A wireless link that works on paper must still work through real hardware and over a real propagation path. Moving from coaxial cables on the bench to outdoor testing introduces ground reflections, site constraints, and the challenge of achieving useful separation between transmitter and receiver.
This talk follows a practical route through those challenges using weather-balloon telemetry and experimental high-altitude balloon payloads. Balloon flights can provide long, predominantly line-of-sight paths for evaluating radio systems and testing link-budget assumptions.
Dan White,
Valporaiso University
The discussion culminates in a proposed Valparaiso–Notre Dame balloon relay, illustrating how an accessible flight platform can support wireless experimentation, student participation, and collaboration.
Dan White earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2006, 2007, and 2013. He is an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering with Valparaiso University in Indiana where he teaches electronics, electromagnetics, and other electrical and computer engineering topics. As a Core Contributor with the Libre Space Foundation, his interests are in making space accessible to more people through the open development of technology. Dan holds an Amateur Extra license, AD0CQ, interestingly first issued on 2012-12-12. Before joining the faculty at Valpo, he repaired and customized professional audio equipment and mixed live and studio events as White Audio.