December 4th 2022, K9YO and KD9UQB

December 4, 2022December 5, 2022 / Cary Willis, KD9ITO / 1 Comment

We believe Pico Balloon K9YO is traveling north of the Day/Night Change Line and can only predict the current location.

We believe that Pico Balloon K9YO is north of Alaska over the Beaufort Sea at around 18:00 UTC

We’re predicting that Pico Balloon K9YO will be waking on December 5th around 18:00 UTC just over Canada, near the State of Washington.

Pico Balloon KD9UQB also flying as W5KUB-115, was launched on November 24th 2022, from Neumayer Station III Antactica. KD9UQB made the First Circumnavigation on December 4th around 05:00 UTC at Grid IC78NM over the Southern Ocean. Pico Balloon KD9UQB traveled the world in 9 days and 23 hours, flying at an altitude of 10,780 meters, 35,358 feet.

Below is the map of the first circumnavigation of Pico Balloon KD9UQB, also flying as W5KUB-115.

Below is the 84 hours NOAA Hysplit model from December 4th thru December 8th 2022.

Pico Balloon KD9UQB just passed the Day/Night Change line and had gone to sleep around 18:00 UTC. As our balloon starts traveling closer to the Antarctica coast, we expect longer flights and daylight hours.

The NIBBB now has 3 balloons that have circumnavigated the world.

Any updates to our Pico Balloons will first appear on our Locate and Track page. The 84 hour NOAA Hysplit model, Ventusky for wind speed and direction, APRS and Sondehub has been updated for Pico Balloon KD9UQB. We hope to hear from Pico Balloon K9YO tomorrow, and are still checking for signs from Pico Balloon AA6DY, last heard on November 24th.

73, Cary KD9ITO

December 3rd 2022, AA6DY, K9YO and KD9UQB

December 3, 2022December 4, 2022 / Cary Willis, KD9ITO / Leave a comment

Pico Balloon AA6DY is still MIA, Pico Balloon K9YO has moved north of the Day/Night Change Line and not able to report.

The general update of our balloons is that AA6DY last reported on November 24th, just west of West Africa. We believe that AA6DY is over Central Africa near the Equator and not able to report. K9YO last reported yesterday December 2nd and is expected to start transmitting again around December 5th over Canada. Around the time K9YO reports we should be nearing the 4th circumnavigation. Pico Balloon KD9UQB has left Chile, South America, headed back towards Antarctica, and the 1st circumnavigation sometime tomorrow.

Below is from our Locate and Track page showing our 3 balloons on one page.

K9YO heading North, AA6DY wating to report and KD9UQB ready for the 1st circumnavigation

Below is from Sondehub showing the projected “Float” for the direction of Pico Balloon K9YO. The different colors represent altitudes from 11,000 meters to 13,000 meters close to our actual altitude. The Float model is taken from the NOAA Model, providing an estimate beyond 84 hours.

Pico Balloon KD9UQB started transmitting on December 3rd at 07:32 UTC at Grid GD02TP and went to sleep on December 3rd at 22:12 UTC at Grid HC96hi traveling at an altitude of 10,720 meters, 35,162 feet.

Because of the cylinder solar panel that Jim KD9UQB designed, the tracker continued to transmit at the Day/Night Change Line or sun’s elevation at 2.1 Degrees. The highest sun’s elevation reached today while transmitting was 51.4 degrees. Pico Balloon KD9UQB received transmissions for 16 hours today. We expect as we travel further south, and travel around Antarctica, the transmissions will continue 24 hours a day.

Below is near the last report at the Day/Night Change Line. The RED map point at the bottom is Neumayer Station III where KD9UQB was launched on November 24th 2022.

Below is the NOAA Hysplit Model showing the projected path of KD9UQB from December 4th thru December 7th.

Our Locate and Track page has been updated for Pico Balloon KD9UQB for 84 hour NOAA Hysplit Model, Ventusky for wind speed and direction, Sondehub for tracking all Pico Balloons and APRS for tracking all our balloons.

73, Cary KD9ITO

December 1st 2022, AA6DY, K9YO & KD9UQB

December 1, 2022December 2, 2022 / Cary Willis, KD9ITO / Leave a comment

We’re still calling AA6DY MIA, (Missing in Action) and hoping for a report

Pico Balloon K9YO reported at 04:40 UTC at Grid MN83RM near Almatay, Kazakhstan flying at an altitude of 12,540 meters 41,131 feet.

I suppose this happens when I’m late writing a post, just need to update the data.

Below was the start of my report starting a couple of hours ago.

Pico Balloon K9YO will be moving east over China and possibly North Korea on the way over the Atlantic Ocean towards Canada. If we fly over North Korea during daylight hours, our transmitter will not transmit data. We’re able to see the path of our balloons using the NOAA Hysplit model for 84 hours. This information along with Ventusky for seeing the windspeed at altitude.

Now to the new report.

Pico Balloon K9YO is reporting again on December 2nd at 03:30 UTC at Grid OM79XM, near Beijing, China, Flying at an altitude of 12,420 meters, 40,738 feet

It looks like the Pico transmitter will be turning off over North Korea. The transmitter will start sending data once the balloon passes North Korea, and we’re still flying in daylight hours.

Pico Balloon K9YO is on a fast track heading east. Our Prediction based on the 84 hour NOAA Hysplit model, is that K9YO will be over Canada near Montana around December 5th 2022, and nearing the 4th circumnavigation.

Best Gues of K9YO around December 5th 2022

Our Locate and Track page is partially updated. Ventusky is from December 1st and the APRS is not yet updating for K9YO. The NOAA Hysplit model is current. Clicking on Ventusky and hovering your mouse over that area will show the widspeed. On the lower left hand corner of the page you can change the date, and at the bottom scroll through the time. By clicking on our link will show the windspeed at the altitude the balloon is currently flying which can be seen on the left hand side. By changing the date and time and zooming out will show the balloons direction for up to two weeks in advance. This is just a model and can change. We can accurately predict the direction using NOAA up to 84 hours ahead.

Pico Balloon KD9UQB launched on November 24th from Antarctica was transmitting continously from November 28th till December 2nd 02:42 UTC when the balloon moved north into the sunset towards Argentina.

Based on the 84 hour NOAA Hysplit model, it looks like Pico Balloon KD9UQB will be skirting the south tip of Argentina and then continuing to circle the Antarctica. Locate and Track

We’ll update APRS soon. You can follow all our balloons on this link APRS for AA6DY, K9YO and KD9UQB the Pico Balloon KD9UQB data changes so quickly, the best way to track is on Sondehub by clicking here W5KUB Pico Balloons Pico Balloon KD9UQB is flying as W5KUB-115.

73, Cary KD9ITO

November 30th 2022, AA6DY, K9YO and KD9UQB

November 30, 2022December 1, 2022 / 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.

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.

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 28th 2022, AA6DY, K9YO and KD9UQB

November 28, 2022November 29, 2022 / 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 24th 2022, AA6DY, K9YO and KD9UQB

November 24, 2022November 25, 2022 / 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

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

November 23, 2022November 24, 2022 / 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

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.

While we’re flying, we’re still working

September 11, 2022September 12, 2022 / Cary Willis, KD9ITO / 2 Comments

We’re still meeting, and building while AA6DY is flying.

Some of our members were able to gather on Saturday September 10th at the home of the Berg’s, who hosted our build session.

One of the most difficult parts of our Pico Balloon Project is building the solar panel package. The Polycystalline solar panels are so fragile, that a sudden touch can break a panel. Jim Janiak, KD9UQB designed a template to hold a single solar panel in place for ease of soldering. Once one side is soldered, it’s then glued to the plate, then soldered and repeated.

Each solar panel is glued to the styrofoam plate and soldered in series. The wires from negative to positive are stripped before soldering. After working on several renditions of this package, Jim KD9UQB had designed our current board. Jim was our Elmer and Guide who patiently worked with each of us.

Joining us for this session were, The Berg’s; Noah KD9RDT, Bob KD9RDU, and Wendy KD9RDV, Ken Daniel K9YO, Cary Willis KD9ITO, Mikaela Streicher KD9VIW, The Mulley’s; Doug KD9TPM, Kelsi KE9LSI, and Gordie KD9TVR. We also had the support of Winston close at hand.

Jim started out with an introduction to the tools, parts and a step by step instruction. We then broke into groups and started cutting out the styrofoam template. We had four soldering stations spread around five tables.

We ended with 3 complete solar panel packages weiging around 4.7 grams each, tested and ready to fly. This session added to the two other solar panel packages that Jim had completed

We’re looking forward to flying Pico Balloons for our three younger Generals, Kelsi Mulley KE9LSI, Gordie Mulley KD9TVR and Mikaela Streicher KD9VIW.

We’ll be updating our Technical page which will provide instructions on how to build and launch Pico Balloons, hosted by Ken Daniel K9YO. You’ll also be able to read and follow Ken’s future Pico Balloon launches here at the NIBBB.

Please enjoy this slideshow from yesterday’s session

Jim KD9UQB, Gordie KD9TVR, Doug, KD9TPM, Kelsi KE9LSI, and Mikaela KD9VIW
Cary and Bob in the back
Up front, Noah KD9RDV cutting out the template and some ot the others
The Mulley’s on the left, Kelsi, Gordie and Doug and Mikaela on the right and Winston under the table
Gordie KD9TVR and Mikaela KD9VIW working on their respective packages
Noah KD9RDV soldering his solar panel assited by Cary KD9ITO
Gordie KD9TVR and Doug KD9TPM working together
Mikaela KD9VIW and the finished product
Mikaela testing the voltage assisted by Doug KD9TPM
Mikaela, Doug, Gordie and Kelsi
Kelsi KE9LSI, Doug KD9TPM and Gordie KD9TVR
Gordie with the panel and Doug testing with the Multimeter
Testing 4.05 volts with a 7 solar panel package
Gordie KD9TVR with the final package

September 4th 2022, Day two, AA6DY and KD9UQB

September 4, 2022September 5, 2022 / Cary Willis, KD9ITO / 1 Comment

While we’re still waiting to hear from KD9UQB.

AA6DY woke at 12:22 UTC at Grid FN41fg over the Black Island Sound, north of New Shoreham, Rhode Island. We’re maintaining an altitude of 13,960 meters, close to 46,000 feet and a general heading of east, southeast.

Awake over the Black Island Sound, Rhode Island

I added a WSPR Spot Database for AA6DY on the Links to Locate and Track tab on our website, you can find HAB HUB, and APRS tracking on this link as well.

September 3rd 2022 Launch, KD9UQB and AA6DY

September 3, 2022September 4, 2022 / Cary Willis, KD9ITO / Leave a comment

We met this morning to launch two balloons, transmitting the call signs KD9UQB and AA6DY. We met at the highest mountain in the area – the Willow Hill Golf Course in Northbrook, IL. Assisting in our launch today were Michael Seedman AA6DY, Jim Janiak KD9UQB, Stewart Spies KB9LM, Doug Mulley KD9TPM, Kelsi Mulley KE9LSI, Gordie Mulley KD9TVR, Noah Berg KD9RDT, Bob Berg KD9RDU and Cary Willis KD9ITO.

We’re flying our latest board design version 2.2, manufactured in China by a contract manufacturer. After multiple attempts we’re successfuly flying a clear Yokohama Balloon reaching an altitude of 46,000 feet.

We had mild winds at ground level and gusty above. For this launch, we used the Icarus Device and 30 foot pole to get our tracker away from the ground at launch. The idea for the Icarus Device came from Noah Berg, KD9RDT (then 13 years old) at a group presentation in October of 2021. Noah suggested using a device to assist the balloons lift after losing some of our balloons in nearby trees. After months of discussing how something like this could work, Michael Seedman, AA6DY designed the Icarus using a small arduino based computer and a pico servo. Jim Janiak designed the 3D printed holder to couple the icarus to the pole. Since getting a 30′ pole in the car is a bit troublesome, Doug Mulley KD9TPM suggested using a telescoping pole which extends from 7 feet to 30 feet making it easy to transport and deploy.

The Icarus Device attached to the end of the 30 ft. pole
The 3D printed top of Pico Servo with lever
The Icarus Version 1.0 AA6DY/KD9RDT

Preparing KD9UQB for Launch

Jim Janiak KD9UQB and Michael Seedman AA6DY preparing the tracker for launch
KD9UQB Tracker package Tracker and Antenna tested on August 31st
KD9UQB Package is held up by 4 monofilament wires on the corners, attached to one in the middle to the balloon, the top antenna is secured to the wire to the balloon, the 16.5 foot bottom antenna makes this a complete Dipole Antenna
Michael is attaching the Balloon to the Icarus Device From Left to Right, Doug KD9TPM, Gordie KD9TVR, Michael AA6DY and Stewart KB9LM. Michael is attaching the balloon to the Icarus Device.
Kelsi KE9LSI securing the 30 ft pole ready for lift
Gordie KD9TVR is pressing the Icarus Device to start the 10 second timer, and Stewart KB9LM is holding the balloon
The Balloon is sitting on top of a 30 foot pole, counting down to 10 seconds for release
The Balloon and tracker has been released from the pole and floating freely
Nice and steady launch
Floating Steady

Preparing AA6DY for Launch

Michael preparing the AA6DY Board
Michael holding the package by the harness
Michael AA6DY is shorting the solar panel for a hard reset of the tracker
Doug, Michael, Gordie and Stewart preparing the Icarus Device and Pole
Doug, and Gordie on the Pole, Bob Berg KD9RDU and Noah Berg KD9RDT in the background
Kelsi KE9LSI securing the pole
Nice and steady launch
The Balloon and tracker has been released from the pole and floating freely

While we’re still waiting for KD9UQB to report, we’re very happy that our Yokohama balloon has reached 46,000 feet. We appear to be in a slow moving air mass over Michigan traveling around 35 mph.

Now that we know our altitude is steady at 14Km we can now provide a NOAA Hysplit Trajectory. We’ll be updating this while we’re watching Tropical Storm soon to be Hurricane Danielle.