开云体育

I launched a U4B. Is there a problem with the tracking map? I am getting reports but it is not showing on tracking map. Did I do something wrong?
Thanks
Ted KG5TED?

Same for me, but I haven't launched.

Vertical_1 is in my living room.

If you can capture both the call sign report and the tracker report, you can decode using the spreadsheet here:


I was able to decode properly using the spreadsheet, but I'm also capturing the two transmissions here in my home using an SDR, so I don't have to hunt for the correct second transmission.

73 Alan KC1QHV

I think you're actually getting spots plotted!!!

Is this your location?

-Alan

I think it went down. Frustrating.?

Ted KG5TED?

That's too bad, Ted. Can you share some details about the balloon. BTW, you just received my U4B s I test it here on the bench.


--
John AE5X

John,
I was using a 32” ORBS balloon with 5 grams of free lift. This was my second 32” balloon and second failure. The first one I didn’t pressure test. I only got one position report at a little over 20,000 feet. Talking to people it is believed that this balloon needs to be stretched preflight. That when stretching in the cold at altitude it will fail. The balloon from yesterday I stretched to .35 psi for a few hours. I am thinking it failed because the way I sealed the balloon. I used contact cement using a q-tip to get up into the fill valve. Then I sealed the outside with crazy glue folding the fill valve over and sealing to the balloon and then using?Kapton tape to tape it to the balloon. Oh, also after pressure checking, when removing the tube I wrinkled up the fill valve. I was able to Reinsert the tube and Straighten out the valve. This may be a cause of the failure also. This was the only balloon I had. I think if I had more I would have trashed this balloon and start with a new one.

I think my major problem is I get too much in a hurry. Trying to time my launch with time restraints of work (work always gets in the way of everything, HiHi) and weather. I need to modulate my adrenaline. The transmitter part of this is the easy part, well with me. For me keeping the balloon Aloft without failure is the hard part.?

My next balloon I will take my time.?
Ted KG5TED?

Hi Ted?
It appears that your solar panel arrangement is not optimal?
The first spot today at EL86 was at 14:06z? which if I did the math correctly was a solar angle of 43 degrees above the horizon.
Normally a flat solar panel will start working at 17 degrees of sun and your solar panel is weak in some way, taking much more sun to run the radio.
Not sure how you have the solar panel set up but it will still work.... but not transmit except when the sun is higher in the sky.
This requirement of high sun to run the radio will also restrict transmissions earlier in the evening.
Good luck on your flight.
Dave VE3KCL

Yes when trying to mount my solar cells I broke 2 of them. So, to save time i used 4 of these in parallel. Also, it wasn’t a smooth launch. They might not be quiet horizontal, I didn’t notice.?

Here the specs on the cells I used:

Features & details?

Hi Ted?
Using solar cells in parallel usually requires blocking diodes for each parallel solar cell, so that if the cells are not nicely aligned, the cell with the sun does not back charge one of the cells that are not in the sun.
I would suggest using the breakable glass solar cells next time and watch a few videos on soldering solar cells before going at the process.
There are many advantages to these cheap chinese solar cells .? Once you figure out how to solder them, a complete 6 cell (19mm x 39mm ) arrangement on foam can be constructed in about 10 minutes but it is fragile and must be protected before the launch. The U4B was designed with these glass chinese solar cells in mind. The power film cells should work as well, but on some sizes of powerfilm, high open circuit voltage could destroy the U4B so some extra precautions must be taken.
Dave VE3KCL

Yes, I started out using the glass solar cells and when mounting them I broke 2 of them. So, went quick and easy because of time restraints with these cells. Hopefully I will be able to take my time on my next flight.?

Thanks for the information.?

Ted KG5TED?

Dear TED,


Here is the WSPR SPOT from my WA5DJJ QRSS/WSPR SUPER GRABBER IN NEW MEXICO.?? Your hanging in there.?
This is so much fun for everyone.??
Take care and have fun.
73 Dave WA5DJJ
SUPER GRABBER

Oh man Ted, it looks like your balloon is passing Puerto Rico!

Congratulations! This is the first time I've been able to watch a live balloon!

73 AlanKC1QHV

Congratulations to Ted on his flight. It must have made you jump when? it reported in after you thought it had gone down. Pleased for you!
:)))

73s?

Tony G0BZB

Oh believe it did. After 5 WSPR tracker failure. 4 with SBS13 balloons and one with 32” ORBS balloon. I think the 32” balloon failed because I didn’t pre-stretched. Oh by the way I have a SBS13 if anyone wants it for free, just pay postage?
Ted KG5TED?

Nice to see your balloon wake up this morning, now well on its way to Africa! Do you have a link to the solar panels you're using?
--
John AE5X

John,?
Here is the link to the solar panels I used. But don’t think I’ll use them again, I only get around 6 hours a day transmitting out of them.?

Thanks
Ted KG5TED?