Hi Phil, The new era I speak of is AMSAT-NA's foray into CubeSats. Certainly FM birds are nothing new. I'd like to see more efficient modes and methods in the future. Perhaps leverage a smartphone interface for the roving digital operator?
I am a firm believer in the direction of replenishing the FM satellite fleet. They are a great entry point into amateur satellite operations and experimentation for many. They aren't the only path but is something most hams can do since dualband HT's have become ubiquitous. I've also been using, with success, the FUNcube Dongle Pro+ to interest people in telemetry and digital. 73 Clayton W5PFG On Jul 22, 2014 12:40 AM, "Phil Karn" <k...@ka9q.net> wrote: > On 07/21/2014 05:36 PM, Clayton Coleman wrote: > > > It's very easy to be a pessimist or a cynic. Very little risk is > > involved. It doesn't take any cojones to sit in a comfy chair and > > email snarky comments. If you are optimistic about a project and it > > fails, your peers may see your actions as a fool. > > I absolutely agree, but I must ask you about something you said earlier: > > > I am pleased that AMSAT-NA is going to move forward with a LEO > > CubeSat, single channel, analog FM transponder. If successful, it > > will be immensely popular worldwide. My hope is that it will help > > usher in a new, improved series of satellites with more advanced > > payloads. > > I'm confused. My understanding of the idiomatic expression "usher in" is > that something new and presumably revolutionary is being introduced, > e.g., to "usher in a new era". > > What, exactly, will a new LEO, single channel, analog FM transponder > satellite "usher in" that none of the previous LEO, single channel, > analog FM satellites managed to usher in? > > Will the tiny cubesat form factor (to which we've been relegated by the > intense competition for launches from the small satellite revolution we > pioneered) make the difference this time? If not, what will? > > The most common argument I've seen for launching more analog FM LEO > satellites is that they are needed to replace existing analog FM LEO > satellites that are now failing. Is that "ushering in" something new? > > --Phil > _______________________________________________ > 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 > _______________________________________________ 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
