Packet Radio help

[StarKannon]

I need to send data wirelessly from a high altitude research probe. I am completely new to HAM radio, though I do have electronics and computer/IT experience, but some of this stuff is a bit confusing. So, can I get an idiots guide to it? I thank you guys for your help, I do look forward to getting my technicians license, but is there anything else I would need on top of that? Packet/Data transmission is rather a dead art so finding books on it has been difficult! Thanks

 

[Ham4CW]

Hiya StarKannon.

You can find books about packet radio that might be of use. Packet radio is not really a dead art, many folks still use it, but it might be worth looking at some of the newer data modes, especially the weak signal ones, that way you can still get good copy from your probe even at the extremes of range using very low power levels. After all, the greater the power requirement for the probe so to will be the greater the battery payload.

It may well be better to use UHF or even milimetric frequencies so as to cut down on the antenna payload/size, and allow for the use of very high gain antenna arrays for reception while still affording an easily managable size.


73, Mark.