Ha ha ha. I didn't mean me. I've never launched a balloon in my life. At
least not one with any kind of payload.
But I'm looking forward to tracking W5TC!
Peter
On 02/10/10 12:18, Judson Ahern wrote:
> Peter knows whereof he speaks: He taught your parents to launch them. :-)
> ---
> Dr. Judson L. Ahern
> Professor Emeritus, Geophysics
> School of Geology & Geophysics
> University of Oklahoma
> Norman, OK 73019
> [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> W5JA
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 10, 2010 at 12:04 PM, Peter Laws <[log in to unmask]
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
>
> Don't forget that there are folks in the building that have been
> launching balloons since your parents were young ... they can surely
> help out with the actual balloon part ...
>
> Peter
>
>
> On 02/09/10 22:51, Aaron Botnick wrote:
>
> Hi All,
>
> The OUARC has decided to undertake a project to construct an APRS
> High-Altitude Balloon, launch, and successfully recover it. Mission
> tasks include successful tracking via the APRS network for position,
> speed, altitude, and temperature, along with a possible on-board
> camera
> to capture still images at specified intervals. I've pulled the
> task of
> coming up with a basic parts list that is, as yet, incomplete.
> We are
> soliciting opinions and advice on how to proceed and suggestions on
> funding sources.
>
> I've spec'd several parts from Argent Data Systems, maker of the
> OpenTracker 1+ and OpenTracker2, I own the OT2m and have nothing but
> good things to say about it.
>
> I propose use of the OT1+ SMT, which is a smaller version of the
> OT1+
> that includes everything except the on-board temperature sensor
> and DB9
> connectors (the headers are on the board), and also includes voltage
> input from 6-28V with a 5V regulator for GPS power. The ability
> to run
> the APRS interface at lower voltages will allow us to use a LiPo
> battery
> pack for power. I've also spec'd a low-power 2m transmitter (SRB
> MX146LV), available from Argent Data, is around 500mw and runs
> on 5V.
> For GPS modules, there is a very tiny unit from Trimble that has an
> aviation (> 30k ft) mode, but runs at 3.3V. We also have the
> Duelo and
> ADMS GPSs based on the SiRF Star III module running on 5V. We
> should be
> able to get a thermistor and run it on one of the analog inputs
> (there
> are 5 on the OT1+), and calibrate the device before launch for
> conversion of the data later. As for a balloon, we'd like to acquire
> something akin to the severe weather sounding balloons. The LM335Z
> temperature sensor is rated at 10mV per Kelvin, and a minimum
> temperature of -55 ˚C, which should take us to nearly 250 mb
> according
> to the std atmospheric profile.
>
> The whole package needs to be under 4 lbs to be legal, from what
> we've
> read. We also need to determine a semi-waterproof box to put the
> equipment in, a recovery mechanism (ribbon / parachute), and find an
> inexpensive Canon digital camera capable of running the CHDK
> firmware to
> take pictures at specific intervals.
>
> Links for reference and prices...
>
> CHDK - http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK
>
> $40 - OT1+ SMT -
> http://argentdata.com/products/otplus.html
> https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=64
> <https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=64>
>
> $69.50 - SRB MX146LV Transmitter -
> https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=134&osCsid=a3d00b3b69a4ffc11c9c99223b0d12be
> <https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=134&osCsid=a3d00b3b69a4ffc11c9c99223b0d12be>
>
>
> $60 - Duelo GPS SiRF Star III
> https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=61&osCsid=a3d00b3b69a4ffc11c9c99223b0d12be
> <https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=61&osCsid=a3d00b3b69a4ffc11c9c99223b0d12be>
>
>
> $53 - ADS-GM1 GPS SiRF Star III
> https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=85&osCsid=a3d00b3b69a4ffc11c9c99223b0d12be
> <https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=85&osCsid=a3d00b3b69a4ffc11c9c99223b0d12be>
>
>
> $49 - Trimble GPS
> https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=95&osCsid=a3d00b3b69a4ffc11c9c99223b0d12be
> <https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=95&osCsid=a3d00b3b69a4ffc11c9c99223b0d12be>
>
>
> $7 - 8" 2m BNC Antenna
> https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=130&osCsid=a3d00b3b69a4ffc11c9c99223b0d12be
> <https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=130&osCsid=a3d00b3b69a4ffc11c9c99223b0d12be>
>
>
> $0.75 - LM355Z Temperature Sensor
> https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=50&osCsid=a3d00b3b69a4ffc11c9c99223b0d12be
> <https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=50&osCsid=a3d00b3b69a4ffc11c9c99223b0d12be>
>
>
> Thanks for looking this over, and any suggestions you can offer. We
> certainly aren't the first to do this, a quick google search
> will show
> others, but this is a first for our motley crew.
>
>
> 73,
>
> de Aaron, WX5AB ([log in to unmask]
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>)
>
>
> --
> Peter Laws / N5UWY
> National Weather Center / Network Operations Center
> University of Oklahoma Information Technology
> [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Feedback? Contact my director, Craig Cochell, [log in to unmask]
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>. Thank you!
>
>
--
Peter Laws / N5UWY
National Weather Center / Network Operations Center
University of Oklahoma Information Technology
[log in to unmask]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Feedback? Contact my director, Craig Cochell, [log in to unmask] Thank you!
|