GSM/GPRS connection from a balloon

Hello Everybody,

Expert advise required on GSM/GPRS connection;

I want to send/receive data to/from a balloon carrying some sensor.
Initially balloon will be tight to a rope and will rise gradually in
human control.
It will send altitude, temperature, humidity, windspeed, GPS data via
GSM/GPRS module to a control computer and to a mobile phone on the
ground. It will also receive some remote control commands through the
same communication channel.

      - How high the balloon can rise before GSM/GPRS signal vanishes?
      - Is there a legal altitude limit for GSM/GPRS operation?
      - Which GSM/GPRS modules you would recommend for the balloon and
for the computer (please consider the price and locality as
Australia)?
      - Do you know any similar project or any open project which can
help me to learn more on GSM/GPRS data communication?


Thank you

Albert

On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 04:52:57 -0000, Albert Goodwill
<albertgoodwill@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Hello Everybody,
>
>Expert advise required on GSM/GPRS connection;
>
>I want to send/receive data to/from a balloon carrying some sensor.
>Initially balloon will be tight to a rope and will rise gradually in
>human control.
>It will send altitude, temperature, humidity, windspeed, GPS data via
>GSM/GPRS module to a control computer and to a mobile phone on the
>ground. It will also receive some remote control commands through the
>same communication channel.
>
>      - How high the balloon can rise before GSM/GPRS signal vanishes?

The time slot adjustment limits the distance to base station to 35 km,
although the phone will show strong base station signals from base
stations further away, but you can not get a connection.

The base station antenna radiation pattern is centered below the
horizon and you usually have a deep null directly upwards. Thus, you
might not get a connection directly above the base station, even if
the balloon is flying below 35 km. However, in practice, any buildings
or objects could reflect the signal from directly above into the
antenna main lobe.

>      - Is there a legal altitude limit for GSM/GPRS operation?

You have to check the national regulations, some countries ban the
airborne operation of most radio transmitters. 

Paul
 

On 13 Aug, 05:52, Albert Goodwill <albertgoodw...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hello Everybody,
>
> Expert advise required on GSM/GPRS connection;
>
> I want to send/receive data to/from a balloon carrying some sensor.
> Initially balloon will be tight to a rope and will rise gradually in
> human control.
> It will send altitude, temperature, humidity, windspeed, GPS data via
> GSM/GPRS module to a control computer and to a mobile phone on the
> ground. It will also receive some remote control commands through the
> same communication channel.
>
>       - How high the balloon can rise before GSM/GPRS signal vanishes?
>       - Is there a legal altitude limit for GSM/GPRS operation?
>       - Which GSM/GPRS modules you would recommend for the balloon and
> for the computer (please consider the price and locality as
> Australia)?
>       - Do you know any similar project or any open project which can
> help me to learn more on GSM/GPRS data communication?
>
> Thank you
>
> Albert


What you are proposing is probably illegal, I think it is in the UK.
If it isn't, the best unit to use is the Telit GM862 or the GE863-GPS.
The latter is the smallest GPRS/GPS unit available, but is in a BGA
package which makes it a bit diificult to use. I've designed a simple
PCB for it which uses a PIC16F88 as the controller.

Leon

Albert Goodwill wrote:
> Hello Everybody,
> 
> Expert advise required on GSM/GPRS connection;
> 
> I want to send/receive data to/from a balloon carrying some sensor.
> Initially balloon will be tight to a rope and will rise gradually in
> human control.
> It will send altitude, temperature, humidity, windspeed, GPS data via
> GSM/GPRS module to a control computer and to a mobile phone on the
> ground. It will also receive some remote control commands through the
> same communication channel.
> 
>       - How high the balloon can rise before GSM/GPRS signal vanishes?
>       - Is there a legal altitude limit for GSM/GPRS operation?
>       - Which GSM/GPRS modules you would recommend for the balloon and
> for the computer (please consider the price and locality as
> Australia)?
>       - Do you know any similar project or any open project which can
> help me to learn more on GSM/GPRS data communication?
> 
> 
> Thank you
> 
> Albert
> 

Check out:
http://www.pegasushabproject.org.uk/


Glyn

"Albert Goodwill" <albertgoodwill@yahoo.com> wrote in message 
news:1186980777.075083.239530@x40g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> Hello Everybody,
>
> Expert advise required on GSM/GPRS connection;
>
> I want to send/receive data to/from a balloon carrying some sensor.
> Initially balloon will be tight to a rope and will rise gradually in
> human control.
> It will send altitude, temperature, humidity, windspeed, GPS data via
> GSM/GPRS module to a control computer and to a mobile phone on the
> ground. It will also receive some remote control commands through the
> same communication channel.
>
>      - How high the balloon can rise before GSM/GPRS signal vanishes?
>      - Is there a legal altitude limit for GSM/GPRS operation?
>      - Which GSM/GPRS modules you would recommend for the balloon and
> for the computer (please consider the price and locality as
> Australia)?
>      - Do you know any similar project or any open project which can
> help me to learn more on GSM/GPRS data communication?
>
>
> Thank you
>
> Albert
>
See:
http://vpizza.org/~jmeehan/balloon/

Deep.

In article <SMUvi.139154$tb2.13022@fe02.news.easynews.com>, Glyn Davies <sgd.work@googlemail.com> writes:
> 
> Check out:
> http://www.pegasushabproject.org.uk/
> 

Interesting project.

Your website mentions that you also use the 433MHz band for communications.

Did you buy preassembled equipment for that, or did you just buy some of the
433MHz RF modules and build your own comms board ?

Thanks for any information,

Simon.

-- 
Simon Clubley, clubley@remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP
Microsoft: Bringing you 1980's technology to a 21st century world

Simon Clubley wrote:
> In article <SMUvi.139154$tb2.13022@fe02.news.easynews.com>, Glyn Davies <sgd.work@googlemail.com> writes:
>> Check out:
>> http://www.pegasushabproject.org.uk/
>>
> 
> Interesting project.
> 
> Your website mentions that you also use the 433MHz band for communications.
> 
> Did you buy preassembled equipment for that, or did you just buy some of the
> 433MHz RF modules and build your own comms board ?
> 
> Thanks for any information,
> 
> Simon.
> 

Not my website - I was just passing on the link.

I imagine you can contact them for more info.

Cheers,

Glyn