[Lf] More on helium baloons

[Andre' Kesteloot]

Steve Rawlings wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> I managed to get four helium-filled balloons flying from 14:30
> yesterday (30/12/2000) at a height of 27 metres.  Occasionally
> the breeze came up, so down came the balloons.  But, overall,
> conditions were sufficiently calm to work three new stations (all
> greater than 800 km), including a new 'first' from GW.
>
> First in the log were G6NB (good to hear you again, Bill) and
> G6RO. Then the arrival of a gentle breeze meant that I had to
> haul in the balloons.
>
> In the early evening, I worked:
> M0BMU - a big signal, Jim
> F6CNI - glad that we finally made another QSO, after many months
> DJ8WX - our first QSO, 860 km
> OZ1KMR - the first GW-OZ on 136 kHz, 896 km
>
> At about 19:30 the air became very still.  What a lovely sight to
> see the balloons: now exactly above the anchor point.  Very
> rarely do we get the kind of weather conditions that enable me to
> get the balloons up to 27 m - perhaps only 2 or 3 times each
> year.  So I was set for an 'all nighter': a flask of coffee at
> the ready.
>
> During the evening I worked:
> G6RO - good signals from Ron's new antenna
> DK8KW - Geri! Nice to hear you again. AWDH
> DL3FDO - Very nice to work you Reiner, after a few 'near misses'
> in the past.  828 km.
>
> Up until 22:00, things had been going very well - and the antenna
> wire was still vertical over the anchor point.
>
> As many of the the stations worked were using 136.5 +/- 200 Hz,
> you can imagine my disappointment when QRM from the intermittent
> carrier appeared on 136.5, with strong sidebands +/- 100 Hz
> (already mentioned in other postings to this reflector).  I did
> try for further contacts: I stuck it out for a couple of hours,
> but everyone else had given up - so I went to bed too.  A
> disappointing end to an otherwise successful day.
>
> Today (Sunday), the weather is back to being wet and windy.  So
> conditions are back to 'near normal' (for Wales!).
>
> A Happy New Year to all,
> Steve GW4ALG