adecarolis / k1fm-pico-balloon Goto Github PK

Hi Alain,
Thanks for sharing your design.

i just noted a typo, and thought I'd try to do a little to help you, after all you have done for me. In the README, you have
"Do not proceed furter in case you". I think you wanted further. :-)
I note ZachTek puts a 10K resistor across the HF dipole, and I'm guessing it might be to help dissipate static electricity. I also note that KD9ORR is using a fishing swivel which may relieve some strain on their HF antenna. I am wondering if the larger solar panels you were using and their larger wind load made it harder for your balloon to survive, along with multiple balloons which seem more likely to spin in the wind causing metal fatigue in your wires. For this reason, I'm wondering if a bigger capacitor and smaller solar panels might be better. What do you think?

I'm curious why you used a bandpass filter instead of a low pass filter on your HF output?

Do you have any new thoughts? As one of the experiments we are planning, I'm working on modifying your design so it uses parts that are available from JlCPCB. Building things is getting harder due to parts shortages these days.

Again, thanks for sharing!

73,

Rob
KL7NA

While using the latest version of Orion with the turn on FETs enabled, the CPU gets into a reset loop due to a drop on the 3v rail when the GPS and Si PLL get enabled. A soft start cap on the FET gate an/or more Bulk would fix this issue.