voice operating style takes some getting-used-to
Hi all,
I've been listening and trying to contact Col. Wheelock the last couple nights with no luck. I've noticed that his operating style is not what I'm used to hearing in a pile-up ...
To explain, usually a DX station will complete a contact and then say something like "QRZ this is NA1SS" to indicate that the contact is over and he's now accepting new calls. I don't hear the NA1SS operators doing this, though. Since I can't hear the other side of the contacts being made, I'm left wondering when it's safe to throw my call sign out there? Is it "fair game" after I hear the operator acknowledge someone else's call, or what?
Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. So far, my luck in contacting hams in space has been nothing but bad ever since the U1MIR days way back when. I hope to change that soon.
Thanks and 73,
Wk2x
Sometimes he uses "over"...
I noticed that if he's expecting a response to his transmission, he says "over" or some other statement that indicates he's looking for a brief conversation rather than just terminating the transmission with the "loud and clear...NA1SS" comment. During those times I would wait until he makes a contact with a different station, to prevent interference as would be expected.
I think Col Wheelock, use the
I think Col Wheelock, use the radio as a part of his free time activities...so he didn't intend use as Contest or Pile-Up instruments---but just for fun and spent few hours with earth people....Over Europe sometimes you could listen him made real qso with the same station (like the happy birthday song to a portugese ham few days ago).
Persoanlly i prefer this EASY style during QSO with ISS, than the pile-up, is it more stimulating and intresting too to listen and contact.
Hope Wheelock have more spare times to dedicate to us.
Cheers. IW1DFL
I heard his style a few
I heard his style a few times, over the past weeks, before I made the QSO. I no longer have a satellite setup at the house; so whenever I hear the ISS it's in the car, with 50 W into a short whip. His style takes some getting used to, as you said, because he doesn't use the "standards". And the QSO yesterday just blew me away; I wasn't expecting much, being on the road and all.
I think you're right; it's pretty much fair game. There are hundreds of people calling, and you only have a 10 minute (if you're lucky) window. I called him 3 times yesterday, and before I called the third time I reminded myself of "1, 2, 3", as in "count to three before you call" (ie. right after the major mayhem). It worked. My XYL was not that lucky (though she was clearly heard) because by the time she was ready to call the ISS was approaching the horizon, fast. But... better luck next time.
Just call. Everyone else does it. There's no time to wait. But: time your call right. 1, 2, 3.
73 and GL. You'll make it.
Erik - K5WW
Were lucky here on the east coast!
I have made 2 contacts with him here in New Brunswick, Canada, FN66FH... Were lucky because as his footprint starts to go over the ocean, were the only ones left who can call in, and there are not many VE's that I know of trying to make contact... I am greatful that he said hi to my 4 year old daughter this evening and called her by name, she got to say hi back to him just as he was going over the horizon... she was pretty excited!
Kudos
that is fantastic I am glad you were able to experience that with your daughter ......I made my first contact earlier this evening around 17:30 really a great thing.
I felt like a little kid myself lol 73s
Thanks all
Awesome! Thanks you guys.
I'm running a mobile rig with a 1/4 wave whip on the roof of my little Toyota Yaris (2 door, lol) and a Kenwood G707a, also at 50w. That's the only ham station I have active right now (well, except for my little handheld, but I'm not even gonna try with that), so I'm glad to hear someone made it with a similar setup!
I'll follow these suggestions and keep trying. The only problem with them (especially the 3 second rule) is that I didn't think of them myself, lol!
73 de Wk2x