[aprssig] RE: SDG-9 is now aloft 1732 EDT

[Robert Bruninga]

Really weak now at 1732 EDT.  Had to listen three revs to get it
right.
Beam heading kinda NE from Annapolis, but my 3 element beam is
not sharp (and never been used before so I have no feel for
it)...

Codes is now F205 and A181

But I would guess another 6 db worse than last report. So from
my initial signal report I am now down 12 dB.  This means the
distance to the ballooon from Annapolis has changed by a factor
of 4 between my first report and this report.  Drawing
concentric rings that are a factor of 4 in range combined with
other data, should be able to give a rough fix...?

Bob, WB4APR

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robert Rochte [mailto:rochte at gmail.com] 
> Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 12:55 PM
> To: Balloon_Sked; Ralph Wallio, W0RPK; Pierre Thomson; Bob 
> Bruninga; Bill Brown; Joe; Phil Manor; Mike Manes
> Subject: SDG-9 is now aloft
> 
> Soli Deo Gloria 9, a stratospheric superpressure balloon
carrying a 10
> metre CW beacon, was launched from Grosse Pointe Farms,
Michigan,
> approximately 17 minutes ago.
> 
> This balloon is a joint venture combining the talents of yours
truly,
> KC8UCH from the Grosse Pointe Academy, and Pierre Thomson,
KA2QPG.  If
> it survives pressurization, it will be our first successful
> stratospheric superpressure and it could theoretically reach
the
> European mainland in approximately three days.
> 
> The beacon will be transmitting the following string on 29.499
Mhz
> using conventional CW:
> 
>    DE KA2QPG BLN F 000  A 000 EMAIL ROCHTE AT GMAIL.COM  AR
> 
> Where the number following "F" is a frame counter,
incrementing with
> each transmission, and the number following "A" is a numeric
code
> representing temperature.  A table of numeric values and
associated
> temperatures will be published once the balloon is aloft.
> 
> Signal reports are GREATLY appreciated!
> 
> (Note that I may have reversed the order of the "F" and "A"
strings -
> Pierre, could you please confirm?)
> 
> 73,
> Robert  KC8UCH
>