@proceedings {820, title = {Citizen Science: Development of a Low-Cost Magnetometer System for a Coordinated Space Weather Monitoring}, year = {2024}, month = {03/2024}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Cleveland, OH}, abstract = {

As part of Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) Personal Space Weather Station (PSWS) project, a low-cost, commercial off-the-shelf magnetometer has been developed to provide quantitative and qualitative measurements of the geospace environment from the ground for both scientific and operational purposes at a cost that will allow for crowd-sourced data contributions. The PSWS magnetometers employ a magneto-inductive sensor technology to record three-axis magnetic field variations with a field resolution of ~3 nT at a 1 Hz sample rate. Crowd-sourced data from the PSWS systems will be collected into a central archive for the purpose of public access and analyzation along with space weather research. Ultimately, data from the PSWS network will combine the magnetometer measurements with high frequency (HF, 3-30 MHz) radio observations to monitor large scale current systems and ionospheric disturbances and events due to drivers from space and the atmosphere alike. A densely-spaced magnetometer array, once established, will demonstrate their space weather monitoring capability to an unprecedented spatial extent. Magnetic field data obtained by the magnetometers installed at various locations in the US are presented and compared with the existing magnetometers nearby, demonstrating that the performance is entirely satisfactory for scientific investigations.

}, author = {Joseph Visone and Hyomin Kim and David Witten and Julius Madey and Nathaniel A. Frissell and John Gibbons and William D. Engelke and Anderson Liddle and Nicholas Muscolino and Zhaoshu Cao} } @proceedings {835, title = {Comparative Analysis of Medium Scale Travelling Ionospheric Disturbances: Grape PSWS vs. SuperDARN }, year = {2024}, month = {03/2024}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Cleveland, OH}, abstract = {

Medium Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (MSTIDs) are periodic fluctuations in ionospheric electron density associated with atmospheric gravity waves. They are characterized by wavelengths of 50-500 kilometers and periods of 15-60 minutes. This study presents initial findings from a comparative analysis of MSTID observations sourced from two distinct systems: the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) and the Grape Personal Space Weather Station (PSWS). The Grape PSWS, developed by the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI), is a small ground-based remote sensing device aimed at monitoring space weather parameters, including MSTIDs. It achieves this by monitoring a 10 MHz transmission from WWV, a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) time standard station located near Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. In contrast, SuperDARN comprises a global network of high-frequency radars that offer extensive coverage of ionospheric plasma motion. This comparative investigation focuses on aligning MSTID observations obtained from Grape PSWS data with SuperDARN radar data. By investigating datasets from both platforms, these findings serve as initial results for an ongoing investigation of MSTIDs, laying the groundwork for a comprehensive understanding of their dynamics and impacts on ionospheric variability and space weather.

}, author = {Veronica I. Romanek and Nathaniel A. Frissell and Bharat Kunduri and J. Michael Ruohoniemi and Joseph Baker and William Liles and John Gibbons and Kristina Collins and David Kazdan and Rachel Boedicker} } @proceedings {864, title = {Design and 3D Printing of the Grape 2 Enclosure}, year = {2024}, month = {03/2024}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Cleveland, OH}, abstract = {

This poster presents the design of the 3D printed enclosure for the Grape 2 Personal Space Weather Station HF Doppler Receiver.

}, author = {Majid Mokhtari and John Gibbons and Nathaniel A. Frissell} } @proceedings {865, title = {Development of Back-End Software for the Grape 2}, year = {2024}, month = {03/2024}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Cleveland, OH}, abstract = {

This poster showcases several software tools developed to support the development and operation of the main Grape 2 system. G2console is a terminal-based interface that communicates with the data collection system, providing users with valuable information such as software versions, amplitude, frequency, GPS, and magnetometer metrics for viewing and diagnostics. GrapeSpectrogram is a data processing script that generates Dopplergrams, aiding developers in validating the system{\textquoteright}s operation. Additionally, we will discuss future project developments, such as integration with the Linux GPS background service (gpsd) to provide accurate timing to the Raspberry Pi, and DigitalRF as a more efficient method of data storage.

}, author = {Cuong Nguyen and William Blackwell and John Gibbons and Nathaniel Frissell} } @proceedings {823, title = {Exploring Ionospheric Variability Through Doppler Residuals: A Study Utilizing the HamSCI Grape V1 Receiver}, year = {2024}, month = {03/2024}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Cleveland, OH}, abstract = {

This study leverages the capabilities of the Grape V1 low-IF receiver to analyze both long and short-term patterns of high frequency (HF; 3-30 MHz) skywave signals. The HF spectrum, often used for global long-range communications, also spans the frequencies used for remote sensing of the near-Earth plasma environment. The Grape receiver (callsign K2MFF) used in this study is located at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) in Newark, NJ. At a rate of 1 Hz, it samples its link to the WWV broadcasting station transmitting at 10 MHz from Fort Collins, CO. The Doppler shift in this radio link, caused by its interactions with the ionosphere, is measured to study fluctuations in the ionosphere{\textquoteright}s electron density. This methodology provides insight into the effects of geomagnetic activity on the terrestrial ionosphere, caused by complex processes in the coupled Sun-Earth plasma environment. Our results show that the signal received during the daytime is less prone to Doppler shift than when received during the nighttime. This night-day contrast is consistent across most 24-hour cycles, barring dates of antenna maintenance or severe geomagnetic storms. We also found a strong correlation between daytime measurements and Cauchy statistics, and between nighttime measurements and a mixture of exponential power / lognormal statistics, wherein day and night at the geographic midpoint between WWV and NJIT are considered. The identification of these differing statistical regimes per time of day has led us to characterize long-term trends in the dataset by the medians of day and night Doppler measurements, independently. Additionally, the receiver{\textquoteright}s sensitivity and versatility was affirmed through case-studies of atypical Doppler traces captured in the data stream, by identifying characteristic markers of solar flares and solar eclipses.

}, author = {Sabastian Fernandes and Gareth W. Perry and Tiago Trigo and John Gibbons} } @proceedings {817, title = {Grape 2 - The Finalized Version}, year = {2024}, month = {03/2024}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Cleveland, OH}, abstract = {

A review of the architecture and operation of the final version of the Grape 2 Receiver.

}, author = {John Gibbons} } @proceedings {866, title = {The Grape III: Pondering new varietals for the RF vineyard}, year = {2024}, month = {03/2024}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Cleveland, OH}, abstract = {

Grape I is a straightforward low-IF receiver based on the venerable NE612 Gilbert cell chip. Grape II is a much more involved 3-frequency, computer-controlled receiver. Grape III will be--what?\  The CWRU Grape team will discuss possibilities for the next generation of inexpensive, high-accuracy receivers that will provide HamSCI, NIST, Canadian Research Council, and others a continuous data stream.\  Anticipation of signal processing, ease of manufacture, and ease of deployment will be among the top issues.\  Several receiver architectures and data collection modalities will be considered along with candidate signal analysis approaches and related chipsets.\  Notes will be taken from audience questions and suggestions, and new design teams will be solicited for the project.

}, author = {David Kazdan and John Gibbons} } @proceedings {824, title = {Initial Review of the October 2023 Grape Eclipse Data}, year = {2024}, month = {03/2024}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Cleveland, OH}, abstract = {

The Great Radio Amateur Propagation Experiment (GRAPE) is a network of Doppler receivers that function as a distributed multi-static radar. The Grape network received 10 MHz doppler data from the NIST time and frequency station WWV in Fort Collins, CO during the 2023 October annular eclipse. Grape receivers in the network recorded a spectrum of Doppler shift data of the signals after they passed through the eclipse modified ionosphere. An updated version of the receiver will\  be deployed to expand the network and collect similar data during the 2024 April total solar eclipse. We present initial data and results of the 2023 eclipse and discuss the upcoming eclipse.

}, author = {Rachel Boedicker and Nathaniel A. Frissell and John Gibbons and Kristina Collins} } @proceedings {871, title = {Signatures of Space Weather in the NJIT V1 Grape Low-IF Receiver}, year = {2024}, month = {03/2024}, abstract = {

The V1 Grape Low Intermediate Frequency (Low-IF; 10 MHz) Receiver is part of a low-cost Personal Space Weather Station (PSWS) developed by the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) Collective. One of the existing deployed Grapes is located at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). The Grape measures the WWV 10 MHz signal originating from Fort Collins, Colorado. Variations in WWV{\textquoteright}s signal intensity and frequency, received by the Grape can be used to investigate\  strong space weather events and their effects on the Earth{\textquoteright}s ionosphere. The Grape data is separated into two parameters, Doppler Shift (Hz) which is a change in frequency introduced by the variability of the ionosphere along the WWV to NJIT link, and Relative Power (dB) which can be used as a proxy for the received signal{\textquoteright}s intensity.\  In this presentation, we will explore the possibility of using the Relative Power parameter for studying ionospheric scintillation due to space weather events.\  We will present several examples of data collected on days with known space weather events to assess the Grape{\textquoteright}s ability to detect the event. We will also discuss our analysis techniques, including our strategies to mitigate the local noise environment at NJIT, and future work.

}, author = {Tiago Trigo and Gareth W. Perry and Sebastian Fernandes and John Gibbons and Nathaniel A. Frissell} } @proceedings {691, title = {Climatology of Ionospheric Variability with MSTID Periods Observed Using Grape v1 HF Doppler Receivers}, year = {2023}, month = {03/2023}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, author = {Veronica Romanek and Nathaniel Frissell and Kristina Collins and John Gibbons and David Kazdan and William Liles} } @proceedings {689, title = {Grape Version 2 Hardware Description and Build Status}, year = {2023}, month = {03/2023}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, abstract = {

A description of the Grape Version 2 high frequency (HF) Doppler receiver hardware and build status.

}, author = {John Gibbons} } @proceedings {694, title = {Measuring Daily Ionospheric Variability and the 2023 and 2024 Solar Eclipse Ionospheric Impacts Using HamSCI HF Doppler Shift Receivers}, year = {2023}, month = {03/2023}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, abstract = {

This project will study ionospheric variability across the continental United States (CONUS) generated by dawn/dusk transitions and two solar eclipses occurring in 2023 and 2024. Dawn and dusk produce a complex response in observed ionospheric variability that is still not completely understood. A network of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) stabilized/synchronized high frequency (HF) receivers known as Grapes will be used for the study. Thirty Grape receivers will be deployed throughout North America to optimize the study of the ionospheric impacts simultaneously received from two locations. Additional stations will be funded by the HamSCI amateur radio community. This project will generate observations to answer the scientific questions: (1) How do dawn and dusk ionospheric variability vary with local time, season, latitude, longitude, frequency, distance, and direction from the transmitter? (2) Is eclipse ionospheric response symmetric with regard to the onset and recovery timing? (3) How similar is the eclipse to the daily dawn and dusk terminator passage? (4) Would multipath HF mode-splitting in the post-eclipse interval be similar to dawn events? (5) Would the response be different for two eclipses?

This project is part of the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) program and will be open to volunteers who want to field instruments and contribute to scientific analysis and discussion. This project will also establish a new network of DASI instruments that, due to its low cost and operation by volunteers, has the potential to provide measurements for years to come. This project will support students (undergraduate, MS and Ph.D.).

}, author = {Rachel Boedicker and Nathaniel Frissell and Kristina Collins and John Gibbons and David Kazdan and Philip J. Erickson} } @article {667, title = {Amateur Radio: An Integral Tool for Atmospheric, Ionospheric, and Space Physics Research and Operations}, journal = {White Paper Submitted to the National Academy of Sciences Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics) 2024-2033}, year = {2022}, doi = {10.3847/25c2cfeb.18632d86}, author = {Nathaniel A. Frissell and Laura Brandt and Stephen A. Cerwin and Kristina V. Collins and David Kazdan and John Gibbons and William D. Engelke and Rachel M. Frissell and Robert B. Gerzoff and Stephen R. Kaeppler and Vincent Ledvina and William Liles and Michael Lombardi and Elizabeth MacDonald and Francesca Di Mare and Ethan S. Miller and Gareth W. Perry and Jonathan D. Rizzo and Diego F. Sanchez and H. Lawrence Serra and H. Ward Silver and David R. Themens and Mary Lou West} } @article {670, title = {Fostering Collaborations with the Amateur Radio Community}, journal = {White Paper Submitted to the National Academy of Sciences Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics) 2024-2033}, year = {2022}, doi = {10.3847/25c2cfeb.09fe22b4}, author = {Nathaniel A. Frissell and Laura Brandt and Stephen A. Cerwin and Kristina V. Collins and Timothy J. Duffy and David Kazdan and John Gibbons and William D. Engelke and Rachel M. Frissell and Robert B. Gerzoff and Stephen R. Kaeppler and Vincent Ledvina and William Liles and Elizabeth MacDonald and Gareth W. Perry and Jonathan D. Rizzo and Diego F. Sanchez and H. Lawrence Serra and H. Ward Silver and Tamitha Mulligan Skov and Mary Lou West} } @proceedings {634, title = {Hardware Design of the Grape2 Data Collection Sequencing Engine}, year = {2022}, month = {03/2022}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Huntsville, AL}, abstract = {

A review of the design process for the creation of the sequencing logic to drive the data acquisition system on the Grape 2 analog data collection engine.\  Design requirements and trade-offs between different design techniques will be discussed.\  The design process from requirements , flow chart and finally to hardware implementation will be reviewed.\  Final implementation will be demonstrated with the aid of a logic analyzer.

}, author = {John Gibbons} } @proceedings {646, title = {HF Doppler Observations of Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances in a WWV Signal Received with a Network of Low Cost HamSCI Personal Space Weather Stations}, year = {2022}, month = {03/2022}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Huntsville, AL}, abstract = {

Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (TIDs) are quasi-periodic variations in ionospheric electron density that are often associated with atmospheric gravity waves. TIDs cause amplitude and frequency variations in high frequency (HF, 3 30 MHz) refracted radio waves. The authors present an analysis of observations of TIDs made with Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation ( HamSCI ) Low Cost Personal Space Weather Stations (PSWS) located in Northwestern New Jersey and near Cleveland, Ohio. The TIDs were detected in the Doppler shifted carrier of the received signal from the 10 MHz WWV frequency and time standard station in Fort Collins, CO. Using a lagged cross correlation analysis, we demonstrate a method for determining TID wavelength, direction, and period using the collected WWV HF Doppler shifted data.

}, author = {Veronica Romanek and Nathaniel A. Frissell and William Liles and John Gibbons and Kristina V. Collins} } @proceedings {625, title = {Three Time-of-Flight Measurement Projects on a Common Hardware Platform}, year = {2022}, month = {03/2022}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Huntsville, AL}, abstract = {

Three undergraduate electrical engineering project groups at Case Western Reserve University are investigating distributed ionospheric sounding through time-of-flight measurements.\  All use GPS pulse-per-second signals for precise timing of received signals.\  Two use as their "radar signals of opportunity" LF, MF, and HF beacons from the US Department of Commerce National Institute of Science and Technology installations north of Fort Collins, Colorado and near Kekaha, Hawaii (radio stations WWVB, WWV, and WWVH).\  The third project modernizes the on-off telegraphy variant known as "coherent CW" (CCW). CCW uses amateur radio QSO or beacon transmissions as the measured signals.\  It facilitates Technician-licensee participation in active HF research and in keyboard-to-keyboard digital contacts, within FCC regulations.\  Using computed matched-filter techniques along the lines of FT8, CCW has a nearly optimal information-theoretic data recovery.\  With transmission or lookup of station locations, it can provide automated time of flight measurements while making a contact.\  The three projects use a common hardware platform for receiver or transceiver interfacing, involving synchronized analog data collection and front-end data processing with the Teensy variant of the Arduino platform.\  Teensy was chosen primarily for its sampling and computing speed. WWVB{\textquoteright}s signal can be sampled directly with the Teensy front-end and some data processing can done between sample acquisitions through timer interrupt programming.\  WWV/H second ticks delay measurements use inexpensive shortwave radio audio outputs, sampled and processed by the Teensy.\  The CCW sampling and matched filtering, plus synchronized Morse keying, are similarly done by the Teensy. Data presentation, user interface, and data uploading to repositories are done by minimal general purpose computers such as Raspberry Pi boards.\  We will present the common hardware and interrupt strategies along with a brief overview of the three projects.\  Comments and suggestions will be solicited, and of course participation in the projects is invited.\  The three projects are supported by a generous grant to the Case Amateur Radio Club W8EDU from ARDC.\  CARC is providing oversight of the projects and the projects use the club station as a laboratory facility.

}, author = {David Kazdan and John Gibbons and Kristina Collins and Maxwell Bauer and Evan Bender and Ryan Marks and Michael O{\textquoteright}Brien and Olivia O{\textquoteright}Brien and Gabriel Foss and Mari Pugliese and Alejandra Ramos and Carolina Whitaker} } @conference {540, title = {HamSCI Personal Space Weather Station (PSWS): Architecture and Current Status}, booktitle = {NSF CEDAR (Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions)}, year = {2021}, month = {06/2021}, publisher = {CEDAR}, organization = {CEDAR}, address = {Virtual}, abstract = {

Recent advances in geospace remote sensing have shown that large-scale distributed networks of ground-based sensors pay large dividends by providing a big picture view of phenomena that were previously observed only by point-measurements. While existing instrument networks provide excellent insight into ionospheric and space science, the system remains undersampled and more observations are needed to advance understanding. In an effort to generate these additional measurements, the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI, hamsci.org) is working with the Tucson Amateur Packet Radio Corporation (TAPR, tapr.org), an engineering organization comprised of volunteer amateur radio operators and engineers, to develop a network of Personal Space Weather Stations (PSWS). These instruments that will provide scientific-grade observations of signals-of-opportunity across the HF bands from volunteer citizen observers as part of the NSF Distributed Array of Small Instruments (DASI) program. A performance-driven PSWS design (~US$500) will be a modular, multi-instrument device that will consist of a dual-channel phase-locked 0.1-60 MHz software defined radio (SDR) receiver, a ground magnetometer with (~10 nT resolution and 1-sec cadence), and GPS/GNSS receiver to provide precision time stamping and serve as a GPS disciplined oscillator (GPSDO) to provide stability to the SDR receiver. A low-cost PSWS (\< US$100) that measures Doppler shift of HF signals received from standards stations such as WWV (US) and CHU (Canada) and includes a magnetometer is also being developed. HF sounding algorithms making use of signals of opportunity will be developed for the SDR-based PSWS. All measurements will be collected into a central database for coordinated analysis and made available for public access.

}, author = {Nathaniel A. Frissell and Dev Joshi and Veronica I. Romanek and Kristina V. Collins and Aidan Montare and David Kazdan and John Gibbons and William D. Engelke and Travis Atkison and Hyomin Kim and Scott H. Cowling and Thomas C. McDermott and John Ackermann and David Witten and Julius Madey and H. Ward Silver and William Liles and Steven Cerwin and Philip J. Erickson and Ethan S. Miller and Juha Vierinen} } @proceedings {498, title = {PSWS Grape Hardware: Version 1.0 and Pilot Experiments}, year = {2021}, month = {03/2021}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA (Virtual)}, abstract = {

One year into our NSF grant, HamSCI{\textquoteright}s Low-Cost Personal Space Weather Station is undergoing rapid development. Like its namesake, the "Grape" does its best work in bunches, and several early prototypes are already deployed and collecting Doppler data. This talk will present the Grape 1.0 hardware, the data collected by pilot stations, and the lessons this platform has taught us as we move to Grape 2.0.

}, author = {Kristina V. Collins and John Gibbons and David Kazdan} } @proceedings {478, title = {A Survey of HF Doppler TID Signatures Observed Using a Grape in New Jersey}, year = {2021}, month = {03/2021}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA (Virtual)}, url = {https://hamsci2021-uscranton.ipostersessions.com/?s=6A-B6-94-74-A1-46-CF-D2-AC-BA-F3-58-2E-71-17-97}, author = {Veronica I. Romanek and Nathaniel A. Frissell and Dev Joshi and William Liles and Kristina Collins and John Gibbons and David Kazdan} } @conference {410, title = {WWV Time Tick Observations: Towards an Automated Approached}, booktitle = {HamSCI Workshop 2020}, year = {2020}, month = {03/2020}, publisher = {HamSCI}, organization = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, abstract = {

As described by\ Cerwin (2020), the timing ticks that mark each second on WWV can be used to observe multipath propagation. We present our setup, which is similar to Cerwin{\textquoteright}s, and describe our work towards automating the collection of timing tick observations. We demonstrate methods of collecting this data by using trace-collection features of certain Rigol oscilloscopes, as well as features of associated computer control software. We also discuss software libraries for a general approach suited to many oscilloscopes, and how these data might be collected by the in-development Personal Space Weather Station. We conclude with a request to the HamSCI community to help develop this technique and broaden its scientific applications.

}, author = {Aidan Montare and John Gibbons} } @conference {360, title = {A Low-Cost Citizen Science HF Doppler Receiver for Measuring Ionospheric Variability}, booktitle = {American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting}, year = {2019}, month = {12/2019}, publisher = {American Geophysical Union}, organization = {American Geophysical Union}, address = {San Francisco, CA}, abstract = {

Advancement in understanding short term and small spatial scale ionospheric variability requires global high time and spatial resolution measurements. Professional ionospheric sounding networks are extensive and capable, yet more measurements are still needed due to the strongly magnetized nature and large extent of the ionosphere. High Frequency (HF, 3-30 MHz) radio signals are refracted by the ionosphere, and therefore are modulated by processes such as traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) and geomagnetic storms. By measuring the amplitude and Doppler shift of trans-ionospheric HF signals, it is possible to detect signatures of ionospheric absorption and changes in propagation path length. We present a design for a low-cost citizen science HF multi-band receiver that measures the amplitude and Doppler shift of reference signals of opportunity from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology station WWV and the Canadian Institute for National Measurement Standards station CHU. The receiver will make 1 s cadence measurements on nine HF beacon frequencies and subsequently upload the results to a central server for scientific analysis. The local user will be able to review data daily, both locally and in aggregate on a web server, and participate in discussion of the ionospheric measurements. This receiver forms one component of the low-cost version of the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) Personal Space Weather Station (PSWS), and is designed with the intention of distribution to hundreds to thousands of citizen science observers. Preliminary results from the prototype receiver will be presented.

}, url = {https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm19/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/602677}, author = {Kristina Collins and David Kazdan and John Gibbons and Aidan Montare and Skylar Dannhoff and Philip J. Erickson and Nathaniel A. Frissell} } @conference {296, title = {WWV Doppler Shift Observations}, booktitle = {HamSCI Workshop 2019}, year = {2019}, month = {03/2019}, publisher = {HamSCI}, organization = {HamSCI}, address = {Cleveland, OH}, author = {David Kazdan and Skylar Dannhoff and Aidan Montare and John Gibbons} }