Oscar 100 (lack of) activity

As you know I try to take a very unscientific peek at narrowband activity on this geosynchronous satellite. My last peek was about 0950z today, which is a Saturday. Activity levels remain disappointingly low.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Oscar 100 narrowband transponder

The last time I looked was mid evening in Europe on a Thursday evening. Although activity was better than I feared, there was still plenty of space.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Oscar 100 narrowband activity

In a word - pathetic.

Every few weeks I take peek at activity of this geosynchronous satellite. It is very very low. I cannot say how disappointing I find this.

Oscar 100 narrowband transponder

Every few weeks (if I remember!) I try to give an update on activity through the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. 

It has now been up for several years yet activity is tragically low considering it allows DX QSOs with much of the planet at any time without QSB with small fixed antennas.

The activity on this satellite says a great deal about our hobby and does not bode well for the future.

My last peek was mid-afternoon, mid-week in Europe. There was hardly anybody on. 

My theory is that unlike the few that rise to the challenge of assembling a ground station, most find this just too hard and instead just get out their credit cards so the dealer can buy a flashier car.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Oscar 100 narrowband activity

To say I am disappointed is an understatement. 

It certainly has encouraged some to assemble a ground station, but general activity is way below what I would have expected. 

My last "peek" at the narrowband webSDR at Goonhilly Down was mid evening in the UK on a Saturday evening, when I would have expected activity levels to be good.

Based on the activity levels seen, I think it is very unlikely we will see another geosynchronous amateur satellite in a hurry.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/.

OSCAR 100 activity

Every few weeks I like to give an update on the narrow-band transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. It has been in orbit now for several years. 

Apart from those keen to assemble a ground station (fixed, small antenna, no tower, much of the world in range day and night, no QSB etc.) it has been under-used. 

The last peek was a Friday evening in Europe. Once again it was sadly quiet. 

It has never appealed to me, but I was quite surprised it was not more popular. Based on this satellite, I can't see another for some time.

By now, I was expecting it to be busy. It is not.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb .

Oscar 100 Satellite

Every few weeks I try to assess the activity on the narrowband transponder of this satellite. The last time I looked was about 1845z on Friday, which is mid evening in Europe. 

Activity is still disappointing.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ 

Oscar 100 geosynchronous - narrowband transponder activity

 In a word?   Dire.

Every few weeks I try to give a very unscientific appraisal of activity through the narrowband transponder on this geosynchronous satellite. I do this by looking at the web SDR at Goonhilly in Cornwall, UK. It is a while since I did an update.  This time it was a mid afternoon, mid-week, in Europe.

Whilst I admit that some have enjoyed the challenge of building or assembling microwave kit to create a ground station, the level of activity has fallen well below that I was expecting.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

I have said before, I suspect the lack of commercial ready made gear has put off "appliance operators" who prefer to spend their money on shiny boxes from Japan.

In my view this tells us a lot about the state of amateur radio.  Most have become "black box" operators, who probably have no idea about the technology of the box they are using. Quite probably the vast majority of operators today have never, ever, done any experimentation. More than ever I can see the day coming when amateur radio ceases to exist.

Oscar 100 geosynchronous

Usually I give an update on this satellite by looking at activity levels on the narrowband transponder using the web SDR at Goonhilly in Cornwall, UK. The last time I looked was on Sunday afternoon in Europe when I would have expected activity to be at its best. 

Sadly, there were few stations active. I can well believe people like assembling a ground station, then lose interest. As I have said before, with more black boxes, activity might have been higher. Personally I prefer experimentation. Sadly my poor fine motor skills prevent me making a ground station these days. In the past I would have done so.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Oscar 100 ground station

The trouble with getting active on the geosynchronous satellite Oscar 100 is that it requires building your own gear. Sometimes this requires connecting modules together, and sometimes rolling your own gear. Black-box operators (the majority?) are not (in general) catered for, but see my post yesterday about DXPatrol.

It was refreshing to see someone who got active by creating his own ground station.

See https://m0aws.co.uk/?p=3105 .

Oscar 100

In my view, Oscar 100 (QO-100) has suffered from the lack of ready built solutions. 

On the face of it, it offers DX over a good proportion of the planet, without fading, linears, beams or towers. Antennas are small, can be low and are fixed. 

DXpatrol (also available via Wimo) is offering a black box solution, which is probably the best we are going to get. My thanks to Steve G1KQH for the link.

I very much doubt the Japanese big manufacturers will do anything as the satellite footprint does not cover Japan or the USA.

Oscar 100 activity

It seems ages since I gave an update on Oscar 100, which is the Qatari geosynchronous satellite. When I looked mid afternoon UK time there was some activity, but it was hardly busy. 

I look on the narrowband web SDR at Goonhilly Downs in Cornwall, UK.

Probably the lack of "black box" solutions puts many off, although it allows much of the planet to be worked without QSB and with a small fixed antenna at any time. I remain surprised that it is still so quiet. No need for linears or towers!

Sadly, many in the amateur radio community are "black box" operators who would rather spend money than experiment. In my view this will lead to the death of the hobby.

Oscar 100 narrowband transponder

Every few weeks I take a peek at activity levels on the geosynchronous satellite. I do this by looking at the webSDR at Goonhilly Down. My impression is this is well underused.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Oscar 100 activity levels

Every few weeks I take a look at the online SDR at Goonhilly Downs in Cornwall , UK monitoring the narrowband transponder on this geosynchronous satellite. 

It has certainly encouraged amateurs to experiment with microwaves but, in my honest personal opinion, it has not attracted the following I was expecting. There is still plenty of space. 

In my view, because it does not cover the USA and Japan, we have not see dedicated Japanese "black boxes" which could transform things. There is not enough profit to make it worthwhile. 

This is a pity as it offered DXing without QSB at any time covering large parts of the planet with small, fixed antennas. There is no need for towers, big beams and linears. Antennas could even be ground mounted.

Oscar 100 narrowband activity

Every few weeks I take a look at activity levels on Oscar 100, which is a geosynchronous amateur satellite. 

Personally, I was expecting activity to be far higher. Indeed, it has encouraged some to experiment with microwaves, but it has not really caught on with DXers. There are many advantages: DX without QSB at any time within the footprint of the satellite, no need for linears, neighbour friendly fixed antennas that could be at ground level, etc..

There are no rigs from Japan probably as the satellite does not cover the USA and Japan. I suspect this is one reason why they have not bothered.

See  https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Oscar 100 - geosynchronous satellite

Every few weeks I try to give an update on activity levels on the narrowband transponder on this satellite. There is also a wideband transponder aimed at ATV including DATV. At one time, probably still on, there was an ATV net on Oscar 100 on Thursdays at 2000z. This is streamed by the BATC.

Although this has encouraged many to try microwaves, I am disappointed more have not tried it. On the face of it, it offers DX with a small fixed antenna, without QSB at any time day or night as long as the satellite may be "seen".

The last time I looked was early evening, European time, on a weekday.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/.

Oscar 100 disappointment

In my view Oscar 100 has been a failure with usage far below expectations. 

My theory is that many have become zombie "black box" appliance operators who struggle to tell the difference between a resistor and transistor. Getting active on Oscar 100 is just too hard for most.

Amateur radio is meant to be about self training and research.  Does the growing cycle of carrots count? 😁

It is not helped by the big markets of Japan and the USA being outside its coverage.

It is my view, stated many many times before (sorry for the broken record) that amateur radio as we know it will be gone in 20 years as most people grow very old and no longer buy gear. I know of one local who bought a new rig and cannot operate it as there are too many adjustments!

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Oscar 100 activity

Every few weeks I try to give an update on activity levels on Oscar 100 geosynchronous satellite. The last time I looked was on European breakfast time on a weekday. Activity was pathetic. 

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Oscar 100 narrowband activity

My last peek was late afternoon in Europe on a weekday.  To my surprise there was more activity than I expected. At this stage, I would have hoped for even more activity.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Oscar 100 narrowband activity

Every few weeks I take a peek to judge the activity level. My last look was mid afternoon in Europe on a Sunday, when activity is likely to be good. Yet again, there were few stations and plenty of space. 

Judging by the activity levels, I cannot see another geosynchronous satellite happening soon. This underlines to me that the Amateur Radio Service is no longer about self training and research. Instead, most would appear to be "black box" operators. Getting on Oscar 100 is just too hard for most. Instead, many spend thousands on a rig, linear, tower and beam.

I can see the hobby dying out as many people age and no longer buy Japanese "black boxes".  Maybe before 2040?

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/