07/15/2003 | W5TQ Field Day 2003 brought a triumphant end to a quest that began just prior to Field Day 2002. Mitch London, KD5HCV and Alan Russell, no call, had the idea to make contacts using a longwire antenna hung from a weather balloon that Russell had had for many years. Due to wind and the 15 year age of the weather balloon, a weak spot developed and our plans burst like a bubble. That was last year. This year, we were tempted to try again, more so by a donation of a 5 foot diameter latex balloon. So the wheels in our minds started turning again, making back up plans in case of a similar problem to the previous year. We purchased more helium, a second, new, balloon and new wire. The winds were more favorable than last years and within a couple hours we had set up camp and began filling the balloons. We decided to use both balloons at once to give more lift in case of winds. Unsure as to the breaking point of the balloons we were conservative on our first attempt of filling them. So Saturday afternoon by 4 o'clock our balloons were full and ready for launch. The wind was blowing around 5-10 mph, which may not seem like much but when you have balloons that move at every whim of the wind, 10 mph is alot! We connected up our wire to a tuner and then to the Radio Shack HTX-10, 10 meter radio and proceeded to contact a whole bunch of...static! 10 meters was dead as can be. Darkness fell and we hauled the balloons into the tent and secured them so we could try again Sunday.
Sunday came and we showed up about 10am, our balloons had lost some helium during the night so we opened them up and filled them even bigger than we did before. We launched the balloons and our hopes high into the air. Just a slight breeze was present that morning as we prepared ourselves for what may come.
About 11 o'clock we got on 10 meters and I began calling CQ while Alan wrangled the balloons; keeping them away from trees and such. The first contact we made came from a person in the same city as we were, who was waiting to hear from us so we would have at least one contact. After we finished talking to him a second person was heard but this time from out of state! The band was by no means in good condition, but he could be heard. Then another. In and out the band went over the next few hours but we were determined that we would do our best with what we had. We heard from Alabama, Florida, and a few others but the band was not helping and the contest was drawing to a close. We made our last contact at 12:58pm CST, in all we managed 10, 10 meter contacts. Our endeavor to launch a helium filled balloon (or two) was a success and that we were able to get a handfull of contacts made it that much better.


Stats:
Balloons: (2) Helium filled, approx. 5-6 feet in dia.
Antenna: Long Wire, 103 feet total less 6-8 feet to go to radio.
Radio: 10 meter radio Shack HTX-10, 25 watts SSB.
Fun: Extreme!



Photos by Shawn McCoy, KD5OUQ -- KD5HCV