Just as a bit of background information here - I developed this mode ('Horus Binary') a few years ago, as an attempt at producing a HAB telemetry mode that:
- Used a modem which was very robust,
- ... but would still provide a reasonable position update rate (every few seconds)
- ... did not require any proprietary modem ICs (e.g. LoRa), and
- ... would be completely open source.

I worked with David Rowe (rowetel.com) on this, and we ended up settling on 4-FSK, which was relatively easy to generate via a variety of means. We started out using RadioMetrix modules modulated using an ADC on an Arduino, but eventually moved to using the Si4032 transceiver IC found on the RS41 radiosondes as our reference platform. The occupied bandwidth of the 'reference' implementation is ~ 1kHz, which is mainly set by the minimum frequency shift possible on the Si4032 (270 Hz). In most cases the transmit power used is only 25mW.

The modem uses 4-FSK at 100 baud, with a binary telemetry format utilising Golay(23,12) forward-error-correction. The demodulator is available as graphical user interface utility ('Horus-GUI') which runs on Windows, Linux, and OSX, and also as a command-line utility perfect for 'headless' decoding.
At this baud rate, the modem is *extremely* robust. Reception of a 25mW transmitter is easily possible at ranges > 200km with nothing more than a RTLSDR and a 1/4-wave mag-mount, giving it a very low barrier to entry.

All the information on the mode is available here: https://github.com/projecthorus/horusdemodlib/wiki
The current 'reference implementation' uses re-purposed Vaisala RS41 radiosondes, and software here: https://github.com/mikaelnousiainen/RS41ng

73
Mark VK5QI

Gang,

I intend to fly a 4FSK payload on a re-tasked RS41 NWS Weathersonde.  If anyone is interested in setting up a receiving station, or is also planning to do a 4FSK tracker, please do let me know.  We can probably fly / track several simultaneously on the same frequency with some coordination.  I flew one on our flight yesterday, and it was phenomenal.  For the price of a foxhunt to collect one, two fresh AA Ultimate Lithiums, and a few minutes to reprogram it, you can't beat the price/performance!

It can be received with a cheap RTLSDR on a Raspberry Pi.  I had one in my mobile ground station.  The code is here: https://github.com/projecthorus/horusdemodlib

Anyway, if there's any interest, let me know.  It would be fun to fly a few of these.  Oh, I also had it beaconing APRS on 70cm as well, so that's fairly convenient too.

Mike / KD2EAT

If some pilot see's that bear he is going to think he is seeing things not normal !

High Altitude Balloon Launch and Zoom Meeting

On Sunday, May 8, 2022 at 12:00pm the Cornell Amateur Radio club will be doing a High Altitude Balloon launch.  The main payload is expected to climb to about 100,000 feet.  Shortly before apogee, we intend to release “Homerun the Bear” on a small parachute.  Homerun, is a protege of Touchdown the Bear, who completed a similar flight in May of 2019.  Join our zoom meeting to see the launch, chase, and hopeful recovery of both Homerun, and the main payload box (which has lots of cameras).  During the livestream, we’ll be discussing the various components of our payload as well as some of the technology and planning that goes into such a flight.

 

Schedule for Sunday, May 8, 2022(all times EDT and approximate):

• 12:00 Coverage Begins
• 12:15 Launch
• 13:45 Bear Drop
• 13:55 Balloon Burst
• 14:35 Payloads land, recovery coverage begins
• 15:30 Stream ends after teams gleefully show recovered bear and payload (hopefully!)

 

The zoom information follows:

 

Time: May 8, 2022 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://cornell.zoom.us/j/98465701095?pwd=QkE1YU91WUFOZ0h6WGtwN2h3eHB0dz09

 

Meeting ID: 984 6570 1095

Passcode: 256193

One tap mobile

+16468769923,,98465701095# US (New York)

+16465189805,,98465701095# US (New York)

 

Meeting ID: 984 6570 1095

Find your local number: https://cornell.zoom.us/u/abrZlkmKQt

 

A few days after the launch,, we will publish a video summarizing the flight on the W2CXM youtube channel at:   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_bR3oU5WFqyr0DrdO-_a8w 

-- 
Thanks

Stan Siems

CNS INTERNET SERVICES

319-231-3449

The difficult we do right away the impossible just takes a little longer.

Semper FI

High Altitude Balloon Launch and Zoom Meeting

On Sunday, May 8, 2022 at 12:00pm the Cornell Amateur Radio club will be doing a High Altitude Balloon launch.  The main payload is expected to climb to about 100,000 feet.  Shortly before apogee, we intend to release “Homerun the Bear” on a small parachute.  Homerun, is a protege of Touchdown the Bear, who completed a similar flight in May of 2019.  Join our zoom meeting to see the launch, chase, and hopeful recovery of both Homerun, and the main payload box (which has lots of cameras).  During the livestream, we’ll be discussing the various components of our payload as well as some of the technology and planning that goes into such a flight.

 

Schedule for Sunday, May 8, 2022(all times EDT and approximate):

• 12:00 Coverage Begins
• 12:15 Launch
• 13:45 Bear Drop
• 13:55 Balloon Burst
• 14:35 Payloads land, recovery coverage begins
• 15:30 Stream ends after teams gleefully show recovered bear and payload (hopefully!)

 

The zoom information follows:

 

Time: May 8, 2022 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://cornell.zoom.us/j/98465701095?pwd=QkE1YU91WUFOZ0h6WGtwN2h3eHB0dz09

 

Meeting ID: 984 6570 1095

Passcode: 256193

One tap mobile

+16468769923,,98465701095# US (New York)

+16465189805,,98465701095# US (New York)

 

Meeting ID: 984 6570 1095

Find your local number: https://cornell.zoom.us/u/abrZlkmKQt

 

A few days after the launch,, we will publish a video summarizing the flight on the W2CXM youtube channel at:   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_bR3oU5WFqyr0DrdO-_a8w 

Gang,

My bad.  I gave the right domain name in the subject, but the wrong in the body of my message.  Its:

https://amateur.sondehub.org

Thanks to Bill for pointing that out, and sorry about that.
Mike / KD2EAT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np0wqLKK0R

Gang,

Just FYI, the group that runs sondehub is setting up a newer tracking site for amateur balloons.    As I understand it, right now it's receiving the same data as habhub, but I can tell you it performs a LOT better.  In my recent flights, habhub lagged by up to 20 minutes behind the APRS stream.   https://amateur.habhub.org is VERY responsive.  They're also set up to take 4FSK traffic from those of us who are refitting RS-41 radiosondes with new firmware to use for our balloons.   They also intend to add more bells and whistles as they go.   I intend to use the new site as much as possible.

Mike / KD2EAT

https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/ug0tgf/a_boeing_737_encounters_an_amateur_stratospheric/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share

Good job its not one of ours.

    Steve G8KHW


--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
https://www.avg.com

There is now one balloon showing over North Dakota, launched from Minnesota apparently. 

The event won’t be the same without its 'father' Paul.

I don’t see even one balloon over the U.S. today. Seems unlikely there are none, anyone know why it looks this way?

--

I plan to attend also for my first time. Hopefully we will have good weather!

73'S
Carl

I’m so disappointed Deb and I won’t be able to attend. We will be in northern Minnesota for a family reunion that weekend. We will try and attend via the Zoom for a while anyway. Good luck everyone, have a great time.