WSPR on Habhub Tracker

John Laidler

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Jul 18, 2022, 12:01:36 PM7/18/22

to UKHAS

I've reached the stage where I am ground testing a U4B WSPR payload in my garden, running off 3 AAA batteries for convenience. The next tests will be with solar panels. With the antenna just draped along a wooden fence I've been heard in Germany and the Canary Islands today, which isn't bad for 9mW as I have it running on the low power setting.

I Initially ran it on 20m but it is now, after I shortened the antenna, on 15m and the shorter 3.5m dipole legs are a lot easier to handle.

It has appeared on WSPRnet and on Pedro's LU7AA site. QRP Labs have their own tracking site, which worked for me on 20m but isn't for some reason working after I changed to 15m.

The above is just background to my question. How can I get a WSPR balloon to appear on the Habhub Tracker map? I've had a quick search on here but couldn't see anything.

Any help would be much appreciated. I also should point out I have a Trials and Development Licence from OfCom for operating HF WSPR airborne. This runs out in November so the launch or launches as I have 2 U4Bs will be before then. What the legal position is outside the UK is anyone's guess of course.

73

John

M0WIV

Kevin Walton

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Jul 18, 2022, 12:21:49 PM7/18/22

to John Laidler, UKHAS

I'm sure there are better versions now, and I know there are other options (inc via Pedro's site) but I used:

https://github.com/KevWal/hab-wspr

Cheers
Kev

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Sent from my Android device. Please excuse my brevity.

Mark Jessop

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Jul 18, 2022, 4:56:35 PM7/18/22

to uk...@googlegroups.com, John Laidler

Be warned, with the U4B tracker, QRP labs is now doing even more tricky stuff to get more channels, involving also looking at the receive frequency, not just the channel number. I'm not sure the existing WSPR -> APRS/Whatever importers are handling that.

Note that if it ends up on APRS via whatever means, it will also end up on HabHub, and also amateur.sondehub.org

73

Mark VK5QI

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Kevin Walton

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Jul 18, 2022, 5:36:19 PM7/18/22

to uk...@googlegroups.com, Mark Jessop, John Laidler

Ahh, yes, good shout Mark, my balloons were before the time of the U4B.

Sorry for the duff steer - that code would need some rework.

Cheers
Kev

Mark Jessop

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Jul 18, 2022, 6:08:46 PM7/18/22

to Kevin Walton, uk...@googlegroups.com, John Laidler

We probably need some more information from the dev too...

I've heard things like he's using some 'known good' (?!) WSPR stations for frequency calibration to ensure the frequency-based channel selection works. Without more information on how he's doing that it may be difficult to replicate it elsewhere. I really do hope these trackers don't end up becoming a closed ecosystem where the telemetry can only be interpreted in one place...

I have previously sent the dev a message with information on the amateur.sondehub.org API, suggesting that he upload telemetry there, but have heard no response. It might be better coming from a customer, rather than someone else :-)