Contest station AK7AZ, a Special Interest Group of the Radio Society of Tucson, attempts to use a balloon lofted 160m antenna for the 2011 CQWWDX-SSB contest. Fun was had by all!
I was the guy in the blue shirt doing most of the talking. I remember it worked really well with about 85 contacts and reports of the loudest signal on the band
I want to be you guys when I grow up. I'm a 37 year old broadcast audio engineer, and I think I've just found the hobby for me... amateur radio design. Thanks for the great video!
I know this has been years ago, but what if you put a fish net around the balloon or even two balloons and tied the wire to that. The balloon would not have to strain on it from the coax. I might try this at the lake with my Marine radio antenna when I am running radio guard for the boats as a Coast Guard Auxiliarist. Thanks for the ideas guys.!!
Instead of a large round latex balloon, a blimp-shaped mylar "Kytoon" is MUCH better. It steers itself into the wind and with increasing wind speed, gives increasing lift. Latex: takes overpressure well but is heavy and porous. Mylar: doesn't take overpressure at all but is light and doesn't leak. Instead of a ground-level feedpoint, elevated feed (w/ sloping radials) performs better. RG-174/U coax (0.1" OD) is much lighter than RG-58/U, and can handle 100W @ 1.8 MHz when matched.
Hey Guys That was a Really COOL Attempt with That Balloon, I have several Balloons They are Fun To Just Blow Up And Admire Thanks for a Good Show. Joseph
Back in 2015, I did this on a beach campground between Anaheim and San Diego (This was during the winter, so I had the place to myself). I worked 482 Qs in one night, including VK, JA, G4, PY, and 26 states. Unfortunately, I zapped the front end on my FT-757 just as the sun was rising in the East. Still, though, I had a wonderful time, and if you are not much of what I'd call an "indoor enthusiast," this is a *great* way to have fun, hands-down better than a kite! 73 de KA0PMD
I've wondered about using 3 kite string guy lines every 120° if the balloon is large enough to offer a lot of lift, so that in light wind it might maintain closer to a true vertical. I'm imagining a vertical 160m 1/4 wave over 3-4 120° elevated 1/4 wave radials, or more of a 1/2 wave center-feed vertical with a bit more gain over the flat horizontal radial 1/4 wave, and as considerably lower departure angle. Maybe a full-size weather balloon? I applaud you'ze guyz! 73!
Two things. First, I'd set up everything else first before I sent up the balloon. Second, I'd set up a solid mast of 20 or 30 feet to off the antenna's lower end in case the wind came up. It would be no guarantee that the balloon wouldn't be blown down close enough to the ground to pop, but it would improve the odds of avoiding that.
Suggestion: three lengths of Paracord anchored out at a distance of 80% the height, 120 degrees around would be a good Idea. It also helps in guiding the descent.
I remember the good old days of baloon flying. Here we are in 2023 and not a single baloon can get off the ground without an F35 report shredding it at Bidens command
I had considered this myself, but using speaker wire or possibly magnet wire so that a smaller ballon could be used. I wonder if this would work for the 600 meter band as well, but I imagine with any breeze it would make a sloper configuration. Is there any math formula used to figure out how much helium filled balloon to use to get enough loft for the wire?
The slightest breeze was a real issue, especially after we popped the original balloon and had to use that multi-balloon monstrosity, way too much surface area to get blown around. I'm sure there is a formula but I don't know what it is. Steve, AK8E, was the ramrod of this experiment and got a lot of information from a weather researcher at the UofArizona. I think the original balloon was actually from this researcher. Lookup AK8E on qrz and send Steve a email with any questions, he would be able to answer much better than myself. Thanks!
I was the guy in the blue shirt doing most of the talking. I remember it worked really well with about 85 contacts and reports of the loudest signal on the band
I want to be you guys when I grow up.
I'm a 37 year old broadcast audio engineer, and I think I've just found the hobby for me... amateur radio design. Thanks for the great video!
Excellent 160 Meter video KC9QVE Marion,Indiana
I know this has been years ago, but what if you put a fish net around the balloon or even two balloons and tied the wire to that. The balloon would not have to strain on it from the coax. I might try this at the lake with my Marine radio antenna when I am running radio guard for the boats as a Coast Guard Auxiliarist. Thanks for the ideas guys.!!
Instead of a large round latex balloon, a blimp-shaped mylar "Kytoon" is MUCH better. It steers itself into the wind and with increasing wind speed, gives increasing lift.
Latex: takes overpressure well but is heavy and porous.
Mylar: doesn't take overpressure at all but is light and doesn't leak.
Instead of a ground-level feedpoint, elevated feed (w/ sloping radials) performs better. RG-174/U coax (0.1" OD) is much lighter than RG-58/U, and can handle 100W @ 1.8 MHz when matched.
Hey Guys That was a Really COOL Attempt with That Balloon, I have several Balloons They are Fun To Just Blow Up And Admire Thanks for a Good Show. Joseph
Back in 2015, I did this on a beach campground between Anaheim and San Diego (This was during the winter, so I had the place to myself). I worked 482 Qs in one night, including VK, JA, G4, PY, and 26 states. Unfortunately, I zapped the front end on my FT-757 just as the sun was rising in the East. Still, though, I had a wonderful time, and if you are not much of what I'd call an "indoor enthusiast," this is a *great* way to have fun, hands-down better than a kite! 73 de KA0PMD
I've wondered about using 3 kite string guy lines every 120° if the balloon is large enough to offer a lot of lift, so that in light wind it might maintain closer to a true vertical.
I'm imagining a vertical 160m 1/4 wave over 3-4 120° elevated 1/4 wave radials, or more of a 1/2 wave center-feed vertical with a bit more gain over the flat horizontal radial 1/4 wave, and as considerably lower departure angle.
Maybe a full-size weather balloon?
I applaud you'ze guyz! 73!
Two things. First, I'd set up everything else first before I sent up the balloon. Second, I'd set up a solid mast of 20 or 30 feet to off the antenna's lower end in case the wind came up. It would be no guarantee that the balloon wouldn't be blown down close enough to the ground to pop, but it would improve the odds of avoiding that.
Hey, I think I wanna spend Field Day 2017 with YOU GUYS! - LOL, Awesome effort!
DISNEY CANT WRITE THIS STUFF
The cameraman was just loving filming everything prickly and spiky. lol
What was the antenna wire?
Suggestion: three lengths of Paracord anchored out at a distance of 80% the height, 120 degrees around would be a good Idea. It also helps in guiding the descent.
è bello vedervi lavorare
I remember the good old days of baloon flying. Here we are in 2023 and not a single baloon can get off the ground without an F35 report shredding it at Bidens command
Has anyone extended their balloon antenna to 200 Ft ? I assume the FCC rule still applies to such an antenna and the maximum height is 200ft.
Muito bom amigo parabéns antena de 160m
You need a bigger balloon we used to do this back in the late seventies CB equipment
How did u do about the antenna for a cb band?
Did no one realize that local was a bad idea?
Nice!
The better the planning, the better the results...
K7GYB
Where did you get that balloon? I would like to try something like that for Field Day.
Yes, this would be a great field day project.
Hi guys. KG7IRJ now in Ohio.
The suns UV took it down. use clear polyethylene balloon next.
does aluminized mylar survive a while?
Amigo teve algum resutado ai com antena
I had considered this myself, but using speaker wire or possibly magnet wire so that a smaller ballon could be used. I wonder if this would work for the 600 meter band as well, but I imagine with any breeze it would make a sloper configuration.
Is there any math formula used to figure out how much helium filled balloon to use to get enough loft for the wire?
The slightest breeze was a real issue, especially after we popped the original balloon and had to use that multi-balloon monstrosity, way too much surface area to get blown around.
I'm sure there is a formula but I don't know what it is. Steve, AK8E, was the ramrod of this experiment and got a lot of information from a weather researcher at the UofArizona. I think the original balloon was actually from this researcher.
Lookup AK8E on qrz and send Steve a email with any questions, he would be able to answer much better than myself.
Thanks!
How many grams does the balloon carry? thank you From são paulo - city -Brasil
Video should have included some QSO's and more views of the "shack," and mastermind should go on a diet.
Go on a diet? He's pretty svelte by ham standards.