Sirs:

I am a programmer and electrician, but not a radio person! I am
sending an experimental balloon to over 100,000 ft. I have purchased
two 900MHz RF Aerocomm ConnexLink Radios. The radios have a power of
1000 m.a., which states it will transmit and receive up to 20 miles
line of sight. I do realize that this is probably under ideal
circumstances and will not likely be the case when I actually deploy.
I would be interested in purchasing some antennas which would somehow
increase the range. What sort of characteristics make up a good
antenna for what I want to do? It is possible that someone could find
me one that would work with my project? Also, anything you might
contribute concerning radio transmission would be very much
appreciated.
Money is no object for this experiment, so any ideas you have are very
much welcome.

Thanks,
Brett

Money is no object for this experiment, so any ideas you have are
very
much welcome.

Thanks,
Brett
======================================

Dear Brett,

Just send me $800,000 US dollars and I will become your technical
adviser for life. Of course, I shall need time-off to spend it.
----
Reg.

wrote:

Sirs:

I am a programmer and electrician, but not a radio person! I am
sending an experimental balloon to over 100,000 ft. I have purchased
two 900MHz RF Aerocomm ConnexLink Radios. The radios have a power of
1000 m.a., which states it will transmit and receive up to 20 miles
line of sight. I do realize that this is probably under ideal
circumstances and will not likely be the case when I actually deploy.
I would be interested in purchasing some antennas which would somehow
increase the range. What sort of characteristics make up a good
antenna for what I want to do? It is possible that someone could find
me one that would work with my project? Also, anything you might
contribute concerning radio transmission would be very much
appreciated.
Money is no object for this experiment, so any ideas you have are very
much welcome.

Thanks,
Brett

How about a 100,000 ft trailing wire?

Irv VE6BP

--------------------------------------
Visit my HomePage at http://members.shaw.ca/finkirv/index.html
Visit my Baby Sofia website at http://members.shaw.ca/finkirv4/index.htm
Visit my OLDTIMERS website at http://members.shaw.ca/finkirv5/index.htm
--------------------
Irv Finkleman,
Grampa/Ex-Navy/Old Fart/Ham Radio VE6BP
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Is that on Antenna/Radio needs only?
:-)

Reg Edwards wrote:
Money is no object for this experiment, so any ideas you have are
very
much welcome.

Thanks,
Brett
======================================

Dear Brett,

Just send me $800,000 US dollars and I will become your technical
adviser for life. Of course, I shall need time-off to spend it.
----
Reg.

wrote in message
oups.com...
Sirs:

I am a programmer and electrician, but not a radio person! I am
sending an experimental balloon to over 100,000 ft. I have purchased
two 900MHz RF Aerocomm ConnexLink Radios. The radios have a power of
1000 m.a., which states it will transmit and receive up to 20 miles
line of sight. I do realize that this is probably under ideal
circumstances and will not likely be the case when I actually deploy.
I would be interested in purchasing some antennas which would somehow
increase the range. What sort of characteristics make up a good
antenna for what I want to do? It is possible that someone could find
me one that would work with my project? Also, anything you might
contribute concerning radio transmission would be very much
appreciated.
Money is no object for this experiment, so any ideas you have are very
much welcome.

Thanks,
Brett


Hi Brett .

Is it possible that your radio power level is 1,000 m.w. rather than 1000
m.a.?

I think this 'antenna' problem can be easily/inexpensively solved. if the
location of the balloon is known.

Jerry

wrote in message
oups.com...
Sirs:

I am a programmer and electrician, but not a radio person! I am
sending an experimental balloon to over 100,000 ft. I have purchased
two 900MHz RF Aerocomm ConnexLink Radios. The radios have a power of
1000 m.a., which states it will transmit and receive up to 20 miles
line of sight. I do realize that this is probably under ideal
circumstances and will not likely be the case when I actually deploy.
I would be interested in purchasing some antennas which would somehow
increase the range. What sort of characteristics make up a good
antenna for what I want to do? It is possible that someone could find
me one that would work with my project? Also, anything you might
contribute concerning radio transmission would be very much
appreciated.
Money is no object for this experiment, so any ideas you have are very
much welcome.

Just about any antenna will work . I would look into a 1/4 wave antenna
mounted upside down so it is pointed down for the balloon. I hope you ment
1,000 mw, or one watt of power for the transmitter. I have heard the hams
in the space shuttle and space station with a 5/8 wavelength on my car.
They only run a few watts and are over 100 miles up. Also talked with an
airplane at 40,000 feet that was over 150 miles away. I was using a 10 watt
radio and a small beam. He was using a handy talkey with maybe 5 watts
inside the plane. Unless you are under a bunch of trees , there is not
much beter conditions than to be line of sight. While it will probably be
too small to see without a telescope, as long as the balloon is in sight
almost anything will work.

On Fri, 28 Jul 2006 21:20:43 GMT, "Ralph Mowery"
wrote:


wrote in message
roups.com...
Sirs:

I am a programmer and electrician, but not a radio person! I am
sending an experimental balloon to over 100,000 ft. I have purchased
two 900MHz RF Aerocomm ConnexLink Radios. The radios have a power of
1000 m.a., which states it will transmit and receive up to 20 miles
line of sight. I do realize that this is probably under ideal
circumstances and will not likely be the case when I actually deploy.
I would be interested in purchasing some antennas which would somehow
increase the range. What sort of characteristics make up a good
antenna for what I want to do? It is possible that someone could find
me one that would work with my project? Also, anything you might
contribute concerning radio transmission would be very much
appreciated.
Money is no object for this experiment, so any ideas you have are very
much welcome.

Just about any antenna will work . I would look into a 1/4 wave antenna
mounted upside down so it is pointed down for the balloon. I hope you ment

So that would have its pattern null pointed down at the earth?

Not to imply that the balloon would necessarily be directly above the
observer(s), but if and when it was at the zenith, it would be
relatively hard to hear.

The OP hasn't told us the elevation angles of the locations of the
balloon in flight, how fast it is likely to spin, data rate or
equivalent (eg is this intended to send images back?), etc... they are
all relevant to commenting on suitability of the 1000mA??? radio, and
the type of antennas for the balloon and ground station(s).

Owen

For an amateur balloon project, see
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~phil...oonlaunch1.htm
..
--

On Fri, 28 Jul 2006 22:29:51 GMT, Owen Duffy wrote:


sending an experimental balloon to over 100,000 ft. I have purchased
two 900MHz RF Aerocomm ConnexLink Radios. The radios have a power of
1000 m.a., which states it will transmit and receive up to 20 miles
line of sight. I do realize that this is probably under ideal

I did mean to comment on the temperature spec for the radio. The
temperature in the troposhere can be as low at -50 to -75 deg C, will
the radio get cold enough in transit to fail (eg battery failure,
condensation etc).

Owen
--

At an altitude of 100,000 feet 1000 mw [1 watt] should reach to the radio
horizon of about 300 miles assuming a good receiver on the far end of the range.

A vertically polarized 1/2 wavelength antenna should work fine. At least it
would be my starting point. Second option would be an inverted [upside down] 1/4
wavelength ground plane. Either antenna is not expensive.

What information is to be transmitted? If you are looking for moderate speed
telemetry then a path loss versus error rate study needs to be done. If data is
being transmitted a gain antenna may be required at the receiver. Gain antennas
are not expensive and the antenna needs to be pointed at and follow the
balloon's flight path.

/s/ DD

wrote:

Sirs:

I am a programmer and electrician, but not a radio person! I am
sending an experimental balloon to over 100,000 ft. I have purchased
two 900MHz RF Aerocomm ConnexLink Radios. The radios have a power of
1000 m.a., which states it will transmit and receive up to 20 miles
line of sight. I do realize that this is probably under ideal
circumstances and will not likely be the case when I actually deploy.
I would be interested in purchasing some antennas which would somehow
increase the range. What sort of characteristics make up a good
antenna for what I want to do? It is possible that someone could find
me one that would work with my project? Also, anything you might
contribute concerning radio transmission would be very much
appreciated.
Money is no object for this experiment, so any ideas you have are very
much welcome.

Thanks,
Brett

Owen Duffy wrote:
On Fri, 28 Jul 2006 22:29:51 GMT, Owen Duffy wrote:



sending an experimental balloon to over 100,000 ft. I have purchased
two 900MHz RF Aerocomm ConnexLink Radios. The radios have a power of
1000 m.a., which states it will transmit and receive up to 20 miles
line of sight. I do realize that this is probably under ideal


I did mean to comment on the temperature spec for the radio. The
temperature in the troposhere can be as low at -50 to -75 deg C, will
the radio get cold enough in transit to fail (eg battery failure,
condensation etc).

Owen
--


YEP!

You have to account for loss of battery power, loss of gain in the
semiconductors, etc. Or, provide a stable thermal environment.