[chbot] [OT] tracking party balloons :)

[Chris Hellyar]

There have been some very successful Picob balloon launches by some Aussies..
 
I managed to decode the 2m APRS from the July 2014 one as it passed over on it's way to Brazil, although couldn't hear the beacon on 432Mhz at all..
 
[ https://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/vk-balloon-reaches-brazil ]( https://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/vk-balloon-reaches-brazil )
 
[ https://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/another-vk-pico-balloon-test-flight ]( https://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/another-vk-pico-balloon-test-flight )
 
 
Cheers, Chris H.
 
-----Original Message-----
From: "Mark Atherton" <markaren1 at xtra.co.nz>
Sent: Thursday, 8 January, 2015 12:28
To: chchrobotics at lists.linuxnut.co.nz
Subject: [chbot] [OT] tracking party balloons :)



Hi All,

I have only just become aware of an apparently quite recent activity 
of attaching light weight (11g) radio/uP/GPS payloads to (amongst 
other type) regular helium party balloons.

People have been flying weather balloons with 
half-a-kilo-of-electronics for years, but it is only quite recently 
that power and size have dropped enough to allow this new category.

http://ukhas.org.uk/general:beginners_guide_to_high_altitude_ballooning
 also
http://ukhas.org.uk/projects:microballoons:data

I am told that the CAA take much less interest in the odd free 
floating party balloon than they do in larger obstacles.

Temperature is a bit of an issue, since ESR of batteries increases as 
temp. drops, and temp drops significantly with altitude.

Still much to learn before having a go.

-mark


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