Pinky and Perky – M0NRD

Andrew Garratt M0NRD plans to launch Pinky Pig into near-space along with several 434 MHz transmitters on Saturday, September 26 from the National Hamfest at the Newark Showground.

The launch had been planned for Friday but the weather has forced the postponement. If the weather is suitable it is understood the launch might now occur on Saturday at around mid-day. For the latest news check https://twitter.com/nerdsville

Andrew has two pigs, Pinky and Perky, but it is Pinky wearing his fetching headset who has been selected to be the passenger on the High Altitude Balloon flight. During the flight images of Pinky will be transmitted to radio amateurs back on Earth using the Slow Scan Digital Video (SSDV) system.

The SSDV payload, callsign PINKY, will transmit on 434.575 MHz USB RTTY 300 bps 880 Hz shift ASCII-8 no parity 2 stop bits. The backup telemetry tracker, callsign PIGLET, will transmit 434.150 MHz USB RTTY 50 bps 380 Hz shift ASCII-7 no parity 2 stop bits.

There may also be LoRa spread spectrum transmitter on 434.450 MHz, callsign PERKY, however, at the time of writing there was a fault with the module.

The signals from the balloon should be receivable across most of the UK. Those overseas can use the SUWS WebSDR to receive the 434 MHz USB signals.

Read Andrew’s Hamfest HAB – Pre Launch Update
http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/hamfest-hab-pre-launch-update.html

National Hamfest Sep 25-26 http://www.nationalhamfest.org.uk/

High Altitude Balloon links for online tracking, SSDV, UKHAS mail list / chat room, WebSDR
http://amsat-uk.org/beginners/balloons/

Ara Kourchians N6ARA in BTTF DeLorean Time Machine

Radio amateur and High Altitude Balloon enthusiast Ara Kourchians (Arko) N6ARA was among those who helped restore the Back To The Future DeLorean time machine for Universal Studios.

Ara Kourchians N6ARA restoring BTTF DeLorean

The San Bernardino Microwave Society newsletter reported his interest in the amateur microwave bands when he was a student in 2008.

Ara N6ARA has since flown many amateur radio High Altitude Balloons and in 2013 attended the UKHAS Conference in London to give a presentation on US Ballooning.

By 2015 he completed his bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering at Cal Poly Pomona and has worked as a Software Engineer at JPL.

Ara Kourchians N6ARA appeared in a video about the DeLorean restoration project.

Watch “OUT OF TIME: Saving the DeLorean Time Machine” – Trailer 1

Ara’s presentation to the UKHAS 2013 Conference can be seen at
http://www.batc.tv/channel.php?cat=HAB+2013&ch=1&id=1168

Arko N6ARA
http://arkorobotics.com/
https://twitter.com/arkorobotics

UBSEDS14 balloon track as at 1300 GMT March 21, 2016

On Monday, March 21, 2016 the UBSEDS14 balloon, launched by University of Bristol students, completed its circumnavigation of the Northern Hemisphere.

UBSEDS14 balloon envelope

The University of Bristol Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (UBSEDS) launched their balloon on Monday, March 8. Powered by a single AA Lithium Energiser Battery (LR91).

During the flight at an altitude of about 11,500m the balloon has been transmitting telemetry data at 4 minute intervals using 5 dBm output of Contestia 16/1000 on 434.600 MHz USB. Each telemetry packet is preceded by 10 seconds of 1Hz pips for manual alignment and a RSID tone for automatic alignment with suitable software. Additionally the payload has the capability for 144 MHz APRS.

UBSEDS14 tracker payload

The balloon has a diameter of 1.5m and the payload weighs just 21.3 grams. Despite the weight constraints the team have managed to employ sophisticated Geofencing technology to prevent the balloon transmitting when over certain countries and also to select different APRS frequencies depending on the territory being overflown.

UBSEDS14 information is available at
http://www.bristol-seds.co.uk/hab/flight/2016/03/07/ubseds14.html

UBSEDS14 balloon launch
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/march/ubseds14_balloon_launches_today.htm

Useful High Altitude Balloon Links https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/balloons/

One of the students involved in the project is Richard Meadows M0SBU. He took the amateur radio courses run by the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society (CARS) at Danbury in Essex. Further information on the courses is available from the CARS Training Manager
Email: training2016 at g0mwt.org.uk
Web: http://g0mwt.org.uk/training

What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio

Find an amateur radio training course near you https://thersgb.org/services/coursefinder/

A free booklet is available aimed at introducing newcomers to the hobby that can also be used as a handy reference while getting started, see
http://rsgb.org/main/get-started-in-amateur-radio/alex-discovers-amateur-radio-2/

SSDV picture from a PIE balloon – Image credit Dave Akerman M0RPI

The UKHAS Conference will be held at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, on Saturday, September 10, 2016. There will be an opportunity to take the amateur radio Foundation Practical Assessments and Exam.

The conference attracts those interested in learning about building and flying High Altitude Balloons or in tracking their 434 MHz signals.

Tickets can be purchased from the wiki page and cost just £10 each.

This is our first year away from London but the change in location also comes with a greatly reduced ticket price, with thanks to Andy Batey G7LBL for offering up the facilities. Hopefully this will offset any increased difficulties in travel and Cambridge is still well connected to the major transport hubs.

For those who haven’t attended before, the conference is a great opportunity to learn more about the hobby and meet new faces. There will be a series of structured talks, workshops and discussions.

If you would like to speak or run a workshop, please do get in touch with either Daniel Saul M6DSA or Steve Randall G8KHW. Contributions don’t need to be directly linked to ballooning and we look forward to all suggestions.

As in previous years, there will also be the opportunity to take RSGB amateur radio exams on the day. Please contact Phil Crump M0DNY if you are interested email: phil <at> philcrump.co.uk

We look forward to seeing you all in September!

Cheers,

Daniel & Steve

UKHAS Conference Booking https://ukhas.org.uk/general:ukhasconference2016

Those intending to take the amateur radio Foundation exam may find this free Online Foundation course useful http://www.essexham.co.uk/foundation-online

Last year’s conference had an impressive line of of radio amateurs giving presentations
https://amsat-uk.org/2015/08/17/2015-ukhas-conference/

View from Balloon – Image Credit Caen School

The Appledore Amateur Radio Club helped students at Caen School in Braunton, Devon with their balloon, callsign CAEN_CP1, which transmitted pictures using Slow Scan Digital Video (SSDV) on 434.250 MHz.

The balloon was launched on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at the school sports day by members of the Pi, Code and Chips after school club. It reached an altitude of 32,540 metres before the payload descended back to Earth by parachute.

The North Devon Gazette say the club – for STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects – has been working on the balloon project for weeks under the guidance of trainee teacher Bill Harvey. The payload for the flight included a Raspberry Pi mini computer, plus cameras and sensors.

The North Devon Journal reports:

Bill Harvey, an ex-services trainee teacher, is passionate about getting pupils enthused with science and this project was one of many that he hopes to use to inspire children.

“We enlisted the help of the Appledore Amateur Radio Club for ground to air communications as well as the Commando Logistics Regiment RMB Chivenor who provided personnel and equipment.”

Read the full North Devon Journal story at
http://www.northdevonjournal.co.uk/braunton-primary-school-successfully-launches-high-altitude-balloon-into-space/story-29448234-detail/story.html

Read the North Devon Gazette story at
http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/news/braunton_balloon_launch_sees_pupils_reach_the_skies_1_4593411

SSDV images http://ssdv.habhub.org/
Useful balloon tracking links and information https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/balloons/

Appledore Amateur Radio Club http://www.adarc.co.uk/

SSDV picture from a PIE balloon – Image credit Dave Akerman M0RPI

There’s an impressive line-up of radio amateurs among those giving presentations at the UK High Altitude Society (UKHAS) conference in Cambridge on Saturday, September 10, 2016.

Watch Live at http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/ioa/streaming

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsaAI_L8A1g

The conference takes place at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge and attracts those interested in learning about building and flying High Altitude Balloons or in tracking their 434 MHz signals.

Tickets can be purchased from the wiki page and cost just £10 each.

Provisional Schedule as at August 16:
09:30     Assembly – Drinks & Biscuits
10:00     Welcome & Introduction
10:10     LoRa – Dave Akerman M0RPI
10:40     Evidence that Biology is Continually Arriving to Earth from Space – Prof Milton Wainwright (Univ. of Sheffield)
11:10     Operation Outward – Steve Randall G8KHW
11:40     Break
12:00     Chase & Recovery – Dave Akerman M0RPI
12:30     VORTEX Parachute Tests – John Underwood
13:00     Lunch
14:00     CUSF’s Martlet Rockets – Adam Greig M0RND
14:30     Introducing AirCores – Dr Johannes Laube (UEA)
15:00     Scheduled Talk Subject to Official Approval
15:30     Break
15:45     500 cu m Solar Balloon Project – Sven Steudte DL7AD
16:15     Superpressure Maths & Envelope Construction – Richard Meadows M0SBU (UBSEDS)
16:45     End

UKHAS were offering the option to complete the amateur radio Foundation Practical Assessments and Exam at the conference. This was rapidly fully booked, perhaps a sign of the shortage of Foundation exams venues.

If you would like to speak or run a workshop, please do get in touch with either Daniel Saul M6DSA or Steve Randall G8KHW. Contributions don’t need to be directly linked to ballooning and they look forward to all suggestions.

Conference registration information is at
https://ukhas.org.uk/general:ukhasconference2016

Richard Meadows M0SBU reports two high altitude balloons carrying 434 MHz payloads will launch from Bristol on Monday, August 29. There will be Slow Scan Digital Video (SSDV) transmissions.

Online real-time tracking of UBSEDS balloons https://tracker.habhub.org/#!mt=roadmap&mz=8&qm=3_days&q=UBSED*&f=UBSEDS20

We’re planning the first launch of ‘pico-pi’, our Raspberry Pi Zero based tracker, from Bristol this Bank Holiday Monday, August 29 between 0500 and 0530 BST. This launch is using a 1.9m envelope and longer payload train, and so we have a NOTAM in place.

There’s more information about the tracker itself here: https://github.com/bristol-seds/pico-pi-rel

The combined payload mass will be about 70 grams, and the attempted float altitude will be about 13 km. This is our first launch of this setup, so it seems unlikely that everything will go to plan!

First is the UBSEDS19 backup tracker, which is powered from a single AAA Lithium Energiser battery. It transmits Contestia 16/1000 with pips and RSID on 434.615 MHz USB, once per minute below 8km altitude and every two minutes otherwise. The battery is expected to last a few days.

Next is UBSEDS20, which is the experimental Raspberry Pi Zero board. This is powered from solar panels only, and hence is only expected to operate continously after about 0830 BST (before this it may transmit without a GPS lock, as the Raspberry Pi and GPS are powered down).

– 434.610 MHz USB: 300 baud RTTY, 850Hz shift, 8N2 transmitting telemetry and SSDV. There is also Contestia 16/1000 with RSID on this frequency. If you are listening to the RTTY, remember to turn off the ‘RxID’ button on the top right of dl-fldigi.

– 869.85 MHZ LoRa ‘Mode 3’ (250kHz / SF7 / EC4:6, explicit header), transmitting SSDV with the callsign ‘UBSEDL’. This frequency is only active in Europe. Many thanks to Dave Akerman M0RPI for making his work on LoRa available for us to use, including the lora gateway.

Rather than the usual JPEG SSDV, this payload is transmitting Better Portable Graphics (BPG) images. This is experimental, and ssdv.habhub.org doesn’t support it just yet. Hence receivers should upload to http://ssdv.bristol-seds.co.uk/ instead, please read the instructions on this site. You’ll need dl-fldigi release 3.2 and slightly modified LoRa gateway, as explained on the site. The dl-fldigi release can be found here: https://github.com/jamescoxon/dl-fldigi/releases/tag/3.2

Many thanks to everyone who attempts to track these.

Richard Meadows M0SBU
Bristol SEDS http://www.bristol-seds.co.uk/

Useful balloon links https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/balloons/

Richard took the amateur radio courses run by the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society (CARS) at Danbury in Essex. Further information on the courses is available from the CARS Training Coordinator, Christopher G0IPU
Tel: 07908-107951
Email: training2016 at g0mwt.org.uk
Web: http://g0mwt.org.uk/training

UBSEDS18 Solar Powered Balloon

The UK balloon UBSEDS18 carrying payloads for APRS and 434 MHz has successfully crossed the Pacific, on the same day a USA amateur radio APRS balloon crossed the Atlantic.

The solar powered UBSEDS18 was developed by students from Bristol University and launched on Wednesday, August 17. Since then it has traveled in an easterly direction for 20,252 km completing the Pacific crossing on Thursday, September 1, 2016.

UBSEDS18
https://twitter.com/bristolseds
http://www.bristol-seds.co.uk/hab/flight/2016/08/17/ubseds18.html
https://tracker.habhub.org/#!mt=roadmap&mz=2&qm=All&f=UBSEDS18&q=UBSEDS18

The amateur radio APRS balloon CNSP30 was launched from California on August 25 and on September 1 crossed the coast of northern France. Its APRS signal was receivable across central and southern England.

CNSP30
https://twitter.com/K6RPT
http://www.cnsp-inc.com/cnsp-30/
http://aprs.fi/#!call=a%2FK6RPT-11&timerange=604800&tail=604800

Richard Meadows M0SBU, who worked on the development of UBSEDS18, took the amateur radio training courses run by the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society (CARS) at Danbury in Essex. Further information on the courses is available from the CARS Training Coordinator, Christopher G0IPU
Tel: 07908-107951
Email: training2016 at g0mwt.org.uk
Web: http://g0mwt.org.uk/training

At around 1100 GMT on Sunday, Sept 11, a Dutch High Altitude Balloon will launch with a UHF/VHF FM transponder, 23cm ATV transmitter and beacon, the range should be over 500 km.

The weather balloon will be launched from the Netherlands, amateur radio stations in nearby countries have to wait a while to hear the signals until the balloon reach a higher altitude! (the maximal altitude might reach 30km it also did in the past!).

Balloon transmitters frequency information:
Beacon:  145.450 MHz (100 mW FM/N).
FM crossband voice transponder uplink: 432.550 MHz downlink: 145.475 MHz (1 Watt FM/N).
ATV video transmitter 1252 MHz (1 Watt FM, camera looking down to earth).
The balloon camera video stream can be world wide seen on the website (see the urls below).

Ground control stations:
PI4RCG      7.080 kHz, 3.650 kHz (+/- 10kHz QRM).
PI2NOS    430.125 MHz (+1.6 Shift) ground repeater in the Netherlands (also audible via echolink).
PI3UTR    145.575 MHz (-0.6 Shift / 77Hz) ground repeater in the Netherlands (also audible via echolink).

The official balloon fox hunt website and social media websites:
http://www.pi6atv.com/ live video from the balloon camera
https://www.ballonvossenjacht.nl (you can choose the English language from the menu).
http://www.facebook.com/ballonvossenjacht
https://twitter.com/ballonvosjacht (often with quick update news messages!).

73’s Cor PD0RKC

SSDV picture from a PIE balloon – Image credit Dave Akerman M6RPI/2E0LTX/M0RPI

Ryan Ing reports he will launch a high altitude balloon with a 434 MHz Slow Scan Digital Video (SSDV) payload from the John Masefield High School Thursday, September 15.

The balloon’s transmitter should have a range of some 500-600 km for much of its flight permitting reception across the UK.

Ryan says: I’ll be doing my first launch around 10am Sept 15 from my sixth form in Ledbury, Herefordshire.  Predicted to burst at 32km, landing somewhere near Leominster.

RTTY, 434.250 MHz, 300 baud, 770 Hz Shift, 2 stop bits and 8 bit ASCII. With SSDV

Online real-time tracking of balloons http://tracker.habhub.org/

Useful High Altitude Balloon, UKHAS and SSDV links https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/balloons/

UBSEDS18 Solar Powered Balloon

A UK student built balloon carrying APRS and 434 MHz payloads is expected to complete its 2nd circumnavigation of the northern hemisphere on Tuesday afternoon .

The solar powered UBSEDS18 was developed by students at Bristol University and launched on Wednesday, August 17. Since then it has traveled in an easterly direction for over 62,000 km and is expected in the Bay of Biscay off the New Aquitaine coast on September 20.

The inovative balloon utilizes a LIC1235R 40F li-ion supercapacitor to enabled continued transmission after sunset.

UBSEDS18
https://twitter.com/bristolseds
http://www.bristol-seds.co.uk/hab/flight/2016/08/17/ubseds18.html
https://tracker.habhub.org/#!mt=roadmap&mz=2&qm=All&f=UBSEDS18&q=UBSEDS18

Richard Meadows M0SBU, who worked on the development of UBSEDS18, took the amateur radio training courses run by the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society (CARS) at Danbury in Essex. Further information on the courses is available from the CARS Training Coordinator, Christopher G0IPU
Tel: 07908-107951
Email: training2016 at g0mwt.org.uk
Web: http://g0mwt.org.uk/training