[00:00] or dominoex, which has lots of frequencies [00:00] btw would a cmos sensor from an old webcam run sstv ? [00:00] should do, if you could get the image data from it [00:01] hmm i have a quickcam pro 5000 here thats got a nice sensor, used it on the scope so its already slightly hacked [00:01] talking to a sensor directly could involve some major mojo though [00:01] nice camera that [00:01] was till it hacked the guts out of it to make it fit in the finderscope..lol [00:02] amazing what you can do with a bit of steel tube, super glue, and an old filter case [00:02] planetary imager & guidescope in 1 [00:03] excellent [00:03] yea the dslr is quite poor for planets [00:03] beats paying Ł160 for practically the same thing, baring in mind most guidescopes are 1.3Mp and mono [00:05] planets are a pain fullstop, have to use such a short exposure [00:05] for sstv you'd only need something really simple - the quality isn't going to be all that great [00:05] fsphil: when are you launching? [00:05] well ive left the usb gobbins entact on the logitech board so may have something to work with [00:06] if you got one of those small linux boards, that has a usb plug. something like the gumstix, which I think jcoxon flew before (and did sstv from) [00:06] natrium42, weekend after next [00:06] i was thinking friendly arm .. i quite like those boards [00:06] weather permitting [00:07] ok, hope i am not disappoint [00:07] :P [00:08] natrium42, when are you visiting this lovely little island of ours ? [00:08] *everything* will work perfectly :D [00:08] NigeyS: may 14-16 [00:08] now uncross your toes phil :P [00:08] haha [00:08] how do i dress to england? [00:08] business casual? [00:08] waterproof [00:08] lol [00:09] haha yeah wellies and wool m8 [00:09] what the hell is a wellie? [00:09] wellington boots! [00:09] so you can jump in the puddles! [00:09] aah [00:09] britspeak [00:09] or swim to the pub, depending on which part you goto :P [00:10] is this customary? [00:10] pretty normal for a british summer.. flooding.. snow .. hail..sleet.. [00:10] j/k guys, i have been to england before :P [00:10] it's either a drought, or floods :) [00:10] or if ure really lucky .. both ;) [00:11] london's a neat place [00:11] i need to learn some vocab first, i think... [00:11] http://www.englishclub.8m.com/ukus1.htm [00:11] urban dictionary and you'll be fin ;) [00:12] but I've never learned the art of stopping a taxi [00:12] e [00:12] ahh phil, you have to jump out in front of it [00:12] if its free you get in, if not you get a week in a nice cosy bed courtesy of the nhs :D [00:13] bollocks! [00:13] lol [00:13] i'll prolly need a brolly [00:13] I've also learned that "around the corner" in a city means "five miles away" [00:13] haaaahahaha yes! [00:15] right brb [00:15] NigeyS (~EcEnTiAl@cpc5-cdif13-2-0-cust232.5-1.cable.virginmedia.com) left irc: Quit: Leaving [00:15] fsphil: will you teach me to chat up british ladies? [00:15] Accumulator ..... Car battery (dated) <-- that's new to me [00:16] with my track record, maybe not the best teacher :) [00:16] Cool. Just got pan and tilt working via the Arduino :) [00:16] naff off, you probably hang around with page 3 girls all the time [00:17] hmm, what's "hang around" in british? [00:17] pretty much the same [00:17] mattltm (~mattltm@92.7.176.55) left irc: [00:17] k [00:17] or hang about [00:19] man I'd be so lost in america [00:19] I don't know half their phrases [00:19] haha [00:19] it's the opposite way with me [00:20] juxta (Bogaurd@ppp203-122-193-94.static.internode.on.net) joined #highaltitude. [00:20] how do you say washroom/bathroom in britspeak? [00:20] hehe.. "First Floor Second floor" [00:20] XD [00:20] toilet, loo, bog, wet room [00:21] aah [00:22] actually bog might be a n.ireland thing [00:23] Nah we say it here to [00:23] oh, and The Crapper [00:23] Could be a Celtic thing though [00:24] "The bog is a colloquial expression in British English for a toilet." [00:25] Thats the 1 [00:27] interesting [00:27] cool, matts p+t: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P3qL1pXmEo [00:29] lol: "Page 3 girl ....... Model (of sorts)" [00:29] like the "of sorts" bit [00:31] lol [00:32] The Daily Sport and Sunday Sport have suspended publication and will go into administration, their owner has said. [00:32] Bah [00:32] Oops meant to be hah... dumb Android [00:34] Action: fsphil brain shut down [00:41] so, who here has an iphone 4? :) [00:43] I think Dan does? [00:44] Gillerire (Jamie@CPE-58-160-210-73.sa.bigpond.net.au) left irc: Quit: Quit [00:51] ive got an iphone3 [00:51] iphone 4 sorry [00:52] GeekShadow (~Antoine@reactos/tester/GeekShadow) left irc: Quit: The cake is a lie ! [00:52] :-) [00:55] has everyone left... is there somethign good on tv? [00:55] :-) [00:58] lol [00:59] Right - time for some sleep - goodnight all - thanks for your help with the NTX2 this evening.... [00:59] Shufffty (~Shuffty@188-221-227-102.zone12.bethere.co.uk) left irc: Quit: Leaving [01:02] Zuph (~bradluyst@69.64.6.69) joined #highaltitude. [01:34] MoALTz_ (~no@92.18.13.241) joined #highaltitude. [01:38] MoALTz (~no@92.8.229.10) left irc: Ping timeout: 276 seconds [01:46] jasonb (~jasonb@12.201.129.162) left irc: Ping timeout: 276 seconds [01:51] MoALTz__ (~no@92.18.13.241) joined #highaltitude. [01:55] MoALTz_ (~no@92.18.13.241) left irc: Ping timeout: 276 seconds [02:09] Zuph: do you know what the PBH launch is? [02:09] is it a trans-a attempt? [02:31] natrium42: Negative [02:31] Just altitude [02:31] For a high school, so probably a latex [02:32] aah, k [02:55] slothearn (~Christine@71.173.193.158) left irc: Ping timeout: 246 seconds [03:04] hibby_ (~hibby@77.95.37.233) joined #highaltitude. [03:08] Hibby (~hibby@unaffiliated/hibby) left irc: Ping timeout: 246 seconds [03:13] Jasperw (~jasperw@2001:470:92f1:0:223:5aff:fef5:cce) left irc: Quit: Leaving. [03:19] Jasperw (~jasperw@93-97-176-250.zone5.bethere.co.uk) joined #highaltitude. [03:40] Dan-K2VOL (~Dan-K2VOL@69.64.6.70) joined #highaltitude. [03:48] hibby_ (~hibby@77.95.37.233) left irc: Ping timeout: 260 seconds [04:57] SamSilver (2985f4df@gateway/web/freenode/ip.41.133.244.223) joined #highaltitude. [05:12] bbl [05:12] SamSilver (2985f4df@gateway/web/freenode/ip.41.133.244.223) left irc: Quit: Page closed [05:46] Zuph: but visualize this ---> the first highschool to cross the atlantic [05:47] :D [05:47] hah [05:47] screw those guys :-p [05:47] XD [05:56] hello [06:37] hi Dan-K2VOL [06:38] hey Alexei [06:38] how are you? [06:38] any luck with antennas? [06:40] mark said that you have two workable antennas [06:40] oh didn't know you were in chat with mark [06:41] nah, i got it out of the mailing list :D [06:49] ahh gotcha [06:49] yeah [06:49] we'll see tomorrow when he brings them by [06:54] Omg [06:54] U 2 are insomniacs ! [06:55] GW8RAK (~chatzilla@client-86-29-51-208.glfd.adsl.virginmedia.com) joined #highaltitude. [07:00] Zuph (~bradluyst@69.64.6.69) left irc: Read error: Operation timed out [07:03] nigelmoby lol [07:04] :) [07:04] Hey dude! [07:04] S [07:04] \o [07:05] How's progress Dan? [07:05] ugh Nigel [07:06] every time we look at this thing there's a new problem wrong with it [07:06] the 5v problem came up again [07:06] Ooo that's no fun [07:07] and when trying to ground the payload internal support frame (which won't take solder for some reason) we scattered wire brush fibers all over all the PCBs [07:09] Oh just to keep you on ure toes eh lol [07:09] indeed, tweeted a pic of all the recovered fibers on a magnet [07:10] Aha magnets are useful!! [07:13] That 5v issue seems odd mind. Intermittent problems like that are the worst kind to troubleshoot [07:23] Simon-MPFH (~simon@phantom.mpfh.co.uk) joined #highaltitude. [07:24] yes [07:25] gb73d (gb73d@88-110-49-191.dynamic.dsl.as9105.com) joined #highaltitude. [07:30] junderwood (~John@adsl.jcu.me.uk) joined #highaltitude. [07:30] nigelmoby we traced it to only happening when the cutdown is connected during poweron [07:30] when on ground power supply [07:30] you can connect the cutdown after poweron, and it's fine [07:30] How weird [07:30] MMmmmm Joe P just left to go get some hot pizza from the place nearby that serves till 4am [07:31] Pizza mmmmmm its 3:30 there? [07:31] yep [07:32] I like the quiet night shift crew at LVL1 [07:32] this hackerspace rarely goes unoccupied [07:32] I'm finally back to writing arduino code for the sat modem [07:33] Oh aye I bet its manic in the early evening there [07:33] making my own message queues on ardiuno [07:33] lol yes [07:34] Ahh sat modem coding, dans favourite job@ [07:35] ha [07:36] I like getting features added, I just don't like being the one doing the programming of them [07:36] Lol understandable [07:37] what are you up to Nigel [07:38] Just got up. Gf in work so I have to get up aswell.. [07:38] heh [07:38] you on your phone? [07:39] Yup [07:39] iphone 4? [07:39] Desire HD lol [07:40] Fear the Droid !! [07:40] iphone 4 here [07:40] lol [07:40] omg dan, get my brothers app then [07:40] i need to push it or something [07:40] I"m just glad the stupid cell phone companies aren't sitll forcing java shitphones on us [07:40] ok lol what is it [07:41] Lol oh the days of javame [07:42] lololol [07:42] http://midnox.com [07:42] oh hey that actually looks cool [07:42] it was released friday [07:42] :) [07:43] A little unconventional with the terming of the in-app purchase as "unlocked version" though [07:43] but I'm downloading it now! [07:44] YOu should suggest to him to change that wordage to something like "Pro Features" [07:44] nice HAL eye [07:44] Dam my coffee cup must have a hole in it [07:44] Dan-K2VOL: might be confusing though [07:45] hahah sorry to hear that [07:45] as the free version is just limited to 15 seconds [07:45] yeah [07:45] Looks a good app that [07:45] maybe Full Features, or somthing. I'm not sure, the unlocked wording just sounds a little odd on the iphone, I've never run into an app that used that that I can recall [07:46] Like the rolling shutter correction [07:52] ok, i will forward it to my brother [07:52] :) [07:52] looking cool using it now [07:54] maybe Full Version? [07:54] that's goodf [07:57] kk [07:57] thanks for trying/bying! [07:58] :-) [08:14] natrium42 (~alexei@CPE000625d867e2-CM0014045885be.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com) left irc: Quit: leaving [08:14] natrium42 (~alexei@CPE000625d867e2-CM0014045885be.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com) joined #highaltitude. [08:37] GW8RAK (~chatzilla@client-86-29-51-208.glfd.adsl.virginmedia.com) left irc: Quit: ChatZilla 0.9.86.1 [Firefox 4.0/20110318052756] [08:40] slothearn (~Christine@71.173.193.158) joined #highaltitude. [08:45] Dan-K2VOL: do you know why the russians like cone antennas so much? [08:45] Laurence~ [08:45] no why? [08:45] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Russian_Navigation_Spacecraft_Glonass_K1_at_CeBIT.jpg [08:45] dunno, just wondering [08:45] hahah I was waiting for a punchline [08:45] russian satellites seem to prefer them over dish antenas [08:46] sorry to disappoint! [08:46] haha [08:46] oh well in space, that will give you circular polarization [08:46] our GPS satellites look almost identical, though they use the quadrifilar helix [08:47] http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img.gpsreview.net/wp-content/uploads/gps-satellite.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.gpsreview.net/next-gps-satellite-to-launch-monday/&usg=__GsA1rRLi-KUUQTRE3Jp1YGCJfR0=&h=1168&w=779&sz=259&hl=en&start=9&zoom=1&tbnid=HMWnRVQjCYLnIM:&tbnh=132&tbnw=88&ei=pOKWTe_vBY22tgen4J2KDA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgps%2Bsatellite%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D857%26bih%3D707%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C545&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&d [08:47] monster url [08:47] lol ys [08:49] ah yes " Signals are transmitted in a 38° cone, using right-hand circular polarization, at an EIRP between 25 to 27 dBW (316 to 500 watts)." [08:49] Shuffty (~Shuffty@188-221-227-102.zone12.bethere.co.uk) joined #highaltitude. [08:50] I'm looking into PCB Layouts on osx - what do you use? [08:50] Morning all btw... [08:50] eagle [08:50] :-) [08:50] hi [08:51] Thanks natrium ... full version or can it be used as a freeware app? [08:51] Hi :-) [08:51] gb73d (gb73d@88-110-49-191.dynamic.dsl.as9105.com) left irc: Quit: Whoosh we're gone [08:52] yeah, you can use the freeware version [08:52] it's enough for most hobby projects [08:54] Brilliant! Any suggestions as so where to get some boards made up? [08:55] best if you ask uk people [08:55] i am usually too impatient, so i order locally [08:55] otherwise from asia [08:56] if you figure out how to use eagle, let me know :) [08:57] it does take some getting used to [08:57] but once you get the hang of it, it's very nice [08:59] Cool, thanks. I'll have a play today. How hard can it be ;-p [08:59] lol [08:59] https://github.com/dren-dk/HAL900/wiki/Quirks-of-PCB-manufacturing-at-ITead [08:59] might be worth trying this service.... [09:01] nite [09:05] fsphil (~phil@2001:8b0:34:1:21f:c6ff:fe44:b25b) left irc: Read error: Operation timed out [09:08] Thanks natrium - appreciate your help. [09:10] fsphil (~phil@2001:8b0:34:1:21f:c6ff:fe44:b25b) joined #highaltitude. [09:15] GW8RAK (~chatzilla@client-86-29-51-208.glfd.adsl.virginmedia.com) joined #highaltitude. [09:18] smea (~smealum@89-156-20-102.rev.numericable.fr) joined #highaltitude. [09:19] slothearn (~Christine@71.173.193.158) left irc: Ping timeout: 252 seconds [09:22] NigeyS (~EcEnTiAl@cpc5-cdif13-2-0-cust232.5-1.cable.virginmedia.com) joined #highaltitude. [09:22] weeeeeeeee [09:23] dan you better have saved me some pizza!:D [09:26] mmm pizza breakfast [09:28] yush! [09:28] morning btw phil :) [09:34] yey i found the hubble 3d film [09:36] PBH is launching today [09:37] meh [09:38] you cant get excited about their launch cause theres no dam info about the project anywhere [09:43] there's actually less now than there was before [09:44] i know, its really offputting, why they have to keep so much of it private and closed to the public ? makes very suspicious [09:44] Dan-K2VOL (~Dan-K2VOL@69.64.6.70) left irc: Quit: Leaving. [09:46] MoALTz__ (~no@92.18.13.241) left irc: Quit: Leaving [09:46] They only announce launches after it's going well.` [09:46] Much like the soviet space agency. [09:46] hah that blows! [09:46] MoALTz (~no@92.18.13.241) joined #highaltitude. [09:47] Action: SpeedEvil wants the 5th to hurry up and be here. [09:47] well the launch hasn't happened yet [09:47] SpeedEvil, have you seen the hubble 3d film yet ? [09:47] (spacex) [09:47] NigeyS: no. [09:48] Action: SpeedEvil tries to work out what the last film he saw in a film theater was. [09:48] oh .. didnt know leonardo di caprio did the narration :| [09:48] ah man, missed opportunity there. patrick stewart! [09:49] It may actually have been Star Wars. Though I remember essentially nothing of it as I was too young. [09:49] yups, thats who i'd have voted for, or morgan freeman, he makes a good narrator! [09:49] he does [09:49] SpeedEvil, i havent been to the cinema in 20 years, waste of money! [09:49] I love going to the cinema :) [09:50] By Star Wars - I mean episode 1. [09:50] Err - 3? [09:50] the first one produced anyway. [09:50] http://xkcd.com/462/ [09:50] so true [09:50] haha [09:50] Action: SpeedEvil tries to remember the canadian astronaut with the really, really sexy voice. [09:52] julie payette ? [09:52] Ah - yes. [09:53] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-loUaovnn4&feature=player_detailpage#t=345s [09:53] http://www.nasa.gov/mp4/219428main_ksc_032408_itow_payette2_pod.mp4 [09:54] m1x10 (m1x10@ppp046176119071.dsl.hol.gr) joined #highaltitude. [09:57] Hi all! [09:57] hey m1x10 [09:57] hi hi! [09:58] got 2nd version of my flight system! picture asap ! [10:01] how's the earthquake, m1x10? [10:01] earthquake ? [10:05] http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usc0002gtc.php [10:06] near Crete [10:08] its the bombings in libya :) [10:12] new flight system : http://imagebin.org/146241 [10:16] cool [10:22] mattltm (~mattltm@92.29.185.118) joined #highaltitude. [10:22] Hi all :) [10:27] fsphil: A better image: http://imagebin.org/146243 [10:31] MrCraig (~androirc@nat76.mia.three.co.uk) joined #highaltitude. [10:31] hey all - anything fun happening? [10:32] Nope. Im at work :( [10:32] :-( sorry mattltm [10:32] if it makes you feel any better I'm kicking back in a costa [10:32] Got called in and now Im missing a course day :( [10:32] MrCraig: Thanks. [10:32] oh no, that is bad [10:33] had no idea :-/ work should not be permitted to interfere with ham or habbing. It should be law [10:33] lol.I agree. [10:34] I finished work for a couple of weeks yesterday - had to do three days work in one day to clear my todo list - and I just know the two weeks will pass far too quickly [10:36] do b doo [10:37] Going anywhere nice?Or just having a break? [10:37] Hi NigeyS [10:37] hey matt! [10:37] hey MrCraig [10:37] fsphil, good film, but to short, only 45 mins long :( [10:38] Hey NigeyS [10:38] i'm going to visit my parents in cov for two weeks mattltm [10:39] Cool. [10:39] Driving up there after meeting with a friend who will be the backup car on launch day. Looking all pretentious in costa [10:40] lol. I can't even get a cup of coffee today. Our cafe is closed :( [10:40] suckage [10:41] hab question: Does an ipad digiflidgy exist? [10:41] On the +side, I do have an Arduino here with me and ive just got the pan and tilt platform working with it :0 [10:42] ahhh so it's not all bad, some habbing at work lol [10:42] Yup :) [10:43] I miss the days when I had quiet "grave-yard" shifts, I used to write program code on my laptop in the office. The pay sucked though. [10:43] Im only here babysitting the sparkies [10:43] Wrote my most successful product there [10:43] aah - yeah, those sparkies have to be watched [10:44] The friend I'm waiting on is on an out of hours support call :-/ [10:47] Carputer not working again - should really fix it propperly so bought a suitable device to hack and tomorrow I'll have the interior of the car apart again. I just wish I had it for the drive. [10:47] MrCraig: Im an expensive babysitter but they are playing with the Data Centre power so I don't trust anyone else to watch them! [10:48] No fair point - I'd have gone in on a weekend to watch anyone messing around in my server room when I was an I.T. dude - and that was only a handful of servers. [10:49] hibby (~hibby@unaffiliated/hibby) joined #highaltitude. [10:50] hey hibby [10:51] morning [10:51] only just :-) [10:52] lol. Good weekend? [10:52] hehe yeah so so, you? [10:52] :-P [10:53] not bad so far. little bit of partying, litle bit of this n that, all good. [10:53] partying sounds good [10:54] oooh - reminds me, I need to check on an ebay watch [10:56] Any Eagle users on here? [10:56] Morning all btw.. [10:56] :-) [10:58] jack (56a716d5@gateway/web/freenode/ip.86.167.22.213) joined #highaltitude. [10:58] morning shuffty [10:58] Designing is for normal people [10:58] Nick change: jack -> Guest49938 [10:59] Morning MrCraig [10:59] Designing?? [10:59] Morning is for normal people. [10:59] Guest49938 (56a716d5@gateway/web/freenode/ip.86.167.22.213) left irc: Client Quit [11:00] Actually, I need to learn eagle and how to convert he output to g-code I can run on the mill. I deemed it too much learning to fit in with my schedule on launch 1 [11:00] lol [11:00] So I freestyled on a breadboard and copied it to protoboard [11:01] jackwardell (56a716d5@gateway/web/freenode/ip.86.167.22.213) joined #highaltitude. [11:01] My friend should arrive any minute here so apologies if I vanish mid sentence folks [11:03] Shuffty: eagle's nae fun :( [11:03] no worries - I'm looking after my youngest while the wife works and watching the motogp qualifying :-) [11:03] Eagle seems to be pretty simple to use.... [11:04] I found a package called Target 3001! (exclaimation as part of the name - cheeeese) it actually seemed really good and has a lite edition for free [11:04] it autoroutes and even produces a 3d rendering of the finished board [11:05] Not sure about the 3d rendering, but eagle does autoroute... [11:05] ..and it's only$125 - I might buy it if I start using it a little more. [11:06] eagle is $125? [11:06] there'll be f/oss options for less [11:06] generally what I try to use, the university appreciate it. 7 [11:08] Yeah - $125 if your working on stuff thats not for profit... in other words - as soon as whatever it is you work on makes money - you have to buy it :-) [11:09] Action: hibby does what he normally does then and pulls out the academic card [11:10] "look at what the cool things this program y'all wrote is doing :)" [11:10] Ok, so just don't make a profit when you release Ł100 worth of He and burst a Ł50ish balloon and you're good right? :-) [11:10] woo it's cold outside! [11:11] *tips hat to fsphil [11:11] yo mrc [11:11] http://twitpic.com/4fys4r [11:11] (on DIY) [11:11] ooh pbh might be secretive, but they're pretty active on twitter [11:12] friend arrived - talk later all [11:12] MrCraig (~androirc@nat76.mia.three.co.uk) left irc: Quit: MrCraig [11:12] SpeedEvil: wow. [11:13] lol [11:15] TangoAlpha (~chatzilla@cpc5-rdng22-2-0-cust160.15-3.cable.virginmedia.com) joined #highaltitude. [11:15] If I use the Lassen iQ GPS module in a balloon, how do I communicate with myself on Earth? [11:16] low power radio [11:17] Is that the cheapest option? [11:17] i'm currently testing one of these http://www.radiometrix.com/content/ntx2 [11:17] and one of these http://www.radiometrix.com/content/nrx2 [11:17] well you could log all the data and read it upon retrieval of the payload, but it's not particularly ideal. [11:18] i've got an ntx 2 kicking about, and another module from RS, and some (really cheap) ones from maplin I might try as a backup/alternate to see how effective they are [11:18] ntx2 + cheap GPS + micro + veroboard + bats. [11:18] Is about the cheapest sane. [11:19] Could I communicate by SMS? [11:19] You can also use phones with brken screens if you want to od that [11:19] SMS is unreliable on the ground (actually lying on the ground) in random orientations. [11:19] it's potentially unlegal to do SMS at altitude [11:19] SMS also may not work above a few hundred meters (or even less) [11:20] The cell-towers are designed as much as possible to put no signal into the air, as it robs them of range. [11:21] Hmmm... What is the cheapest easiest way of precisely communicating with the payload when it's on the ground? [11:21] (when it's landed) [11:22] of the three groups i'm working with, the most impressive is the module they've bought that you stick a SIM card in, text it and it returns you the gps data [11:22] can phone it and hear what's going on too :) [11:22] hibby: Great - if it works. [11:22] m1x10 (m1x10@ppp046176119071.dsl.hol.gr) left irc: Remote host closed the connection [11:23] another group are using a phone with an app that will post the locations onto a map [11:23] jackwardell: For total outlay - a SMS tracker of some form. [11:23] another group (actually) used a rape alarm and the goodwill of the local people [11:23] jackwardell: But that comes with a substantial risk of losing the payload. [11:24] jackwardell: The current tendancy is to chase the balloon - aided by online predictions - in a car. This easily gets you to within a few miles of where it's coming down. [11:24] This means that it's at maybe 1000-2000m altitude at worst. [11:25] 1000-2000m altitude, and typical descent rates mean your search area is only a few hundred meters in diameter. [11:25] Ahhh, see I don't want to lose it. I'm not cashing out and then losing it. So let me get this right, I need a GPS module connected to a radio transmitter? And I need a receiver? [11:25] yes. [11:25] And the radio can easily be picked up from a few hundred meters. [11:25] and a microcontroller to take the gps data and control the radio [11:26] The tracker also means that up to a dozen or so people can assist by turning ont heir radios, and uploading strings they recieve to a central location. [11:26] Thanks guys, now considering I'm no pro at electronics and programming (I'm learning). Is the GPS/radio transmitter easy to programme? [11:26] m1x10 (m1x10@ppp046176119071.dsl.hol.gr) joined #highaltitude. [11:27] there are some really good examples online [11:27] plus it's a fine way to learn about this stuff :) [11:27] jackwardell: Mostr of it can be exhaustively tested on the ground. [11:28] http://spacenear.us/tracker/ [11:28] The radio receiver, how much is that? Are they expensive? [11:28] This is the tracker - everyone who recieves your signal can automatically upload to it [11:29] at the moment, someone is just testing. [11:29] which reminds me, I should be testing the hadie payload shortly so it should appear on the tracker [11:29] radio isn't cheap unfortunately, ebay is the best source. [11:29]