After watching all the people getting together in VE2LAND and see several beacons then all the chase teams leaving but the balloon staying caused me to send an APRS TEXT MESSAGE to VE2WMG-9 who seems to be the organizer of the event…
2008-07-26 16:11:39 UTC: VA3QV>VE2WMG-9: R U launching today?
2008-07-26 16:14:03 UTC: VE2WMG-9>VA3QV: done with probLem
2008-07-26 16:16:07 UTC: VE2WMG-9>VA3QV: ne gps
2008-07-26 16:20:13 UTC: VE2WMG-9>VA3QV: 145.51
As you can see by the messages he sent me back, it looks like they had a GPS Failure but have launched anyway. They are tracking it by alternative means by a voice beacon on 145.51. Even with the altitude it has I can’t hear anything from it but if you track VE2WMG-9 on findu.com or aprs.fi it should give you an idea of where the balloon is and how things are going.
Best of luck to the RAQI Crew.
73bob
Tags: amateur radio
