Beyond 62

There are many tools with different pros and cons to track your balloon.

I am only describing the ones I have personally tried. This list will be updated as I launch additional high altitude balloons.

GSM GPS Phone with Tracking Software

A GSM Phone will only work up to a couple of thousand feet high. Therefore it’s mainly a way to find your payload once it landed.

The first criterion to think about when choosing the phone is its service network. You need to verify the phone will have a good signal where you plan to launch and retrieve it.

In the Bay Area Verizon is known to have the best network. However Verizon is known to sometimes block the GPS access requests from third party applications. The type of network (GSM, iDEN, CDMA…) doesn’t matter either as long as the carrier provides an unlimited Internet data plan (GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO, UMTS, or HSPA…) for the phone. You’ll need to get a data plan from your carrier for the tracking software to transmit its position over the Internet.

The cheapest, lightest GPS phone I found is currently the Motorola I296. Its previous model which has been used in many high altitude balloon launch, the Motorola I290, has been discontinued. However you can still find on ebay. The I296 costs about $60.

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Simple and Light

Cons:

• Requires a signal at land site

There are two out of the box tracking software:

• Accutracking
• InstaMapper

I chose Accutracking because it simply offers more features and flexibility than InstaMapper.

• Customizable buffer for store positions while out of coverage (100 max points for InstaMapper)
• More details about the phone at each point (location + GSM Signal strength + GPS signal strength + Battery level)

In this screenshot, the dates in red shows positions that were initially stored because of the lack of coverage

Installing the software on the phone is straightforward. Instructions can be found here.

Satellite Tracker

The cheapest and most convenient is the SPOT Personal Tracker. This tracker does not need cell tower coverage. It communicates its position by satellite. You log on the SPOT website to see the locations it reported.

Note: The Spot Tracker needs to be facing up towards the sky. Make some real tests with your tracking devices activated and inside the payload as it would be during its flight (closed and tapped).

 

APRS Transmitter (updated 10/02/2011)

To learn the basics about APRS, click here.

An APRS beacon is basically a device (transmitter + GPS) which emits a radio signal containing its current location.

These messages are received by listening radio stations called digipeaters. There are thousands of digipeaters across the US. Digipeaters repeat the message received to other digipeaters until it reaches one radio station that has access to the Internet. These Internet gateways are called an Igates and publish the received messages on the Internet. You can then follow the location of your beacon online at websites such as Google Aprs.

There are plenty of APRS transmitters available. I chose Byonics’ Micro-Trak 8000 FA for its light weight and flexibility. Byonics has other models though.

The Micro-Trak 8000 FA operates on amateur radio frequencies, and requires a valid amateur radio license to use. To get one, take the technician HAM radio license test.  To take it, go here. Most centers propose a one day combo: class + test.
You can just show up in the morning not knowing anything, study in the morning with them and take the test in the afternoon.

You will need a GPS that works above 60,000ft. I bought the Byonics GPS4 (works up to 84km = 275,000 ft).

Pros: