Return-Path: Received: (qmail 21300 invoked from network); 20 Jan 2000 08:31:59 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO post.thorcom.com) (212.172.148.70) by bells.core.plus.net.uk with SMTP; 20 Jan 2000 08:31:59 -0000 Received: from majordom by post.thorcom.com with local (Exim 3.02 #1) id 12BCt0-0001NV-00 for rsgb_lf_group-outgoing@blacksheep.org; Thu, 20 Jan 2000 08:24:10 +0000 Received: from anchor-post-31.mail.demon.net ([194.217.242.89]) by post.thorcom.com with esmtp (Exim 3.02 #1) id 12BCsz-0001NQ-00 for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Thu, 20 Jan 2000 08:24:09 +0000 Received: from alg.demon.co.uk ([194.222.171.80]) by anchor-post-31.mail.demon.net with esmtp (Exim 2.12 #1) id 12BCsu-000Pi2-0V for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Thu, 20 Jan 2000 08:24:05 +0000 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal Message-ID: <3886C5ED.454BE16C@alg.demon.co.uk> Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 08:23:09 +0000 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1106 From: "Steve Rawlings" X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.04 [en] (Win95; I) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org Subject: Re: LF: Balloon lofted antennas References: <388619A2.E0AEEC8C@virgin.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Precedence: bulk Reply-To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org X-Listname: rsgb_lf_group Sender: Stewart G3YSX wrote: > 1) Where can you get a met balloon in the UK. Are there any viable > alternatives. I would also like to know a source of small meteorological ('met.') balloons of, say, 700 mm diameter, that have good gas retention properties. At the moment I use 400 mm party balloons (sold as 'Punch Ball' balloons), but only under conditions of low wind speed. > 2) Where can you get the gas to inflate the balloon Your local stockist of bottled gas can supply helium, and it is normally sold as 'balloon gas'. ('BOC' is the name of one such organisation.) The gas is also sold by suppliers of party balloons. I obtain the gas in 'V' size cylinders through a deal with a local party balloon supplier. The deal is based on a monthly rental of the gas cylinder, plus the cost of the gas used. More information about my use of balloons can be found at: http://www.alg.demon.co.uk/radio/136/balloon.htm and: http://www.alg.demon.co.uk/radio/136/experi_vert2.htm Regards to all, Steve GW4ALG