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KI6TSF > TECH 09.07.12 14:11l 36 Lines 1616 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 17615_N0ARY
Read: GUEST
Subj: RE: Balloon & Kite Aerials
Path: IZ3LSV<IW0QNL<IK6ZDE<VE2PKT<N9PMO<N4ZKF<N0ARY
Sent: 120709/0122z @:N0ARY.#NCA.CA.USA.NOAM #:17615 San Jose, CA $:17615_N0ARY
My father used a box kite with a long wire back in the 70's or 80's
on the belgian coast. We were at the beach and, after a few trips to
the car to bring the GRC radio "aka the Greek" and the car battery,
he was on the air. Sure enough an english gentlemen recognized the
orange kite from far away and came over, he was an OM too and said
he spotted the kite.
That kite came from a WWII Gibson Girl rescue radio. As a kid I liked
them very much. My father said to not touch the wire, which of course
I did. You could feel a small shock even under light wind. To protect
the radio, my father installed a tiny neon bulb between the AE and
ground. I can't remember what band he was working, but it was most
likely 80m.
As a matter of fact, I got a SEB-42-ALV Aerodynamically Shaped Balloon
(NSN 1H5820-01-149-5467) specially designed to hold an antenna. It
is quite large (abt 7ft x 7ft) kind of flat rectangular flying saucer,
or very large orange ravioli to be precise. It is a recent/new unit
made of very thin material (much thinner than paper).
From what I understand, it is designed to stay up and stable in the air
even with very strong wind. I believe the stronger the wind, the
stronger it pulls vertically on the tether line (or antenna wire) due
to its special shape instead of drifting away with the wind. A very
interesting design.
I have never used it due to the cost of helium. I am looking for an
alternative gas that is very cheap to fill it with so it can be used
over and over. Would those WWII canisters that were used to fill
balloons using just salt water work?
73 de KI6TSF
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