Showing posts with label BACAR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BACAR. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

What happened to the ZS6SRC Pico Balloon?


The Secunda Radio Club launched a Pico balloon at the Trichardt Model Aircraft Club on Saturday 24 May 2025.  Click HERE for more information on the balloon project.

Today is the 27 May 2025 and the latest dashboard indication is that the balloon  was last seen: 2 days, 17 hours, 22 mins ago.  It would appear that the balloon is stationary as indicated on the dashboard images.  If anybody knows if the balloon is still active and in the air we would like to hear from you.  Info can be forwarded by clicking HERE.

Images:  Click on images for larger view.






Monday, May 19, 2025

Secunda Radio Club intends to launch Raspberry Pi Pico Balloon from the Trichardt Model Aircraft Club on Saturday 24 May 2025


 If all goes according to plan, the Secunda Radio Club will launch a Pico balloon at the Trichardt Model Aircraft Club on Saturday 24 May 2025. We will let you know the time as we will only fill the balloon with Helium gas in town on Saturday morning. We hope to launch at around 09:00. Everyone is welcome. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the balloon would make at least one revolution around the southern hemisphere of the earth. We kindly ask everyone who has the digital mode WSPR, to monitor the balloon and upload the information with 'PSK Reporter'. This can be done by using the following software, WSJT-X and/or JTDX and then selecting the WSPR modes and setting the radio to the correct frequencies. The frequency on the radio is 14.09560/14.09578. The balloon is a 50 inch/127 cm silver party balloon and the electronic board and solar cells all weigh 24 grams. If you have any queries, please contact Christo, ZR6LJK or Gert, ZS6GC.


As alles volgens plan verloop lanseer die Secunda Radioklub 'n piko-ballon by die Trichardt Model Vliegtuigklub op Saterdag 24 Mei 2025. Ons sal die tyd laat weet aangesien ons eers Saterdag oggend die ballon gaan vul met Helium gas in die dorp. Ons hoop om so 09:00 te lanseer. Almal is welkom. Ons hou duim vas dat die ballon ten minste een omwenteling gaan doen om die suidelike halfrond van die aarde. Ons vra asseblief almal wat die digitale mode WSPR het, om die ballon te monitor en die informasie met 'PSK Reporter' op te laai. Dit kan gedoen word deur die volgende sagteware te gebruik, WSJT-X en/of JTDX en dan die WSPR modes te kies en die radio op die regte frekwensies te stel. Die frekwensie op die radio is 14,09560/14,09578. Die ballon is 'n 50 duim/127 cm silwer partytjie ballon en die elektroniese bord en son selle weeg alles 24 gram. Indien jy enige navrae het kontak gerus vir Christo, ZR6LJK of Gert, ZS6GC.

 

Nico, ZS6QL:  President SARL

Dennis ZS4BS:  Secretary SARL 

Saturday, October 30, 2021

BACAR launched from theTRMC Model Flying Airfield near Secunda

 The Secunda Amateur Radio Club Launched a Balloon Carrying Amateur Radio (known as the BACAR project) on Saturday 30 October at around 07h15 SAST. Several interesting payloads were active, including the new AMSAT-SA AfriCUBE linear transponder, Slow Scan TV, a crossband FM repeater, and an ion thruster scientific experiment. Amateurs from various Amateur Radio Clubs were involved in this project.   Herewith a few APRS images of the flight.








 I want to thank Gert ZS6GC and Cor ZS6CR for providing me with information and operating frequencies used during the BACAR flight.  Unfortunately I am situated right in the Southern part of South Africa and nothing was heard on any frequencies, but APRS-fi provided some data and images.

Saturday, October 16, 2021

BACAR to launch on 30 October 2021

 


The Secunda Amateur Radio Club will be launching a Balloon Carrying Amateur Radio (known as the BACAR project) on Saturday 30 October.

Several interesting payloads are being prepared, including the new AMSAT-SA Africube linear transponder, SSTV, a crossband FM repeater and an ion thruster scientific experiment.  Amateurs from various clubs are involved in this project. 

More information with regards to the frequencies used will be made available soon.  The club can be contacted via email (secradio@jenny.co.za) for more information. 

Illustration:  Up and away, previous BACAR launch

Closure of this ZS Link Network Blog - 29 April 2026

This will be the final posting on the ZS Link Network Blog. This blog will no longer be updated but will remain available for research an...