DP0GVN still spotting WB6RER Pico Balloon 01-06-2025

Hi Doug-

Cool..
On the AFSK ACC2 port idea-- It's been a while since I fooled with this.. And the audio signal out on pin 3 might be inverted.. ie LSB, but I'm not sure. All digital modes use USB.. True afsk RTTY keying is a bit different. Someone else might refresh our memory on this. The multi-mode digital programs like FL Digi and Multi-Psk (by F4CTE) provide a "Reverse" button to help with RTTY signal encoding and decoding. As does the "mmTTY" RTTY engine/program by JE3HHT..

Signalink- You might call Tigertronics with this:
a)You would like to keep the hand mic plugged in to the front mic port. b) Which adapter(s) do I need for audio and ptt functionality that interface with the ACC2 (or another) rear din port?

Feel free to shoot me an email with any digi mode questions you might have and I'll try to answer them.. I've worked many modes over the years from mfsk, iono-scatter, meteor, jt4, eme, ros (no longer auth in itu R2) , opera, psk, to wx fax, olivia and hellscreiber (FH#204).. And ca 2009 "a Real WSPR 2-way Qso mode".. (It's located in the non-X program "WSJT version 7" only, and has long been replaced. First by JT9-1,2 and later by FSTW4 etc)

73, Eric

 

Well, I tried.
I got the 3.5mm to USB cable today, and it barely fit the plug on back of radio. Certainly did not go all the way in. Maybe half way. I then re-read what you wrote above, in bold, and plugged that into the mic (audio in) port on back of PC. Again, this plug did NOT go all the way in. It almost looks like it should be one of those yellow/red/white cords you used to use for the VCR should go into the back of the radio, not one of those speaker/mic plugs.

Going to fire it up in a minute. Hope nothing blows up.

 

Well, there is a deep hum and some clicks. That is all so far.
What do I do on the radio side?
I don't see any balloons!

 

Even more hum once I turned on the radio, and maybe a little bit of a shock when I touched the power button.
I think I am going to stop here. This may be something which was not meant to be. I'll take the loss on the cord. Actually, now I might smell a burnt smell.

 

WB6RER Balloon has not been spotted now for 7 days. No telling who or where it will be spotted by next. Thanks to all who follow this story. 73

 

Is 10Meters very staticy right now? I am worried I did something to my radio trying to force that cord in.

 

I think you guys gave me the wrong cable to get. It looks more like this is the one I need:
https://www.amazon.com/Converter-Braided-Adapter-Speaker-Amplifier/dp/B0D2RCQQH9/

At least my radio isn't smoking yet.
I have just about given up completely on the idea of this radio doing much more than what it already does.

 

I started a new thread over here, so as not to further bother this balloon thread:

https://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/need-help-with-wspr-afsk-on-kenwood-ts440s.947758/

 

WB6RER Pico Balloon update:
03-16-2025 the balloon tracker was spotted over Africa at 50,919ft
Distance Traveled Mi: 183,645..... is more likely twice this amount.
Spots: 1,083
Flight duration: 666 days, 22 hours, 10 mins
A Hualapai Amateur Radio Club project. Kingman, Arizona

 

Thanks for the update! More lives than a cat, it would seem.

 

4-9-2025 WB6RER Pico Balloon Update......15 days No spots
There was a time last year when it was not spotted for 2 months.

 

5-18-2025 WB6RER Pico Balloon update.............24 days since last spot. Monday 5-19 will be 2 years in the air, if we get a spot soon to verify.

 

WB6RER Pico Balloon is still aloft. 8-21-2025, 2 spots came through the WSPR system from VK5ARG after 4 months of silence. It was over the ocean south of Perth, Australia. 46,390 ft alt.

 

Thanks for the update.

Not a cat, but more akin to a certain battery bunny..... IOW, very impressive.