<html>
  <head>
    <meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type">
  </head>
  <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
    The OpenTracker and Tracker2/Tracker3 series can all switch profiles
    based on altitude.  I usually set up my balloons for one hop below
    5000 feet (some of the terrain around here is > 6000 feet) and
    direct above that.  With the MX145 transmitter the Tracker3 can be
    set up to transmit on different frequencies at different rates, so
    you can use 144.39 for a packet once every minute or two for backup
    tracking and a separate channel for much faster updates.  We haven't
    had a packaged version with the MX145 in a while, though.<br>
    <br>
    Scott<br>
    N1VG<br>
    <br>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 5/2/2016 5:55 AM, David Andrzejewski
      via aprssig wrote:<br>
    </div>
    <blockquote
      cite="mid:33276239-91FD-4148-A292-4220424E1C28@davidandrzejewski.com"
      type="cite">
      <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
      <div>I am happy to write an article and put it on my site. I am
        fairly knowledgeable about APRS but I admittedly have little
        experience with balloons. So... What are the recommended
        settings for balloons that maintain "politeness" but don't
        degrade functionality for people trying to locate them?<br>
        <br>
        Are there particular hardware setups that are recommended? I saw
        some comments about hardware that can change settings based on
        altitude.<br>
        <div>
          <div><br>
          </div>
        </div>
        <div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">-- <br>
            <br>
            David Andrzejewski<br>
            E-mail/iMessage/Jabber: <a moz-do-not-send="true" dir="ltr"
              href="mailto:david@davidandrzejewski.com"
              x-apple-data-detectors="true"
              x-apple-data-detectors-type="link"
              x-apple-data-detectors-result="1">david@davidandrzejewski.com</a><br>
            PGP Key ID: 5EBA8A72<br>
          </span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;
            font-size: 14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></span><br
            style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 14px;
            -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div><br>
        On May 1, 2016, at 19:34, Steve Noskowicz via aprssig <<a
          moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:aprssig@tapr.org"><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:aprssig@tapr.org">aprssig@tapr.org</a></a>>
        wrote:<br>
        <br>
      </div>
      <blockquote type="cite">
        <div><span></span><br>
          <span>From the "Correct me if I'm wrong" department...</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span>I think what is needed instead of lots of words on this
            sig is an easily searched document on or two or three or
            more sites (Copmcast killed web hosting or I'd still have a
            presence) that respond to "APRS Balloon tracking" and many
            variations someone may try searching for, so that anyone
            trying to figure out how to set things up can find it
            easily.  Or perhaps a periodic article in QST, or some such
            other ehicle. </span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span>Somethiong sent to various balloon sites already in
            existence so others looking for balloon info will
            accidentally find some APRS info...</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span> It's 2016</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span>This phenomenon will continue to produce these periodic
            bursts of "Problem Balloon destroying the universe" posts
            until information is easy to find by random hams.</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span>I started doing some APRS with a used D700 back in the
            late 90's.  _ALL_   repeat _ALL_ the stuff on the net back
            then assumed the ham was very experienced in packet -- which
            is completely unnecessary.  It took me years of reading this
            sig (and only understanding pieces of what was posted) and
            plodding through mounds of outdated Packet information,
            packet-turned-APRS information, Packet-sort-of-turned-APRS
            information, out-dated APRS information, old PDFs and
            PowerPoints ROTTING on the Web to get to the point where I
            decided I knew enough that I felt it time to write something
            for newbies, so I wrote my own Beginner Guide in terms a
            beginner could understand.  It was well received by comments
            I received.</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span>And if someone does, do not give a long drawn out
            history of Packet., APRS, or your travels through Ham radio.
             Get to the point so folks will actually read it.</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span>Put something together and get it on just about every
            site that shows up in the first 20-30 hits on Google...</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span>IN FACT.  These last few messages have everything this
            one paragraph document needs...</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span>If I wasn't busy right now with finishing a delayed
            garage (and everything else the wife has added on) and
            geting started on my older sister's Probate case, I'd
            consider pasting these messages together to get the ball
            rolling...</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span>There has  already been enough time wasted on these very
            postings to do it several times over.</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span>/Rant flag cleared/</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span>SO...?</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span>-- </span><br>
          <span> Regards, Steve Noskowicz</span><br>
          <span> Science & Technical Advisor</span><br>
          <span> <a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="http://www.challengerillinois.org/">http://www.challengerillinois.org/</a></span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span>--------------------------------------------</span><br>
          <span>On Sun, 5/1/16, Bob Burns W9BU via aprssig <<a
              moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:aprssig@tapr.org"><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:aprssig@tapr.org">aprssig@tapr.org</a></a>>
            wrote:</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span> Subject: Re: [aprssig] Balloons abusing our network</span><br>
          <span> To: "'TAPR APRS Mailing List'" <<a
              moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:aprssig@tapr.org"><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:aprssig@tapr.org">aprssig@tapr.org</a></a>></span><br>
          <span> Date: Sunday, May 1, 2016, 1:54 PM</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span> #yiv9889509495</span><br>
          <span> #yiv9889509495 --</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span>  _filtered #yiv9889509495 {panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2
            4;}</span><br>
          <span>  _filtered #yiv9889509495
            {font-family:Calibri;panose-1:2 15</span><br>
          <span> 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}</span><br>
          <span>  _filtered #yiv9889509495</span><br>
          <span> {font-family:helveticaneue;panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
            0;}</span><br>
          <span> #yiv9889509495  </span><br>
          <span> #yiv9889509495 p.yiv9889509495MsoNormal, #yiv9889509495</span><br>
          <span> li.yiv9889509495MsoNormal, #yiv9889509495</span><br>
          <span> div.yiv9889509495MsoNormal</span><br>
          <span>    {margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;font-size:12.0pt;}</span><br>
          <span> #yiv9889509495 a:link, #yiv9889509495</span><br>
          <span> span.yiv9889509495MsoHyperlink</span><br>
          <span>    {color:blue;text-decoration:underline;}</span><br>
          <span> #yiv9889509495 a:visited, #yiv9889509495</span><br>
          <span> span.yiv9889509495MsoHyperlinkFollowed</span><br>
          <span>    {color:purple;text-decoration:underline;}</span><br>
          <span> #yiv9889509495 span.yiv9889509495EmailStyle17</span><br>
          <span>    {color:#1F497D;}</span><br>
          <span> #yiv9889509495 .yiv9889509495MsoChpDefault</span><br>
          <span>    {font-size:10.0pt;}</span><br>
          <span>  _filtered #yiv9889509495 {margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in
            1.0in;}</span><br>
          <span> #yiv9889509495 div.yiv9889509495WordSection1</span><br>
          <span>    {}</span><br>
          <span> #yiv9889509495 I think we all agree that HABs</span><br>
          <span> should not use abusive paths or beacon</span><br>
          <span> rates.  However, the reality is that many</span><br>
          <span> of these balloon launch teams are populated with</span><br>
          <span> inexperienced hams who simply are not aware of how the
            APRS</span><br>
          <span> network works or how their HABs impact the network.
            Those of</span><br>
          <span> who do have considerable experience have a
            responsibility to</span><br>
          <span> educate the balloon teams. Discussion of abusive
            balloon</span><br>
          <span> launches occasionally pops up in online APRS
            communities.</span><br>
          <span> But, we have to keep in mind that we are preaching to
            the</span><br>
          <span> choir. Typically, these balloon teams don’t hang out in</span><br>
          <span> APRS groups or reflectors.  Jason is quite correct.
            While the</span><br>
          <span> balloon launch may seriously impact the APRS network
            for the</span><br>
          <span> time the balloon is in the air, that time is short and
            the</span><br>
          <span> network will get back to normal after the balloon is
            down.</span><br>
          <span> Meanwhile, we should take note of the callsign being
            used by</span><br>
          <span> the launch and attempt to reach the holder of the
            callsign</span><br>
          <span> to politely educate them about APRS</span><br>
          <span> networks.  BTW, in my experience, Jason does,</span><br>
          <span> in fact, have a clue. Berating him really doesn’t</span><br>
          <span> accomplish anything.  Bob…    From:</span><br>
          <span> aprssig [<a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="mailto:aprssig-bounces@tapr.org">mailto:aprssig-bounces@tapr.org</a>]
            On Behalf Of Ron via</span><br>
          <span> aprssig</span><br>
          <span> Sent: Sunday, May 01,</span><br>
          <span> 2016 12:21 PM</span><br>
          <span> To: Jason KG4WSV</span><br>
          <span> <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="mailto:kg4wsv@gmail.com">kg4wsv@gmail.com</a>>;
            TAPR APRS Mailing List</span><br>
          <span> <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="mailto:aprssig@tapr.org">aprssig@tapr.org</a>></span><br>
          <span> Subject: Re: [aprssig]</span><br>
          <span> Balloons abusing our network</span><br>
          <span>  You have</span><br>
          <span> no clue.A device</span><br>
          <span> at 25,000 ft hits every digi within 300 MILES or more.</span><br>
          <span> Every</span><br>
          <span> one of those digis has to re-transmit that  packet
            because</span><br>
          <span> of the path used.At a</span><br>
          <span> rate of every 30-40 seconds its abusive. (EVEN APRS.FI
            says</span><br>
          <span> so)</span><br>
          <span>  Anyone</span><br>
          <span> who has done ballooning with APRS should have known
            this if</span><br>
          <span> they bothered to research.</span><br>
          <span>  NO Hops</span><br>
          <span> are required above a few thousand feet and transmit
            rates</span><br>
          <span> should be set by speed, just like everyone else does in</span><br>
          <span> their cars.</span><br>
          <span>  YOU</span><br>
          <span> should be glad that some people still care to maintain
            APRS</span><br>
          <span> Nodes and networks so EVERYONE can SHARE</span><br>
          <span> it.</span><br>
          <span>  de</span><br>
          <span> VE1AIC.</span><br>
          <span>  </span><br>
          <span>  </span><br>
          <span>  </span><br>
          <span>  On Sunday, May</span><br>
          <span> 1, 2016 11:53 AM, Jason KG4WSV <<a
              moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:kg4wsv@gmail.com"><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:kg4wsv@gmail.com">kg4wsv@gmail.com</a></a>></span><br>
          <span> wrote:  </span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <blockquote type="cite"><span>On May 1, 2016, at 9:34</span><br>
          </blockquote>
          <span> AM, Ron via aprssig <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="mailto:aprssig@tapr.org">aprssig@tapr.org</a>></span><br>
          <span> wrote:</span><br>
          <blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br>
          </blockquote>
          <blockquote type="cite"><span>Today 2</span><br>
          </blockquote>
          <span> balloons at the same time out of Maine are pounding our</span><br>
          <span> network with abusive settings that are unacceptable.</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span> Please explain how this is</span><br>
          <span> significantly different from the perspective of the
            LOCAL</span><br>
          <span> network than a terrestrial station with the same
            settings?</span><br>
          <span> (Hint: practically not at all assuming your network is
            built</span><br>
          <span> correctly.)</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span> If a single</span><br>
          <span> station with these settings can cause your local
            network</span><br>
          <span> significant problems you should spend some effort on
            fixing</span><br>
          <span> your local network. </span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br>
          </blockquote>
          <span> Why would a balloon at 26,000ft moving at 15kmh need to</span><br>
          <span> beacon every 40 seconds and use WIDE hops across our</span><br>
          <span> network?</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span> To track it and</span><br>
          <span> get the payload back?</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <blockquote type="cite"><span>At this rate they'll</span><br>
          </blockquote>
          <span> be blasting our network all day</span><br>
          <span> long.</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span> A typical HAB flight lasts</span><br>
          <span> approximately 2 hours. </span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span> Be</span><br>
          <span> glad someone is doing something more useful/interesting
            than</span><br>
          <span> letting the wife track you on your way to the grocery
            store.</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span> -Jason</span><br>
          <span> kg4wsv</span><br>
          <span>  </span><br>
          <span>  </span><br>
          <span> -----Inline Attachment Follows-----</span><br>
          <span></span><br>
          <span> _______________________________________________</span><br>
          <span> aprssig mailing list</span><br>
          <span> <a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="mailto:aprssig@tapr.org">aprssig@tapr.org</a></span><br>
          <span> <a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="http://www.tapr.org/mailman/listinfo/aprssig">http://www.tapr.org/mailman/listinfo/aprssig</a></span><br>
          <span>_______________________________________________</span><br>
          <span>aprssig mailing list</span><br>
          <span><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:aprssig@tapr.org">aprssig@tapr.org</a></span><br>
          <span><a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="http://www.tapr.org/mailman/listinfo/aprssig">http://www.tapr.org/mailman/listinfo/aprssig</a></span><br>
        </div>
      </blockquote>
      <br>
      <fieldset class="mimeAttachmentHeader"></fieldset>
      <br>
      <pre wrap="">_______________________________________________
aprssig mailing list
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:aprssig@tapr.org">aprssig@tapr.org</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.tapr.org/mailman/listinfo/aprssig">http://www.tapr.org/mailman/listinfo/aprssig</a>
</pre>
    </blockquote>
    <br>
  </body>
</html>