If you are interested in following the balloon chase the Calnet repeater in Santa Barbara is W6AMS (yes me) and it is receive at 447.740 Transmit on 442.740 with a PL of 107.2.
Andy W6AMS
From: Marshall Oldham [mailto:ke6pcv@cal-net.org]
Sent: Saturday, July 30, 2011 7:31 PM
To: Calnet Members Mailing List
Subject: [Calnet] Balloon Launch on Sunday July 31, 2011
Greetings,
Here are the call signs of the two balloons that will be launched tomorrow, July 31, 2011 at around 0700 our time. Tentatively the first will launch around 0700 and the second balloon will launch 1/2 hour later. The balloons are going to be launched from the Palmdale area. They would normally launch from the Ojai area but the modeling software that the balloon aficionado used showed that if launched from Ojai they would come down somewhere near the islands off the coast of Santa Barbara. So that is the reason for the launch from Palmdale. The predicted path takes them North towards Mojave and then the balloons head west towards the Bakersfield area and possible places further west.
The two callsigns to follow on the APRS network are W6WLW-11 (yes that is the callsign of one of our new members). He plans on using Calnet as a good communications artery for comm between the chasers looking for the balloons as they burst and then parachute to Planet Earth. The other callsign to watch for on the APRS networks and internet is KJ6KUV-11. The last launch that was held about two months ago was fun to watch on the internet. KJ6KUV was responsible for that launch also. So if you are interested tune in and see how the launch and chase unfold.
Thanks and 73
Eddie Pierce
Second Request
SANTA BARBARA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Presents
THE GREAT SBARC HAMFEST AND FAMILY REUNION
Sunday, August 14, 2011 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM
By now you have all heard about this year's great Hamfest. It is true, we are back at the Santa Barbara Elks Lodge in Goleta. Please go the SBARC website and have a look at the flyer and make plans now to attend. Order your raffle tickets now to avoid the long line at the Hamfest.
We are going to have a whole bunch of terrific prizes -- things that would look good in any shack -- especially yours! But besides all those radio-related prizes, we would like to have gobs and gobs of wonderful donated prizes from all the local vendors in Carpinteria, Santa Barbara and Goleta. That's where you come in. You must certainly have a favorite store or two that you patronize often. Please consider asking the owner or manager of those stores for some kind of donated prize for our raffle. You can explain to them how SBARC is an educational, charitable, not-for-profit corporation and how the club supports the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), puts on many classes for the public so they may earn their Amateur Radio licenses and how Amteur Radio is often the only means of communications available during an area emergency. By now, most people have at least heard about Amateur Radio.
When you are selecting your donation items, please consider what the prize winner would be happy winning.
Attached you will find a donation receipt that you can print out, sign, list items donated and leave with the merchant. Be sure to extend the club's thanks. Also, please let the merchant know that we will be acknowledging each merchant when his item is won during the prize drawing.
When you have your collected items, please contact Dave Hackleman, K6VML, (notice change here) at d.hackleman(a)verizon.net and let him know what you have gathered.
Thank you very much for helping SBARC to have an exciting hamfest raffle.
Sincerely,
Darryl Widman, KF6DI
SBARC Exec. Vice President
____________________________________________________________
57 Year Old Mom Looks 27!
Mom Reveals $5 Wrinkle Trick That Has Angered Doctors!
http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4e34a811dea23301ec7st01duc
Please see below, if you cannot make a phone call then send an email please, help out Public Safety now, they need your support in order to have their own Broadband network for more information see www.andrewseybold.com<http://www.andrewseybold.com> and scroll down to the Public Safety Advocate section of the web-site.
I will be in DC this week with the Public Safety folks trying to get this bill introduced-you can help!!!
Andy W6AMS
From: Bill Carrow [mailto:gov@apcointl.org]
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 4:09 AM
To: Andrew Seybold
Subject: Make ONE Call to House Leaders to Support Allocating D Block Spectrum to Public Safety
Visit the APCO Website<http://www.mmsend57.com/link.cfm?r=196633635&sid=14760353&m=1468600&u=APCO&…> | My APCO Account<http://www.mmsend57.com/link.cfm?r=196633635&sid=14760354&m=1468600&u=APCO&…> | About APCO<http://www.mmsend57.com/link.cfm?r=196633635&sid=14760355&m=1468600&u=APCO&…>
[APCO Alert - Breaking News that Impacts Public Safety Communication]
Dear Public Safety Professional:
Good morning. I am Bill Carrow, President of APCO International, and once again on behalf of the Public Safety Alliance, I need your help today and tomorrow. The Republican leadership of the United States House of Representatives needs to hear from you now, as well as your family, friends, neighbors and colleagues.
During the next couple of days public safety officials will be in Washington DC meeting the members of congress to get them to introduce a companion bill to S. 911: The Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act of 2011 and we need your help. S. 911 passed out of committee on an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote and now the House needs to pass a similar bill on a bipartisan basis. We need your help in calling key leaders in the house during this time to support those that are in Washington DC. I know we have asked a lot, but this very complex process needs your support. Our success would not have happened without your phone calls and other help, so please take a moment to make this important call.
The House leaders need to do the right thing. This is no time to be a penny-wise and a pound-foolish with our nation's safety and security, especially in these tough economic times. We need Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (CA) to come out in support of S.911 and its companion to allocate D block spectrum to public safety with funding of $11.5 billion for the nationwide, interoperable and mission-critical public safety broadband network.
Therefore, please call Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy today at 202.225.2915 and urge him to support S. 911 and its companion in the House now before the 10th anniversary. Thank you once again for your continued support and assistance on this time-sensitive and top priority matter.
Sincerely,
[http://images.magnetmail.net/images/clients/APCO/Bill%20Sig.jpg]
Bill Carrow
All material 2009 APCO International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials - International
351 North Williamson Boulevard
Daytona Beach, Florida 32114
Opt out of APCO International mailings based on the information you would like to receive from us. Click here to login using your email address and password.<http://www.mmsend57.com/link.cfm?r=196633635&sid=14760356&m=1468600&u=APCO&…> Click on "update my information" and then select "update my options" at the bottom of the screen. You will be able to opt out of mailings by topic.
[http://www.mmsend57.com/spacer.cfm?tracking_id=9633979131]
Correction to Al Soenke's phone number, thanks to Dennis, WB6OBB
SANTA BARBARA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Presents
THE GREAT SBARC HAMFEST AND FAMILY REUNION
Sunday, August 14, 2011 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM
By now you have all heard about this year's great Hamfest. It is true, we are back at the Santa Barbara Elks Lodge in Goleta. Please go the SBARC website and have a look at the flyer and make plans now to attend. Order your raffle tickets now to avoid the long line at the Hamfest.
We are going to have a whole bunch of terrific prizes -- things that would look good in any shack -- especially yours! But besides all those radio-related prizes, we would like to have gobs and gobs of wonderful donated prizes from all the local vendors in Carpinteria, Santa Barbara and Goleta. That's where you come in. You must certainly have a favorite store or two that you patronize often. Please consider asking the owner or manager of those stores for some kind of donated prize for our raffle. You can explain to them how SBARC is an educational, charitable, not-for-profit corporation and how the club supports the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), puts on many classes for the public so they may earn their Amateur Radio licenses and how Amteur Radio is often the only means of communications available during an area emergency. By now, most people have at least heard about Amateur Radio.
When you are selecting your donation items, please consider what the prize winner would be happy winning.
Attached you will find a donation receipt that you can print out, sign, list items donated and leave with the merchant. Be sure to extend the club's thanks. Also, please let the merchant know that we will be acknowledging each merchant when his item is won during the prize drawing.
When you have your collected items, please contact Al Soenke, WA6VNN, at wa6vnn(a)sbarc.org or phone him at 967-1772 and let him know what you have gathered.
Thank you very much for helping SBARC to have an exciting hamfest raffle.
Sincerely,
Darryl Widman, KF6DI
SBARC Exec. Vice President
____________________________________________________________
Get Free Email with Video Mail & Video Chat!
http://www.juno.com/freeemail?refcd=JUTAGOUT1FREM0210
SANTA BARBARA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Presents
THE GREAT SBARC HAMFEST AND FAMILY REUNION
Sunday, August 14, 2011 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM
By now you have all heard about this year's great Hamfest. It is true, we are back at the Santa Barbara Elks Lodge in Goleta. Please go the SBARC website and have a look at the flyer and make plans now to attend. Order your raffle tickets now to avoid the long line at the Hamfest.
We are going to have a whole bunch of terrific prizes -- things that would look good in any shack -- especially yours! But besides all those radio-related prizes, we would like to have gobs and gobs of wonderful donated prizes from all the local vendors in Carpinteria, Santa Barbara and Goleta. That's where you come in. You must certainly have a favorite store or two that you patronize often. Please consider asking the owner or manager of those stores for some kind of donated prize for our raffle. You can explain to them how SBARC is an educational, charitable, not-for-profit corporation and how the club supports the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), puts on many classes for the public so they may earn their Amateur Radio licenses and how Amteur Radio is often the only means of communications available during an area emergency. By now, most people have at least heard about Amateur Radio.
When you are selecting your donation items, please consider what the prize winner would be happy winning.
Attached you will find a donation receipt that you can print out, sign, list items donated and leave with the merchant. Be sure to extend the club's thanks. Also, please let the merchant know that we will be acknowledging each merchant when his item is won during the prize drawing.
When you have your collected items, please contact Al Soenke, WA6VNN, at wa6vnn(a)sbarc.org or phone him at 967-772 and let him know what you have gathered.
Thank you very much for helping SBARC to have an exciting hamfest raffle.
Sincerely,
Darryl Widman, KF6DI
SBARC Exec. Vice President
____________________________________________________________
57 Year Old Mom Looks 27!
Mom Reveals $5 Wrinkle Trick That Has Angered Doctors!
http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4e2b60d534d461869fcst01vuc
SBARC Wednesday Nets -- TRIVIA NIGHT!
-------------------------------------
Beginning at 7:00 pm on the following linked repeaters:
146.79 MHz (La Vigia Hill)
223.92 MHz (Santa Cruz Island)
224.08 MHz (La Cumbre Peak)
Minus offset, PL 131.8
----------------------------------
7:00pm - 7:30pm -- Amateur Radio Newsline (www.ARNewsLine.org)
7:30pm - 8:00pm -- !! TRIVIA NIGHT !! Hosted by Dave Milton, K6HWN
8:00pm - 8:30pm -- Swap Net, hosted by Dave Milton, K6HWN
----------------------------------
Then, at 8:30pm, on 144.210 MHz, is the VHF Single Side Band Roundtable, typically hosted by Ken Owen, N6KTH. This popular roundtable is now in its fourth year. Some People start checking in early between 8:00pm and 8:30pm. For details, visit www.n6kth.com/vhf.
---Michael, NO6O
On 7/17/11 10:00 PM, rod(a)sbatv.org wrote:
> Hello Amateur Radio Balloon Friends,
>
>
>
> Here are a few notes about the flight, just in case you were wondering…
>
>
>
> Congratulations to the balloon team!
FYI, it was clearly audible from Mt. Pinos McGill Campground on 144.34.
I was able to track it originally to the west and shifting north.
--
Jay Hennigan - CCIE #7880 - Network Engineering - jay(a)impulse.net
Impulse Internet Service - http://www.impulse.net/
Your local telephone and internet company - 805 884-6323 - WB6RDV
Attached is the article from the SB News-Press covering the event. It is a scanned PDF file as the News-Press does not allow access to online articles for those of us who do not subscribe. Nice story with photos in the Sunday paper!
LCM
On Jul 17, 2011, at 10:00 PM, rod(a)sbatv.org wrote:
> Hello Amateur Radio Balloon Friends,
>
> Here are a few notes about the flight, just in case you were wondering…
>
> Congratulations to the balloon team!
>
> Team members were…
> · Santa Barbara Natural History Museum - Javier Rivera and Blanca Garcia
> · Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club - Rod Fritz WB9KMO, Cyril Johnson AF6GW, Levi Maaia K6LCM, Mike Bales KI6VBK (SBHX)
> · Consultants and Trackers - Bill Brown WB8ELK, Mark Caviezal NG0X and Jay Zatz WB6YQN
>
> Yesterday was a memorable day. We imagined a successful balloon flight and we made it happen!
>
> Saturday, July 16 was an ideal warm day on the beach in Santa Barbara (we get a lot of those, you know). The sun was out and there was a very slight breeze. A crowd had gathered as if a big party was at hand. Rod walked toward the crowd and said, “Hello everyone, why are we here?” The boisterous response was, “let’s launch a balloon!” So we did…
>
> (Refer to the attached Balloon Launch photos.)
>
> After assembling the payload and filling the balloon before about 50 excited onlookers, we launched the 6-pound near-space craft at 11:24am. It ascended straight up at about 900 feet per minute. Around 20,000 feet, it turned north, and reached speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour as it soared inland. At 60,000 feet, it shifted to the west, burst, and on its descent, shifted to the north again at about 60,000 feet. The maximum altitude, when the balloon burst over Fellows, CA, was over 93,000 feet!
>
> The balloon package free-fell with only a little drag from what was left of the balloon as it lost over 10 miles of altitude. The air was too thin to pop the parachute open. Finally, at around 20,000 feet (about 4 miles up), the chute opened an the descent slowed to around 1200 feet per minute.
>
> The balloon touched down around 2:00pm after 2 1/2 hours of flight. This is an Internet screen capture showing the last data that digital amateur radio repeaters received from the balloon’s WB9KMO APRS transmitter. The red dot is where Levi estimated the balloon might be found. Note the high-tension power lines at one of the largest power plants in California. At this point, we had some concerns, but we hoped for the best.
>
> <image001.jpg>
>
> After the launch and a little celebration and nourishment, the Chase Team started to drive toward the landing area near Taft, CA that we predicted at 8:00am.
>
> The Chase Team consisted of a car and a van with Santa Barbara Natural History Museum and Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club members, respectively. Both vehicles had Amateur Radio APRS tracking radios and we also relied on communication from other radio amateurs. We used cell phones and computers until they failed due to dead batteries and lost connections. Amateur radio saved the day.
>
> (Refer to the Chase Team photos – to be sent later.)
>
> We followed the balloon in our two vehicles, trying to get to it on the ground as soon as we could. The drive was beautiful and interesting, winding through the mountains north of Ventura and the arid oil fields and farm land near Maricopa and Taft.
>
> Cyril and Rod arrived at the power plant around 4:00pm and couldn’t see or hear any evidence of the balloon. Since the balloon was 2800 feet over the plant when it was received and the plant was at 300 feet elevation, with a descent rate of 1200 feet per minute and traveling at four miles per hour, it flew past the plant for about two minutes. Doing some quick calculations in our head, we started to drive to where we thought it would be. It wasn’t there though, more on that later…
>
> We enlarged our search. Just outside the plant, we heard the APRS transmitter on 144.39 MHz. Our receiver informed us that the balloon was about .5 miles northwest of our location. So we drove to Buttonwillow Park nearby, where our receiver indicated we were 0.0 miles away.
>
> We couldn’t see the balloon package from the van. On foot, we went to a higher place and Cyril yelled, “I found it!” In the middle of what appeared to be a desert, we had made a water landing.
>
> (Refer to the Recovery photos – to be sent later.)
>
> Cyril, with Rod Fritz cheering at his side, had discovered the balloon in an irrigation canal near Buttonwillow Park in Buttonwillow, CA. Where’s that? It’s in Kern County, about 20 miles west of Bakersfield and about 10 miles north of where we predicted at 8am that it would land.
>
> The other recovery car was close by and would have probably found the balloon in the next few minutes, too. We directed them to the landing site.
>
> Blanca, Rose and Rod looked on as Javier and Cyril pulled the package from the canal. There appeared to be almost no water damage, but the lens of the Canon camera got a little wet. Examining the contents, it was obvious that the package had a rough ride or at least a rough landing. Several of the items were quite warm and a few of the batteries had shifted. Everything is intact though, and ready to fly again sometime soon.
>
> Why was the balloon found to the northwest when it was flying southeast over the power plant. Bill put it this way…
>
> “I was hoping that it would land south of that last point where it was 2800 feet directly above the power plant and was predicting a southward drift...however I am quite surprised to see that it was recovered NW of that last position report...so perhaps the lower winds made a big shift or perhaps it actually landed in the canal to the south of the plant and floated to the point where you recovered it.”
>
> We’ll probably never know what really happened during those last few minutes. Pretty weird though. It defies common sense and the laws of physics. (There were reports of alien activities in the area though – not really, just kidding.)
>
> Well, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Others may have a different perspective and I’d love to hear what that is.
>
> Javier and Blanca will check out the cameras to see what we discovered about the trip and to see what near space is like. The electronics worked very well and we’re still tallying reception information from radio amateurs. Live reports from southern California were very encouraging. Rod will process video from the launch site and we’ll publish more interesting information and pictures later.
>
> If you have any reception reports, flight data or personal stories, please send them to me (rod(a)sbatv.org) as soon as possible.
>
> We’re planning to make an official press release tomorrow, Monday July 18.
>
> Thank you for sharing this exciting event with us.
>
> Rod Fritz, WB9KMO
> SBARC OUTREACH Committee Chair
> rod(a)sbatv.org
> <WB9KMO Flight Path 20110716-1400.jpg><WB9KMO Balloon Recovery 20110716-1630 .jpg><WB9KMO Flight Prediction 20110716-0757.jpg><Tape that 20m antenna to the cord.png><Walking It to the Launch Point.png><OK Let 'Er Go.png><Onward and Upward.png><It's Off the Ground!.png><Lost It in the Sun.png><Up Close, Ready for the Sky.png>
