Flight path of the B-64 balloon launched by Leo Bodnar M0XER

The 434 MHz solar powered balloon B-64, launched by radio amateur Leo Bodnar M0XER, is approaching the UK at the end of a record breaking journey around the world.

Party balloon with tiny solar powered 434 MHz transmitter – Image credit Leo Bodnar M0XER

Leo launched his balloon from Silverstone in the UK on July 12, 2014. It traveled east across Asia, the Pacific and the Americas and is expected to complete the final transatlantic crossing arriving over Cornwall on July 31 or August 1. It is then likely to continue eastwards into Europe.

Radio amateurs and listeners should be able to receive B-64’s Contestia 64/1000 signal on 434.500 MHz USB with the usual pips. When it is over the UK it will alternate the Contestia tranmission with APRS also on 434.500 MHz running 10 mW output.

During the circumnavigation of the northern hemisphere B-64 has traveled over 25,000 km across some of the most remote terrain in the planet.

See the track of B-64 at http://spacenear.us/tracker/?filter=B-64

Typical 434 MHz solar powered payload – Image credit Leo Bodnar M0XER

Leo Bodnar M0XER balloons http://www.leobodnar.com/balloons/

Download the dl-fldigi software from http://ukhas.org.uk/projects:dl-fldigi

Beginners Guide to Tracking using dl-fldigi http://ukhas.org.uk/guides:tracking_guide

Listen to balloons online (when in range of south-east UK) from anywhere in the world with the SUWS 434 MHz WebSDR (select USB)
https://amsat-uk.org/2013/12/28/websdr-for-434-and-1296-mhz/

For High Altitude Balloon chat check the #highaltitude IRC channel. A web client is available at
http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=highaltitude

To get up-to-date information on balloon flights subscribe to the UKHAS Mailing List by sending a blank email to this address: ukhas+subscribe@googlegroups.com