At 09:37 AM 4/2/2011, you wrote: >I have been following this discussion with some interest. I too have >experienced working AO-51 in areas where the footprint is over relatively >low population areas. > >Despite being thrilled by my first contacts from VK4 (my home state) my >enthusuiasm on AO-51 operation quickly wained due to a few "big gun" >operators who seemed to consider AO-51 a private chat channel. Often >passes would be completely monopolised by two or three operators leaving >no gaps for other stations. Sadly when these "guns" were out of footprint >there was seldom anybody to the north to contact.
I haven't worked AO-51 in a while. Last attempt was using the base station, but the antennas aren't too good. I'll have to drag out the portable station sometime and see how I go. :) >Down here in VK0 I'm pretty sure I'm the first to get the footprint and >have noticed the same beahviour. Unless of course I call first (which I >have done on only a few occassions). Being a "rare" stations has it's >advatages! Yes, very rare. VK0 is the only VK call are I haven't worked via satellite. :) >I guess the bottom line is to spend more time listening, have a little >patience, courtesy and respect for other hams. This needs to apply to the >"guns" as much as anybody else. In the SO-35 days, I was a relative big gun, even with portable gear. I found it best to sit back, as well as occasionally help a new station score a contact. >Whilst there has been a lot of discussion about how to reign in the rogues >surely the simplest solution is to ignore them? It's a practice I use in >any pile-up and is an opportunity for people to change their operating >behaviour. Yep, ignoring is best, though I might make a passing comment without acknowledging their call, in the hope they get the hint. 73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
