[Ongoing]Would you be interested in... High Altitude Ballooning?

[cyclops]

Do you have to recover it to get the pictures, or can they be viewed while in flight?  It would be a cool little community project to fund and launch one of these things for everyone to track and view the pics.     You could probably even raise even funds to add some other cool gadgets to the payload.

Yes you have to recover it, as the radio module works at 50 baud rate (50 words per minute) and it would take very long to send a picture (Though using special modules you could send tiny images). 3G internet would not work above 1000m. It would be awesome to launch this year, everyone could track it because when the data is received the computer uploads it to http://spacenear.us which shows current location, altitude and info about sensors (Temperature...)

Bitcoin could go to the stratosphere before reaching the moon ;P

EDIT: Radio data is received in a 500km range.

Could the radio be upgraded with enough funds, or is there a better method that could be used?  It would be cool to see enough BTC raised to put up something awesome and have it stay up for a long time sending back pictures.

I will do some research for better ways of sending pictures, but the only one I've seen is with a 300baud module. The problem is that someone has to be in range to receive pictures. There are two types of balloons, this that go up and down quickly (mine took about 90 mins to go up 31km and down) or floaters that can be for days floating and travel thousands of Km, but as said if nobody with a radio at range signal would be lost.

The beauty of getting the community involved is that there are folks all over.  I say you make a super ballon that will stay up longer and go farther than any other balloon of this type with a radio that is capable of sending back pictures (maybe a satellite link?).  We as a community could make sure that nearby folks are helping to receive the signal and recover the unit if necessary.  I think this is a cool idea and I'd throw a few bitcents at it and follow the project.  I think you could easily raise enough BTC to build whatever you wanted with a solid plan.  I also think if the plan went successfully, a lot of donations would be made, and probably several other units could be launched in countries all over the world.  This could turn into something huge if done right and expose balloon hobbyists to Bitcoin.  Perhaps even a website could be developed to fund and track awesome projects like this.

If (safely) launched with a couple lit flares, you could even get a massive amount of media attention: http://ktar.com/6/814826/Man-claims-responsibility-for-Phoenix-mystery-lights

Thanks OgNasty for the support, I will prepare a Solid plan with all the steps to accomplish this and talk to a few people I know who are in the hobby, I'm sure they will be interested.

You just gave me the "energy" necessary to start this

TO THE MOON!

And beyond!

[fasmax]

How about using cheap TP-Link 703N for high speed communication.
If you keep a parabolic dish pointed at the balloon it might work

[cyclops]

How about using cheap TP-Link 703N for high speed communication.
If you keep a parabolic dish pointed at the balloon it might work

As the ballon ascends you can't see it, and at 20+ km is nearly impossible to point with an antenna.

[Dosmas]

I have been asking around and might be able to get more people willing to donate. Would you accept different coins too as a matter of donation? As I am pretty much involved in one currency, I can make bigger donations in them. Maybe even put on a sponsor list of peeps that have cooperated with funding this flight.



Let me know, if you would then I could be able to start kicking it to alot of other users and see what happens:).

Dosmas

PS Is it btw possible to let the camera take pictures, as it does, but then with visability of say, a sponsorlogo/message?

[cyclops]

I have been asking around and might be able to get more people willing to donate. Would you accept different coins too as a matter of donation? As I am pretty much involved in one currency, I can make bigger donations in them. Maybe even put on a sponsor list of peeps that have cooperated with funding this flight.



Let me know, if you would then I could be able to start kicking it to alot of other users and see what happens:).

Dosmas

PS Is it btw possible to let the camera take pictures, as it does, but then with visability of say, a sponsorlogo/message?

No problem on accepting different cryptos! And yes, the camera could take picture sod a logo with the earth behind like:
http://www.jwt.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Kit-Kat-Break-From-Gravity-by-JWT-London-still-6.jpg

I am finising the project info, and I will post shortly.

[Coins4life]

This is amazing!! Count me in!

[cyclops]

I just created the Official Thread for the project!: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=496829.0

[Vod]

Yes, it has a GPS module that sends data over RTTY each 30 secs, so you can track the balloon on a map. By using a software that analyses all the world wind data you can predict the landing spot, in fact the prediction I did before launching was nearly perfect. Also, it is advisable to launch on a non-windy day and far from sea.

Is the device waterproof and less dense than water?  If it lands in a river or lake, do you have the ability to retrieve it and not have lost anything?

[cyclops]

Yes, it has a GPS module that sends data over RTTY each 30 secs, so you can track the balloon on a map. By using a software that analyses all the world wind data you can predict the landing spot, in fact the prediction I did before launching was nearly perfect. Also, it is advisable to launch on a non-windy day and far from sea.

Is the device waterproof and less dense than water?  If it lands in a river or lake, do you have the ability to retrieve it and not have lost anything?

Capsule is made of expanded polyethylene foam that floats, and it can be made waterproof. Furthermore SD cards are completely waterproof.

[Vod]

Capsule is made of expanded polyethylene foam that floats, and it can be made waterproof. Furthermore SD cards are completely waterproof.

Thank you sir.  Something I will look into when I have a bit more free time.  Good luck in your project!

[cyclops]

Capsule is made of expanded polyethylene foam that floats, and it can be made waterproof. Furthermore SD cards are completely waterproof.

Thank you sir.  Something I will look into when I have a bit more free time.  Good luck in your project!

Thanks, if you have any doubt don't hesitate to contact me!

[CurbsideProphet]

If you get enough funding, it would be neat to put a GoPro or other camera in it.  They're waterproof and such so they should be fine when you recover them (assuming the impact isn't too hard).

[cyclops]

If you get enough funding, it would be neat to put a GoPro or other camera in it.  They're waterproof and such so they should be fine when you recover them (assuming the impact isn't too hard).

The problem is  that condensation can form in the case creating a blurry image.

[cyclops]

Remember that you can bring this project to life here!: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=496829.0

[cyclops]

Auction for project Sponsors up! https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=502553.0

[RodeoX]

I love this. Some friends convinced me to try this last summer then bailed on the project. My part was to install some java code on a Motorola i425. Each minute it fetched the GPS lat./lon. and sent it as a text message to a website that plotted the positions on google maps. 

[cyclops]

I love this. Some friends convinced me to try this last summer then bailed on the project. My part was to install some java code on a Motorola i425. Each minute it fetched the GPS lat./lon. and sent it as a text message to a website that plotted the positions on google maps. 

I highly recommend doing it, but don't use the motorola if you want to get live tracking. GSM signal only works below 1000m so above that height, and this things go really high, you would have no clue of the location (until landing).

[RodeoX]

I love this. Some friends convinced me to try this last summer then bailed on the project. My part was to install some java code on a Motorola i425. Each minute it fetched the GPS lat./lon. and sent it as a text message to a website that plotted the positions on google maps. 

I highly recommend doing it, but don't use the motorola if you want to get live tracking. GSM signal only works below 1000m so above that height, and this things go really high, you would have no clue of the location (until landing).

That was a concern. Our hope was to have a chase vehicle heading toward our expected landing area then wait for the signal to return once it starts pinging towers. Budget was the main reason I was using the i425. It was the cheapest phone I could find with GPS and that takes pre-paid cards.  I think now there are better options.

Oh, and you may have seen this already...
http://weather.uwyo.edu/polar/balloon_traj.html

[cyclops]

I love this. Some friends convinced me to try this last summer then bailed on the project. My part was to install some java code on a Motorola i425. Each minute it fetched the GPS lat./lon. and sent it as a text message to a website that plotted the positions on google maps. 

I highly recommend doing it, but don't use the motorola if you want to get live tracking. GSM signal only works below 1000m so above that height, and this things go really high, you would have no clue of the location (until landing).

That was a concern. Our hope was to have a chase vehicle heading toward our expected landing area then wait for the signal to return once it starts pinging towers. Budget was the main reason I was using the i425. It was the cheapest phone I could find with GPS and that takes pre-paid cards.  I think now there are better options.

Oh, and you may have seen this already...
http://weather.uwyo.edu/polar/balloon_traj.html

Well radio tracker is not that expensive, if you do it yourself about 70-100€ depending on parts. I have access to some that cost 130€ already working (software...) receiver is the expensive part ~190€.

Yes I saw that predictor, but this one is better: http://predict.habhub.org from the ukhas.co.uk guys

[RodeoX]

Well radio tracker is not that expensive, if you do it yourself about 70-100€ depending on parts. I have access to some that cost 130€ already working (software...) receiver is the expensive part ~190€.

Yes I saw that predictor, but this one is better: http://predict.habhub.org from the ukhas.co.uk guys

Oh yes, if your in the UK that one looks awesome. Cheers M8.