In article ,
(Brian Kelly) writes:

Temperatures
at 100,000 MSL generally range from -50ºF to -150ºF "depending".
Lightweight (ounces) high-end ($500 class) consumer-level GPS
receivers are rated to temps only down to غ-5ºF and 30,000 MSL max.
altitude. Then comes the same kinds of limits on the rest of the
electronics you're visualizing. How would engineer your way around
these limitations on a freeware budget?

Looks like a big challenge may be the engineering of an insulated airtight
container that doesn't weigh much.

73 de Jim, N2EY

N2EY wrote:

In article ,
(Brian Kelly) writes:


Temperatures
at 100,000 MSL generally range from -50ºF to -150ºF "depending".
Lightweight (ounces) high-end ($500 class) consumer-level GPS
receivers are rated to temps only down to غ-5ºF and 30,000 MSL max.
altitude. Then comes the same kinds of limits on the rest of the
electronics you're visualizing. How would engineer your way around
these limitations on a freeware budget?


Looks like a big challenge may be the engineering of an insulated airtight
container that doesn't weigh much.

Home sheathing insulation works like a charm, and is very inexpensive.

Some people have used those cheap insulated picnic coolers.

- Mike KB3EIA -

PAMNO (N2EY) wrote in message ...
In article ,
(Brian Kelly) writes:

Temperatures
at 100,000 MSL generally range from -50ºF to -150ºF "depending".
Lightweight (ounces) high-end ($500 class) consumer-level GPS
receivers are rated to temps only down to غ-5ºF and 30,000 MSL max.
altitude. Then comes the same kinds of limits on the rest of the
electronics you're visualizing. How would engineer your way around
these limitations on a freeware budget?

Looks like a big challenge may be the engineering of an insulated airtight
container that doesn't weigh much.

There's no new ground here. PAMNO (N2EY) wrote in message ...
In article ,
(Brian Kelly) writes:

Temperatures
at 100,000 MSL generally range from -50ºF to -150ºF "depending".
Lightweight (ounces) high-end ($500 class) consumer-level GPS
receivers are rated to temps only down to غ-5ºF and 30,000 MSL max.
altitude. Then comes the same kinds of limits on the rest of the
electronics you're visualizing. How would engineer your way around
these limitations on a freeware budget?

Looks like a big challenge may be the engineering of an insulated airtight
container that doesn't weigh much.

There's no new graound here, it's more like a pile of labor than a
real design challenge. If the instrument capsule is sealed at sea
level and flown to 100,000 feet every six inch by six inch x by 3/4
inch thick patch of the foam board will have to survive a 470+/- pound
outward load. Which I doubt will work. So the capsule should be sealed
then evacuated to say 30,000 feet to get those stresses down. I can
take it anywhere from here but I ain't.

Sometimes dumb luck and enthusiasim gets the driveway mechanics there
faster than applied physics does.


73 de Jim, N2EY

w3rv

In article ,
(Brian Kelly) writes:

Looks like a big challenge may be the engineering of an insulated airtight
container that doesn't weigh much.

There's no new graound here, it's more like a pile of labor than a
real design challenge. If the instrument capsule is sealed at sea
level and flown to 100,000 feet every six inch by six inch x by 3/4
inch thick patch of the foam board will have to survive a 470+/- pound
outward load. Which I doubt will work. So the capsule should be sealed
then evacuated to say 30,000 feet to get those stresses down. I can
take it anywhere from here but I ain't.

Or maybe it doesn't have to be sealed airtight at all. Perhaps all that really
matters is temperature of the components.

Sometimes dumb luck and enthusiasim gets the driveway mechanics there
faster than applied physics does.

"If it happens, it must be possible"

73 de Jim, N2EY

btw, December QST has Field Day results. W3RV/3 with second op N2EY took the
top spot in our entry class, according to the line scores.

N2EY wrote:

In article ,
(Brian Kelly) writes:


Looks like a big challenge may be the engineering of an insulated airtight
container that doesn't weigh much.

There's no new graound here, it's more like a pile of labor than a
real design challenge. If the instrument capsule is sealed at sea
level and flown to 100,000 feet every six inch by six inch x by 3/4
inch thick patch of the foam board will have to survive a 470+/- pound
outward load. Which I doubt will work. So the capsule should be sealed
then evacuated to say 30,000 feet to get those stresses down. I can
take it anywhere from here but I ain't.


Or maybe it doesn't have to be sealed airtight at all. Perhaps all that really
matters is temperature of the components.


Sometimes dumb luck and enthusiasim gets the driveway mechanics there
faster than applied physics does.


"If it happens, it must be possible"

73 de Jim, N2EY

btw, December QST has Field Day results. W3RV/3 with second op N2EY took the
top spot in our entry class, according to the line scores.

Cool! W3YA (W3GA) finished somwhere in th etop third of 2A. Not bad
considering the number of new operators we had. And a pleasant time was
had by all!

- Mike KB3EIA -

In article , Mike Coslo
writes:

Cool! W3YA (W3GA) finished somwhere in th etop third of 2A.

Which is the most competitive entry class!

Not bad
considering the number of new operators we had. And a pleasant time was
had by all!

Yup!

Interesting stats in the write up:

- Total QSOs reported: 1,326,122
- Increase of almost 200,000 compared to 2003.
- Almost 50,000 more CW QSOs
- About 22% more 'phone QSOs
- 20,940 digital QSOs = about 67% more than 2003 and a new record.

7-1/2 months to the next one!

73 de Jim, N2EY

N2EY wrote:

In article , Mike Coslo
writes:

Cool! W3YA (W3GA) finished somwhere in th etop third of 2A.

Which is the most competitive entry class!

Not bad
considering the number of new operators we had. And a pleasant time was
had by all!

Yup!

Interesting stats in the write up:

- Total QSOs reported: 1,326,122
- Increase of almost 200,000 compared to 2003.
- Almost 50,000 more CW QSOs
- About 22% more 'phone QSOs
- 20,940 digital QSOs = about 67% more than 2003 and a new record.

7-1/2 months to the next one!

73 de Jim, N2EY


The W8CAL Marshall County, WV ARES bunch nailed 16th or 17th place, way
up from near the bottom of the 5A pack. It would have helped if the
four SSB stations could have averaged more than about 100 QSOs each. I
dunno if N8NN and I are going to do it again next year. We may go back
to having it out here as a 1B entry.

Dave K8MN