=  NOW 25 WPM  =  TEXT IS FROM OCTOBER 2021  QST  PAGE 60 =

INFORMATION WITHOUT RADIOS AS QUICKLY AND ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE,
ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ADULTS STARTED CREATING COPIOUS INTERFERENCE.  ON
TUESDAY, WE WENT OVER HIGH ALTITUDE BALLOONS HABS AND DIGITAL SMART
TECHNOLOGY FOR AMATEUR RADIO D STAR.  IN AN ENGAGING WORKSHOP, WILL
JOURDAIN, AA4WJ, TAUGHT US ALL ABOUT D STAR, AS WE FOLLOWED IN REAL TIME
USING ICOM IC 705 TRANSCEIVERS.  JACK MCELROY, KM4ZIA, AND HIS FATHER, TOM
CELROY, W4SDR, THEN LED THE BALLOON WORKSHOP.  WE LEARNED ABOUT HABS AND
THE AUTOMATIC PACKET REPORTING SYSTEM APRS, BEFORE HELPING THEM PACKAGE THE
PAYLOAD FOR A HAB LAUNCH.  IT WAS FASCINATING TO SEE THE PAYLOAD COME
TOGETHER, FILL THE GIANT BALLOON WITH HELIUM, AND THEN CARRY IT INTO AN
OPEN FIELD FOR RELEASE.  THE TOTAL FLIGHT TOOK ABOUT 5 HOURS, AND THE
BALLOON ROSE OVER 100,000 FEET IN ALTITUDE BEFORE POPPING AND RETURNING THE
AYLOAD TO EARTH.  YOTA CAMPER DYLAN ROMERO, KN6IVW, HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO BE
=  END OF 25 WPM TEXT  =  QST DE W1AW  <