Great video. What a wealth of information!!! I am at the stage that I am trying to figure out what to use for the structure to carry the tracker and solar panels, and trying to decide on what balloon to use. A lot of people are now using Yokohamas, as they are a lot cheaper than the SBS.
What you think about mylar foil, one called Hypothermia Rescue First Aid Kit? I launched two balloons made of that foil, but had no luck with battery first time, and second time rain bring balloon down.
Good morning, I have a question to ask you that perhaps is not entirely relevant to your knowledge. However, I am sure that with your enormous knowledge you will be able to give us excellent advice. Last summer, my son and I accidentally threw a balloon into the sea and gradually saw it move away towards the horizon. From that moment the curiosity became immense. If we could monitor that balloon in real time we would always know exactly where it was. It would all have been extremely fascinating. Now this is exactly what we ask you, if my son and I wanted to throw a soccer ball into the sea and monitor it via a smartphone or a PC, what tools should we use? Thank you
yes it can be done. in fact our community is already doing it but not with a ball. We use a long 4 or 6 inch pvc pipe. put parts inside, seal it water tight and put it in the ocean. We have an antenna that sticks above the floating pipe. the pipe floats vertically and in these cases carry a bunch of 6 batteries. We use the same tracker that we use for our balloons. We use the same on line tracking program built for ham radio and we get reports as it moves across the ocean. you need a ham radio license. here is an article about the ham radio bouy. www.arrl.org/news/high-school-marine-buoy-transmitter-now-active-on-20-meter-wspr
The other problem with helium is that it's a non-renewable resource (I'd rather see it used for essential research/medical etc.). But there's essentially an infinite amount of hydrogen out there.
lithium batteries will not charge or discharge at much over -20C. We have done a lot of test. Here is a video were we tested batteries at that temp. czcams.com/video/sBHrFB7RCEw/video.html
@@w5kub It is different Lithium battery. Looks as ordinary 1.5V AA battery, but it is made with Lithium. Not rechargeable. So far, the lowest temperature it endure without failure is -41C, but voltage drops down to 0.9V (circuit working down to 0.75V, buck/boost converter). Luckily, morning light warmed it a bit and the flight was prolonged. But, the same sunlight heat up balloon (latex) and it goes from 8.5 km up to 12 km and pop. Other flight not so lucky. 8 grams of free lift and the balloon rises rapidly to 10.5 km where reaches temperature of -60C. That was improvised Mylar balloon. In the same time another Latex balloon with the same free lift of 8 grams remained at 6.3 km altitude. The difference between latex and mylar balloon is that mylar was actually thermal blanket, 160x210 cm folded film and glued in the shape of pillow. Filled with helium maybe 1/5 of maximum volume. It going up like rocket compared to latex with the same lift. I do not understand that part. You may still see fresh data. Balloons launched February, 24th, 2024. On amateur sondehub org if you put callsign '9A4GE' - it was latex balloon, and 'Flybag-4FSK' (case sensitive!) was mylar balloon. You have option 'Plots' to see how rapidly it goes up with just 8 grams of free lift. (fill the gaps with dots on amateur sondehub org) Thanks!
Such a neat project!
Great video. What a wealth of information!!! I am at the stage that I am trying to figure out what to use for the structure to carry the tracker and solar panels, and trying to decide on what balloon to use. A lot of people are now using Yokohamas, as they are a lot cheaper than the SBS.
Very interesting & informative!
Tom: I just love your Balloon projects, been watching W5KUB for a long time. Randy. California. KN6BZG
Thank you.
My dad's ancestors are from Virginia and my mother's from Austria. When I first saw Vienna, I thought of Radio Vienna. (Humor) N0QFT
Sorry to burst your balloon. But I was taught at school that -40 Celsius is -40 Fahrenheit. Still a good show. 73 ZS6WL
you are exactly right. I did know that but made a mistake. thanks for watching
Now I just need to source that balloon
Probably you put yourself on a watchlist
What you think about mylar foil, one called Hypothermia Rescue First Aid Kit? I launched two balloons made of that foil, but had no luck with battery first time, and second time rain bring balloon down.
Good morning, I have a question to ask you that perhaps is not entirely relevant to your knowledge. However, I am sure that with your enormous knowledge you will be able to give us excellent advice. Last summer, my son and I accidentally threw a balloon into the sea and gradually saw it move away towards the horizon. From that moment the curiosity became immense. If we could monitor that balloon in real time we would always know exactly where it was. It would all have been extremely fascinating. Now this is exactly what we ask you, if my son and I wanted to throw a soccer ball into the sea and monitor it via a smartphone or a PC, what tools should we use? Thank you
yes it can be done. in fact our community is already doing it but not with a ball. We use a long 4 or 6 inch pvc pipe. put parts inside, seal it water tight and put it in the ocean. We have an antenna that sticks above the floating pipe. the pipe floats vertically and in these cases carry a bunch of 6 batteries. We use the same tracker that we use for our balloons. We use the same on line tracking program built for ham radio and we get reports as it moves across the ocean. you need a ham radio license. here is an article about the ham radio bouy. www.arrl.org/news/high-school-marine-buoy-transmitter-now-active-on-20-meter-wspr
When might we stay tuned for another launch?
we will launch another small balloon on sept 25 at the east tn hamfest around 1 pm eastern. join our facebook group called w5kub to follow us
The other problem with helium is that it's a non-renewable resource (I'd rather see it used for essential research/medical etc.). But there's essentially an infinite amount of hydrogen out there.
You are right. I think thats the only number where both C and F are the same
@@w5kub Also, great video. Thanks for putting it together.
Is it only me? My battery (Energizer Lithium, AA, 1.5V) died at -60C on one flight at 10.5 km altitude. Is that normal?
lithium batteries will not charge or discharge at much over -20C. We have done a lot of test. Here is a video were we tested batteries at that temp. czcams.com/video/sBHrFB7RCEw/video.html
@@w5kub It is different Lithium battery. Looks as ordinary 1.5V AA battery, but it is made with Lithium. Not rechargeable. So far, the lowest temperature it endure without failure is -41C, but voltage drops down to 0.9V (circuit working down to 0.75V, buck/boost converter). Luckily, morning light warmed it a bit and the flight was prolonged. But, the same sunlight heat up balloon (latex) and it goes from 8.5 km up to 12 km and pop. Other flight not so lucky. 8 grams of free lift and the balloon rises rapidly to 10.5 km where reaches temperature of -60C. That was improvised Mylar balloon. In the same time another Latex balloon with the same free lift of 8 grams remained at 6.3 km altitude. The difference between latex and mylar balloon is that mylar was actually thermal blanket, 160x210 cm folded film and glued in the shape of pillow. Filled with helium maybe 1/5 of maximum volume. It going up like rocket compared to latex with the same lift. I do not understand that part. You may still see fresh data. Balloons launched February, 24th, 2024. On amateur sondehub org if you put callsign '9A4GE' - it was latex balloon, and 'Flybag-4FSK' (case sensitive!) was mylar balloon. You have option 'Plots' to see how rapidly it goes up with just 8 grams of free lift. (fill the gaps with dots on amateur sondehub org) Thanks!