[SMCARA] UX-4 Balloon Launch 12/3/2005

[A.J. Farmer (AJ3U)]

At 10 AM Eastern Time on Saturday, December 3, the University of
Tennessee Amateur Radio Club, or UTARC, is launching a small balloon
test project and is looking for amateurs across North America, South
America and Europe to listen for its QRP signal.

The mission, number UX-4, contains only a 20 meter CW beacon with
battery voltage and transmission number being transmitted via the
beacon. The power out is about 1 1/4 watt depending on antenna ERP.
The frequency is 14.328 MHz CW. Callsign AA4UT/B

Success of this mission is reliant on the signal reports we get back
from listeners. The 20m CW transmitter is being tested for use on a
future mission that will relay telemetry readings as well as produce
reception reports from earth stations on HF bands. If successful, the
transmitter will be used on a flight in mid-December to deliver
expanded telemetry readings about the payload as we attempt a
reception distance record. Recovery operations are not planned for
this flight as only the 20m beacon and battery are onboard. It will
have a homemade parachute and ID tags on the payload in case it is
recovered in a populated area.

UTARC will spot the transmitter on DXclusters and there will be QSL
info in the beacon ID. If you would like to email your report, please
send an email to info at utarc.org with your Callsign, QTH, and signal
report.

http://www.utarc.org/

--
A.J. Farmer, AJ3U
http://www.aj3u.com