J43VHF High Altitude Balloon launch

On 11 May 2014, a team of seven Greek amateur radio operators under the special callsign J43VHF, launched from the area of Megalopolis (KM17BK) a payload of amateur radio equipment with the aid of a High Altitude Balloon (HAB).

The HAB used was a 1500gr meteorological balloon filled with helium gas, along with a 3ft parachute.

The payload weighed 1Kg and consisted of the following HAM equipment:

- 10m 500mW home-brew CW beacon with sleeve dipole antenna.

- 2m 500mW home-brew CW beacon with open dipole antenna.

- 2m 500mW home-brew APRS transmitter with open dipole antenna.

- 3 sets of LiPo batteries.

The HAB under the code name “AEOLOS” reached a maximum altitude of 30.886m and landed safely on a remote area at Mount Taygetos, from where it was successfully retrieved.

J43VHF beacons received by radio amateurs in incredible distances despite being QRP. DX spots on 10m include 9H, EA, YV, I, SV, SV5, SV9 while on 2m CW 9H, I, TA, LZ, SV, SV5, SV9 stations QSLed. On APRS we were heard direct by LZ0BGN, 9HIFJ-5 and YM1TKR.

This is an SV first for an amateur radio HAB.

J43VHF team members are:

Yannis SV1BJY (team leader), Sotiris SV1QT,Vangelis SV1GZT, Dinos SV3IEG, Chris SV1NJX, Costas SV1OAA and Manos SV4PBH.

More info available on QRZ and on j43vhf.wordpress.com

73 de J43VHF Team

Greek High Altitude Balloon Team

http://www.qrz.com/db/J43VHF

http://j43vhf.wordpress.com