An Aerial - Aerial? (Balloon Repeater)

[KF6IRK]

Need some volunteers to help with the balloon repeater project.

Feel free to chime in with your thoughts and knowledge. Expertise in quantum physics, aeronautical and electronics engineering, environmental science and chemistry are required backgrounds. Previous experience with hallucinogenics would also be a plus


The goal is to construct a simple, lightweight, inexpensive, portable, aerial repeater for use at Cuddeback or similar event locations. The repeater will 'float' at a 500~1000 ft elevation above it's tethering point.

TASKS:

1. Design repeater system
2. Calc payloads (total weight, including balloon and tethering)
3. Size balloon accordingly


REPEATER:

* 2 Baofeng HTs
* 1 simple controller
* 1 Duplexer? (if not cross-banding)
* 1 APRS TX? (in case it gets away from us)

* Calc probable usage (day/night) power consumption
* 'X' LiPo batteries
* Charging requirements (daytime/solar)


PAYLOADS:

Internal:

* Repeater electronics (above)
* Lightweight enclosure (I'm thinking thick-wall Styrofoam medical specimen transport/container)
* Bubble wrap and duct tape

External:

* Balloon
* Tether rope(s) (80# test or Dacron rope)?
* Lightweight parachute(s)? with electronically-controlled (DTMF), quick-release mechanism to jettison the 'internal' payloads (if need be)

* Solar charger?


BALLOONS:

Polyurethane ones appear to be the most reliable/durable/reusable)

I found an 8' diameter balloon for $145. shipped (from Amazon). 16# shipping weight (they come in white, yellow, orange, red or green). Waiting on answer to what it's made of and it's lifting capabilities. If this is a poly, it's the best price I've found so far for this size balloon. Amazon.com: 8 Ft White Advertising Blimp / Sphere Balloon: Office Products

* Size to lift/support payload(s) (an 8' dia should be able to lift approx. 12# in addition to the weight of the balloon).
* Gas (Helium or Hydrogen). Helium has a lifting force of approximately 1 gram per liter.
* Tethering, 3-points 80#-test or 1/8" Dacron? ... 80# test would be less expensive. (Dacron - $118./1k') 1/8 Inch Diameter - Dacron Antenna Rope - 1000 Ft

 

[KF6IRK]

MORE INFO ...

BATTERY CHARGING:

Since the Baofeng U5RV radios operate at 7.2v, I think the following arrangement would work:

(1) LiPo 5600MA battery pack $ ?

(2) Powefilm MP4.8-754.8v, 50mA flexible 'Sat-Cells'. These are small, thin, lightweight and fairly rugged.

The MP4.8-75 cells would be wired in series for 9.6v @ 50mA with a blocking diode (no charge controller needed, output is close to but < than 10% of the battery's capacity) - $13.50 (each) from sddhhanover (on ebay) eBay My World - sddhhanover

MP4.8-75 specs:

Voltage ............ 4.80V
Current ............ 50.0mA (0.05A)
Voltage (oc) ... 6.40V
Current (sc) .... 60.0mA (0.06A)
Thickness ...... 0.2mm (8 mil)
Total Size ...... 3.0 x 3.7" (75 x 94mm)
Aperture Size 3.0 x 3.2"(75 x 80mm)
Weight ............. 0.07 oz (1.9 g)

 

[KF6IRK]

OR ...

Someone had suggested installing an antenna and hoisting some RG58 up. I think the weight (1,000 ft is 26 lbs, 500 ft would be 13 lbs), and line loss (over 6db at 144mHz) would both be too great.

 

[KF6IRK]

BALLOON REPEATER UPDATE - 11/14/13

OK, the design parameters have changed from the original plan. Below is a list of components we have, and need - so far.

(x) Items that have already been acquired or being supplied by confirmed source(s).

Items with an ( ) are still needed.


BALLOON EQ.

(x) (1) Balloon 8' dia, white PVC (IRK)
( ) (1) 300 cu. ft. helium (KAO)? (+ donors can purchase advertising space on the balloon to help with the cost of the gas)* *
( ) (4) 1000 ft. spools of 45lb-test fishing line*
( ) (4) Wire spools (large dia)* (to keep launch and retrieval time to a minimum)
(x) (3) Anchor spikes (IRK)
( ) (?) Wide Felt-tip Markers* * (Black, Red, Green? Orange? (BOLD colors for printing call signs on the balloon)

* (4000 ft. required for 3 balloon tethers (keeping the balloon geo-stationary at +/- 1000 ft altitude + 1 payload release tether).


REPEATER EQ.

(x) (2) Kenwood TH-78A Dual-band HTs (one for the repeater and one to control the aloft HT) (KAO)
(x) (1) 7.4v, 5Ah LiPo battery pack(IRK)
( ) (1) 55" Nylon Parachute (in case we need to drop the payload quickly) $10.00 on ebay
... Newest Speed Drills Training Resistance Parachute Running Sport Chute Power Tool | eBay
(x) (1) Velcro payload release device (IRK)


EXTRA EQ. (IRK)

(x) (1) Video Camera (for viewing our campground from the balloon's perspective)
(x) (1) AV Transmitter (1.2 gHz or 5.8gHz)
(x) (1) AV Receiver (1.2 gHz or 5.8gHz)
(x) (1) Video monitor
(x) (x) Associated power sources


( ) Any volunteers who want to help with the construction or wish to donate any supplies, feel free to post here or contact me through a Private Message on this site.

* * Participants will also be able to purchase 'advertising space' or place their call sign on the balloon for a mere $5.00 to help offset the cost of the helium

op:

 

[kg6ypa]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOXDaZfLIUc

DJI Phantom and GoPro camera recovered from lake after 46 days - YouTube

 

[KF6IRK]

Looks like it was at Pyramid Lake

 

[kk6hdu]

Put me down for the fishing line (4)

 

[kg6ypa]

lake local

here it is

 

[KF6IRK]

UPDATE: 11/15/13

(x) Items that have already been acquired or being supplied by confirmed source(s).

Items with an ( ) are still needed.


( ) Any volunteers who want to help with the construction or wish to donate any supplies, feel free to post here or contact me through a Private Message on this site (+ you'll get to put your call sign on the balloon for free.)

* * Other 'Burning Ham III' participants will also be able to purchase 'advertising space' or place their call sign on the balloon for a mere $5.00 to help offset the cost of the helium.



BALLOON EQ.


( ) (1) 300 cu. ft. helium (KAO)? (+ donors can purchase advertising space on the balloon to help with the cost of the gas)* *

( ) (?) Wide Felt-tip Markers* * (Black, Red, Green? Orange? (BOLD colors for printing call signs on the balloon)

( ) (4) Wire spools (large dia)* (to keep launch and retrieval time to a minimum)
... http://www.harborfreight.com/150-ft-extension-cord-reel-39343.html approx $8.00 each at Harbor Freight

(x) (1) Balloon 8' dia, white PVC (IRK)
(x) (3) Anchor spikes (IRK)
(x ) (4) 1000 ft. spools of 45lb-test fishing line* (HDU)

* (4000 ft. required for 3 balloon tethers (keeping the balloon geo-stationary at +/- 1000 ft altitude + 1 payload release tether).


REPEATER EQ.

(x) (2) Kenwood TH-78A Dual-band HTs (one for the repeater and one to control the aloft HT) (KAO)
(x) (1) 7.4v, 5Ah LiPo battery pack (IRK)
(x) (1) 55" Nylon Parachute (in case we need to drop the payload quickly) (YPA)
... Newest Speed Drills Training Resistance Parachute Running Sport Chute Power Tool | approx $10. on eBay

(x) (1) Velcro payload release device (IRK)


EXTRA EQ. (IRK)

(x) (1) Video Camera (for viewing our campground from the balloon's perspective)
(x) (1) AV Transmitter (1.2 gHz or 5.8gHz)
(x) (1) AV Receiver (1.2 gHz or 5.8gHz)
(x) (1) Video monitor
(x) (x) Associated power sources


...

 

[KF6IRK]

YPA donated $10 for the parachute ...
HDU is supplying the fishing line (tethers) approx $40!
OWI donated $10 towards the gas ...

Thanks guys