Weather balloons and radio sondes

 Using the following:

• i3 8Gb Windows 8.1 PC
• HDSDR
• Nooelec SMART IV RTL-SDR
• homebrewed 430MHz HB9CV
• and RS-41 Tracker - from IW1GIS webpage
  

I have been able to track a number of locally - Larkhill, Salisbury Plain - launched balloon which use the Vaisala RS-41 radio sonde to transmit atmospheric data.

The signals are quite weak, at 50mW, but trackable due to their being no physical obstructions between the sonde and the receiving antenna.

RS-41 Tracker will feed APRS.FI with GPS data, if you enter a suitable APRS level 2 server account code.

 

Click on the images to see them full size! 😉