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.