[aprssig] deaf, dumb and blind (rescue)

[Tim Cunningham]

Bob,

I have been on this particular chase this time of the year a few years ago.

- Think about how far the balloon went from Huntsville.
- Think about the roads that cross mountains. There are not many and they 
are not straight in line with the balloon path.
- If that balloon would have made it over that last mountain, the chase team 
would have been impeded by fewer roads in the Cohutta Mountains. I know, I 
have been there a short distance from Hell's Hollow Road. A real road that 
lived up to its name (not passable with a conventional vehicle). That chase 
required radio location skills since the APRS payload failed on crash 
landing, but the CW beacon continued.

The landing today is a stretch from the launch site. If the chase team dos 
not leave before launch and get into a predicted landing site area, there is 
no chance they will get there very soon. Even if everything works correctly 
some places have limited road access. I still see some of the chase team 
making their way to the site.

You should hear the story about a balloon payload that landed in 
Guntersville Lake on a busy boating afternoon. The Coast Guard got involved 
when the payload parachuted into the Lake...

Showing the payload to the land owner, taking pictures, and talking about 
the purpose of the mission is always a fun time as long as the land owner is 
friendly. Just make sure you get permission before crossing anybody's land. 
Some land owners are not impressed with unknown or unwelcome guests.


Tim - N8DEU


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Bruninga " <bruninga at usna.edu>
To: "TAPR APRS Mailing List" <aprssig at tapr.org>
Cc: <aprs at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2011 12:37 PM
Subject: Re: [aprssig] deaf, dumb and blind (rescue)


> WA4YYM to the rescue!
>
> I see WA4YYM barrelling down the road, beaconing his "Balloon chasing" and 
> arriving in the driveway of the owner.  Now I can see the balloon about 
> 200' a way in the trees...
>
> Now 20 minutes later, I see the balloon has moved to the backyard of the 
> house.  I can see it now.  A bunch of hams standing around explainig it to 
> the owner.
>
> Wow, this is like the CIA and their drones.  Im in Connecticut watching a 
> recovery in Georgia!  This is slick.
>
> I have never actually watched a balloon chase LIVE via the APRS-IS 
> before..    TOo bad google earth resolution in North Georiga cannot quite 
> see the individual trees like you can in some areas.... but you can see 
> the guy's house (or trailer)...
>
> Bob, WB4aPR
> Bob, WB4APR
>
>
> ---- Original message ----
>>Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2011 13:06:59 -0400 (EDT)
>>From: aprssig-bounces at tapr.org (on behalf of "Bob Bruninga " 
>><bruninga at usna.edu>)
>>Subject: [aprssig] deaf, dumb and blind
>>To: aprssig at tapr.org
>>Cc: aprs at yahoogroups.com
>>
>>Am watching the flight of the U Alabama Balloon from Huntsville to N. GA. 
>>(UAH-1) It just landed in the woods and is still hitting the local digi. 
>>You can see exactly where it is.
>>
>>There is not a chase vehicle in sight.  But there are at least 3 local 
>>APRS mobiles within 10 miles and everyone of them is a deaf, dumb and 
>>blind APRS tracker.
>>
>>THey didnt see the balloon, they are not beaconing their frequency, and 
>>they cannot be contacted.
>>
>>Ain't deaf-dumb-and blind APRS just great. :-(
>>
>>Bob, WB4APR
>>
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>
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