Arduino LoRa Weather Balloon Sounding Kit
Build a Portable LoRa Sounding Balloon Interface with Arduino Nano
Every part needed, pre-tested for compatibility, with an AI build companion trained on this exact project. Shipped from Bengaluru in 3-5 days.
Construct a lightweight, battery-powered payload that transforms a standard latex weather balloon into a research-grade atmospheric profiler. Every second, this interface reads humidity, pressure, GPS coordinates, and 3-axis acceleration, then transmits the dataset over LoRa - a complete solution for tracking flight paths, studying atmospheric layers, or participating in high-altitude challenges at engineering colleges across India.
What You'll Build
You will assemble a foam-enclosed payload ready to fly up to 30 km, logging environmental telemetry and GPS position at 1 Hz. The Arduino Nano orchestrates I2C sensor reads, parses NMEA strings from the NEO-6M, and packs the data into a compact binary frame for the RA-02 LoRa module. A ground station with a matching receiver can plot real-time altitude, temperature, and humidity profiles, while the onboard 1000 mAh LiPo and TP4056 charger make the system reusable for multiple flights.
What You'll Learn
- Interface multiple I2C sensors (SHT31, BMP280, MPU6050) with Arduino Nano and manage shared bus collisions
- Configure the RA-02 LoRa module for long-range, low-bandwidth transmission using ATmega328P libraries
- Extract latitude, longitude, altitude, and UTC time from NEO-6M NMEA sentences and synchronise sensor logs
- Design a data packet structure that crams humidity, pressure, GPS fix, and accelerometer readings into a single 32-byte LoRa payload
Kit Contents
| Component | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Arduino Nano | 1 |
| SHT31 Humidity | 1 |
| BMP280 | 1 |
| NEO-6M GPS | 1 |
| MPU6050 | 1 |
| RA-02 LoRa | 1 |
| TP4056 Module | 1 |
| 3.7V LiPo 1000mAh | 1 |
| 433MHz Antenna | 1 |
| 100nF Caps | 10 |
| PCB Prototype Board | 2 |
| Foam Enclosure | 1 |
| Soldering Iron | 1 |
| Solder Wire | 1 |
Why Buy This Kit Instead of Sourcing Parts Separately
| Factor | Sourcing Separately | Compoden Kit |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility checks | You verify every part | Pre-tested as a system |
| Build support | Forums and scattered tutorials | AI companion trained on this exact project |
| Time to first working build | Weeks of sourcing and debugging | 12-15 hours with step-by-step guidance |
| Shipping coordination | Multiple sellers, multiple delays | One shipment from Bengaluru in 3-5 days |
Who This Kit Is For
This kit targets B.Tech ECE/EEE final-year students, research scholars at IIT/NIT/VIT/BITS working on atmospheric studies, and Smart India Hackathon teams that need a rapid-deployment weather payload. Amateur radio operators and meteorology enthusiasts above 25 years will find it a ready-to-customise platform for sounding balloon experiments. The included soldering tools make it accessible even to relative beginners in hardware assembly.
Built and Backed by Compoden
Every Compoden kit ships with an AI build companion trained on this exact project - accessible via a QR code on the box, with WhatsApp and email backup. We've spent 10 years building projects for makers, schools, and institutions across India. If a part fails because of a manufacturing defect, replace it free within 7 days.
What if I get stuck during the build?
Scan the included QR code to launch the AI companion that walks you through every connection and code module. You can also message us on WhatsApp for real-time help from our engineers.
What is the range of the LoRa link at balloon altitudes?
With the supplied 433 MHz antenna, the RA-02 can reach 15 km line-of-sight on the ground. Once the payload ascends, a simple Yagi antenna at the ground station can maintain a solid link beyond 40 km, making live telemetry entirely feasible.
Can I add an SD card for onboard data logging?
Yes. The prototyping board has enough I/O to connect an SPI microSD card reader (not included). The AI companion provides sample code that logs all sensor data as a CSV file in case LoRa coverage drops during flight.
Is the kit approved for CISF/airspace regulations?
The kit itself is a collection of electronic components. You are responsible for obtaining necessary permissions from local aviation authorities and notifying the Airports Authority of India before any high-altitude launch. The AI companion notes the required steps.
Reads SHT31 humidity, BMP280 pressure, NEO-6M GPS and accelerometer every second. Transmits over LoRa.
What's in this kit
- Arduino Nano
- SHT31 Humidity
- BMP280
- NEO-6M GPS
- MPU6050
- RA-02 LoRa
- TP4056 Module
- 3.7V LiPo 1000mAh
- 433MHz Antenna
- 100nF Caps x10
- PCB Prototype Board x2
- Foam Enclosure
- Soldering Iron
- Solder Wire
Choose your assembly option:
- Soldering Kit - 25W soldering iron, 60/40 solder wire, flux, and small perfboard for permanent assembly.
- Breadboard Combo - 800-point full-size breadboard with 65-piece jumper wire pack for solderless prototyping.
Shipping Information
- Prepaid Orders: ₹75 for orders up to ₹999, FREE shipping above ₹999
- COD Orders: ₹125 shipping + ₹50 COD fee = ₹175 total
- Delivery Timeline: Dispatch in 1-2 days, delivery in 2-7 days depending on location
Returns & Warranty
- 7-Day Return: Manufacturing defects only (approval required)
- Warranty: 7 days from delivery
- Non-Returnable: Batteries, consumables, cut wires, clearance items