Announcement of EOSS-63

LAUNCH DATE: January 25, 2002
LAUNCH TIME: 09:00 am MST, 16:00 UTC
LAUNCH SITE: Windsor (directions)

There will be a HOME BASED DF contest associated with this flight.

See the Contest Information Page for details.

If you skip this page, then know that we will NOT be taking bearings "live" from home stations. The format and computer programs used to track the balloon are inconsistent with simple bearings from a known latitude and longitude. So, don't attempt to join the Tracking and Recovery net to submit bearing information.

See NOTES below regarding payload train configuration

If an EOSS payload is highlighted, there is a link to an information page about that payload.

Frequencies:

  • Preflight Net:
    • 147.225 MHz 8 pm MDT preceding Friday night
      • 145.160 MHz simulcast in the Springs
    • 146.640 MHz will serve as a backup frequency
  • HF Net during Flight
    • 7228 KHz (see notes about this freq)
    •  starting at 15:15 UTC (8:15am MST)
  • APRS
    • 144.340 MHz
    • ID
      • Callsign W5VSI-11
      • Digi EOSS
      • Node BALNOD
    • EBBE with KC0JHQ
  • Beacon
    • 147.555 MHz
  • ATV
    • 426.250 MHz (AM)
    • spin stabilized azimuth control
  • Tracking and Recovery Operations
    • 449.450 MHz 103.5 Hz tone RMRL Repeater
    • 146.550 MHz simplex (same simplex for field and launch ops)
  • Simplex at Launch Site
    • 146.550 MHz (same simplex for field and launch ops)

EOSS Grid Placement

  • Last Chance = 50, 10
  • Lindon = 60, 10
  • Fosston = 9.5, 67
  • Anton = 70,10.5
  • Landing Point = 55.6, 32.1

Payload Configuration:

Notes:

The various "(payload tentative)" designations above arise from the fact that we are in the process of building a new ATV system. Once the ATV status is known, a weight budget will come into being and various other systems will be added to the balloon.

The most likely dropout will be the cross band repeater.

HF - We used to try and set up on 7235 KHz. However, commercial broadcasts and long standing nets on that freq have caused us problems. So, we have settled on these frequencies

If commercial traffic isn't too heavy in the general portion of the 40 meter band then within 2 KHz we will attempt traffic on:

  • 7228 KHz
  • 7240 KHz

If the general portion is too crowded then the net will move to the extra area of the band:

  • 7160 KHz