Recap of EOSS-140/141

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Recap

by Marty Griffin, WA0GEH

Mark Patton KC0D was the first to see and touch EOSS #140 yesterday. Mark is normally an I-Gater providing a link from the 144.34 MHz APRS signals from the balloon and passing those packets to the internet. A few flights ago, Mark decided to join the tracking team and has been driving/riding with me. During these times, Paula, his XYL, has been overseeing the I-Gate operation at home and watching the flight progress.

On this flight, the APRS led us to a spot about .4 mile from the landing point. We broke out the DF gear and determined the APRS was giving us good information. The payload was behind a rise. Larry Nobel N0NDM loaded the location into his hand-held GPS and Mark and I led the way through two gates. (More gates?). Meanwhile our Tracking Coordinator, Colin WG0E, was very busy straddling two simplex frequencies managing both recoveries.

We stopped at a place where we felt the payload should be and did some more DFing. Mark noticed a “wagon wheel” about 200 ft away in the tall grass. It turned out to be the top of the parachute spreader ring! He was off and running and confirmed a “tally ho”.

Quickly following were Larry N0NDM and Benjie W0CBH using geocaching techniques to locate the payload. This qualifies as great adventure.

I now digress. When Rob Wright KC0UUO became president, one of his many objectives was to involve members in different parts of the flight operation. Kudus for expanding their responsibilities and broadening their experiences go to:

• Jim Langsted KC0RPS (former tracker) for his role as flight coordinator and tracker. Outstanding!
• Larry Noble N0NDM and Benjie Campbell W0CBH (former trackers) for their roles as balloon launchers and trackers. Omnipresent!
• Mark Patton KC0D (I-Gater) for his role as tracker and I-gater
• Russ Chadwick KB0TVJ (ground team) for his role as FAA Coordinator, I-Gate coordinator and ground station support. Always reliable!
• Sam Hetchler KC6HXM (tracker) for his ground-breaking work on SamCam 1. Cool innovation!
• Colin Glennan WG0E (tracker) for his role as Tracking Coordinator and tracker. Cool head!
• Steve Meer K0SCC (tracker) for his role in creating new payloads and tracking! New science for us!
• Mike Manes W5VSI (past President) for his newly advanced, focused role as Technical Officer. Doing what he does best!
• Rob Wright KC0UUO, (tracker) for his role as presidential leader and tracker. Skilled executive!

I am sure I missed someone and my apologies to those snubbed inadvertently.

So it was good fun to experience Mark’s new excitement as a tracker and others who are wearing different hats. To all, the EOSS membership thanks you for accepting new hats!