[3830] Gagarin DX N4QX SO Satellite LP

[webform at b4h.net]

                    Yuri Gagarin International DX Contest - 2020

Call: N4QX
Operator(s): N4QX
Station: N4QX

Class: SO Satellite LP
QTH: VA
Operating Time (hrs): 1

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Mults
-------------------
  160:          
   80:          
   40:          
   20:          
   15:          
   10:          
  Sat:   3     2
-------------------
Total:   3     2  Total Score = 150

Club: Potomac Valley Radio Club

Comments:

The Gagarin Cup is one of the rare radiosport events that gives credit (25
points each) for satellite QSOs. Making a satellite QSO in the Gagarin Cup has
been a goal of mine ever since I started seriously operating through satellites
two years ago, but I only got around to making the time to operate this year.

I chose not to operate through AO-7, the space station in the amateur NGSO fleet
with the largest footprint, because CW tends more than phone to trigger a S/N
overage on the uplink and cause the satellite to shift modes from U/v to V/a.
The newer linear satellites are somewhat more robust, and I attempted QSOs on
XW-2A, XW-2B, XW-2F, CAS-4A, CAS-4B, and EO-88.

That I only netted three QSOs while working through six different satellites (I
was working full duplex and know I was closing the link) is a testament to the
rarity and difficulty of CW satellite operation. I give up my keyer on
satellites in order to use a straight key--it's easier to send with my pinky and
correct for Doppler with my thumb. Computer controlled tuning is actually a bit
tricky on Morse--the one-step-per-second action of SatPC32 leads to a signal
jumping around in quantum leaps rather than drifting. The difficulty makes
completing a QSO satisfying.

Gagarin Cup activity on satellites (presuming stations using reasonable, low
uplink power) would have to increase by a significant factor in order to
approach annoying to other users. I will plan to operate again next April, and
will be happy to provide some extra points and an extra mult to HF-focused ops.

Hopefully for next year's event, FO-99, CAS-6, HuskySat-1, and Fox-1E will be
QRV. The last of these is an AMSAT satellite, and HuskySat-1 carries an AMSAT
payload. The NGSO fleet is distinct from QO-100, but is nevertheless providing
the healthiest amateur-satellite service that has been seen in years. I invite
you to check out the educational materials AMSAT provides to satellite operators
and, if you're persuaded (and you should be), join us.

73 de Brennan N4QX
Secretary, AMSAT


Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.3830scores.com/