[TWIAR] UX-4 2nd attempt scheduled for 12/10/05

[Greg Williams]

Due to equipment problems and unpleasant weather conditions for testing, 
it was decided to postpone the launch of the University of Tennessee 
Amateur Radio Club (UTARC) balloon flight UX-4 until the following weekend.

This Saturday, December 10, 2005, the weather appears to be cooperating 
for this test run of the 20m beacon. All equipment was tested during 
pre-flight clearance and are ready to go.

Launchtime is slated for 10AM Eastern Time (1500 UTC).

This mission 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 but tune up or down as temperature changes during the flight may 
cause the transmitter to drift. The Balloon Callsign will be 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 future 
missions that will relay telemetry readings as well as produce reception 
reports from earth stations on HF bands. 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.

This beacon, if successful, will be used on balloon flight UX-5, now 
scheduled for the weekend of December 17 (the following Saturday) to 
deliver expanded telemetry readings about the payload as we attempt a 
reception distance record. More information on that flight and its 
payload will be made available soon.

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 <mailto:info at utarc.org> with your Callsign, QTH, 
and signal report.