PS-46 PICO balloon HF payload WSPR JT9

[ZL1RS]

PS-46 moved south and crossed the track it traveled on for the first circumnavigation. Hopefully it has drifted out of the 'quiet air' it had been hanging in for the past days and will move onwards to the east again at a decent speed.


PS-46 current position crossing the first circumnavigation track.


Upper atmosphere winds showing the 'quiet air' PS-46 has been in for several days.


Latest trajectory prediction for the next 3 days.

73,

[VK2XTC]

I notice PS-46 is heading north and approaching the equator.

I thought the winds didn't mix between hemispheres ?

Could PS-46 actually cross the equator ? That would be interesting !



Brian

VK2XTC

[VK4ADC]

It seems that the African continent does not want to let go of PS-46

It's been up nearly a month now so I would guess you would be exceptionally happy with that Andy (3YT).

[VK1JA]

Absolutely amazing that PS-46 is still floating around!

Although, going by current predictions it might be a while until we see it pass over Austraila....

[VK2JDH]

Almost 2 laps , amazing. Keep going balloon

[ZL1RS]

Awwwww ... and we love you too PS-46

[VK3DXE]

heart.jpg

Awwwww ... and we love you too PS-46

Haha, my daughter has been anticipating the love heart for a couple of days now

[VK3YT]

Finally PS-46 will be making its second pass over the starting longitude of 144.894 tomorrow, between 00:00UTC and 05:00UTC.


Andy

[VK1KW]

But heading into the path of an out of season cyclone - she'll be right though.

[VK1JA]

And she's still going !

Andy - just wondering if you did anything different to this balloon compared to the previous ones? Did you spray the balloon with special UV protection, different gas used, different balloon type altogether?

It's been up in the air for a lot longer than the previous ones - apart from the encounter with bad weather of previous balloons !!!

[VK4ADC]

while you are answering that one, could you include some description of the antenna arrangements on the HF-version balloons ?

I am sure that some photos of the balloon, radio gear, solar charging bits plus antenna would be of interest to the many who, like me, have been following the progress of the various balloons.

We will have to wait for it to finish the current curl up in the gulf to see where it goes next

[VK7XX]

WOOOOO HOOOOOO Just got my 1st ever decode from a balloon.

2132 -16 -0.1 1805 @ VK3YT1883MS.6
and
2133 -17 -0.1 1804 @ 27WA1-PE5917R

on 20m JT9 using unmodified WSJT-X

73
John
VK7XX

Added by edit.... I also decoded it on 30M

2202 -23 -0.3 1803 @ VK3YT1893QTC8
and
2203 -23 -0.1 1803 @ 27UJ1-V/58O8H

I have also now installed & running the modified WSJT-X. I have ticked the Telemetry & Location box's and also enabled PSK reporting in the setup however the last decodes I got since doing all this do not appear to have gone to the tracker page. Have I missed something ??

[VK3YT]

WOOOOO HOOOOOO Just got my 1st ever decode from a balloon.

2132 -16 -0.1 1805 @ VK3YT1883MS.6
and
2133 -17 -0.1 1804 @ 27WA1-PE5917R

on 20m JT9 using unmodified WSJT-X

73
John
VK7XX

Added by edit.... I also decoded it on 30M

2202 -23 -0.3 1803 @ VK3YT1893QTC8
and
2203 -23 -0.1 1803 @ 27UJ1-V/58O8H

I have also now installed & running the modified WSJT-X. I have ticked the Telemetry & Location box's and also enabled PSK reporting in the setup however the last decodes I got since doing all this do not appear to have gone to the tracker page. Have I missed something ??

Nice work John , you are on the map

PS-46 should be crossing the starting Meridian in about 30m, which will be the 20m RX time slot. Would be good if we can have as many listen at 11:30AEST on 20m as possible

Andy

[VK3YT]

And she's still going !

Andy - just wondering if you did anything different to this balloon compared to the previous ones? Did you spray the balloon with special UV protection, different gas used, different balloon type altogether?

It's been up in the air for a lot longer than the previous ones - apart from the encounter with bad weather of previous balloons !!!

Nothing different from previous trip, it is a standard party foil balloon. The weather plays a huge part at these relatively low altitudes, so I guess it was the right condition.

[VK3YT]

while you are answering that one, could you include some description of the antenna arrangements on the HF-version balloons ?

I am sure that some photos of the balloon, radio gear, solar charging bits plus antenna would be of interest to the many who, like me, have been following the progress of the various balloons.

We will have to wait for it to finish the current curl up in the gulf to see where it goes next

Hi Douglas,

The antenna is a pair of wires forming an unmatched dipole

The tracker is a custom board using a synthesiser to generate the RF



Andy

[VK4JAM]

Hi Andy,

I am listening on 14.095.60, just want to confirm the RX on WSJT-X should be 1800 as shown.

73
Andrew

[VK3YT]

Hi Andy,

I am listening on 14.095.60, just want to confirm the RX on WSJT-X should be 1800 as shown.

73
Andrew

Hi Andrew,

Looks like you are not running the modified version, which will not upload data to the map server.
See instructions here http://picospace.net/?p=552.

Beside that if you should get the JT9 at around 1800Hz when setting the dial frequency to 14.095.60

Balloon should cross the line in the next TX cycle at 12:30 AEST on 30m (dial freq 10.138700Mhz)

Andy

[VK4JAM]

Hi Andy,
Thank you, have upgraded to the modified version. Nothing heard so far.
73
Andrew

[ZL1RS]

[VK3YT]

After a two-day delay for another little loop PS-46 crossed over the starting medirian just before 12:30pm AEST this morning, completing the second circumnavigation around the earth.

It's a good time to acknowledge and thank everyone involved in VK, ZL and around the world for assistance with tracking, this would not have been possible without you!

PS-46 will keep on heading East at a higher latitude this round, and it will be interesting to see where this balloon will go!

This is a stats of balloon reception sorted by Jim W3BH from a few days ago, with each count covers RX of two full JT9 telemetry packets from PS-46.

ZL1RS 380 VK6XT 290 VK6YS 215 ZS4TX 160 VK4RV 154 ZS6BTY 152 VK6MT 148 VK5EI 105 ZS6KN 98 VK2DDI 78 ZS6VOL 63 VK2XGJ 55 VK6NI 53 VK1KW 52 VK2FAK 46 ZS6BMN 46 ZS6GC 42 VK3KCX 34 VK3ATQ 30 ZS5J 30 LU5VV 24 VK2GOM 24 VK5PP 21 VK2QQ 16 VK5KDK 16 VK5RM 16 ZL1RS2 13 VK4ADC 12 VK3DXE 7 VK2PR 6 E50W 5 VK7TW 5 LU4EME 3 VK2DX 2 ZL3LSD 2 ZS4TX/P 2 ZS6EHG 2 LU1KCQ 1 ZL2AHB 1

Andy