Author Archives: Martin Rothfield W6MRR

All of our recent flights have been testing new hardware and software. Kazu designed a new tracker based on the Raspberry Pi Pico board and the GPS/transmitter used on our ATMega328 based tracker. Tracker details. Work is underway to add new features but will take time. It will eventually be released as FOSS HW/SW. TheContinue reading “Kazu’s AG6NS Raspberry Pi RP2040 based tracker in beta test”

I have been working on how to handle the new version of the Yokohama balloons and revising some of my assumptions The new form of the balloon is different from the original is that the inlet valve has been removed and the heat seal goes to the end of the tab.  There is no paintContinue reading “David WB6TOU’s New Yokohama Balloon Preparation”

K6EAU was last heard from 2023-07-14 at 07:14 UTC over Japan.  It flew for 63 days and almost completed three laps.  This is our current record – we’ll see how long it holds.

https://www.qsotoday.com/podcasts/k6eau

Steve K6WW parked by the robotic launcher at the appointed time and caught one being launched

We all hope this will lead nowhere but it couldn’t hurt to write your Senate/Congress representatives to let them know what you think.  SOAR Act Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act of 2023

W6MRR-27 APRS Sondehub K6EAU-11 APRS Sondehub

We had a successful launch of a Yokahma balloon using Kazu’s AG6NS new Raspberry Pi RP2040 based tracker. We launched from the Paragliding Meeting Spot in the Ed R. Levin Santa County Park on Saturday, May 13 at 9 am. The balloon has been floating from 41 k to 43 k feet. This is theContinue reading “K6EAU-11 in the air for second week”

Scientists sent balloons into the stratosphere — and found a mystery