RSGB LoRa balloon challenge

The RSGB LoRa Balloon Challenge will happen on Saturday 20 September at approximately 11am BST. It is your chance not only to build or re-code a LoRa tracker board, but to see how far you can make your signal soar!

What’s happening?

As part of the RSGB’s National Coding Week activities this year, the RSGB Outreach Team has been working closely with Hi-Impact to launch a hot air balloon equipped with a LoRa digipeater. We’re delighted that the RSGB Legacy Funds and Moonraker have sponsored the event and that Moonraker has provided some great prizes.

Your mission will be to build your own LoRa tracker for National Coding Week, with the instructions the RSGB has supplied.

If your tracker build is successful, it will beam up packets to the airborne relay, which will transmit them to a local Igate.

What’s the goal?

The aim of the activity is to have fun, learn something new and to be part of a challenge that is bringing radio amateurs of all ages together in this special event.

On top of that, if you get your signal the furthest from the balloon launch location, you could win a prize!

How do I get involved?

The RSGB has provided a detailed guide (v 1.8) to help you to build and code your LoRa tracker board. If you took part in last year’s National Coding Week activity and already have a LoRa tracker, you just need to follow the instructions to write the new code into it, and it will automatically update it.

Tell me about the competition…

Whilst we hope as many radio amateurs as possible will take part in this fun event, we have arranged some special prizes for RSGB members and RSGB affiliated clubs.

There are two competition categories and a prize for each:

Category                                                          Prize

Single RSGB member operator                   £200 Moonraker voucher

RSGB Affiliated Club                                      £200 Moonraker voucher

If you’re not an RSGB member yet but you’ve had your eye on some amateur radio goodies, why not join the RSGB now and then enter the competition to win the £200 voucher! Choose whether to enjoy the new Digital membership subscription or to take advantage of the discounts for Direct Debit payments if you prefer to receive RadCom in the post. Not only will you be in with a chance to win the Moonraker prize, but you’ll also be able to take advantage of the wide range of other RSGB member benefits.

Boost your chances!

There are things you could do to boost your chances of getting the furthest signal and winning a prize:

• Build a high-gain antenna (e.g. a Yagi or beam)

• Find an elevation – climb a hill or mountain for line-of-sight advantage (and you could do some Summits on the Air (SOTA) when you’re at the peak!)

Why not make this a club event? Have fun together building LoRa tracker boards at club meetings, share your skills to build a high-gain antenna or choose to head out for the day together on 20 September to find a high elevation point.

When will you announce the winners?

At the RSGB Convention, Board Director Ben Lloyd, GW4BML and Dr Dave Pegler, M0JKS will announce the winners.

We’re grateful to Dave for writing the detailed guide for this activity.

How can I use my LoRa tracker after this event?

Licensed radio amateurs can re-code the tracker to beacon on the normal LoRa frequency. You could then use it for other amateur radio-related schemes such as SOTA to track the whereabouts on route to a summit.

Your waves. Your skills. Your moment.

Build, experiment and compete in one of the most exciting LoRa events of the year. Will your signal hit the balloon and go the distance?

Get involved: download the instructions now to get started!