PS-52 PICO balloon HF payload WSPR JT9

[VK3YT]

FYI,

PS-52 is in the air.

Solar powered party balloon, 25mW TX
TX WSPR, JT9 on 30m and 20m

Dial frequency 10.138700Mhz and 14.095600Mhz (standard WSPR dial frequencies) for WSPR, JT9.
JT9 at 1000Hz

See HF decoding info at http://picospace.net/?cat=34

Tracking as PS-52 on SNUS http://picospace.net/tracker/new
WSPR call sign is VK3ANH http://wsprnet.org/olddb?findcall=vk3anh

IRC channel #picospace on Freenode: http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=picospace

TX scheduling
Minute - Band - Mode - Condition
:00 - 30m - 2 mins WSPR then two x 1 min JT9 - mandatory
:10 - 20m - 2 mins WSPR then two x 1 min JT9 - if batt full
:20 - 30m - 2 mins WSPR then two x 1 min JT9 - if batt full
:30 - 20m - 2 mins WSPR then two x 1 min JT9 - mandatory
:40 - 30m - 2 mins WSPR then two x 1 min JT9 - if batt full
:50 - 20m - 2 mins WSPR then two x 1 min JT9 - if batt full

Prediction:


Assistance with tracking is appreciated.

Regards,
Andy

[VK3YT]

WSJTX 1.6.0-devel with telemetry option is available on picospace.net

http://picospace.net/wp-content/uploads ... -win32.exe

[ZL3LSD]

Hi Andy,

I started using WSJTX 1.5.0-devel on Ubuntu. I found the source code "somewhere" and built it with Cmake. I can't find the latest WSJTX 1.6.0-devel source code anywhere. Do you happen to know where it is?

Thanks & 73
Lorne ZL3LSD

[VK3ZYC]

see topic WSJT-X
may be of some help.

jim

[VK3YT]

Hi Andy,

I started using WSJTX 1.5.0-devel on Ubuntu. I found the source code "somewhere" and built it with Cmake. I can't find the latest WSJTX 1.6.0-devel source code anywhere. Do you happen to know where it is?

Thanks & 73
Lorne ZL3LSD

Hi Lorne,
You can find the modified source with telemetry option on picospace.net
http://picospace.net/?p=552
Regards,
Andy

[VK3YT]

Updated modified 1.6.0-devel version for WSJTX now has an option, "PS hopping" to enable band-hopping to match Picospace payload TX schedule, if the rig has CAT.
This is available in WSPR mode



Once that is enabled, select the 10 bands in Schedule. These bands are required for correct frequency mapping and timing.
Note: the "Band Hopping" check box needs to be selected as well.



For full automatic band tracking and WSPR/JT9 decoding, you can run two instances of WSJTX, one for WSPR and one for JT9.
The WSPR instance also switches the frequency to match PS TX schedule if CAT is available.

A new instance can be started from command line with the -r <NAME> option, e.g.
C:\WSJT\wsjtx\bin\wsjtx -r WSPR

[VK1KW]

I don't like the direction PS-52 is headed - looks cold in southern pacific

[VK4ALF]

Its dropped in altitude too .
Is it Just me or is it propagation but signals on the launch have been fantastic , Interested if Andy has changed the antenna configuration

Len
VK4ALF

[VK5EI]

Last few hours has been nail biting, hopefully just wx conditions

[ZL1RS]

... Is it Just me or is it propagation but signals on the launch have been fantastic , Interested if Andy has changed the antenna configuration

Similar thought here, but Andy says the antenna is the same. On the other hand, HF propagation (on 30m especially) was quite good the last couple of days, and generally improves running up to the equinox season.

PS-52 took a dip in altitude but recovered to 7581m before descending again. When last 'heard' propagation was failing ... 20m was dead here and 30m was dropping off in general as well. In the end, at the descent rate of -0.6m/S it probably ended badly

PS-52 was heading due south and only 800km from Antarctica, so even if it made a 2nd recovery there is very little daylight there at this time of year to charge the battery.

73,

[ZL3LSD]

Hi Andy,

I started using WSJTX 1.5.0-devel on Ubuntu. I found the source code "somewhere" and built it with Cmake. I can't find the latest WSJTX 1.6.0-devel source code anywhere. Do you happen to know where it is?

Thanks & 73
Lorne ZL3LSD

Hi Lorne,
You can find the modified source with telemetry option on picospace.net
http://picospace.net/?p=552
Regards,
Andy

Super bit of software Andy, 2 instances of WSJT-x Ver 1.6 replaces 2 instances of WSPR and 2 of WSJTx on each band, not to mention the SDR rig software telling it to listen on 2 frequencies plus 2 soundcards or 2 virtual audio cables. A tiny balloon had created a logistical software nightmare.

[VK4ALF]

That is really GOOD .
The schedule is great ,Love only having to have one program open . Looking forward to the next balloon

Len VK4ALF QG63LK