From QRZ.Com comes the following information about another balloon launch that happened on March 29th. This balloon isn’t using APRS, but has a QRP 10 meters CW beacon. Thanks Greg N5XO for bringing it to our attention – Lee N5NTG
A long duration balloon mission that is using 6 Party Balloons to carry a 50 gram amateur radio 28.223 MHz CW beacon, is hoping to go around the world. The ballon was released at 2330 UT (1930 EDT) March 29, from Annapolis in Maryland and started it’s journey heading SE at 6 knots. By 0300 UT, March 30, it had reached a speed of 60 MPH (96 km/h). It has no APRS, just the 28.223 MHz CW telemetry system and it is hoped to locate it by signal strength and beam headings only.
Note: Wind projections show the balloon heading east over the Atlantic Ocean, but with band openings, who knows? Even Greg N5XO might luck out and hear it… LOL
The mission is to give an insight into constant-pressure balloons and especially the use of common mylar party balloons as a fixed volume envelope. Unfortunately, these balloons have a high mass and so the theoretical maximum altitude no matter how many balloons are used is only about 26,000 feet and that is with no payload other than the fixed balloon mass.
The payload weighs about 50 grams. The team are targeting 6 party balloons 3′ in diameter which should give a float altitude around 16,000 feet. The Telemetry will be in CW on 28.223 MHz (USB DIAL) and will contain Battery voltage, inside and outside temperatures, and surface luminosity of the ocean/clouds. It has no GPS. The team will rely entirely on DF bearings and signal reports.
EMAIL DF reports to W3ADO@homeside.to
Be sure to include:
Your LAT/LONG
Time of observation
Quality of heading (subjective 1 to 10)
The CW string copied
If you have APRS you can uplink your beam heading via APRS. As the balloon is only flying at 16,000 feet or so it will be vulnerable to weather. The battery is expected to have a lifetime of about 10 days.
Further information including details of CW telemetry at http://aprs.org/balloons.html
