical challenges of a level of difficulty similar to those required
for HF operation, but quite novel.

- The feeling that one is tangibly participating in the mechanics of the
globe as the satellite opens various communication paths. Caribbean, East
Coast, Spain, Azores, UK, and then Iceland all in 10 minutes! Whew!

- Because one is always listening to one's signals, there are ample
opportunities for experimentation. In a misanthropic mood, I relish the
VO-52 passes that bisect the Atlantic: no chance for contact with someone
else, but plenty of opportunities to test one's setup.

- Because of the sense of accomplishment that accompanies each QSO,
wonderful camaraderie, both on the birds and on-line. I've had European
stations send me mp3 files of QSOs and plenty of friendly follow-up emails
answering a technical question that got lost on the horizon.

It all makes me wish my antennas were up in the air, not sitting on the
ground awaiting an upgrade :-)

73, Bruce
VE9QRP
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Sent via amsat-bb@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
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