Weather Balloon Hunter

Track and recover weather balloons with professional-grade tools used by the global amateur radio community. BalloonHunter connects to MySondyGo devices via Bluetooth and integrates with the SondeHub APRS network for comprehensive real-time balloon tracking.

KEY FEATURES

Dual Connectivity

- MySondyGo BLE - Direct connection to RadioSondyGo devices for real-time telemetry
- SondeHub APRS - Automatic fallback to global amateur radio network
- Smart polling adjusts API cadence based on data freshness (15s to 5min to 1hr)

Professional Prediction

- Tawhiri API - Leverages CUSF's professional trajectory prediction engine
- Real-time updates every 60 seconds during flight
- Accurate burst and landing point calculations with uncertainty mapping
- Adaptive parameters use live descent rates when available

Hunter-Focused Interface

- Map-centric design optimized for field tracking operations (70% map view)
- Live overlays show balloon track, prediction path, landing zones, and your position
- Smart route recalculation only when needed:
- Off-route detection (50m+ deviation)
- Landing point movement (100m+ shift)
- Transport mode changes (car/bike)
- Apple Maps navigation with one-tap routing
- Landing change alerts during CarPlay navigation (300m+ shifts)
- Heading mode with compass-locked view for directional navigation

Advanced Tracking

- 7-state telemetry state machine for robust operation
- Automatic BLE/APRS switching with 30-second debounce
- Background Bluetooth support for continuous connection
- Local data persistence with CSV export capability
- Offline track viewing from cached data

TECHNICAL DETAILS

- Requires iOS 17.6 or later
- Bluetooth and location permissions required
- Internet connection needed for APRS and predictions
- Works with or without MySondyGo hardware
- Free and open source - no ads, no tracking, no accounts

PERFECT FOR

- Weather balloon enthusiasts and chasers
- Amateur radio operators (hams)
- High-altitude balloon (HAB) recovery teams
- Educational institutions launching research balloons
- Anyone interested in atmospheric science

PRIVACY & DATA

- All location data stays on your device
- No personal information collected
- No user accounts or registration required
- Open source code available on GitHub
- Full privacy policy included

Built for the weather balloon tracking community by HB9BLA.