The Richardson Wireless Klub will be launching a high-altitude weather balloon with several pounds of radios, cameras, and other assorted near-space junk this coming Saturday, October 24th at 9:00AM! The launch site will be Oak Point Park in Plano.
The radio horizon should encompass most of Texas and Oklahoma, with large portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, and even some Kansas. The flights typically last between 2 and 3 hours, so there will be a narrow window to make contacts with and through the balloon (crossband repeater, FT-8 transponder, digi-talker, SSTV, etc — see below).
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. Pictures of your participation are also very much appreciated and can be sent to balloon at K5RWK.org.
Payloads
| Payload | Callsign | Frequency | Participate |
| SSTV + Wenet / SSDV | K5RWK | SSTV: 433.1MHz Robot 36 (FM) Wenet: 431.5MHz 96k SSDV / I2S | On the air Live images: https://ssdv.habhub.org/K5RWK Wenet RX |
| Crossband Repeater | K5RWK | 446.0MHz downlink 147.435MHz PL 67.0 uplink | On the air |
| FT-8 Transponder (20m) | K5RWK / K5MGY | 14.074MHz | On the air |
| Digi-talker | KD5OUG / K5RWK | 146.52MHz | On the air |
| MeshCore | AE5ID Balloon | 910.525MHz / 62.5 kHz BW / SF 7 / CR 5 (Default US setting) | On the air |
| MeshTastic | AE5ID Balloon | Long-Fast | On the air |
| Tracker – RS41 | KI1TEN | 432.9MHz 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 |
| Tracker – RS41 | KT5KMF | 432.7MHz USB | On the air / track online How to decode Decode online |
| Tracker – RS41 | KI1TEN | 432.9MHz USB | On the air / track online How to decode Decode online |
| Tracker – RS41 | AE5ID | 433.0MHz USB (Horus/CATS/APRS1200/APRS9600) 432.1MHz USB CW | On the air / track online How to decode Decode online |
| FPV Video | W5ADC | 5.8GHz Analog (ch TBA) | On the air |
| TOASTER Cutdown Payload | KT5KMF/AE5ID | Top secret | |
| Balloon Neck 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, KE5GDB, AE5ID, KT5KMF, and K5RWK-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 crossband repeater
- Decode our tracking payloads – “Horus Binary” on 432.5, 432.6, 432.7, 432.9 and 433.0MHz (decode using upper sideband and Horus GUI or https://horus.sondehub.org)
- Watch live images stream in via Wenet at https://ssdv.habhub.org/K5RWK
Participate in person
- Launch site Oak Point Park in Plano
- 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!
