Domain: vpizza.org
Stories and comments across the archive that link to vpizza.org.
Comments · 20
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Balloon 1.0 - 2002
This is not news. The first time I remember seeing this kind of feat was 2002: Balloon 1.0
This is from the time before disposable mobile phones with embedded GPS...this guy had to make his own telemetry gear - much more of an accomplishment! -
Another "Prior Art" story from 2002
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Yeah, and?
Amateur... um, balloonists have been doing stuff like this for many a-year. Balloon v1.0 was featured on Slashdot back in 2002. Others have added put up geiger counters and even an R/C glider plane that returned to the laucnhing site.
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Basically there a regulations about weight
This guy who did a similar project:
http://vpizza.org/~jmeehan/balloon/
was very careful to follow the regulations. Not sure if the UT guys knew what they were doing in that regards. Basically, you do not necessarily need FAA permission if the balloon is small enough, just so one does not end with one's payload smashing through an airplane windscreen or blowing up a turbine. To quote above link, one generally doesn't need to file a flight plan unless the balloon:
(i) Carries a payload package that weighs more than four pounds and has a weight/size ratio of more than three ounces per square inch on any surface of the package, determined by dividing the total weight in ounces of the payload package by the area in square inches of its smallest surface;
(ii) Carries a payload package that weighs more than six pounds;
(iii) Carries a payload, of two or more packages, that weighs more than 12 pounds; or
(iv) Uses a rope or other device for suspension of the payload that requires an impact force of more than 50 pounds to separate the suspended payload from the balloon.
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YaHABP (Yet another High Altitude Baloon Project)
Still very cool. http://vpizza.org/~jmeehan/balloon/
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Or you could use a balloonThis was featured earlier on
/. about creating a Linux powered balloon that had a camera on it. Quite an amazing feat, even though the pictures were a little low resolution. -
Re:Sure this is impressive,
This is the properly crafted URL. What a maroon!
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Website is pretty disappointingThe website is somewhat disappointing, and for some perplexing reason they want to keep their autopilot system closed source. If they had even the slightest flair for the dramatic they would set up a page which tracks the plane's progress in real-time on a map from their satellite telementary system.
All in all, I was much more impressed by the Balloon 1.0 project, even though an unpowered balloon isn't half as cool as a powered and automatically guided RC aircraft travelling such a huge distance unaided.
Does anyone have any good links for other projects in a similar vein which aren't so coy about the gory technical details?
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"Best Pictures" Gallery
Maybe there's something wrong with my glasses (all geeks wear glasses, you know), but I personally wouldn't have put this picture:
http://speed.vpizza.org/~jmeehan/albums/20021103-b alloon-highlights/11040058.jpg
in the "Gallery of best pictures"...
Still, good effort, by george. what what. -
That photo looks familiar
Wait a minute, is that the spam kings house? spam kings house?
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Just say no to crackJust say no to crack.
Sorry, couldn't resist.
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I think this is a picture of his crack
I found this on his site: http://speed.vpizza.org/~jmeehan/albums/20021103-
b alloon-v1.0-ground/133-3394_IMG.JPG -
I think this is his dad that helped him
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Re:PayloadHere's a fancy photo of the payload's originator, the guy wearing the yellow shirt...
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Crack kills...
...this guy should buy a belt:
http://speed.vpizza.org/~jmeehan/albums/20021103-b alloon-v1.0-ground/PB030546.JPG -
Photos are fine ... however ...
Look at this one. I hope you got permission from the San Jose Airport to do this. Don't the generally frown on people sending up ballons/model rockets/etc. in their airspace?
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Why build?
At first it might seem that building your own dish is the cheapest solution--but I really question that. I considered building two antennas for my shot that's about a mile. If you really want something to work, consider getting a real (professional) antenna. They aren't that much more expensive when you factor in your cost in time plus they are almost guaranteed to work.
I just ordered a couple of PacWireless parabolic dishes (21 dBi) and pigtails. Sure, I'm paying roughly $175 all said and done--but that's much cheaper than my time right now. If you want to buy, look at NetNimble and Electro-Comm Wireless.
Obviously, it's much more "cool" to have put together your own antenna with a pringles can, a primestar dish, or aluminum foil. I can't doubt that one bit. But my neighbor's aren't going to complain about a (relatively) tasteful dish up on my roof compared to a hacked-up job that's rusting away. Add to that this guy's story, and I was sold: 300-400Kbps for the homemade deal compared to 3.5Mbps with a dish. I can feel comfortable knowing that my link will need to experience a huge amount of interference before it goes down. -
Re:Good avoidance of slashdotting
Go to this link and hit reload repeatedly. If we get enough people doing it, I'm sure we can
/. the site. -
Re:hmm..
I'd rather have some of this.
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hmm..
can i get wireless access to that