Thanks for the signal report Rin.  
You got us from 3 miles, on FM.  
We were at about 800 feet HAAT,
just to be able to shoot over top of Sawnee Mountain.
Our TX power is 8 milliwatts.

https://picasaweb.google.com/W4SDR.mail/2014BalloonSatBeacons2?authkey=Gv1sRgCIzqoaur_4CM2QE#slideshow/6064160955036761858

We will launch again at 6:30 PM today, and be in the air for about 6-8 minutes near 433.900MHz.
KM4BUN will be on the .15 repeater to take signal reports.

73
Tom 
W4SDR

On Sun, Sep 28, 2014 at 2:59 PM, Tom McElroy <tommcelroy.mail@gmail.com> wrote:
The launch is delayed until a spare copter battery is charged.  I say 3:15.  Thanks for your patience, and enjoy the Steeler game in the meantime.

73
Tom
W4SDR

On Sun, Sep 28, 2014 at 1:16 PM, Tom McElroy <tommcelroy.mail@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello folks,
At 3PM today, I'm sending up a weak beacon at 433.900MHz +/- a few KHz.
See the vid here:

My hexacopter only runs for 5-10 minutes at a time, so please be patient, and let me deal with the problems I'll certainly encounter.
Hopefully it won't rain on me, you or the copter.

This beacon is intentionally weak.  But you might pick it up once I get it high in the air.
If you can receive CW or USB, you'll hear the true annoying tone of the beacon.

If you have a chinaman HT that is FM only, you can hear it on FM as a carrier interruption.
But the cliff-effect of FM will limit your range.  Open the squelch, it might help.

I hope to have an HT tuned to the .15 machine so we can chat.
But be aware that I will have my hands full and won't be able to talk at times.

So aim your antennae towards Sawnee Mountain, and let me know if you hear anything.

73
Tom
W4SDR