Amateur high altitude balloon launch 4/16

[Matt Walters]

It's that time of year again! We're launching another high altitude balloon this Thursday, 4/16. The primary tracking system is the LightAPRS 2.0, which will broadcast the balloon's position on 146.390mhz using APRS. For backup, the payload will contain an Apple Air tag and a tile tracker. The tile came in clutch last year when the tracker stopped functioning on the descent.

We're launching from school property, during school hours, so unfortunately we can't invite anyone to the launch itself. If you wanted to help chase, Riley (KF4EMZ) and I certainly wouldn't mind some help! I'll follow up closer to the launch with flight predictions.

We're hoping we can reach around 90k feet this year. The payload should weigh in just under 2lbs, which means we're exempt from most FAA regulations. Max altitude is a fun balance between balloon weight/capacity, payload weight, and helium volume.

Included in the aprs location packets will be some additional telemetry: battery voltage, internal temperature and pressure, external temperature and pressure.

The flight software is fully revamped for this year and includes: launch, burst, and landing detection which will be used for adjusting transmit power and APRS patching, so we aren't using 1w and Wide1-1 at 30k feet (sorry for last year...). It will also automatically adjust its beacon frequently based on flight phase. I'm sorry to anyone I drove nuts on APRS for spamming while I was testing!

We'll have two onboard cameras with 5,000mAh batteries so they should last duration of the flight this time. One is facing the horizon to get that amazing curvature shot, while the other will be point up to catch the balloon bursting.

You can find some build pics on my immich server below:

https://immich.yso.blue/share/quWH5EaFh4lfseQPqCwAL9P1oS9A9iYmvlTZGY_aM-vkoIXVVq02t6CuyK9z2fonosY

[Matt Walters]

Yes, I mean 144.390 🙃

We should be launching around 8:30am. 

On Sat, Apr 11, 2026, 12:09 PM tom benson <wa4...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Matt,

I think you mean the frequency is 144.39 if you are going through the APRS system, and do you have a preliminary launch time in mind?

Thanks and good luck!

Tom, W4OO

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[Matt Walters]

A reminder that we're launching this morning. Our target time is around 8:45, but 9 is probably more realistic. Following along on 144.390mhz or APRS.fi KK4SRB-11.

[Matt Walters]

So, I think we had a tracker failure and never pinged on aprs. We're heading towards where it was predicted to land. We're gonna hope either the Air tag or tile tracker get a hit.

[Matt Walters]

Unfortunately we still haven't heard anything, so I'm guessing we landed in a remote area. I'm still hopeful that we might hear something from the tile or air tag, but now we just gotta wait and see.

[John Chevalaz]

Any idea of the direction it went up. The last shot went north to berryvillevarea to Father Patricks place.  Jeff n I worked with him tonectricate the package. 2byears ago it went to Richmond.  I wish u the best of luck

Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer

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[Dave Beebe]

They lost APRS shortly after launch. Hoping Airtags will help them locate.

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From: 'John Chevalaz' via Valley Hams <valle...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2026 3:41 PM
To: muh...@gmail.com <muh...@gmail.com>; Valley Hams <valle...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [Valley Hams] Re: Amateur high altitude balloon launch 4/16

 

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[RileyC]

The predictions had it going toward Fredericksburg. We drove that way, but didn't get any updates.

Riley

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