[aprssig] KC2TUA/KC2UFG Ballon QRM

[Ron]

For the past 2 hours, packet beacons from KC2UFG have been QRM'ing a repeater in NS by transmitting every minute on 146.400 mhz.
This appears to be packet telemetry.

KC2UFG>CQ [03/22/09  10:12:10] <UI R>:
ÍÍs&ï©A€?oŸÿ|¹€€ÎƒŠð¶Á&@–@€àpr€ †€€€€€P=@€‘hÿD²@€p/Žÿ€†¢…€€Œ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€À슓øà¡ïÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
KC2UFG>CQ [03/22/09  10:12:11] <UI R>:
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB



So why does a balloon transmit on a known and popular 2m voice channel?

At 30,0000 ft its range is extreme...easily QRM'ing a 2m repeater 185 miles away.


The APRS packet using KC2TUA-8 is at the same time on 144.390

KC2TUA-8>APBL10,VE1TPL,WIDE1*,WIDE2-1 [03/22/09  10:32:33] <UI C>:
!4306.69N/06300.26WO064/037/A=032592NS3 Air Vehicle


Position of KC2TUA-8 --- 106.1 miles southeast of HALIFAX, NS --- Report received 5 seconds ago Course: 58.0 Speed: 46.0 MPH Altitude: 32474 feet
Raw packet: KC2TUA-8>APBL10,VE1PKT,WIDE1,VE1TPL,WIDE2*,qAR,VE1AIC-1:!4317.84N/06231.84WO058/040/A=032474NS3 Air Vehicle


This multi-hop path means every digipeater within 300 miles or more will be banging the network every minute.

Come on guys, really...a packet every minute at 30,000 ft with mutli-hop path!!!!

- VE1AIC Ron