PS-21 PICO balloon with HF payload

VK2HRX · Post by **VK2HRX** » Sun Sep 21, 2014 4:09 pm

Looks like JT65 is the best mode at the moment.

VK5EI · Post by **VK5EI** » Sun Sep 21, 2014 9:20 pm

PS-21 receiving some good wspr reports from the U.S now

VK3YT · Post by **VK3YT** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 6:20 am

Hi all,

Thanks everyone for assistance with testing.

The balloon was tracked successfully with JT65 until 3am AEST this morning.
Balloon positions are updated on SNUS http://spacenear.us/tracker/?filter=VK3YT

Got some very good WSPR spots from the balloon
KK4MBI 16795km
W3BI 16932km
N2NOM 16762km
W3CSW 16730km

If you have any JT65 packets after 3am this morning please upload here.

Andy

ZL1RS · Post by **ZL1RS** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 7:17 am

The last one here was about the 3am AES (17:00 UTC?) ...

165200 3 -11 -0.4 -269 3 * VK3YT007209 1 0
165300 6 -15 -0.4 -269 3 * -22465137380 1 0

After that the QRM made it "impossible" (I guess as 30m opened into Europe).

73,

VK2FAK · Post by **VK2FAK** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 7:51 am

Hi all....

The question now, was the Altitude remaining stable even though it was lower....or was there a consistent drop..

Pity we can't get VK8KMD to change from 20m to 30m...

Interesting how all the spots from the North (US etc ) stopped early on , around 11 utc...

Andy....look at the Path from the Last spot....assuming its still up..

ZL1RS · Post by **ZL1RS** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 9:26 am

Andy, I noticed during the few hours I was getting JT65 decodes that the height stayed fairly constant around 7200m high (I assume that was the meaning of the numbers following the callsign in the first JT65 transmission sequence?) Was the balloon height regulated with some pressure release device? or?

73,

VK2FAK · Post by **VK2FAK** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 9:54 am

Hi alll......

I think it was a standard balloon that Andy uses....the metalized party balloon....and no release mechanism ..

Andy did mention during the day somewhere the lower height could simply be the colder temps....so a consistent drop in Alt was a sign of a problem.....but you said it was holding ok....so that goes well for possible signals later in the day..

ZL1RS · Post by **ZL1RS** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 10:49 am

Is it back?

2014-09-22 00:42 VK3YT 10.140211 -30 0 QH11 0.01 VK5MR PF96lh 1733 192

..or bogus?

VK2FAK · Post by **VK2FAK** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 10:55 am

Hi all.

the Balloon is back....pick up on WSPR by a VK5MR

oops did not see your post there Bob....my mistake......will switch to WSPR and see if can get a RX on it

Looking at the schedule it was around the right time for a wspr signal...
Looking at the wspr map, that spot was in the right area based on the predicted fight path......

VK2FAK · Post by **VK2FAK** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 11:42 am

Hi all....

another spot......

2014-09-22 01:32 VK3YT 10.140201 -27 0 QH21 0.01 VK4ZBV QG62ml 1297 142

Looks like she is doing ok.....

VK3YT · Post by **VK3YT** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 11:57 am

Hi guys,

Let me know if you can get jt65 so we can update the SNUS map
You can see the rough WSPR map here http://wsprnet.org/drupal/wsprnet/map
Regards,
Andy

VK2FAK · Post by **VK2FAK** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 3:52 pm

Hi all....

The Balloon is now out to sea ......more stations now picking up the WSPR....NZ, VK3, VK5........but sadly nothing here yet....

Can see the JT65.....just no decode yet..

ZL1RS · Post by **ZL1RS** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 4:19 pm

Fighting static crashes and EU QRM, but finally a JT65 decode ...

061100 0 -23 -0.3 129 18 * -16998148956 1 0

and

062000 1 -19 -0.3 129 2 * VK3YT007710 1 0
062100 3 -22 -0.3 129 3 * -16980149085 1 0

73,

VK2FAK · Post by **VK2FAK** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 4:22 pm

Hi all....

Got a Partial JT65....

0621 -19 0.2 1122 # -16980149085

For a change I have a clean waterfall....second packet came right up so maybe some fading

VK2FAK · Post by **VK2FAK** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 4:32 pm

Hi all...

Struggling to get the first packet....second one makes it though...

ZL1RS · Post by **ZL1RS** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 4:33 pm

063000 2 -21 0.5 129 4 * VK3YT007810 1 0
063100 1 -17 0.6 129 2 * -16950149266 1 0

VK2FAK · Post by **VK2FAK** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 4:43 pm

Hi all...

You are on a roll there Bob....what software are you using , it looks a different format to mine..?

ZL1RS · Post by **ZL1RS** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 5:23 pm

A few more while I was having dinner ...

064000 5 -21 -0.4 129 4 * VK3YT007713 1 0
064100 0 -22 -0.3 129 3 * -16921149406 1 0

065200 7 -15 -0.3 129 4 * VK3YT007711 1 0
065300 6 -16 -0.4 129 4 * -16874149621 1 0

072000 5 -17 -0.4 132 1 * VK3YT007606 1 0
072100 5 -20 -0.4 132 1 * -16777150072 1 0

Quite captivating when one keeps in mind that the PS-21 HF transmitter has just 15mW output power.

The software here is the regular JT65 'module' in WSJT that I use for EME. Are you using JT65HF software? The format in that is probably different to be more 'HF QSO friendly'.

73,

VK2FAK · Post by **VK2FAK** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 5:30 pm

Hi all...

Using the WSJT-X version here...

yes such a small signal and maybe it can be copied for some time yet....

VK2XSO · Post by **VK2XSO** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 6:18 pm

It's just annoying being in VK8 without a HF radio and watching you guys having the fun

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PS-21 PICO balloon with HF payload

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