[GreenKeys] off topic -- 'nuther balloon launch

Sat May 7 18:21:51 EDT 2016

Well, - this is just great: I was thinking about it
the other day - and now you're going to launch another one!

Keep us posted.

regards,
tony K2EAA
NNNN
ZCZC

On 05/07/2016 02:40 PM, Gil Smith wrote:
> Gentlemen:
>
> An off-topic FYI:
>
> It has been a couple of years since I sent up a balloon, and I am
> itching to do it one more time.  Would like to break 100,000 feet this
> time.
>
> Will be flying three mobius video cameras:  one facing sideways, one
> facing down, and one facing up (just to catch balloon burst).
>
> Will have APRS on the main .390 channel every two minutes for those of
> you who may want to watch it live on aprs.fi <http://aprs.fi>,  and for
> those of you in AZ who may want to join us for launch and/or recovery,
> we will have aprs on a quiet .920 (probably) freq for the chase cars.
> We will have a 2m beacon so you should be able to point youor yagi up
> and find the location (or help us rdf it on the ground, if needed).
>
> Will be flying the usual suspects of pressure and temperature sensors,
> the geiger counter and particulate counter we flew last time, and a new
> ozone sensor.  May also try new 433 MHz or 915 MHz transceivers, if I
> have time to get those running.
>
> I have been burning the candle at both ends for a few weeks getting
> ready for this launch, tentatively scheduled for May 21st (winds
> permitting).  It will be mission SB-1 (surlee-byonics-1).  I will be
> documenting it on my newly-rebooted surlee.com <http://surlee.com>
> site.  I finally was referred to the divi wordpress theme, and for the
> first time in my life can easily create a decent-looking website.  I
> have removed all traces of wordpress'
> blog/registration/comment/trackback/pingback/spam crap, to just have a
> clean site with lots of whitespace.  Later, I will add woocommerce for a
> store.
>
> Attached are docs of my new Balloon System One board set (which I need
> to cut into the 4 boards on my bandsaw), which went to fab at 3 this
> morning.  I should have them late next week or so to build up.  I plan
> to sell this, and publish the schematic/assembly/copper-layers, but will
> stop short of calling it open-hardware (as I will never release cad
> files and the library that took me years to build, which the
> open-hardware folks expect).  I also will not publish my pic code.
>
> The system is comprised of a main logger board, a sensor-bay board which
> mounts outside the payload, an rf-hub controller hub board (powered by
> independent battery) which drives the byonics pri/sec aprs pages, and a
> camera-hub controller board for the mobius cameras.
>
> The main board provides:
>    - 5V buck switcher and 3.3V LDO (driven from a 6xAA lith batt pack)
>    - PIC18F46K22 microcontroller
>    - TMP100 internal temperature sensor
>    - MS5607 barometric pressure sensor (new)
>    - Adafruit Ultimate GPS module
>    - Linx RXM-GPS-FM alternate GPS module (new, if time to write driver)
>    - micro-SD card slot
>    - connections for various I/O, including 3.3V I2C, 5V I2C, 5V digital
> in, analog, I/O expansion port
>    - port for geiger counter module
>    - APRS port for connecting backup MF-15 APRS transmitter (with
> logger's gps)
>    - 433 MHz or 915 MHz eRIC transceiver modules from LPRS (a new test)
>
> The Sensor Bay board mounts in an enclosure made from black foamcore
> covered in foil, to provide airflow over sensors on the left side of the
> board, but minimize solar radiant heating.  There is a main power slide
> switch, and the right side of the board is exposed for access to serial
> port monitor, leds, an audible beeper (if loud enough), and expansion
> ports for additional I2C or analog sensors.  Built-in sensors include:
>    - DS18B20 external temperature sensor (new)
>    - TMP100 external temperature sensor
>    - DHT22 relative humidity sensor
>    - Particulate sensor
>    - MICS-2614 ozone sensor (new)
>
> The Radio Power/Control Hub board has a little PIC12F1840 for connecting
> the main MT-1000 APRS transmitter (with built-in gps, but hub has ports
> for external gps), and power for an MF-15 beacon.  This will be powered
> from a separate 6xAA lith batt pack and has a 5V buck switcher.  The
> external sensor bay power switch turns this on at the same time as the
> logger.
>
> The Camera Control Hub has a little PIC12F1840 for connecting up to four
> mobius cameras.  It will be powered by a tiny lipo batt (each camera has
> it's own battery).  I will be using timed control to cycle cameras on
> and off.
>
> Whew.  Yes, I have been busy.  It is all coming together nicely.  I want
> to make the payload pretty light and try to break 100,000 ft this time.
>
> I am also thinking of sending up a second balloon at the same time.  I
> have enough helium, I believe.  I could mount the old MT-400 in the
> mini-me payload box from last time, and have one that goes even higher.
> Still mulling that over.
>
> thx, gil
>
> gil smith, AF7EZ
> greenkeys moderator
> gil at baudot.net <mailto:gil at baudot.net>
>
>
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-- 
Trouble strikes in "series of threes" - but when
working around the house the next job after a
"series of three" is not the fourth job -- it's
the start of a brand new "series of three".