When I was active I did a fair amount of Satellite work, but here again,
we're loosing more satellites than we're gaining. I believe we're down
to only 2 working SSB/CW satellites and 1 is older than I am. AO-7 was
one of my favorites to work.
But there doesn't seem to be any new SSB/CW sats being launched so I
fear that sat ops will also continue to decline.
I just tried to check the AMSAT website. Even its broke, I clicked on 3
different links and the links didn't work....
ARRL - For the first few years I was a ham I was a member. But most of
what was in QST and all ARRL seemed to care about was FM FM FM.....oh
yeah emergency comms.....ok emergency comms for hams is ok in time of
crises, but don't I already pay taxes to some government to take care of
emergency comms???? Just a thought, its a hobby, not a job.
George - KI4FIA
www.MilAirComms.com
On 2/9/2014 16:51, Paul Stoetzer wrote:
Two trends show a potential for a bright future for both VHF/UHF weak
signal and satellite operating: the increasing number of hams in
antenna restricted locations and perhaps an extended period of time
with little sunspots. Lots of hams who are currently enjoying great
QSOs on 20/17/15/12/10 will find those bands closed a lot more often
in the future. Some will move their operating down to 160/80/40/30
while others will either leave the hobby or look to
VHF/UHF/microwave/satellite operations with small antennas due to
their inability to put up large antennas.
The ARRL has been working to grow ham radio by promoting HF and
emergency communications for some time. As we enter a potentially bad
extended period of time for the upper HF bands, promotional efforts
must go towards the fun things that can be done with VHF and UHF and
relatively small and inconspicuous antennas like satellites, EME,
meteor scatter, etc.
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Sun, Feb 9, 2014 at 4:33 PM, Les Rayburn <les@highnoonfilm.com> wrote:
I've worked in advertising and marketing most of my adult life, so I often
tend to view things as marketing problems. In the case of VHF/UHF weak
signal operation, I certainly think that is a portion of the problem. When
the VUCC Award was created, it resulted in a flurry of activity on the
bands, expeditions to rare grids, and other activity. While it wasn't very
successful in attracting newcomers to the band, it did give those already
active incentive to increase their operations.
Fast forward almost thirty years, and the situation is reversed. Nearly
everyone who wants to earn VUCC has already done so.
The league has failed to ever make VUCC anything more than the kid sister of
DXCC. They've failed to add "variations" of the award such as 5 Band VUCC,
or "Rover VUCC" that might encourage more activity. They've failed to offer
merchandise in their store to build the VUCC "brand" among hams. Very few
articles have been written in QST about the exploits of people trying to
earn the award. (Not true in the early days, but certainly now)
In short, the ARRL has missed the opportunity to make VUCC a desirable
accomplishment for most amateurs. And provide no incentive to earn the award
on multiple bands, which is key to providing an incentive for operation on
902 and up. I've been trying to find time to author a paper for the VHF
Conferences that would formally propose the creation of two new awards:
Five Band VUCC
--------------------------------------------
A special award recognizing any amateur who earned VUCC on five bands or
more including satellites. No rules changes, and only minor programming
required to have LoTW track the award.
VUCC Rover
-----------------------------------------
An award for any rover who worked the required number of grids for each
band, while operating outside their "home" station grid. For example, you'd
need to work 100 grids on 6 & 2 while operating outside your home grid. But
only five to earn it on 10 GHz.
The key to making these awards successful would be to really market and
promote them, especially in the pages of QST. While I'm not in favor of
resetting everyone to zero, the league could offer a special incentive to
anyone who works the necessary grids in the coming calendar year. Maybe
plaques would be in order. I'm willing to sponsor ten of them, personally.
This would have the same effect of "resetting to zero" for anyone who wanted
the plaques, while still allowing for those who have already earned 5 Band
VUCC or Rover VUCC to receive the award.
While I applaud the efforts that many of us have made as individuals to
increase activity, it's hard to imagine real change unless the ARRL gets
behind the effort.
--
--
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF
121 Mayfair Park
Maylene, AL 35114
EM63nf
6M VUCC #1712
AMSAT #38965
Grid Bandits #222
Southeastern VHF Society
Central States VHF Society Life Member
Six Club #2484
Active on 6 Meters thru 1296, 10GHz & Light
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