The Richardson Area Balloonatics / Richardson Wireless Klub will be launching a high-altitude weather balloon with several pounds of radio and camera payloads on Saturday May 30th from the North Texas area. At peak altitude, we expect the radio horizon to encompass most of Texas and Oklahoma, with large portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, and even some Kansas.
The launch location will be Lookout Park in Richardson TX (https://maps.app.goo.gl/hTLmMTbDXyRqYzi18). Setup will begin at 8:00AM with an intended launch time of 9:00AM. We’ll try to congregate around the pavilion, but we may have to pivot if things get too busy. Look for antennas.
There are a number of ways to participate in this launch: join the launch crew, assist with the chase and recovery of the payloads, and/or participate via radio from wherever. You are also invited to build a payload to fly on a future launch.
As with our prior launches, we will be sending out special QSL cards for stations that interact with the payloads via RF. Fill out the form HERE to apply for the QSL card.
Payloads
| Payload | Callsign | Frequency | Participate |
| SSTV + Wenet / SSDV | KE5GDB | SSTV: 433.0MHz Robot 36 (FM) Wenet: 431.5MHz 96k SSDV / I2S | On the air Live images: https://ssdv.habhub.org/KE5GDB Wenet RX |
| DMR Single-Frequency Repeater | K5RWK | 441.0MHz | On the air Simplex / TS1 / CC1 / TG99 “Simplex 1” in Texas |
| FT-8 Transponder (20m) | K5RWK / K5MGY | 14.074MHz | On the air |
Not flown due to technical error | |||
ae5ez-snnn long EZ-5 short Slot 20 Not flown due to logistics issue | |||
| Tracker – RS41 | KI1TEN | 432.9MHz USB | On the air / track online How to decode Decode online |
| Tracker – RS41 | AE5EZ | 432.7MHz USB | On the air / track online How to decode Decode online |
| Tracker – RS41 | K5RWK | 432.5MHz USB | On the air / track online How to decode Decode online |
| Tracker – DFM17 | KE5GDB | 432.6MHz USB | On the air / track online How to decode Decode online |
| Sensor Payload | W5ADC | Bluetooth | |
| Insta360 X5 | KE5GDB | MicroSD record |
Ways to participate from afar
- Track the payloads at https://amateur.sondehub.org/ (look for K5RWK, KI1TEN, AE5EZ, KE5GDB, and KE5GDB-Wenet)
- Get in the log by making an FT-8 QSO with the balloon on 20m – callsign K5RWK
- Receive SSTV pictures in real-time – 433.0 MHz / Robot 36
- Listen for the digi-talker on 146.52MHz
- Make contacts through the DMR single-frequency repeater – 441.0MHz (details above)
- Decode our tracking payloads – “Horus Binary” on 432.5, 432.6, 432.7, and 432.9 MHz (decode using upper sideband and Horus GUI or https://horus.sondehub.org)
- Watch live images stream in via Wenet at https://ssdv.habhub.org/KE5GDB
Participate in person
- Launch site TBD — Will be announced closer to the 30th, depending on winds aloft
- Launch site will be on the northern side of DFW, possibly Melissa, Celina, Wylie
- Launch prep begins at 8:00AM with a target launch time of 9:00AM
- If chasing, please carpool — we’ve had congestion issues before
- Chase simplex is on 146.54MHz — please bring an HT that can talk on 146.54 if chasing
- Chase crew should bring boots, long pants, plenty of bug spray, and lots of water! Be prepared for a bit of a hike and high temperatures!
