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33cm Band Communications for High Altitude Balloons
Clayton G. Jacobs
Tucson, Arizona
April 21st, 2012
Overview
• Research Question
• Objectives
• Experimentation
• Results
• Conclusion
• Further Development
Research Question:
• Is the 33-centimeter Radio Band and useful method of communication for high altitude balloon experiments?
• How can a 900mhz transceiver be integrated into a high altitude balloon payload?
Objectives
• Design an interface for the transceiver and microcontroller.
• Program the microcontroller to operate with the transceiver.
• Build a structure to contain payload.
• Fly payload on a balloon flight to collect data.
Experimentation
• Arduino chosen as the microcontroller.
• Radio interface designed using an arduino add-on shield.
Microcontroller Stack
Experimentation Cont.
• Radio stack was joined with an ASCEND payload and programmed to transmit telemetry and Geiger counter output.
• Matching base station was paired with the radio to receive data.
ASCEND Payload
Experimentation Cont.
• The arduino/transeiver module flew on three separate near space balloon flights courtesy of ANSR, Arizona Near Space Research.
ANSR Flights 65, 66, and 67
Results
• Transmitted data was received clearly with no packet loss below 40,000ft.
• 50% Packet loss from 40,000ft to 70,000ft.
• 80% packet loss above 70,000ft.
• Received packets were complete and unaltered.
Conclusions
• The collected results are favorable.
• 33cm band communications are useful for high altitude balloons due to there generally low packet loss and high data rate.
Further Development
• While the radios performed well, the radio command ability was not tested.
• The available radios were capable of advanced transfer methods that were left untested.
• Future tests will evaluate these abilities.
End
Questions and Comments Welcome