The Pico Balloon ZS6SRC-21 circumnavigated the globe and is now a lot further south over the Southern Indian Ocean . At the time of recording this program it has been in the air for 26 days, 12 hours and 10 minutes and covered a distance of 42 412 km. It is at an altitude of 11 980 m and floating at a speed of 152 km/h. A little slower than the last crossing of the Southern Indian Ocean.
You can follow the ZS6SRC-21 Balloon on the link https://traquito.github.io/search/spots/dashboard/?band=20m&channel=81&callsign=ZS6SRC&dtGte=2024-03-22&dtLte=2026-04-04
The second Pico Balloon ZS6SRC-22 is currently sitting over the South Pacific Ocean at an altitude of 11 320 m and had already travelled 17 929 km. The speed at which it is currently floating is 152 km/h. This balloon is travelling much further South than ZS6SRC-21 in this part of the journey across the South Pacific Ocean. You can follow the ZS6SRC-22 Balloon on the linkhttps://traquito.github.io/search/spots/dashboard/?band=20m&channel=149&callsign=ZS6SRC&dtGte=2025-05-16&dtLte=2025-11-20
Last week Sunday morning Derek ZS5Y presented his MSK and Q65 Demo / Workshop. It was really very interesting and Derek and Dick ZS6BUN who helped with the Meteor Scatter demonstration made it look so easy. Derek explained exactly how to set up the software and provided some insights into Meteor Scatter communications. Derek has also created a specific WhatsApp Group for Meteor Scatter and asked folk who want to join to send him a private message and he will add you to the group. Thank you Derek for the workshop. It was indeed very interesting and well received.
Today we present the third and final part of the SARL Centenary Technical Symposium presentation Exploring the Propagation Opportunities of the Troposphere. In audio version
How about telling us about that exciting long distance contact that you have made on the VHF and above bands or about that project that you are working on in the VHF and above bands? Send me a consolidated report of your activity or project with any additional photos, audio or video clips to vhfnews@sarl.org.za.
Remember by sharing your activities with us at VHF News allows us to tell the rest of the amateur community about your achievements and the more we promote the activity on the VHF and above bands the better chance we have of encouraging more amateurs to explore the world above 30 MHz. Focus on VHF and above is compiled, edited and presented for Amateur Radio Today by Brian Jacobs ZS6YZ.