AI6YR BenFeb 27

Going to order the parts for a pico #hamradio balloon. Has anyone tried the Traquito WSPR balloon kits? Apparently you just upload hardware files to a third party PCB manufacturing company! I'm going to try to build one (or probably two... any new project, always buy 2x parts).

https://traquito.github.io/tracker/#jetpack-technical-details

#wspr #electronics

Jetpack WSPR Tracker - Traquito - WSPR Pico Balloons

Show threadAI6YR BenFeb 27
First hurdle: The PCB manufacturer won't let me use their website, it insists I am a robot. I suspect this is because I am using a Linux machine. PEOPLE, THE ELECTRONICS/MAKER FOLKS WHO WANT TO USE YOU SITE ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE USING LINUX THAN NOT!!
Show threadAI6YR BenFeb 27
Choices were to order 5 or order 10 boards (!). So, I ordered 5 boards. Enough for 5 balloons, lol. Cost using the cheapest shipping option will be approximately $12.50 for each of the add-on-boards. Will require also Raspberry Pi picos and tiny solar panels. #picoballoon #hamradio #wspr
Show threadAI6YR BenFeb 27

In addition to circuit boards:

Ordered: Raspberry Pi Picos (2)
3 50 inch random Chinese Party Balloons
100 tiny little solar panels

Was going to order from Adafruit, but they have different spec "pirate" Pi's and a billion notices on their website about shipping delays, and people here have been complaining about lack of shipping/customer support... not sure what that is about.

The party balloons and solar panels apparently only available via Bezos Bazaar :-( -- in particular, buying anywhere else is fraught with de-minimis/tariff surcharge hazards. I'm not sure why the Bezos Bazaar doesn't have those issues, but it probably involves some kind of political payoff. 🤔

Show threadAI6YR BenFeb 27
The presentations I have seen say it's preferable to fill these balloons with HYDROGEN (hello Hindenberg!), instead of Helium. In particular, it's apparently quite difficult to source full strength Helium now (due to Helium shortages, a nonrenewable gas...). Apparently not easy to get Hydrogen, either. 🤔
Show threadAI6YR BenFeb 27

Ooh, there are a lot of amateur balloons bouncing around the world right now, actually!

#hamradio #wspr #aprs #balloons

Show threadAI6YR BenFeb 28
Antenna wire. 26AWG magnet wire. I guess you can use smaller, but already have this. #antenna #picoballoon #hamradio
Show threadAI6YR BenFeb 28
Party balloons acquired. I guess some folks like clear better. I feel the mylar has better odds of being mistaken for a UFO, and/or being shot down by jumpy people with joysticks and a giant laser. Or a Tomahawk missile. #hamradio #picoballoon
Show threadAI6YR BenFeb 28
May also potentially have some helium. Maybe. It has some helium, the question is if it has enough to launch the payload. But apparently 80% helium might not get you to 40,000 feet. Also, no idea if there's much left in here, acquired from our local "hazmat reuse" center awhile ago when I first was thinking of this project, but then the US military was shooting down party balloons thinking they were giant Chinese surveillance balloons. #picoballoon
Show threadAI6YR BenMar 2
Raspberry Pico's acquired, tiny solar panels acquired (tiny!!!)
Show threadAI6YR BenMar 2

Photo of the Pi's and apparently 100 tiny solar panels

#hamradio #picoballoon

Show threadAI6YR BenMar 2
First lesson: Yikes! These solar panels may weigh nothing, but they are exceedingly fragile! Already broke two just picking them up. 300mW output indoors. #picoballoon #electronics #hamradio
Show threadFrank Bennett 🇯🇵Mar 2
@ai6yr Do they still function after the breakage at the corners, or is that curtains?
Show threadMichael Busch

@fgbjr @ai6yr

That depends on how the wires are set up inside the panel.

Mar 3 at 12:36amWeb
Show threadAI6YR BenMar 3
@michael_w_busch @fgbjr I'm still trying to understand where to attach the wires. This is actually a solar cell, so I think I have to solder on both sides (ie one on the back to the front of the next panel... I assume somewhere along the centerline).
Show threadMichael BuschMar 3

@ai6yr @fgbjr

Is it just a single busbar down the center of each cell, with fingers out to the edges?

Show threadAI6YR BenMar 3
@michael_w_busch @fgbjr The front has single bar down the front with fingers.. the back has only a gray strip on either side and a which center strip
Show threadAI6YR BenMar 3
@michael_w_busch @fgbjr
Show threadKenneth FinneganMar 3
@ai6yr @michael_w_busch @fgbjr yeah, so you're dealing with a single cell, so I'd expect to get 0.6V out of it. The whole square is the single junction, and if memory serves it's typically negative on top??? So you'll need to solder to the front busbar and the back busbar to get your 0.6V. All the tiny lines on the front are the grid fingers collecting charge current since the semiconductor isn't a great conductor and metal isn't transparent.