This information is mostly taken from information posted by SamChurchill on the MailingList. I thought it was interesting and so I posted it here where it will hopefully be added to in the future. The idea is that instead of building a tower (which is fairly expensive) you could suspend an antenna, and possibly an access point, inside/beneath a weather balloon filled with helium.

http://www.spacedata.net/Our_Company/manned_launch.jpg

Equipment and Price List

1. AccessPoint ($200-$500)

2. Antenna (depends on intended usage)
3. Balloon $300-$500
4. Helium tank and misc ($100-$200)
5. Tethers ($??)
6. Ground Anchors ($??)
7. Cables

   1. LMR-400 ($0.60/foot) or

   2. CatV ($?/foot)

8. PowerOverEthernet Adapters (Homemade for $25)

Total: $700-1500

Relevant Links

• Ham Ballooning FAQ

  • http://www.eoss.org/pubs/faqloon.htm

• The FCC and Ballooning

  • http://av-info.faa.gov/dst/101-109.htm

  • http://www.eoss.org/pubs/faaball.htm

  • http://www.risingup.com/fars/info/101-index.shtml

• A ham repeater at 45,000 feet

  • http://www.eoss.org/hardware/crossband.htm

• Weather ballons and blimps for sale

  • http://www.edsci.com/Products/DisplayProduct.cfm?productid=1531

  • http://www.sportsmansguide.com/showad.html?promo_code=WX1&item_id=29408&ticket=6267423&urlseq=1045092088

  • http://www.apexfocus.com/balloon/helium.htm

  • http://www.kaymont.com/pages/home.html

  • http://www.kaysam.com/

• Relevant Software

  • http://www.airspaceusa.com/prod01.htm

-- AdamShand

I've been thinking about this for a while too. I'm sure it wouldn't be legally pheasable in nyc (manhattan) where I live, but laws may be less restrictive in other localities. Laws aside, however, one might encounter opposition on grounds of safety and asthetics.

I still think this is something to try, tho. For this application, it will be necessary to achieve great stability in the balloons. They must not vary too much in position nor sway from side to side. This problem might be resolved through the use of 3 or more tethers, rather than just a single line. The additional tethers would provide stability necessary for line of sight communications.

-- AaronGrogan

And this: [http://www.spacedata.com SpaceData]! They plan to use weather balloons utilizing the 900Mhz band nationwide to connect cellular towers:

[http://www.spacedata.com SpaceData] is developing an innovative system to provide wireless communications coverage in unserved suburban and rural areas. The system consists of a network of wireless repeaters operating at approximately 20 miles above the earth's surface. Our system will enable users of wireless devices to communicate from areas that are not economical to cover with antenna towers. Towers can only cost effectively serve 80% of the U.S Population. However, Space Data's network of wireless repeaters operating at 100,000 feet will provide ubiquitous, nationwide coverage and work cooperatively with terrestrial networks.

Providing interoperability with existing user equipment, the system combines low-cost, commercial electronics with the wide field of view previously available only from satellites.

Our vision is to attach communication electronics to small, expendable weather balloons that will float to 20 miles above the earth's surface, provide communications services for approximately 12 to 24 hours, and then be replenished with a new "constellation" of ballooncraft. Our ballooncraft will operate in a layer of the earth's atmosphere known as the stratosphere.

These small expendable balloons are ideal launch vehicles for several reasons: balloons are inexpensive, require only one person to launch, can be prepared for launch in minutes, and can be launched with no special facilities.

If the balloon and its contents weigh less than six pounds (which our ballooncraft systems do), the Federal Aviation Administration (the "FAA") allows such balloons to be launched without restriction in domestic airspace, including without lights or transponders, restrictions on weather, or notice to airmen.

Nearly a thousand launch sites around the world have launched weather balloons twice per day for over 50 years, proving that the required balloon launches can be performed reliably on a coordinated basis under real world conditions.

[http://www.tillamookair.com/ The Blimp hanger] in Tillamook, Oregon, may house a major development in using blimps for repeaters.

- Sam

[CategoryHardware]