[InHam] Balloon APRS Beacon

[Stephen Parker]

>From another email reflector:

> My question is which is the best path for the beacon?

ANSWER:  WIDE2-1
Because WIDE1-1 is VERBOTEN at altitude because it brings up all manner
of fill-in digis, often at peoples homes, and causes them QRM.

Because WIDE2-2 is not needed, since every digipeater will hear the packet
direct, and once it is on the ground, your chase crew should certainly be
within 1 digipeater of hearing it if it makes any digi at all.
So WIDE2-1 is the way to get one hop without using WIDE1-1.

Also NO MORE OFTEN than once per minute (if using the national frequency).

Bob, WB4APR
___________________________

I mention this because in the past year or two, we've seen balloons
launched here in the midwest (IL, IN) that beaconed EVERY 5 SECONDS
for the duration of their flights, with a LONG path (WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2).
These balloons monopolized the entire APRS network for thousands of
square miles while they were aloft.

Please use only a path of WIDE2-1 (or even no path at all) for
high-altitude balloons (>5000'). At those heights, there is no doubt
it will be heard by multiple digipeaters and Internet gateway
stations. Beaconing once every couple of minutes should be more than
sufficient to keep track of its location and altitude. Observing good
operating practices like this keeps the APRS network functioning
properly and allows everyone to track the balloons with ease.

Stephen M. Parker, WR9A
RadioWR9A at gmail.com