EOSS-379 Youth on the Air - Recap

KCØRPS's picture
Submitted by KCØRPS on Tue, 06/03/2025 - 15:26

 

One 1500g balloon was launched on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 from VFW Post 7945, Thornton, CO and reported a maximum altitude of 96,874 ft. A successful recovery was achieved in north Adams County at 40.03883, -104.3635. A detailed summary of the flight will follow soon.

EOSS member mileage reimbursement submission here

Recap Gallery: 
Original Announcement: 

 This summer, EOSS supports Youth On The Air (YOTA), which is hosting a week-long summer camp for youth aged 18-25 in Thornton, Colorado. YOTA emphasizes youth-led activities promoting amateur radio operation and skills development. EOSS will assist YOTA in launching a 1500 g balloon from the site of the camp, VFW Post 7945, located at 10217 Quivas St., Thornton, CO 80260. Jack McElroy, KM4ZIA, is coordinating with EOSS volunteers for this launch. 

EOSS-379. Launch time:   Tuesday, June 17, 2025: 8:30 am MDT (2:30 pm UTC)

(Note: If conditions are unfavorable at the scheduled launch time, we will reschedule it for Wednesday, June 18, at the same time and location, or shift to our back-up launch location near Windsor, CO.)

 EOSS Ground Station will operate from VFW Post 7945

Predictions for the 1500g balloon are shown at www.eoss.org/predict. Scroll to the correct date and launch site.

 Thumbnail of launch location: VFW Post 7945, Thornton, CO

 

 

Map from I-25 and 104th Ave, Thornton, CO to VFW Post 7945, 10217 Quivas St.

 

EOSS Members:  Flight participation form: https://forms.office.com/r/S8LYmdvbhz. See results at: EOSS Flight Day  _Tuesday, June 17, 2025.xlsx

Event Date: 
Tuesday, June 17, 2025 - 00:00 to 23:45
Flight Coordinator: 
N0MM & KM4ZIA
Flights: 

EOSS-379

Balloon Type: 
1500g Kaymont Latex
Parachute: 
12 Ft Rocketman. Release Baker
Beacons: 
FrequencyCallsignTypeNotes
145.535 KC0D-1 DF/Remote ReleaseTOP
144.340 AE0SS-3APRS/DIGIBOTTOM Alias "AEØSS" Time slot 0:20 and 0:50
Payload Plan: 
PDF icon EOSS-379 Lite Rev C.pdf
FrequencyList: 

EOSS Preflight Net @ 7 PM Mountain Time the preceding night:

 

The preflight net is hosted on the Fun Machine linked system https://www.we0fun.com/  

EchoLink *CANONCTY* conference and on the TGIF DMR Network Node: 1997 Talkgroup 815

Denver area Frequencies: 

    • 449.225 MHz (-5 MHz Offset, 141.3 Hz CTCSS) Mt Thorodin
    • 448.150 MHz (-5 MHz Offset, 141.3 Hz CTCSS) DIA
    • 449.975 Mhz (-5 MHz Offset, 100 Hz CTCSS) Westcreek
    • 447.525 MHz (-5 MHz Offset, 146.2 Hz CTCSS) Devils Head   

Back up Pre Flight Net Frequincies

        • 146.940 MHz (-600 KHz Offset, 103.5 Hz CTCSS) Rocky Mountain Radio League (RMRL) Repeater if the RMHAM machine is down
        • 146.640 MHz (-600 KHz Offset, 100.0 Hz CTCSS) Denver Radio League (DRL) Repeater will serve as a backup to the backup repeater 

Flight Day:
Launch Site:
        • 446.050 MHz Simplex  
        (Note that some radios assume these are repeater frequencies and attempt to put a 5 MHz offset in the transmit frequency automatically)

Track & Recovery Operations:
        Repeaters:
        • 449.450 MHz (-5 MHz Offset, 103.5 Hz Tone) RMRL repeater

        Simplex Frequencies:
        • 446.100 MHz Balloon #1 Field Simplex 
        • 446.150 MHz Balloon #2 Field Simplex
        • 446.200 MHz Balloon #3 Field Simplex
        • 446.275 MHz Car to Car drive out Simplex
        (Note that some radios assume these are repeater frequencies and attempt to put a 5 MHz offset in the transmit frequency automatically)

Digital Mobile Radio (DMR):

The decision as to which talkgroup use will be made by the EOSS RF Coordinator on a per flight basis.

  • Rocky Mountain Wide Network – Talk Group 700 - Rocky Mountain Ham Radio has approval to the use "Wide" for flight operations.
  • Central Colorado Regional Network – Talk Group 720 - On occasion, EOSS may use the Central Colorado Regional Network (Talk Group 720).

        Legacy 2M Simplex Frequency (not generally used due to desense/interference issues with the 2M APRS packets)
        • 146.550 MHz Simplex

2M Direction Finding Frequencies:

  • 144.340
  • 144.360
  • 144.905
  • 145.535
  • 145.645
  • 145.710
  • 145.765

 

Tactical Calls: 
TacticalCall SignNameNotes
AlphaKCØRPS, KØNKKJim, NancyFlight String & T&R Coordinator
BravoK4SDR, KM4ZIATom, JackYOTA Flight Coordinator, T&R
CharlieNØMMDougEOSS Flight Coordinator, T&R
DeltaNØNDMLarryBalloon Fill & T&R
Ground StationKEØUWC, KFØMBRGlenn, JohnGround Station
RoverWA0GEHMartyT&R
TR Breakfast: 
Grab & Go Breakfast on your own. Lunch at TBD following recovery.