Tag Archives: UKHAS

Sep 9 2013

B-11 and B-12 Pico Balloons Break World Duration Record

Tracks of the pico balloons B-11 and B-12 in red and blue respectively as at Sept. 9, 2013 12:38 UT

Tracks of the pico balloons B-11 and B-12 in red and blue respectively as at Sept. 9, 2013 12:38 UT

The solar powered pico balloons B-11 and B-12 were launched by Leo Bodnar from Silverstone, UK on September 1 and 2 respectively. As of 1238 UT on Monday, September 9 both balloons were still in the air transmitting the amateur radio DominoEX16 data mode on 434.500 MHz USB.

B-12 Pico balloon with the tiny lightweight 434 MHz payload - Image credit Leo Bodnar

B-12 Pico balloon with the tiny lightweight 434 MHz payload – Image credit Leo Bodnar

During their record breaking duration flights the two balloons have between them flown over most countries in Europe and are now out of the range of tracking stations. B-11 was last reported over Turkey and B-12 over Ukraine. Both balloons are fitted with solar panels which recharge the on-board Lipo battery. B-12 has suffered a battery failure so only transmits when in sunlight.

Pico balloons are proving increasing popular with amateurs. The small foil party balloons can only carry ultra light balloon payloads, typically weighing less than 100 grams. This presents a challenge to the builders to produce a transmitter, GPS, batteries and antenna that are small and light enough to be carried.

Balloons such as these do not go to extremes of altitude but instead float at between 2,500 and 8,000 metres for an extended period. The 434 MHz transmitters can have a radio range of up to 400 km.

Information on the two balloons is at
http://www.leobodnar.com/balloons/B-11/index.html
http://www.leobodnar.com/balloons/B-12/index.html

Tracks of B-11 and B-12 http://spacenear.us/tracker/?filter=B-11;B-12

Real-time balloon tracking http://spacenear.us/tracker/

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

To get details of upcoming UK balloon launches subscribe to the UKHAS Mailing List by sending a blank email to this address:
ukhas+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Sep 9 2013

Foundation Exam Success at UKHAS Conference

Attendees at the UKHAS Conference 2013 - Image credit Anthony Stirk M0UPU

Attendees at the UKHAS Conference 2013 – Image credit Anthony Stirk M0UPU

The UK High Altitude Society (UKHAS) conference took place at the University of Greenwich, London on Saturday, September 7.

The conference attracted those interested in learning about building and flying High Altitude Balloons or in tracking their 434 MHz signals.

The Successful Foundation Candidates UKHAS 2013 - Image credit Anthony Stirk M0UPU

The Successful Foundation Candidates UKHAS 2013 – Image credit Anthony Stirk M0UPU

The first conference was held in 2011 and has grown steady in size and scope each successive year. This year there was the opportunity for participants to take the assessments and exam for the amateur radio Foundation licence. Six people took advantage of this opportunity and all are reported to have passed.

There was an impressive line-up of speakers and among the presentations was one on Narrow Band TV (NBTV) given by Phil Heron 2I0VIM.

Ed Moore M0TEK ran a GPS workshop in the afternoon.

Special thanks should go to the volunteers from the British Amateur Television Club (BATC) who provided live web streaming of the presentations and have now made the videos available for all to see on their website at http://www.batc.tv/channel.php?cat=HAB+2013&ch=1

The International UKHAS 2013 Conference
http://ukhas.org.uk/general:ukhasconference2013

Aug 14 2013

Amateur Radio Foundation Exam and NB TV at UKHAS Conference

James Coxon M6JCX launching a PICO balloon on 434.301 MHz USB

James Coxon M6JCX launching a PICO balloon on 434.301 MHz USB

There are a few tickets still available for the UKHAS conference at the University of Greenwich, London on Saturday, September 7.

The UK High Altitude Society (UKHAS) conference attracts those interested in learning about building and flying High Altitude Balloons or in tracking their 434 MHz signals.

The conference is open to all, you don’t have to have flown a High Altitude Balloon, you’ll probably get more out of it as a total beginner as there will be a huge wealth of experience in the room you can speak to.

There is an impressive line-up of speakers in addition to which there will be workshops, demonstrations along with assessments and exam for the amateur radio Foundation licence. Among the presentations will be one on Narrow Band TV by Phil Heron 2I0VIM.

SSDV picture from a PIE balloon - Image credit Dave Akerman M6RPI

SSDV picture from a PIE balloon – Image credit Dave Akerman M6RPI

Workshops :
Balloon Q&A – James Coxon M6JCX
Pi – Dave Akerman M6RPI
Foundation Exam Preparation – Phillip Crump M0DNY
Knots! – Anthony Stirk M0UPU

Demonstrations:
Balloon -> ISS APRS Setup – James Coxon M6JCX
Setting up Receiving Station – Anthony Stirk M0UPU

The current itinerary (subject to change!) is at
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SjENgll8iYXLDli4HJHR1DgjHrHjmpAm1vChTz-bo-M/edit?usp=sharing

You can get tickets at
http://ava.upuaut.net/store/index.php?route=product/category&path=74

James M6JCX and Anthony M0UPU report that the British Amateur Television Club batc.tv have kindly agreed to attend to give the conference the “AMSAT” treatment so for those of you unable to make it we hope to finally stream the conference. They will where time permits also take questions from people watching remotely.

The conference will start at 0930 and finish 1700, afterwards there will be the traditional pub trip this time into Greenwich.

The International UKHAS 2013 Conference http://ukhas.org.uk/general:ukhasconference2013

Jul 22 2013

Video of STRATODEAN High Altitude Balloon Presentation

Team STRATODEAN - Cassie Phelps and Mark Ireland

Team STRATODEAN – Cassie Phelps and Mark Ireland

The members of Team STRATODEAN, Cassie Phelps and Mark Ireland, gave a presentation on their High Altitude Balloon project to the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium on Saturday, July 20, 2013.

Image from STRATODEAN Two

Image from STRATODEAN Two

The STRATODEAN team have sent high altitude weather balloons complete with payload from the Forest of Dean up to the edge of space (approx. 34 km up into the Stratosphere).

Each balloon was equipped with a camera and video recorder as well as GPS and a 434 MHz telemetry transmitter running 50 bps, 350 Hz shift, ASCII. The transmitter enables the balloon to be tracked during its flight and then located once it has burst and returned to earth with the help of a parachute.

Their first balloon STRATODEAN One launched on April 21, 2013 followed by STRATODEAN Two on May 18, 2013 and they managed to capture some stunning pictures and video.

Watch the STRATODEAN presentation

STRATODEAN High Altitude Balloon Project http://www.stratodean.co.uk/

To get details of upcoming UK balloon launches subscribe to the UKHAS Mailing List by sending a blank email to this address: ukhas+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Videos of other presentations at the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium can be seen via
https://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/colloquium-2013/presentation-videos/

AMSAT-UK publishes a colour A4 newsletter, OSCAR News, that is full of Amateur Satellite information. A sample issue of OSCAR News can be downloaded here.
Join AMSAT-UK online at http://tinyurl.com/JoinAMSAT-UK/

Jun 20 2013

Live Video Streaming from UKHAS Conference

SSDV picture from a PIE balloon - Image credit Dave Akerman M6RPI

SSDV picture from a PIE balloon – Image credit Dave Akerman M6RPI

The 3rd UK High Altitude Society (UKHAS) conference which takes place in London at Greenwich University on Saturday, September 7, 2013 is planned to be streamed live to the Internet.

The conference is open to anyone, you don’t have to have flown a High-Altitude Balloon, you’ll probably get more out of it as a total beginner as there will be a huge wealth of experience in the room you can speak to.

Further information is available at https://amsat-uk.org/2013/06/19/ukhas-conference-sept-7/

Videos of the presentations given at previous conferences are at http://ukhas.org.uk/general:ukhasconference

You can subscribe to the UKHAS Mailing List by sending a blank email to this address:
ukhas+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Jun 19 2013

UK High Altitude Society (UKHAS) Conference Sept 7

SSDV picture from a PIE balloon - Image credit Dave Akerman M6RPI

SSDV picture from a PIE balloon – Image credit Dave Akerman M6RPI

The 3rd UKHAS conference will take place on Saturday, September 7, 2013 in London. This year the venue will be at Greenwich University on the banks of the river Thames and just down the hill from the Royal Observatory and the (dreaded to HAB) meridian line (the venue is 51.48381, -0.0050) http://goo.gl/maps/KeOyc

The conference is open to all, you don’t have to have flown a High Altitude Balloon, you’ll probably get more out of it as a total beginner as there will be a huge wealth of experience in the room you can speak to.

A lecture theatre and adjacent classroom are being hired so will have a lot more space than last time. Lunch will be included as before.

The day plan will be most likely lectures in the morning and then in the afternoon workshops, demos and more informal talks. Provisional talks include:

James Coxon M6JCX – Pico Balloons (3 years on)
Ed Moore M0TEK – How GPS works
John Graham-Cumming – Debugging HABs (Part 2)
Ara Kourchian – US Ballooning
Dave Akerman M6RPI – Pi in the sky + Afternoon workshop

James Coxon M6JCX launching a PICO balloon on 434.301 MHz USB

James Coxon M6JCX launching a PICO balloon on 434.301 MHz USB

If you would like to do a talk or organise a workshop please contact James Coxon M6JCX directly. Email jacoxon at gmail.com

The conference will start at 0930 and finish 1700, afterwards there will be the traditional pub trip this time into Greenwich.

Greenwich University is easy to get to, it is on the DLR, lots of bus routes, mainline trains, Thames clipper river boat and not too far from the Jubilee line. There is some on street parking in the area but most will be pay and display.

Tickets will be £30 per person but we will offer a reduced price for students of £15, this enables the hire of the lecture theatre, classroom and also provides lunch. Tickets are on sale from HAB supplies.
http://ava.upuaut.net/store/index.php?route=product/category&path=74

The UKHAS conference is open to anyone, videos of previous conferences can be seen at http://ukhas.org.uk/general:ukhasconference

You can subscribe to the UKHAS Mailing List by sending a blank email to this address:
ukhas+subscribe@googlegroups.com