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Transmitting data from a capsule dangling from a weather or sounding balloon is not easy as it often involves expensive and sophisticated equipment. Luckily, cheap alternatives exist. This project together with a standard radio transmitter and GPS receiver can be used to beam down up to six analog signals and position data from a balloon, and all of that at very low cost.

Elektor.POST nr. 17

Transmitting data from a capsule dangling from a weather or sounding balloon is not easy as it often involves expensive and sophisticated equipment. Luckily, cheap alternatives exist. The board presented in this article together with a standard radio transmitter and GPS receiver can be used to beam down up to six analog signals and position data from a balloon, and all of that at very low cost. Our heads are not the clouds either—this project has been up in the air twice already!

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Addition: the pressure sensor used is an easy to find MPX5100AP from Freescale (originally Motorola).

Correction: the last paragraph states that in France the capsule must measure "at least 30 cm". This should be "at most 30 cm per side".

Please note that the article's opening photo shows a professionnal weather balloon, not the balloon used by the author.

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