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G0FTD > AMSAT 13.03.05 01:52l 57 Lines 2089 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 599804G0FTD
Read: GUEST
Subj: Re: Ham sats - no longer worth it?
Path: DB0FHN<DB0CL<DB0PDF<DB0SM<DB0EA<DB0ACC<DB0ACH<DB0PKE<DB0RES<ON0AR<
GB7CIP<GB7SXE
Sent: 050312/1404Z @:GB7SXE.#38.GBR.EU #:24544 [Hastings] FBB7.00i $:599804G0FT
From: G0FTD@GB7SXE.#38.GBR.EU
To : AMSAT@WW
My thanks so far to G6YFF and 2E1GUA's contributions for whom I detect
are agreeing with my sentiments. [No I didn't bribe them] ;-)
I think the comon factor here is simply this:
* Single channel/single user modes suck - it's transponder passband
operation that is preferred.
* The exotic modes like 2.4Ghz up/70cm down and PACSATS are not of any
real tangible use to Mr Average. PACSATS for satgates I hear are
coming back into fashion but are best used by the most appropriate
users satgate sysops. Althought I agree with this it still means
that a membership would be supporting a satellite that only a tiny
minority have any use for.
Also (correct me if I'm wrong) but AMSAT reconfigured at least one
PACSAT in case it needed to be used in the Tsunami disaster for about
1 month - I don't think it got used !
The 21/29 145/29 435/145 passband modes would have been a lot more
useful I suspect (sorry to labour a point).
And now I'll introduce another topic - keps !
As I understand it it will soon be a *pre-requisite* to have an
internet connection just to use a RADIO SATELLITE.
No longer will keps be able to be distributed by others to freely, but
instead each user must register and receive individual copies of keps
for personal use.
I dont think we and other RADIO users would be impressed by the
pre-requisite requirement to have a personal internet connection available
before using our HF/VHF transceivers or local RF 2m repeater, so why
should an amateur satellite be any different ?
Could you imagine the Andaman tsunami operators desperatly seeking an
internet connection to use a PACSAT (the one mentioned earlier
reconfigured for emrgency comms).
What a farce !
[Note:I am of course assuming that I've understood the keps distribution
correctly. I *did* ask for clarification of this via the @amsat field
but never received a thing]
Amateur satellites as we know it are as good as dead now - an era has
passed which only a few in the 21st century will be able to remember.
R.I.P.
- Andy -
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