Transatlantic amateur radio balloon attempt on 29.498 MHz

An Amateur Radio balloon SDG-9 fitted with a CW beacon on approx 29.498 MHz (varies with temperature) is crossing the Atlantic on its way to the British Isles and reception reports are requested.

On the SDG-9 website Robert writes:
Assuming that SDG-9 is still flying at this time, it is possible that stations in England may be within listening range at any time in the next 24 to 36 hours.

That is, given the ambiguity about the balloon's exact altitude and thus trajectory, it could be within range of England now or it might not arrive for another day or so.

Once it is within range of a given station, it will probably be readable for four to six hours at most. So if you have the ability to set up Spectran or some other recording software, now would be the time to do it. A gap of four hours could cause you to miss the balloon entirely.

Assuming that we make it to England, the next passover would be Spain. Please see the image in the previous post for more information on possible trajectories.

NB: After a long night at -45C, the frequency of the transmitter will most likely have been shifted significantly downward (WB2YDS noted a drop from 29.499 to 29.496 Mhz as the payload temperature dropped from -9C to -40C after sunset on the first day of the flight).

If you hear it at all, please drop me a line at rochte@gmail.com !

Thanks and 73,

Robert

SDG-9 Balloon Blog
http://arhab.blogspot.com/

Bob WB4APR's page
http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/dfing.html