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[KD2E]

The Scout group I help with will soon launch a trackable balloon.
For a future launch, we would like to launch something MUCH smaller, perhaps
using an off-the-shelf Party Store balloon.

Are there any pico size (small, light,) GPS/APRS modules or packages available?
Perhaps a few hundred milliwatts, 9 volt battery, or pair of penlights.

The closest I have found is an Arduino project,  where the PC board would need to be manufactured.

I can't believe that even ebay does not have a cheap Chinese version on the market.

Has anyone seen such a product available for purchase?

.....Dave

[N6ORB]

You might take a look at the product from Big Red Bee.

http://www.bigredbee.com/

Dave, N6ORB

[KD0SFY]

EOSS uses APRS tracking for their balloons, though they have bigger payloads.  Still, I'd contact them as they may have some ideas.  http://www.eoss.org/

[VK2FAK]

Hi all...

the guys in Australia launched a balloon over the weekend, it was operating on RTTY, THOR16 and APRS......the power was only about 10mW but could be received a couple hundred Km away...APRS you may need to be closer for good copy..
The Balloon mostly in use here is  the metalized party balloons...fly up around 8000m with about 12g or so of radio package......and the last few flight were also Solar Powered to keep the battery changed for the nights....the guys do make there own boards..
This Balloon went from Victoria in the South over 2 states to Queensland....and as far as we know is still operating...but the TX is switched off as it is over water..if it finds an APRS country it will turn on again...They have done this flight before and days later the Balloon was heard in NZ.....So for this one we sit and wait and see where it goes..

The guys are testing to find the better operating modes...and test things like Freq. stability....etc

John