This story is abit late but look for more information on their website for a Field Day Launch
The first launch of a SABRE balloon will take place on May 8 at 8:00 MDT or 9:00 CDT. WE expect that the balloon will be aloft for approximately 3 to 4 hours. What is unique with this flight is that we will be flying a simplex repeater on 147.570. This is a store - forward simplex repeater. You use it by transmitting a short message on simplex at 147.570. When you unkey you should hear your own communication back. Anyone else within range of the repeater will also hear that transmission from the balloon. They can then respond the same way. Without flying duplexes etc we should be able to facilitate communication over a very long distance. We believe that in theory once the balloon gets above 30,000 feet ( approximately 3o minutes from launch) stations from Manitoba should be able to hit the repeater and in theory communicate with stations from Alberta and the northern USA. It may help to direct you antenna towards Saskatoon or Humboldt Saskatchewan as this is the predicted flight path but it is very likely that a mobile unit with a 5/8ths wave will work especially once the balloon gets above 70,000 feet. In an attempt to encourage use of the repeater the Saskatoon Amateur Radio club is sponsoring an award for communications through the repeater.