This Qatar satellite has been in geosynchronous orbit for several years now. It has never really caught on. When I monitored last night (European evening) at 1955z there were just a few stations active on the narrowband transponder. It feels people (a very few) enjoy the challenge of getting active on the satellite, then lose interest.
If the IC-905 ever makes it to market, I wonder if this will make any impact on activity?
It is some weeks since I last updated my quick view of activity on the narrowband transponder. My last look was just before 1600z, on a Thursday evening in Europe.
The impression I get is still of dramatic under-use. There are very few stations on, but by now I was expecting it to be busy.
Most activity is from Europe and in Europe most operators are either retired or home from work.
Overall, my advice remains, "don't bother". It is easier to work DX with a few watts on 10m SSB! Maybe at the very depths of the solar cycle things would be different?
This has just not caught on.
See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .
Every few weeks I give an update about activity on the geosynchronous satellite Oscar 100. OK, my last peek was in a weekday mid-morning in Europe. There was nobody on! Nobody!! OK I may have been unlucky, but this follows a pattern.
Every few weeks, I give an update on activity on the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. The last time I checked was early evening in Europe on Wednesday. Activity is still low.
As an example, 3B8GL was calling CQ on SSB with a decent signal for ages with no takers!
See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .
See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .
As you know I take a regular peek at activity on the narrow-band transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. Today's peek was at 0610am central European time. 30 minutes later there was nobody active at all!
Now, this seems to show that outside Europe, e.g. India and the Gulf states there is very little interest. OK, it is a work day and very early in Europe.
My over-riding impression is that activity levels are very low. In some ways I am surprised, but in other ways I am not.
Our hobby has largely evolved into "appliance operators" who buy an HF rig, and maybe a linear, tower and HF beam. There are far fewer real experimenters. With no real "black boxes" available there is a certain threshold to have success with Oscar 100. For most, this threshold is just too hard. Based on recent evidence, I cannot see geosynchronous amateur satellites having a bright future.
Every few weeks I take a peek at the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. This is Easter weekend so a few people may be away with parents etc. This could reduce activity, although with more people on leave I would have expected this to have little overall effect.
My most recent peek at activity on the geosynchronous Oscar 100 satellite at a weekend afternoon in Europe found activity levels on the narrowband transponder still low. I am sure people lose interest.
I can imagine the scenario: those keen enough assemble the dish, feeds, TX and RX and carefully align the dish. They work some DX, tell them all about the gear.....then lose interest.
Imagine the difference if a "black box" was available from a Japanese manufacturer. Of course, they are looking for volumes and a return on their investment - neither of which is likely. They are also worried that Oscar 100 might suddenly stop working.
My last peek was at 0910z on a weekday. Activity levels were lower than I have ever seen. No doubt activity levels would be higher at a weekend or in the evenings in Europe where most of the activity comes from.
If I was a satellite manufacturer, launcher or AMSAT, I would spend money some other way.
It is surprising this is not busier: I guess for most the effort is just too hard. Many DXers just go out and buy a new rig and linear. Soldering iron? Which end do I hold? RF - what is that? 😁
Compared with the last time I looked it seems busier, but it is still very quiet. At this time, in a European evening, I would expect activity to be highest.
Every few weeks I take a very unscientific look at activity levels on this geosynchronous satellite. The last peek was at 1250z on Tuesday. Most activity seems to be from Europe and this was probably not the best time to look as it was in the middle of the working day.
However, activity seemed to be at an all time low with just 1 QSO taking place! My impression is people either find accessing this too hard or they are just not interested. I wonder what activity is like in the evenings in Europe?
