Amateur Radio in High Altitude Ballooning Joe Schwarz, N9UX

Agenda ● Why Launch a Balloon? ● High Altitude Balloon Basics ● Tracking ● Pictures and video ● Recovery ● Other Info and Resources

Why Launch a Balloon ● Get pictures from space ● Track via APRS from high altitudes ● Foxhunt hidden transmitter ● The challenge of it; Global Space Balloon Challenge

High Altitude Balloon Basics Safety First! Basic Steps Build - Launch - Flight - Recover - Report Typical configuration Latex Balloon (Helium or Hydrogen) Parachute Radar Reflector Payload KC9EHO-11 Launch 20-Sep-2014

Basics: Payload Our payload consists of: ● Styrofoam Cooler ● Tracking Equipment (APRS, SPOT, Foxhunt Beacon) ● Cameras (Video and Time-Lapse)

Basics: Payload Images

Basics: Where am I going to Land? Predictions will get you close, but not an exact science. Our favorite prediction site: You can run models out 180 hours from the current time.

Tracking: APRS Our Hardware Configuration: GPS/Tracker/Radio GPS: Not all GPS receivers are equal! You need a GPS which will work over 18km altitude Byonics GPS4 Tracker: Argent Data Opentracker (OT1 rev4 on Launch 1) (OT USB on Launch 2) Radio: Baofeng UV-5R, stock battery, homebrew 2m dipole See Resources page for other options, self contained tracking units, etc.

Tracking: APRS Tracker Configuration Profile 1: Alt <= 2996 ft beacon every 63 seconds, use path WIDE 1-1, WIDE2-1 This gives you the best chance at getting to an i-Gate More beacons helps in recovery Profile 2: Alt > 2996 ft beacon every 87 seconds, no path No need to relay, you will be heard by multiple i-Gates at this altitude!

Tracking: APRS Tracker Configuration Images :

Tracking: APRS Tracker Configuration Profile Switching:

Tracking: APRS View your live APRS track on aprs.fi or direct radio

Tracking: APRS Have a complete view of your track from aprs.fi

Tracking: APRS Export your APRS track to Google Earth and get a 3D map

Tracking: Foxhunt Beacon Launch 2: Contained a 50mW voice beacon for tracking 20 seconds on / 40 seconds off SquawkBox T-hunt Transmitter with voice record/playback

Pictures and Video: Current: Local Stored pictures and video SD card needs to be retrieved Future: Slow Scan Images or Fast Scan TV Weight is a concern, hardware to do this is becoming more affordable and lightweight

Pictures and Video: Launch 1 ● Sony AS30V Action Cam 1080p 60 fps, mp4 format - battery ran out before balloon burst Fogging was an issue ● Raspberry Pi Model B with Camera Module 5MP, time lapse every 60 seconds, JPEG SD cards recovered 4 months after flight, data intact

Pictures and Video: Launch 2 ● Sony AS20V Action Cam Ventilated case, 1080p 60 fps, mp4 format ● Monoprice Action Cam 2.0 5MP, time-lapse picture every 10 seconds, JPEG ● Raspberry Pi Model B+ with Camera Module and Adafruit GPS Hat 5MP, time lapse (5 pictures) + 15 seconds 1080p video every 60 seconds, JPEG, custom Python script to collect and embed GPS data into pictures

Pictures and Video: Samples Time-Lapse Photos from Launch 1 KC9EHO Sep-2014

Recovery Tracking systems will get you close, but you still need to walk and get it! We were fortunate to get aerial footage of the march from hams who are pilots. Launch 1 landed in a marsh outside Madison 35+ man-hours of searching! 1.Launch Day: Joe, Dave, Lee, Sam, Mark, Steve (3+ hours) Sep Lee and Sam Turner (3 hours) 3.Joe and Dave, with Mark and Duane drone support (3 hours) 4.Joe Dave, Bill, Brian, Rich (1 hour) - Feb 2015 after marsh had frozen Biggest lesson learned: If you can’t see it, research landing site before heading out.

Recovery Prepare for many possibilities: ● Land ● Water ● Mud ● Marsh ● Trees You might get dirty! Seek permission FIRST if you land on private property!

Future Launch ideas: ● Live video feed from balloon ● Two-way communication with balloon ● Data collection: Temp inside/outside, Barometric pressure, radiation, other sensors ● Simplex or cross-band repeaters ● Launch over Lake Michigan, have another team retrieve on east side of lake ● IR or UV cameras

Our Information Shameless plug for our social media sites: Facebook: YouTube: Google+: Twitter: We are also on hab-ham.org and the arhab.org schedule.hab-ham.orgarhab.org

Resources 1 APRS and Tracking Units Byonics Argent Data Big Red Bee WB6EYV MicroHunt Foxhunting Transmitter FAA Regulations PART 101—MOORED BALLOONS, KITES, AMATEUR ROCKETS AND UNMANNED FREE BALLOONS

Resources 2 Other groups doing launches Peoria Amateur Radio Club Edge of Space Sciences Global Space Balloon Challenge Other Useful Web Sites

Questions? Ask Anything!