UK 434 MHz balloons head for Poland

Two balloons were launched from Cambridge on Saturday 13 April 2013, one transmitting video images from a Raspberry Pi. On Saturday evening the M0UPU-11 APRS signal indicated they were over Germany.

The first balloon is flying a Raspberry Pi which transmitted live Slow Scan Digital Video (SSDV) images back to the ground by a pair of transmitters to double the bandwidth. The data was RTTY 300 baud 8N2.

The frequencies used were 434.070 and 434.074 MHz. The balloon call sign was $$PIE.

The second balloon flew a 70cms tracker on 434.450 MHz 50 baud 7N2. Additionally once it entered air space where the airborne use of APRS is permitted a second APRS transmitter was enabled, presumably on the APRS frequency of 144.800 MHz, with the callsign M0UPU-11.

Live video of the launch was streamed by the British Amateur TV Club (BATC) - http://www.batc.tv/

Tracks of both balloons - http://www.spacenear.us/tracker

Direct link to M0UPU-11 APRS track - http://aprs.fi/#!call=a%2FM0UPU-11&timerange=86400&tail=86400

Images from the PIE5 Raspberry Pi balloon transmitted using SSDV - http://ssdv.habhub.org/

Beginners Guide to Tracking using dl-fldigi - http://ukhas.org.uk/guides:tracking_guide

UKQRM launches public facing website

Anti man-made interference pressure group, UKQRM, have launched a new public-facing website to help educate and guide the public on issues of QRM that affect their (and our) lives.

Hot-topic at the moment is LED lighting and its ability to destroy Band II and Band III radio reception. UKQRM is indebted to Peter Metcalfe of testing house METECC for allowing the use of their LED investigation report.

Please check out and share the URL with friends, family, work-colleagues, and anyone you chat to http://www.ukqrm.org.uk/

If you are of a technical persuasion and would like to help out with the QRM fight, please feel free to join the UKQRM Yahoo discussion group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UKQRM/

Inner Hebrides on Ham Radio Satellites

GS3PYE/P will be active on the amateur radio satellites and 144 MHz EME from the Inner Hebrides Islands from 10-16 May 2013.

Members of Camb-Hams will once again activate the Isle of Mull (IOSA NH15, SCOTIA CN10, WLOTA 2485), Inner Hebrides, as GS3PYE/p between May 10-16. The Camb-Hams have been activating the Scottish Isles each year since 2008.

Look for thirteen operators to be active on all bands and many modes from 160-2 meters as well as 472 kHz. The HF bands will be covered by five simultaneous stations, while 6m, 4m and 2m stations will have a great take-off towards the UK and Europ from the island’s southeast coast in IO76 square.

They will have an antenna elevation system for 2m EME activity and will also be on many of the VHF/UHF satellite passes. WSPR beacons will be operating on most of the inactive bands to help find the best propagation. Contest operations will take place in 70 MHz CW on May 12th and 432 MHz UKAC on May 14th. The group will be active on the major social networks before, during and after the trip.

You can check on progress or interact with the operators via:

Blog - http://dx.camb-hams.com/
Twitter - http://twitter.com/g3pye
Facebook - http://facebook.com/CambHams
YouTube - http://youtube.com/CambHams

Previous trips have generated some great audio and video recordings of the GS3PYE/P signal from around the world. Check their previous blogs and their YouTube channel and see if you can post a better recording.

Please E-mail skeds-2013@camb-hams.com to arrange skeds on the more challenging bands and modes. VHF and EME skeds will also be made via ON4KST and N0UK’s EME Chat. All links are available via http://dx.camb-hams.com/