November 30th 2022, AA6DY, K9YO and KD9UQB

/ Cary Willis, KD9ITO / Leave a comment

Patience is a virtue, and the NIBBB has good news to report.

First, Pico Balloon KD9UQB also flying as W5KUB-115 is still happy flying over Antarctica. The easiest way to track KD9UQB and all the current W5KUB Pico Balloons is at this link W5KUB Pico Balloons

Below is the track from Sondehub for Pico Balloon KD9UQB launched on November 24th thru November 30th 2022. We were predicitng that KD9UQB will be circumnavigating around December 3rd, updates on our Locate and Track page. KD9UQB is reporting flying at an altitdue of 10,600 meters, 34,768 feet.

Jim Janiak, KD9UQB had built a solar panel especially for this flight. We have been using another solar panel also designed by Jim, a horizontal package with 7 polycystalline solar panels, where we receive signals starting about an hour after sunrise, or when the sun is around 26 degrees.

This new panel using 3 plastic film panels has been receiving a signal as low as 1.8 degrees and as high as 57.7 degrees. This wide range has allowed KD9UQB to receive signals over a longer period of time. Actually, the last continuous reporting was from November 28th thru December 1st at 00:54 UTC.

KD9UQB Solar Panel Package

We heard today from Tom Medlin, W5KUB that the area around Somalia, East Africa, where Pico Balloon AA6DY was predicted to be flying has been experiencing storms with cloud tops as high as 46,000 feet. That’s right around the altitude of our balloon. This coupled with not having Amateur Radio Stations that can hear our signal. We may be just above the clouds or in the storm, or no where near the storms, we’re in a wait and see mode.

We’re still calling Pico Balloon AA6DY MIA (Missing in Action)

Pico Balloon K9YO had come out from hiding and reported on November 30th 2022, southeast of our prediction. K9YO reported at 06:30 UTC at Grid LN58GU over Kazakhstan flying at an altitude of 12,540 meters, 41,131 feet.

K9YO at Grid LN58GU, 41,131 feet

We’re predicting that Pico Balloon K9YO will be near Alaska around December 3rd 2022. Nearing a 4th circumnavigation.

Best Guess, K9YO around December 3rd 2022

Below is the image from APRS showing K9YO over Kazakhstan, AA6DY at the last report and KD9UQB over Antarctica near a circumnavigation between South America and Africa. This link is active on our Locate and Track page as well as NOAA Hysplit and Ventusky for wind speed and direction.

Thanking everyone for your patience and helping us track our balloons.

73, Cary KD9ITO

November 29th 2022, AA6DY, K9YO and KD9UQB

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Pico Balloon AA6DY and Pico Balloon K9YO are still Missing in Action. We still believe both balloons are flying but are in areas not received by Amateur Radio Stations.

Pico Balloon KD9UQB is alive and well flying over the Antarctica. We expect KD9UQB to circumnavigate in a few days. It’s a shorter trip around the world at the Antarctica, it also helps having a reporting station down there.

Our Locate and Track page has been updated for Pico Balloon KD9UQB, please scroll to the bottom of that page. There is a new link for Sondehub W5KUB which shows the 4 balloons flying. W5KUB-112 is now flying 171 days, W5KUB-113 is flying 54 days. W5KUB-114 and W5KUB-115 are the balloons launched from Antarctica. To follow these balloons on Sondehub please click here W5KUB To Follow the W5KUB launches on Tom Medlin’s website, please click here https://ham-tv.com/balloon/

From the Sondehub link you can track the projected “Float”, where the balloon is expected to go based on the NOAA Hysplit model as well as “Plots” for specific data about the balloon.

Below is from W5KUB-115 (KD9UQB) “Plots” which shows the path (Red Dashes) of Pico Balloon KD9UQB from the launch on November 24th through November 30th 02:00 UTC

On our Locate and Track Page has a NOAA Hysplit Model which shows KD9UQB circumnavigation in a few days. Below is our Best Guess for December 3rd 2022.

Best Guess December 3rd 2022

While we’re waiting for our other balloons to report, you may see a delay in reporting here. We encourage you to visit the links on this post for updates on Pico Balloon KD9UQB and also the APRS link for all our balloons at this link APRS for AA6DY, K9YO and W5KUB-115 (KD9UQB) which is also on our Locate and Track page

Any visitor to our website can become an NIBBB follower by scrolling on this page and clicking the WordPress link. You will be instructed to create a username and password. Once you’re a follower, you will receive emails of posts when published and allow you to comment on posts.

73, Cary KD9ITO

November 28th 2022, AA6DY, K9YO and KD9UQB

/ Cary Willis, KD9ITO / 1 Comment

While we’re still following KD9UQB, over the Southern Ocean south of the Tasmanian Sea.

We expect in some areas of the world where our balloons may travel, we may not hear from them for days or even weeks, and then, they appear again.

Both Pico Balloon AA6DY and K9YO are Missing in Action, with an explanation.

AA6DY last reported on November 24th approaching West Africa. The NOAA Hysplit Model was showing AA6DY traveling across central Africa to Somalia on November 27th. Assuming that NOAA Trajectory was correct, I used that location and altitude and created another NOAA model for 84 hours which could explain why AA6DY still hasn’t been heard.

This is where AA6DY was expected by November 27th.

Below is the new NOAA Trajectory from November 27th thru December 1st

Which brings Pico Balloon AA6DY to just south of where we were, still off the coast of Somalia

Pico Balloon K9YO was last heard on Novmber 26th over Romania. Below was our Best Guess for Pico Balloon K9YO on Novmber 30th, usually a very quiet area for picking up signals.

As we wait to hear from our balloons, we’re still following KD9UQB on WSPR also tracking as W5KUB-115 on APRS and all our balloons together on APRS and our Locate and Track page with the new updated projected maps

We received an email from Hisami, 7L4IOU from Japan who was looking forward to picking up our Pico Balloon K9YO, WSPR signal approaching Japan. I hope this post helps you track our balloons. Thank you Hisami and all our followers around the world that help all our Pico Balloons find their way.

73, Cary KD9ITO

November 26th 2022, AA6DY, K9YO, & KD9UQB

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Pico Balloon AA6DY still hasn’t reported yet, we’re expecting that it will report around Novmber 27th 2022 near Somalia, East Africa around Novmber 27th. Until then we’re calling Pico Balloon AA6DY Missing in Action. Pico Balloon AA6DY was flying close to the Equator at an altitude of around 47,000 feet.

We are still showing our 3 balloons on one page using APRS, though two have changed locations, it’s still nice to see them together.

KD9UQB is flying under the W5KUB-115 Balloon designation and KD9UQB under the APRS callsign and has been traveling mostly east, south of India towards south of Australia. KD9UQB which was lauched from Neumayer Station III in Antarctica is expected to travel the world staying near Antarctica.

Pico Balloon K9YO which is following the northern worldly travels, is reporting on November 26th at 07:50 UTC at Grid KN35HK near Bucharest, Romania at an altitude of 12,540 meters, 41,131 feet.

K9YO at Grid KN35HK at an altitude of 41,131 feet

Our “Best Guess” for K9YO around November 30th 2022, southeast of Moscow, Russia

K9YO Best Guess for Novmber 30th 2022

While we’re waiting for Pico Balloon AA6DY to come back from the missing. Our Locate and Track page has been updated for our other balloons for APRS, 84 NOAA Hysplit model, Ventusky for wind speed and direction and Sondehub for tracking other Pico Balloons around the world.

November 25th 2022, AA6DY, K9YO and KD9UQB

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Pico Balloon AA6DY, for as we know is still flying silent, heading east towards Somalia around November 27th. That’s were we’ll be looking for when AA6DY wakes back up.

AA6DY Best Guess for November 27th 2022

Pico Balloon K9YO reported on November 25th at 9:10 UTC at Grid JN58WE near Munich, Germany, flying at an altitude of 12,660 meters, 41,525 feet.

K9YO at Grid JN58WE near Munich, Germany, altitude 41,525 feet

Our “Best Guess” for K9YO around November 28th is Russia

K9YO, Best Guess around November 28th 2022

Below is from APRS.fi found on our Locate and Track page for tracking K9YO-15, AA6DY-15 and W5KUB-115 (KD9UQB) seen on one page. We hope to see AA6DY over the Indian or Arabian Ocean around November 27th.

November 24th 2022, AA6DY, K9YO and KD9UQB

/ Cary Willis, KD9ITO / Leave a comment

What a wondeful day to be thankful for, we have 3 balloons that are all reporting.

All three of our balloons are flying 32″ Sphere balloons. KD9UQB and AA6DY are flying the 32″ Yokohama Balloon and K9YO is flying the 32″ SAG Balloon. The different altutudes are due to the slight variations of the weight of the tracker and solar panel package. The other difference in the two balloons is the Yokohama is a transparent (clear) balloon and the SAG is silver, though both are available in multiple colors, we tend to go for the lighter ones for each manufacturer.

KD9UQB, also flying as W5KUB-115 is over the Southern Ocean, north of Antarctica, last reporting at Grid JD82KJ at 11:18 Central Standard time, at an altitude of 34,186 feet.

This is a little lower than our other balloons. KD9UQB is using the larger cylinder solar panel package that was weighing close to 18 grams, bringing the total package to over 20 grams compared to 9 grams for AA6DY.

What we’re really testing besides the solar panel is how well KD9UQB will report with the new tracker. You can track KD9UQB on this WSPR Spot Database or with all our balloons showing on one page on APRS AA6DY, K9YO, KD9UQB on APRS

After a little delay, Pico Balloon AA6DY reported at 06:52 UTC at Grid JI39RP near Sao Tome and Principe an African Island Nation close to the Equator. AA6DY is flying at an altitude of 14,540 meters, 47,691 feet.

AA6DY at Grid JI39RP, altitude 47,692 feet

Our “Best Guess” for AA6DY around November 27th 2022 East of Somalia over the Arabian Sea

AA6DY Best Guess for November 27th 2022

Pico Balloon K9YO reported at 10:50 UTC at Grid IN04GI northwest of Portugal. K9YO is flying at an altitude of 12,600 meters, 41,328 feet.

K9YO at Grid IN04GI, altitude 41,328 feet

Our “Best Guess” for K9YO around November 28th 2022, Russia/Ukraine border

K9YO Best Guess for around November 28th 2022

Our Locate and Track page has been updated for all three of our balloons with the 84 hour NOAA Hysplit Trajectory, Ventusky for wind speed and direction, APRS and Sondehub for tracking all Amatuer Radio Pico Balloons around the world.

The Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade family would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped us to acheive what we are today. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy Thankgiving Holiday.

73, Cary KD9ITO

November 23rd 2022, AA6DY, K9YO and KD9UQB

/ Cary Willis, KD9ITO / 1 Comment

We have a new balloon we’re tracking, KD9UQB for our team member Jim Janiak. Jim designed this solar panel made with plastic film, shaped as a vertical cylinder to catch the sun’s lower elevation for the launch in Antarctica.

Jim Janiak KD9UQB solar panel design for Pico Balloon W5KUB-115

Pico Balloon KD9UQB was launched on November 23rd at 08:22 UTC from Neumayer Station III, Ekstroem Ice Shelf, Atka Bay, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

Neumayer Station III, Antarctica

To make it easier to track Jim’s Pico Balloon, we’re tracking our 3 balloons on one page of the world using APRS.

AA6DY, K9YO and KD9UQB on the combined APRS link Tracking AA6DY, K9YO and KD9UQB (W5KUB-115) on APRS this link is on our Locate and Track page with our other tracking links.

Below is a slideshow with Jim Janiak, KD9UQB teaching our group how to make our solar panel packages. Jim is working on our winter solar panel design using the polycrystalline solar panels. We’re looking forward to our upcoming Pico Balloon launch for Gordie KD9TVR and Kelsi KE9LSI, our youngest Generals.

  • Jim KD9UQB, Gordie KD9TVR, Doug, KD9TPM, Kelsi KE9LSI, and Mikaela KD9VIW During our Build the Solar Panel Package
  • Gordie KD9TVR and Doug KD9TPM working together
  • Noah KD9RDT soldering his solar panel, Cary KD9ITO in the background
  • Mikaela KD9VIW, testing the voltage assisted by Doug KD9TPM
  • Gordie Mulley KD9TVR, showing off the built Solar Panel Package
  • Testing 4.05 volts with a 7 solar panel package
  • Kelsi Mulley KE9LSI, Doug Mulley KD9TPM and Gordie Mulley KD9TVR testing the voltage

Pico Balloon AA6DY hasn’t reported today. We’re expecting AA6DY to travel towards Central Africa over the next several days with data from our last NOAA Hysplit model.

Pico Balloon K9YO which was having some difficulty tracking, woke yesterday over Minnesota making the 3rd circumnavigation around the world. K9YO reported today at 13:00 UTC at Grid GN15MW just south of the St. Pierre and Miquelon Territory of France, which is south of Newfoundland. Pico Balloon K9YO reported at an altitude of 12,480 meters, 40,934 feet.

K9YO at Grid GN15MW, altitude 40,934 feet

Our “Best Guess” For Pico Balloon K9YO around November 27th 2022, is Ukraine

Best Guess for K9YO around November 27th 2022

Our Locate and Track page has been updated with our tracking links for NOAA, Ventusky, APRS and images. Added to our Technical Page is how to Calculate the Altitude of our balloons.

November 22nd 2022, AA6DY on the way to Africa and K9YO came back from the missing, and Circumnavigates a Third time

/ Cary Willis, KD9ITO / 1 Comment

First reporting the big news. After reporting Pico Balloon K9YO Missing in Action. K9YO woke on November 22nd 2022 at 16:00 UTC at Grid EN36MU, just west of Duluth, Minnesota. K9YO reported at an altitude of 12,540 meters, 41,525 feet.

K9YO on November 22nd 2022 at Grid EN36MU, near Deluth, Minnesota altitude 41,525 feet

At 19:40 UTC, Pico Balloon K9YO reported at Grid EN56RK

Pico Balloon K9YO was launched on October 10th 2022 from Independence Grove Forest Preserve in Libertyville, Illinois. After flying 43 Days and 2 Hours, Pico Balloon K9YO Circumnavigates the World a Third time.

K9YO November 22nd 2022 Circumnavigates the World a Third time

Our “Best Guess” is that Pico Balloon K9YO will be near Poland around November 26th 2022.

“Best Guess” for K9YO around November 26th 2022

Pico Balloon AA6DY reported at Grid HJ71hh at 10:54 UTC over the North Atlantic Ocean, flying at an altitude of 14,420 meters, 47,298 feet.

AA6DY at Grid HJ71hh, altitude 47,298 feet

Our “Best Guess” is that Pico Balloon AA6DY will be near Chad, Central Africa around November 25th 2022.

“Best Guess” for AA6DY around November 25th 2022

Please visit our Locate and Track page for the 84 hour NOAA Hysplit Model, Ventusky for Wind Speed and Direction and APRS for both our balloons.

Congratulations to the NIBBB Team for another Circumnavigation.

November 21st 2022, AA6DY and K9YO

/ Cary Willis, KD9ITO / Leave a comment

We’re still wating for K9YO to report today, last reporting on November 19th at 23:08 at Grid BN46HR just south of Alaska heading east. We were expecting K9YO to report somewhere just north of Montana over Canada. For now we’re going to call K9YO Missing in Action. Our Locate and Track page has the updated NOAA Hysplit model which shows K9YO expected “Best Guess” location around November 23rd over the Atlantic Ocean. I’ll update our Locate and Track page when I hear from K9YO.

We’re now linking a new feature on our Locate and Track page. We’re sharing from what we learned from Tom Medlin, W5KUB on an APRS feature showing all our balloons (currently two) on one page. Tracking AA6DY & K9YO on APRS APRS is showing the correct location when we update, however don’t rely on the altitude on APRS, please use the altitude we provide. APRS sometimes gets confused of the 2nd packet altitude. It’s a nice feature seeing both our balloons at their last reported location.

Pico Balloon AA6DY has left South America on November 21st at 10:32 UTC at Grid GJ71EN over the North Atlantic Ocean. Pico Balloon AA6DY was just northwest of Belem, Brazil flying at an altitude of 14,000 meters, 45,920 feet. We enjoyed our first travels over South America visiting Peru, Chile, Bolivia and Brazil

AA6DY at Grid GJ71EN, altitude 45,920 feet

Our “Best Guess” for Pico Balloon AA6DY on November 24th 2022

“Best Guess” AA6DY on November 24th 2022

Our Locate and Track page has been updated for the NOAA Hysplit model for both AA6DY and K9YO and for AA6DY; Ventusky for wind speed and direction and Sondehub for tracking other Pico Balloons around the world

November 20th 2022, AA6DY and K9YO

/ Cary Willis, KD9ITO / 1 Comment

Now that we have a Pico Balloon flying over the southern hemisphere, we are sharing some company with the balloons being launched from Neumayer Station III on the Ekstroem Ice Shelf, Atka Bay, Antarctica

While we’re looking for our 2nd packets, at around 14,000 meters, we’re tracking balloons at 28,000 meters. If we’re flying around 46,000 feet, there’s something flying out there at 92,000 feet.

It looks like we’re seeing a new launch today from Neumayer Station at 05:52, 50 meters then 15:04 1,090 meters, rising slowly. I haven’t seen a callsign yet for this balloon, but we’ll be watching closely.

Let’s start with the southern hemisphere…..

Pico Balloon AA6DY which has been enjoying travels over South America, woke on November 20th at 11:14 UTC at Grid GI22MT, over Bau, Brazil. AA6DY has been heading northeast, at 13,900 meters, 45,592 feet.

AA6DY at Grid GI22MT, Bau Brazil, 45,592 feet

Our “Best Guess” is that Pico Balloon AA6DY will be staying in the southern hemisphere, arriving south of Ghana, West Africa and approaching Gabon over Central Africa by November 24th 2022.

AA6DY Best Guess for November 24th 2022

Lauched on September 3rd 2022, Pico Balloon AA6DY is now on the 78th day of flight and on the 4th lap arround the world. We still have some daylight flying time and will update our NOAA model later today for any changes in direction. the Locate and Track page has been updated for 84 hour NOAA Hysplit Trajectory, Ventusky, APRS and Sodehub for Pico Balloon AA6DY.

Pico Balloon K9YO has been enjoying the northern hemisphere on a fast track, K9YO woke on November 19th at 20:00 UTC at Grid BN35JS just south of Alaska over the North Pacific Ocean, flying at an altitude of 12,660 meters, 41,525 feet.

K9YO at Grid BN35JS altitude 41,525 feet

Just like the 2nd lap around the world, Pico Balloon K9YO will be making the fast track across the United States with our “Best Guess” south of Newfoundland over the North Atlantic Ocean around November 23rd 2022.

K9YO Best Guess around November 24th 2022

Pico Balloon K9YO is preparing to make the 3rd Circumnavigation around the world around November 22nd 2022 according to the NOAA Hysplit Model. Pico Balloon K9YO launched on October 10th 2022, has now been flying for 40 days and will soon be tracking in the same time zone as AA6DY, I’m looking forward to that.

All of our maps and tracking information for our balloons and for Pico Balloons flying around the world can be found on our Locate and Track page. Please feel free to share our site with anyone who may be interested, we welcome all followers. Followers are free to comment directly on posts, if anyone has any questions, please feel free to email me clicking on “Contact Us” on our website or finding me on QRZ, 73, Cary KD9ITO