|
|
Post by kf7rcv on Jan 8, 2017 20:14:06 GMT -6
Hello, My name is Kaci Heins and I’m an Education Supervisor at Space Center Houston and formerly a middle school science teacher in Flagstaff, AZ. I received my undergrad and master’s degree from SEMO as I grew up in the heartland. I also was named their alumni award winner in 2015. I loved my time at SEMO and the experiences gained through the education department. As a result of our connection they have asked me to come back to Cape Girardeau for a teacher workshop in June and a double high altitude balloon launch during the eclipse on August 21st. I used to launch weather balloons with scientific payloads as a real-world project for my 6th grade science classes. We had sensors, cameras, GPS, and a radio transmitter to track and recover the payload. We used aprs to track it and my call sign, KF7RCV. For this balloon launch in August I was hoping to call upon the SEMO Amateur Radio Club for assistance with tracking and recovery. Our school collaborated with the Coconino Amateur Radio club in Flagstaff and I can send references if you need them. This will be a once in a lifetime event at the University, for these students, and teachers. Below is a link to one of our videos to get a better understanding of what one of our launches looks like. youtu.be/ZwPvCZMDdww It is a lot of fun and really engages the students in science, technology, engineering, and math in a real world setting. Adding an eclipse is an incredible bonus! I was hoping to get in contact with someone from the group to discuss this further and even do a conference call or skype chat with the club if there are questions before deciding whether you might be able to help us or not. My email is runsemo@hotmail.com. I really look forward to talking with you about this project. Thank you for your time! 73, KF7RCV |
|
|
|
Post by Dan KDØIXM on Jan 11, 2017 9:29:51 GMT -6
Kaci
Your info is quite interesting. I am a member of the local ham club SEMOARC. I will let our officers of the club know about this balloon launch. My wife and I watched the mentioned youtube video, very intriguing. Not being familiar with balloon launching and gathering data, it will be educational to find out what ham operators can do to help or participate. As soon as I hear from them I will send you an email or one of the officers will contact you.
Dan Russell KDØIXM@wildblue.net
|
|
|
|
Post by KD0LDE on Jan 11, 2017 10:54:54 GMT -6
What an awesome twist to a fox hunt!
|
|
|
|
Post by kf7rcv on Jan 11, 2017 23:24:32 GMT -6
Fantastic! Thank you so much! I've talked to the Civil Air Patrol wing and they are on board to help as well. I can send documents from our last launch so you can see our communication plan and manifest as well. I would be happy to be on a phone conference to explain it in more detail as well. For sure a fun twist on a fox hunt! Never a dull moment and the footage to prove it!
Cheers!
|
|
|
|
Post by Dan KDØIXM on Jan 13, 2017 17:15:50 GMT -6
That might be a great help to our club to be able to see just what is required to have so much fun and a learning experience all wrapped up in one. Nobody from our club uses APRS very much. I do know quite a few people have radios that are capable of APRS. I am sure that at the next meeting, Feb 6th which is 1st Monday of the month, there will be lots of questions. I checked on aprs.fi and found your last launch or recovery was at the Tonto National forest.
If the documents are in a pdf form you can email them to me. If they are hard copies: 985 Agate Ln Jackson, MO 63755. If needed I will make copies for the interested members and pass them out. My wife and I really like fox hunting. This is a little different but the same.
Thanks
Dan
|
|
|
|
Post by kf7rcv on Jan 15, 2017 20:41:07 GMT -6
Hi Dan,
This sounds great. Do you have an email that I can send the documents to? If you don't want to put it on here just shoot me a quick email in the original thread I posted and I'll respond. It is the runsemo one. Are there any other amateur radio clubs in the Southeast Region or across the river in Illinois/Kentucky/Arkansas? The balloon could travel in any direction so we will need to get as many radio clubs on board as we can to help with communication. CAP is going to get at least one wing from each state involved to help us out as well. They can't leave their respective states so we will need to have as much help at the ready as we can get. I'm really looking forward to working with the club!
Kaci
|
|
|
|
Post by kf7rcv on Jan 15, 2017 20:41:55 GMT -6
Just saw your email earlier in the thread. I'll send them to you.
|
|
|
|
Post by kf7rcv on Jan 15, 2017 20:55:49 GMT -6
Hi Dan,
The email I sent to that address kicked back to me. Is it typed correctly or do you have another one? Why don't you send me the first email and then I can just reply.
Thanks!
|
|
|
|
Post by Rich/KU9R on Jan 17, 2017 6:05:33 GMT -6
Hi Kaci. Dan KD0IXM chatted with me about your project for the Eclipse, and the balloon launch. There are several of us into APRS here in the Cape and Jackson areas, myself included. I am also on the committee in the Alto Pass, IL area thats running alot of the communications for the event. If it helps at all I am a staff member at SEMO University. If there is anything you would like to chat about, I know alot of folks here in the area ( the local Hams) are already putting plans into motion for covering this historical event. Id love to hear more. Feel free to contact me as well rmeinke@semo.edu. 73 de Rich KU9R
|
|
|
|
Post by kf7rcv on Jan 22, 2017 16:03:54 GMT -6
Ok cool. I sent you an email. Let's chat more!
|
|
|
|
Post by Dan KDØIXM on Jun 18, 2017 8:16:09 GMT -6
This Monday Jun 19th is the face to face meeting for the balloon launch education. It will be at the Scully building room 202 at 1 PM. If you can't attend and are interested in the info you can call (319) 527-2804 Access Code - 642808 and get in on the information. Hope to see or hear a bunch of you there.
Dan KDØIXM
|
|
|
|
Post by Dan KDØIXM on Jul 18, 2017 11:42:40 GMT -6
Anyone that would like to be involved in the chase/recovery of the high altitude balloons can contact me and I will get you on the list. The way the c/r works is before the balloons are launched the winds aloft will be checked and then it will be estimated as to the direction and the ascent location That is when the c/r teams will be given the area to drive to so as to be ready when the balloons hit the ground. There will be an aircraft in the area and we will be following the balloons with APRS and when the balloons land we will send the location and a picture of the location, in case it is way off the beaten path, to command central at SEMO and they will relay that info to the c/r teams. We will also be in radio contact thru a local repeater with anybody on the ground that has a mobile radio. So we can also direct c/r teams to the location. The mobile radio should be able to use the 2 meter band. We will know which repeater we will use after we know how the winds blow. Any other questions I usually monitor 146.685, 146.820, 146.850. We are getting closer to the launch time so we do need to get the c/r. You also can leave a reply on here. I do check this everyday.
Thanks
Dan KDØIXM
|
|
|
|
Post by Dan KDØIXM on Aug 20, 2017 8:47:32 GMT -6
Monday is the big day. Balloons and Eclipses. Ernie and I will be up in his plane looking for the balloons. We will be on 145.850 repeater for communication to control central a SEMO and the chase cars. Anybody that wants to track the balloon or the plane can use aprs.fi. The balloon call sign is kf7rcv-11. My HT radio will use kd0ixm-11 and my cell will be kd0ixm-i. Just by using kd0ixm will be both. We will be in the air about 1:00 PM give or take a half hour. We will be on the air until about 3:00 PM. So I hope everybody has a fun day and take care of your eyes.
Dan kd0ixm
|
|
|
|
Post by Dan KDØIXM on Aug 24, 2017 7:31:27 GMT -6
BALLOONS RECOVERED!! The 2nd balloon came into Cape last night. The Holler Boys did the recovery up at 100ft. Good video on facebook.com/hollerboys/ Everybody involved had a great time with balloons and eclipse. Standby for 7 years for more news.
Dan kd0ixm
|
|
