On Sun, Jun 20, 2010 at 8:25 PM, Scott Miller <[email protected]> wrote:
> Are the red lines all direct? If so, that's not too bad for 500 mW into > a rubber duck. I'd have run it with no path above 10,000', but with > only one (planned) chase vehicle it's a lot easier to track reliably > with a single digi hop. Oh you're going to have to explain that one to me... Hang on, maybe I have it figured out. When the chase vehicle gets beyond the horizon of the balloon (ie. more than 400 km away), you need a digipeater hop to help you hear it! Here's a solution... stay near the balloon! 8) Our biggest issue is losing copy on the payload when it is near apogee because our vertical antennas have a null overhead. The solution is to change the antenna polarization. Move a mag mount to the side of the vehicle, or fold over your antenna if possible. We can always hear the balloon when it is above 10,000 feet. James VE6SRV
