sending an experimental balloon to over 100,000 ft. I have purchased
two 900MHz RF Aerocomm ConnexLink Radios. The radios have a power of
1000 m.a., which states it will transmit and receive up to 20 miles
line of sight. I do realize that this is probably under ideal

I did mean to comment on the temperature spec for the radio. The
temperature in the troposhere can be as low at -50 to -75 deg C, will
the radio get cold enough in transit to fail (eg battery failure,
condensation etc).

You should read Paul Lloyd (Lloyd Paul?) Verhage's long series of
"near space" articles which have been running in Nuts & Volts magazine
for at least a year! He started sending balloons and packages of
scientific experiments (radio telemetry and DF'ing, cameras, once
even included some roaches!) into near space years before that.

FWIW, he is a "ham", and when he started, he was a student here at
Kansas State University. Even better, he launched his balloons
from the "Johnson Near Space Center" about 10 miles south of Manhattan,
Kansas; so-called because Dr. Gary Johnson, K0HGJ, who was working to
duplicate some of Tesla's high-power experiemts, owned a humongous-
big-and-tall metal building with VERY-big sliding doors that was
perfect for inflating balloons inside (out of any wind) and carrying
outside for launching, and the similarity with the name "Johnson Space
Center" was just too good to resist!

I believe Lloyd (the name he used then) is now a high-school teacher
somewhere, and he incorporates his balloon launches into his science
classes.

--
--Myron A. Calhoun.
Five boxes preserve our freedoms: soap, ballot, witness, jury, and cartridge
NRA Life Member W0PBV "Barbershop" tenor CDL(PTXS) (785) 539-4448
Certified Instructor (KS Concealed Carry, Rifle, Pistol, Home Firearm Safety)