Tracksoar Updates 2/30/2017

by | Apr 30, 2017 | Uncategorized | 3 comments

Its the beginning of weather balloon season and we were lucky enough to supply a Tracksoar to a group at UCLA on a recent weather balloon flight. You can read more about the flight and the data gathered here: https://w6yra.wordpress.com/pattern/balloon-proton/

3 Comments

  1. David Snyder
    David Snyder on May 25, 2017 at 7:57 am

    Hello,

    A group of 5 students and I launched a balloon in November. We used the Eagle Flight Computer from High Altitude Science to record the data from the flight. We used two hiking GPS trackers to track the payload. One worked well until the balloon got too high. It restarted sending info as it fell to lower altitudes.

    Do you recommend that I use your product instead? (I assume so! ha)

    I am willing to buy other equipment to communicate with your device. Is it difficult to get a radio operator’s license?

    We used a GoPro for video footage but it failed at 45,000 feet once it got too cold. We may use external batteries OR put it in a Styrofoam box like many others do.

    Do you have training/learning videos?

    • Michael Bales
      Michael Bales on May 25, 2017 at 10:18 am

      Hi David, awesome to hear you’re launching balloons.

      I assume the hiking GPS you’re referring to is a SPOT3 or similar tracker that uses the iridium satellite network to report location. The GPS receivers in these trackers will only work up to 60k feet before they stop updating, though they will resume once they drop below 60k feet as you described.

      I am a bit biased but I do think the Tracksoar will work better than a SPOT or similar tracker for high altitude applications. The Tracksoar has been tested to 115k feet and dutifully reported data the whole way up and down.

      Getting you ham radio license is much easier these days. There are a lot of resources available via arrl.org including practice tests. Most people can pass the technician test with only a few days of studying, less if you have a decent understanding of electronics. There should be an amateur radio club not too far from you where you can schedule and take the test.

      Insulating the gopro and giving it a larger external battery will both significantly increase the run time.

      please check the blog section of our site for videos and tutorials. If you have any further questions feel free to email us at beta@tracksoar.com. I also suggest taking a look at reddit.com/r/hab and ukhas.org.uk for very active online HAB communities.

  2. Jason Schwartz
    Jason Schwartz on November 25, 2017 at 5:50 am

    Hi, Michael. My son just received his APRS Ready to Fly tracker. He is planning a launch next month. Can you tell us what the two long blue wires are? Are they the antennae, or are we supposed to connect them to something?

    Thanks,
    Jason