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U3S-18 in the air

 

Picking it up here Jim, on 20m... good signal here today.? Last couple days I might spot it once or twice.? Will try 30m for a while and see how that goes.
 

Thanks Jeff,I see your spotting it on 20m WSPR often.
30m still a bit poor but maybe the solar activity will clear up and give more spots later.
 

Another note.
Hysplit trajectories seem way off.Not sure why,maybe the hurricane system throws the forecast off?
 

Again,not too sure if this will be accurate.Had to leave late in the day and ran this trajectory from 3 hour old data.
It has not moved much anyhow so probably close enough.
All only if it survives tonight.
 

U3S18 may have finally met it`s fate with Hurricane Jose storm system.
So far, about an hour behind startup time.Bit again,anything is possible today but unlikely.
Even went as far to find a visual of weather conditions in the general area.

Says very little but better than nothing.
 

Sitting here at the radio looking for any clues and saw this spot on WSJT.
1500??-22??-1.0???14.097100???-1???<...>?????????GM12FR???60???2122
No call sign but grid square is just East of Bermuda.
Anyone have an idea what this call sign-less signal could be?
Jim
 

On 18/09/2017 15:14, James Zelazny jr wrote:
Sitting here at the radio looking for any clues and saw this spot on WSJT.
1500??-22??-1.0???14.097100???-1???<...>?????????GM12FR???60???2122
No call sign but grid square is just East of Bermuda.
Anyone have an idea what this call sign-less signal could be?
Jim

Half a 2-part transmission?
Maybe from a maritime mobile?

73 Alan G4ZFQ
 

I've been watching this balloon's tracking excitedly for the last week. ?Sad to not see reports this morning. ?If it did go down, would this be the first HAB to fall in the Bermuda Triangle? ?I suppose a balloon would get seriously whipped around in a microburst and not get much light on its PV to activate its transmitter to tell us what's going on. ?But wouldn't 4km altitude be typically above such storms?
Cheers, Halden NR7V
 

Yes,it is sad it was caught up in the storms but like mentioned before,the flight duration was a bonus after the first 4 hours after launch using such undersized balloons.
Not only did the balloons prove integrity,manage to last several days at low altitudes.
Storms and clouds obviously vary and crop up at any given moment.My experience in cloud behavior is poor at best but use as many tools possible to at least try to understand where they may be.
Here are some very good websites to observe clouds,wind currents and some other information.
But in the end,altitudes of at least 10000m or more is best to avoid most storms and clouds.

Many features using the above link that help.
Here is another to add some insight to what may happen as well.

Then once altitude is determined with LAT/LONG,this trajectory forecast is usually accurate.

Some pre flight predictions can be made which helps choose the best conditions,but in the end,no turning back.
This one is great so you know where the best place is to launch.
 

Alan,
Han`s reminded me that it was not U3S18 since in WSPR,flight firmware does not use 6 character grid.
Somehow it slipped my mind this morning with a bit of wishful thinking :)
Much was learned and optimism is high for the next attempt.
Jim,N2NXZ
 

Halden,
Just another note.
Since the balloons were filled to float,free lift will not allow even 3 grams of water to accumulate or it would drop like a stone.
So even a small amount of moisture will take a balloon down.However,sometimes not fast enough where they can actually dry out and rise again.
This has happened in one of my flights as did Dave`s, VE3KCL.
Higher the altitudes the better.
 

Thank you for all the good tips.... all good items to study in advance of the U3B!

(subtle hint for Hans) :-)

John K5MO

On 9/18/2017 5:07 PM, James Zelazny jr wrote:
Yes,it is sad it was caught up in the storms but like mentioned before,the flight duration was a bonus after the first 4 hours after launch using such undersized balloons.
Not only did the balloons prove integrity,manage to last several days at low altitudes.
Storms and clouds obviously vary and crop up at any given moment.My experience in cloud behavior is poor at best but use as many tools possible to at least try to understand where they may be.
Here are some very good websites to observe clouds,wind currents and some other information.
But in the end,altitudes of at least 10000m or more is best to avoid most storms and clouds.
,43.115,-77.558,5
Many features using the above link that help.
Here is another to add some insight to what may happen as well.

Then once altitude is determined with LAT/LONG,this trajectory forecast is usually accurate.

Some pre flight predictions can be made which helps choose the best conditions,but in the end,no turning back.
This one is great so you know where the best place is to launch.

--
III
 

James,

Have you thought about treating the balloon and package with superhydrophobic spray such as for example NeverWet (check out youtube)?

73 Jan
 


That's something I have thought of for quite some time, I have a bottle of wax it wet that should work just about the same, maby I should try that on last launch of the year that's coming up as soon as the weather permitts.

Let's see what James thinks of it.
 

A water repellent is something that was thought of but never tried.I was thinking a product used for aircraft and automobiles I have used on my windshield once when my wipers failed years ago.I think it was called rain-x or liquid glass?
Have to google those and see if they still exist.
I know it worked great in a downpour while driving using no wipers :)
The only worry is if these products will deteriorate the balloon films.
Another spray is for cooking called PAM for anti sticking.Maybe fill a balloon with gas and try these to see if they hold up on the ground.
 

Don't forget weight... coatings could easily add a lot of weight to the balloon and bring the float altitude lower. And may only be partially effective anyway. An alternative solution is minimise the weight and get as high up as possible, over about 10km or so there are very few clouds to get in the way.?

73 Hans G0UPL

On Tue, Sep 19, 2017 at 3:07 PM, James Zelazny jr <wtfbsyt@...> wrote:
A water repellent is something that was thought of but never tried.I was thinking a product used for aircraft and automobiles I have used on my windshield once when my wipers failed years ago.I think it was called rain-x or liquid glass?
Have to google those and see if they still exist.
I know it worked great in a downpour while driving using no wipers :)
The only worry is if these products will deteriorate the balloon films.
Another spray is for cooking called PAM for anti sticking.Maybe fill a balloon with gas and try these to see if they hold up on the ground.


 

Looks like our minds work similar :)
The primary use of Rain-X is for automotive applications. Commercially sold "Original Glass Treatment" is the original and most well known Rain-X branded product. It is a hydrophobic silicone polymer that forces water to bead and roll off of the car, often without needing wipers.
 

I would look at the new nano technology treatments, I they are much more effective than the old products. Check??and??amazing.

Jan
 

Jan...tnx for info and will look into this stuff more.
Curious if this stuff will help should they flight pass through storm systems.
A test using helium filled balloons and garden hose may be fun !
The neighbors will probably think I have gone insane finally...LOL.
 

Yes you would have to check out the weight but the new products are very thin. I would think above FL 430 (43000 feet at 1013 mb) would be a good height, there are not very many planes this high either.

How much wight reduction is necessary to get this high (how much lighter will your U3B be than your current version)?

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