[aprssig] WB4APR-11 Balloon Aloft from Annapolis

[Robert Bruninga]

One of our summer students, Anika, just launched a round-the-world balloon
using the APRS module from Bill Brown, WB8ELK.

It transmits once every 2 minutes on 144.39 National APRS network for
tracking on APRS.FI and FINDU.COM and it also transmits on 144.34 balloon
frequency a few seconds later.

It is a single 3' mylar party balloon and will cruise around 30,000 feet
or so and not well above weather, so it will be a risk to see if it makes
it across the Atlantic.

It transmits at only 25 milliwatts and so a coastal station with a beam
will be the last USA station to hear it.  Probably MD, VA or DE stations
will have the last shot.

Bob, WB4APR