[aprssig] KC2TUA/KC2UFG Ballon QRM

[Keith VE7GDH]

Ron VE1AIC wrote...

> For the past 2 hours, packet beacons from KC2UFG have been QRM'ing a
> repeater in NS by transmitting every minute on 146.400 MHz. This
> appears to be packet telemetry.
>
> KC2UFG>CQ [03/22/09  10:12:10] <UI R>:
> ÍÍs&ï©A€?oŸÿ|¹€€ÎƒŠð¶Á&@–@€àpr€ †€€€€€P=@€‘hÿD²@€p/Žÿ€†¢…
> €€Œ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€À슓øà¡ïÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
> KC2UFG>CQ [03/22/09  10:12:11] <UI R>:
> BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

Not that it's mandatory, but FWIW, KC2UFG hasn't sent a position report
in the last year or so. It may not even be transmitting actual APRS
data.

> So why does a balloon transmit on a known and popular 2m voice
> channel?

Hopefully it was a mistake, but time will tell.

> At 30,0000 [SIC] ft its range is extreme...easily QRM'ing a 2m
> repeater 185 miles away.The APRS packet using KC2TUA-8 is at the same
> time on 144.390

> KC2TUA-8>APBL10,VE1TPL,WIDE1*,WIDE2-1 [03/22/09  10:32:33] <UI C>:
> !4306.69N/06300.26WO064/037/A=032592NS3 Air Vehicle
>
> Position of KC2TUA-8 --- 106.1 miles southeast of HALIFAX, NS ---
> Report received 5 seconds ago Course: 58.0 Speed: 46.0 MPH Altitude:
> 32474 feet Raw packet:
> KC2TUA-8>APBL10,VE1PKT,WIDE1,VE1TPL,WIDE2*,qAR,VE1AIC-1:!
> 4317.84N/06231.84WO058/040/A=032474NS3 Air Vehicle

Now that one is APRS. What a stupid path! At least out over the
Atlantic, it's limiting the effects to potentially half as many APRS
users than if it had been over land.

http://aprs.fi/?c=raw&call=KC2TUA-8&limit=1000

Wow!

Hmmm... I wonder why it has TCPIP in the path for some packets? Is
someone gating it back out to RF as well?

2009-03-22 15:59:26 UTC:
KC2TUA-8>APBL10,TCPIP*,qAS,VE1MPF-7
:Æêèd@<0x03><0x03>­!4407.31N/06059.67WO049/049/A=032038NS3 Air Vehicle

> This multi-hop path means every digipeater within 300 miles or more
> will be banging the network every minute.
>
> Come on guys, really...a packet every minute at 30,000 ft with
> multi-hop path!!!!

I couldn't agree more. They are doing some fun stuff, but with a really
stupid path and beacon rate. I'm sure it's done through ignorance
instead of malice though. Ummm... are Bob's chasers in a really fast
boat? hi! I wonder if it will come down at sea or in NL? Some sealer
might accidentally mistake it for a seal pup!

Anyway, with that out of the way, I'll put my feet up and have some fun
and watch its path... err, route! Hmmm... any chance this is a really
long duration flight? If it ends up in British airspace, someone from
OFCOM might call out the RAF to shoot it down!

73 es cul - Keith VE7GDH
--
"I may be lost, but I know exactly where I am!"