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Tracking Pico Balloons Using Ham Radio [pdf]

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Re: Tracking Pico Balloons Using Ham Radio [pdf]

#2

Post by i_am_proteus »

Whenever I see things like this in light of the various threats to amateur radio (usually from various interests who would like to get the frequencies sold at FCC auction for commercial use), I'm reminded of the tremendous value this hobby adds to engineering education. So many of the engineers I know who work with radio got started by tinkering with amateur gear.

Re: Tracking Pico Balloons Using Ham Radio [pdf]

#3

Post by themodelplumber »

Wow, that's amazing. 22 laps around the world over the course of one year. And HF data rx in Australia from this tiny circuit board attached to a tiny balloon over the mid-atlantic. Worth a read. Also bonus Windows XP points.

Btw how are they flying a circuit board in the raw without damaging environmental effect from water? I'm new to this part of the hobby.

Re: Tracking Pico Balloons Using Ham Radio [pdf]

#4

Post by th0ma5 »

themodelplumber wrote: post #3

Wow, that's amazing. 22 laps around the world over the course of one year. And HF data rx in Australia from this tiny circuit board attached to a tiny balloon over the mid-atlantic. Worth a read. Also bonus Windows XP points. Btw how are they flying a circuit board in the raw without damaging environmental effect from water? I'm new to this part of the hobby.

Maybe they just put on a thin layer of conformal coating?

Re: Tracking Pico Balloons Using Ham Radio [pdf]

#7

Post by trophyhead »

themodelplumber wrote: post #3

Wow, that's amazing. 22 laps around the world over the course of one year. And HF data rx in Australia from this tiny circuit board attached to a tiny balloon over the mid-atlantic. Worth a read. Also bonus Windows XP points. Btw how are they flying a circuit board in the raw without damaging environmental effect from water? I'm new to this part of the hobby.

At the altitudes these are flying at (10km+), the air is bone dry. Unless moisture is encountered on the ascent, there is no need for conformal coating.

P.S. - I've done a fair number of these flights and can speak in more detail about this hobby on request. Great fun!

Re: Tracking Pico Balloons Using Ham Radio [pdf]

#8

Post by trophyhead »

lxe wrote: post #5

What's the purpose of that capacitor?

These are run by solar panels that only transmit during the day. The capacitor just gives a half a minute or so in the event of brief cloud cover, panel not facing the sun at a good angle, etc. Not strictly necessary, but since a WSPR message takes almost two minutes to send, a good idea to not have it abort in the middle of the transmission due to lack of power for a couple of seconds.

Re: Tracking Pico Balloons Using Ham Radio [pdf]

#9

Post by sgt »

th0ma5 wrote: post #4
themodelplumber wrote: post #3

Wow, that's amazing. 22 laps around the world over the course of one year. And HF data rx in Australia from this tiny circuit board attached to a tiny balloon over the mid-atlantic. Worth a read. Also bonus Windows XP points. Btw how are they flying a circuit board in the raw without damaging environmental effect from water? I'm new to this part of the hobby.

Maybe they just put on a thin layer of conformal coating?

What about clear coat paint you would get from a hardware store just before launch?
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