Global Space Balloon Challenge

[Iain Finer]

Hi all!,

For those that do not know me, my name is Iain, been down to a couple of Sunday sessions, I'm looking at getting a team together to compete in the Global Space Balloon Challenge, http://www.balloonchallenge.org/, basically launch a near space balloon to about 100,000ft in altitude, take photo's or video's, and all going well retrieve it!! All this over the weekend of April 18-21 2014.

I have a rough idea on what can and needs to be done to achieve this. Thought The Foundation might be a good place to start to find interested people before asking else where.

So if this sounds like you, I'm seeking expressions of interest, and we will go from there, send me a personnel message if keen.

See ya Sunday!

Iain

[Dean Ashby]

Count me in Iain, I've been tinkering with the idea of launching HAB.

Sent from my iPhone

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[Malcolm Locke]

Hi folks,

A quick update on this old post.  Although we didn't get everything together in time for the global balloon challenge in April, Iain, Dean and myself have been working away and should be launching our first flight in the coming weeks.

If anyone on the list is interested, we're looking for people on the ground to track the balloon position during flights to aid our chance of recovery.  You'll need a suitable radio receiver (434MHz SSB), high gain antenna and computer.

We're running a telemetry test from the Port Hills this weekend, see http://www.hab.org.nz/flights/2014/07/06/payload-testing/ if you are interested in helping out.

Cheers,

Malc

[Marek Kuziel]

Hi Malc,

very cool! Unfortunately I don't have a radio receiver capable of receiving SSB at 70cm so cannot help with the tracking. What is a good source of these in NZ? Any tips?

Marek

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[Malcolm Locke]

Hi Marek,

Yes, unfortunately that's a bit of an obstacle for anyone who isn't a
ham or has similar gear.

The cheapest possible solution is a USB TV dongle, e.g.:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/radio-equipment/amateur-radio/auction-750944928.htm

but you will also almost certainly need some kind of pre-amp for this, e.g.:

http://ava.upuaut.net/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=83

The latter can be DIY if you are that way inclined, see the links on the
page above. But unless you are really committed it's starting to head
rapidly toward the too hard basket.

The more common solution is a scanner or similar dedicated radio capable
of SSB, but that's considerably more $$. I picked up one of these on
Trademe for $150 after a fair amount of prowling.

You'll also need a suitable antenna. I have a Yagi (think TV aerial)
tuned for 70cm that I made from tape measure which works very well.
I'll probably put instructions for this up on our site in the near
future.

Malc

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[Marek Kuziel]

Hi Malc,

Thanks for the info! That pre-amp for cheapo usb dongles looks like the way to go. I assume there isn't a NZ seller of those, or is there?

I've got one of these (https://nicegear.co.nz/electronics-gear/software-defined-radio-receiver-usb-stick-rtl2832-wr820t/) and I am quite happy with how it works even from within a shipping container and not having Sugar Loaf in a line of sight.

I'm sure I'll be able to make Yagi antenna for 70cm.

Sunday is too soon to be able to get it all done so I may help you with the tracking in the future.

Where are you going to be announcing and/or posting updates on Sunday? Twitter? IRC?

Marek

[Kevin Alcock]

Hi Malc,

I have a sdr usb stick but no 70cm antenna. I will see what I can do on Sunday. I don't have line of sight of Sugar Loaf but I live pretty much under it. I've picked up the odd Google Loon ADS-B transponders at 1090MHz so lets see if I can pick up yours.

Cheers

Kevin

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https://twitter.com/kevinnz

[Pete Nicholls]

Curious to hear how this went.

[Malcolm Locke]

Hi Pete,

Test went very well thanks, write up is here:

http://www.hab.org.nz/flights/2014/07/13/payload-test-successful/

We're still interested in recruiting trackers, so get in touch if you
are keen.

First launch is likely to be in the next few weeks.

Malc

[Marek Kuziel]

I was on Port Hills on Sunday and tried to track the payload, but I failed either due to lack of experience or due to lack of proper antenna, because I didn't manage to get Yagi ready by Sunday.

I had a chat with Synco who's got plenty of high altitude flight experience at TVIC last week and now (if anyone else is keen) we are discussing to make a jam session with these USB SDRs https://nicegear.co.nz/electronics-gear/software-defined-radio-receiver-usb-stick-rtl2832-wr820t/

Marek

[Kerry Harpur]

Hi Malcolm, if you are interested in recruiting more trackers I would suggest dropping an email the the Christchurch Robotics email list there probably would be a few members who would be interested in helping out.

http://www.kiwibots.org/
Chchro...@lists.linuxnut.co.nz

Kerry