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View Full Version : 10 metre balloon beacon aloft now - MI and east


kc8uch
03-21-2008, 05:38 PM
Soli Deo Gloria 9, a stratospheric superpressure balloon carrying a 10
metre CW beacon, was launched from Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan,
approximately an hour ago. It should be tracking to the east for the rest of the day.

This balloon is a joint venture combining the talents of yours truly,
KC8UCH from the Grosse Pointe Academy, and Pierre Thomson, KA2QPG. If
it survives pressurization, it will be our first successful
stratospheric superpressure and it could theoretically reach the
European mainland in approximately three days.

The beacon will be transmitting the following string on 29.499 Mhz
using conventional CW:

DE KA2QPG BLN F 000 A 000 EMAIL ROCHTE AT GMAIL.COM AR

Where the number following "F" is a frame counter, incrementing with
each transmission, and the number following "A" is a numeric code
representing temperature. A table of numeric values and associated
temperatures will be published once the balloon is aloft.

Signal reports are GREATLY appreciated to my email address, rochte@gmail.com.

(Note that I may have reversed the order of the "F" and "A" strings...)

73,
Robert KC8UCH

KC9JUM
03-23-2008, 04:05 PM
It sounds like a neat project!

Did the balloon get there?

Why the 10 metres though and the Satellite Sub Band? In Brittan this is used for FM ops on 29.5 with 16k wide signals. FM ops in the USA use it occasionally too.

A lot of the satellites do not even use this sub band any more.... or have quit working....

Hate to see a Sporadic E event wipe out an effort such as this.

KB9BVN
03-24-2008, 12:09 AM
I Like following these events, but can you please post times and dates in UTC format?

I think I missed this one, but I am not sure.