Sponsored by ECARS — East Coast Amateur Radio Service
QRP Sponsoring Organization, Inc. • KU0BA - Cape Coral Amateur Radio Club
The KU0BA Interstate Amateur Radio STEM Telemetry Program is a hands-on educational initiative that connects students in Florida and Nebraska through real-world amateur radio communication and experimentation.
Participants will design, build, and operate low-cost telemetry transmitters using microcontrollers, sensors, and RF modules operating within amateur radio guidelines.
These systems will collect environmental and acoustic data and transmit it to local receiving stations, where the data will be analyzed and compared between both locations.
The program includes structured workshops covering basic electronics, antenna fundamentals, RF communication, and data interpretation. Students will actively participate in building and testing telemetry nodes and conducting balloon-based demonstrations to explore signal propagation and data transmission.
The project promotes amateur radio by engaging students in practical RF applications, encouraging technical learning, and fostering interest in obtaining amateur radio licenses. It also establishes collaboration between geographically distant participants, demonstrating the real-world capabilities of amateur radio communication.
Through the design, construction, programming, and operation of telemetry systems, participants will gain practical experience connecting theoretical concepts with real-world applications.
The program will also encourage students to explore amateur radio as a technical and educational activity and may inspire participants to pursue amateur radio licensing.
An important component of the program is the collaboration between participants in Florida and Nebraska. This interstate connection demonstrates how amateur radio can be used to communicate and share technical information across geographic distances.
The involvement of the KU0BA Amateur Radio Club provides opportunities for experienced amateur radio operators to mentor students and provide technical guidance throughout the project.
The program is intended to provide a model that can potentially be adapted and replicated by other amateur radio clubs and educational organizations.
The project will be developed at two participating locations: Cape Coral, Florida, and Grand Rapids, Nebraska.
Each location will establish a local receiving station and construct telemetry nodes using microcontrollers, RF modules, and environmental sensors.
Students will participate in assembling and programming telemetry devices capable of collecting and transmitting environmental and acoustic data.
The telemetry nodes will be tested locally before being used in field demonstrations. Tethered balloon demonstrations will allow students to explore signal propagation and observe real-world RF behavior while collecting and transmitting data.
Each receiving station will receive and log the transmitted information. Participants will then analyze the collected data and compare results between the two locations.
The project may also include coordinated interstate communication using amateur radio HF digital modes, providing an additional opportunity for students to explore long-distance amateur radio communication.
Students → Telemetry Node → RF Transmission → Receiving Station → Data Logging → Data Analysis
The telemetry system will use low-cost microcontrollers, RF modules, environmental sensors, and supporting equipment to collect and transmit data.
The telemetry nodes will be used to collect environmental and acoustic information and transmit the data to receiving stations for logging and analysis.
The project proposal includes:
• ESP32 microcontrollers — 4 units
• LoRa RF modules — 4 units
• BME280 environmental sensors
• Acoustic sensors / microphone modules
• Batteries
• Enclosures
The telemetry nodes will be used to collect environmental and acoustic information and transmit the data to receiving stations for logging and analysis.
The project includes components for establishing two receiving stations, one at each participating location.
The receiving stations will receive and log telemetry transmissions generated by the project nodes.
The project proposal also includes:
• Digital multimeters — 2 units
• Soldering tools and electronic supplies
• ESP32-CAM modules for project documentation
• Balloon deployment materials, including balloons, helium, and tethering supplies
• Fiber optic demonstration kits
Project Budget
Total Project Budget: $750
The equipment and materials listed above are based on the original project proposal submitted to ECARS.
The program will combine classroom-style instruction with practical electronics, radio, and telemetry activities.
Students will participate in structured educational sessions covering:
• Basic electronics
• Antenna fundamentals
• RF communication
• Telemetry systems
• Data collection
• Data interpretation
The workshops will give participants the opportunity to connect technical concepts with practical applications.
Students will participate directly in assembling, programming, and testing the telemetry nodes.
The systems will first be tested locally to verify their operation before being used in field demonstrations.
The project includes balloon-based demonstrations using tethered balloons.
These activities will allow students to explore:
• Signal propagation
• RF behavior
• Telemetry transmission
• Environmental data collection
The project proposal establishes a target of at least two balloon demonstration activities.
The project may also include coordinated interstate communication using amateur radio HF digital modes.
This activity will demonstrate the ability of amateur radio to support communication between geographically distant participants while giving students practical exposure to long-distance RF communication.
The project will be evaluated using both quantitative and qualitative measures.
• Minimum target of 5 student participants at each location
• Participation from both Florida and Nebraska
• 4 telemetry nodes successfully constructed and operational
• 2 receiving stations established and functioning
• Successful RF telemetry transmissions received and logged
• At least 3 structured educational sessions per site
• At least 2 balloon demonstration activities
• Coordinated interstate communication events between Florida and Nebraska
The project will collect, record, and analyze environmental and acoustic data, including:
• Temperature
• Pressure
• Acoustic levels
The project will also track:
• Participant feedback
• Demonstrated understanding of RF and electronics concepts
• Participants expressing interest in or pursuing amateur radio licensing
Project outcomes will be documented through:
• Activity logs
• Collected data records
• Photographs
• Summary reports
These records will help demonstrate both the technical results of the project and its educational impact.
QRP Sponsoring Organization, Inc.
501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
KU0BA Amateur Radio Club
Project partner providing local amateur radio involvement, mentoring, and technical support.
East Coast Amateur Radio Service (ECARS)
Project sponsor through an ECARS grant.
Juan Carlos Berberena Gonzalez (WJ6C)
Organization President
Project Leader
Ignacio Iriarte
Organization Treasurer
Gustavo Gonzalez Rodriguez (KE0SIZ)
Project Team Member
Project Proposal
The project proposal was prepared by Juan Carlos Berberena Gonzalez (WJ6C) on behalf of QRP Sponsoring Organization, Inc.
Contact: wj6c@arrl.net
Phone: (239) 810-6244
This project provides a practical STEM learning experience that connects electronics, RF technology, sensors, data collection, and amateur radio.
By bringing students together through hands-on experimentation and interstate collaboration, the program encourages technical learning, teamwork, problem-solving, and greater interest in amateur radio.
The project also provides a model that can be documented and shared with other amateur radio clubs and educational groups for future activities.
East Coast Amateur Radio Service (ECARS)
Project Sponsor
ECARS approved a $750 grant for the KU0BA Interstate Amateur Radio STEM Telemetry Program on April 29, 2026.
The grant supports the educational and technical activities described in this project, including telemetry equipment, workshops, demonstrations, and related project materials.
ECARS requested project reports and, preferably, photographs showing how the project works out, with permission to publish portions of the project results on the ECARS website.
Current Status: In Development
The KU0BA Interstate Amateur Radio STEM Telemetry Program is currently in development.
Project activities, equipment preparation, student workshops, telemetry testing, and future demonstrations will be documented as the program progresses.