@proceedings {863, title = {University of Michigan Space Weather Sensor Package}, year = {2024}, month = {03/2024}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Cleveland, OH}, abstract = {

Ground magnetometer and dual frequency GPS systems are used to measure space weather effects observed in geomagnetic disturbances and variations in Total Electron Content (TEC). However, such systems are usually cost-prohibitive, susceptible to noise from human infrastructure, and difficult to deploy and maintain. Our team has been working on a low-cost space weather sensor package that can be easily deployed and requires low maintenance while having good magnetic and TEC data accuracy. The system has multiple options with respect to power (e.g., AC powered or solar panel and battery system), communication (Cat5 internet, Wi-Fi, Cellular or satellite modem), and sensors (use of network protocol time, single frequency GPS time stamping, or dual frequency GPS for both time and TEC). This presentation describes the low-cost magnetometer sensor package, the simple user interfaces, and design of the electrical and structural components for ease of manufacturing. We have developed a prototype for a system that is much cheaper and easier to mass-produce and install than current commercial systems, and real-world testing has shown that these systems function reliably.

}, author = {Theodore Masterson and Mark B. Moldwin and Lauro Ojeda and Julio Vata and Isaac Fertig and Alex Hofmann and Brian Tsang} } @proceedings {759, title = {An Update on the WWV/H Modulation Test and WWV ARC}, year = {2023}, month = {03/2023}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, abstract = {

The WWV/H Scientific Modulation Test continues after 16 months broadcasting at minute 8 on WWV and minute 48 on WWVH.\  Initial evaluation of the recordings show promise in determining time-of-flight and other characteristics.\  Efforts have started to place a KiwiSDR receiver on Kauai for an evaluation of WWVH broadcasts similar to those made of WWV.\  The WWV ARC held the Tune In: The WWV Frequency Celebration at the beginning of March to mark the 100th anniversary of WWV providing standard frequencies.\  NIST and HamSCI presented talks on March 2,\  NIST provided tours of the Boulder and WWV facilities March 3, and The Fort Collins Museum of Discovery hosted the Tune In: The WWV Frequency Celebration open house on March 4.\  Various aspects of amateur radio were showcased including traditional HF (with a station), ARISS, ARES, satellite, HamSCI, and of course a history of WWV.

}, author = {Dave Swartz and Kristina Collins} } @proceedings {739, title = {An Update on the WWV/H Modulation Test and WWV ARC}, year = {2023}, month = {03/2023}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, abstract = {

The WWV/H Scientific Modulation Test continues after 16 months broadcasting at minute 8 on WWV and minute 48 on WWVH.\  Initial evaluation of the recordings show promise in determining time-of-flight and other characteristics.\  Efforts have started to place a KIWI receiver on Kauai for an evaluation of WWVH broadcasts similar to those made of WWV.\  The WWV ARC held the Tune In: The WWV Frequency Celebration at the beginning of March to mark the 100th anniversary of WWV providing standard frequencies.\  NIST and HamSCI presented talks on March 2,\  NIST provided tours of the Boulder and WWV facilities March 3, and The Fort Collins Museum of Discovery hosted the Tune In: The WWV Frequency Celebration open house on March 4.\  Various aspects of amateur radio were showcased including traditional HF (with a station), ARISS, ARES, satellite, HamSCI, and of course a history of WWV.

}, author = {David Swartz} } @proceedings {763, title = {Updating a Homebrewed Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Apparatus for the Advanced Lab}, year = {2023}, month = {03/2023}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, abstract = {

Protons are like little magnets, and little magnets are characterized by a single number, the magnetic moment μ. It{\textquoteright}s possible to measure the magnetic moment of the proton in the undergraduate lab with a modest circuit called a marginal oscillator. We will demonstrate a few of these circuits in action, and solicit advice on how to use varactors to modulate the frequency of oscillation of these circuits.\ 

}, author = {Declan Mulhall} } @proceedings {707, title = {Using Propagation Analysis Software and Antenna Modeling to Select an Antenna for Receive and Transmit Sites}, year = {2023}, month = {03/2023}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, abstract = {

Amateurs often ask:\  What is the best antenna to use to work DX?\  The author shows how free propagation analysis software and antenna modeling can help answer that question.\  To focus on something specific, he ask the question:\  For 40-meter DX, which is better, a dipole at 45 feet height or a ground-mounted vertical with 4 radials?\  The answer may surprise you!

}, author = {Ed Hare} } @proceedings {620, title = {On the Use of High Frequency Surface Wave Oceanographic Research Radars as Bistatic Single Frequency Oblique Ionospheric Sounders}, year = {2022}, month = {03/2022}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Huntsville, AL}, abstract = {

We present an investigation demonstrating that passively collected high frequency coastal oceanographic radars, with suitable waveform characteristics, can be used as single frequency oblique ionospheric sounders. To our knowledge, this is one of the first demonstrations of dual purpose use of these HF coastal radars, in addition to their primary role as ocean current monitors.\ We present a technique for extracting the virtual height using the E-region as a time calibration; this technique is agnostic of the software defined radio used.\ The application of this investigation may be useful for expanding spatial coverage for traveling ionospheric disturbance studies, day-to-day variability studies, or within data-assimilation routines.\ Additionally, HF coastal radars may be used by the scientific community or radio amateur as an another suitable RF source. We performed an experiment in which we collected 10 days of data in March 2016 from a site in Maryland, USA (MSR) and 21 days of data collected in October 2020 from a site near Clemson, South Carolina, USA (CARL). For both experiments, we used a similar hardware setup utilizing an Ettus USRP N210 software defined radio, including the GPSDO unit.\ We performed radar signal processing to obtain the group delay time from the passively received signal of Coastal Ocean Dynamics Applications Radar (CODARs).\ Our observations for both intervals focused on one frequency band at 4.53718 MHz which included three CODAR transmitters located on the Coast of North Carolina and Virigina with callsigns: DUCK, CORE, and LISL. The digisonde located at Wallops Island, VA (WP937) was used as the diagnostic to compare and validate with the observations collected from oblique CODAR-MSR(CARL) paths.

}, author = {Stephen R. Kaeppler and Ethan Miller} } @proceedings {604, title = {Using the ARISS radio systems on ISS for HamSCI}, year = {2022}, month = {03/2022}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Huntsville, AL}, abstract = {

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program has developed an amateur radio facility on-board the International Space Station (ISS), including radios and antennas, that can support observations and communications in the HF, VHF, UHF, L and S bands. These capabilities, on their own or augmented with additional equipment, can enable a myriad of HamSCI space weather and radio propagation observations, including during the upcoming 2024 Solar Eclipse campaign.\  The ISS is in a unique HamSCI and Space Weather location:\  about 420 km above the Earth.\  Thus, ISS orbits within the Earth{\textquoteright}s ionosphere.\  Notably, ARISS is also working with space agencies to also fly radio systems around and on the Moon.\  ARISS is interested in partnering with the HamSCI community on various experiments using our ISS on-board hardware systems and future Lunar systems to be developed.\  For ISS, science experiments can either employ the already on-board ARISS hardware or they may include spaceflight certified additions to our on-board facility to support HamSCI investigations.\  For science on Lunar missions, ARISS is interested in working with HamSCI to develop ideas and potential small hardware augmentations that can result in science investigations.\  ARISS has a long history of on-orbit experimentation and student engagement.\  We feel this partnership would be significantly beneficial for both HamSCI and ARISS.\  During our presentation, we will outline our on-orbit capabilities on ISS and planned capabilities for Lunar and discuss science ideas for mutual collaboration.\  It is anticipated that a lively question and answer session will follow.

}, author = {Frank H. Bauer and Randy Berger} } @proceedings {491, title = {Use of the Short Wave Radio to prove the ionosphere with students from a public school in Brazil}, year = {2021}, month = {03/2021}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA (Virtual)}, abstract = {

Knowledge of the characteristics of the ionosphere is largely based on its effects on electromagnetic waves. For the teaching of the atmosphere layers, in Brazil, as public schools have textbooks, pictures and videos, however, a practical experiment is not often performed . To remedy this gap, using low-cost materials, an experiment was carried out, well known for radio amateurs using two receivers, one portable shortwave (5.950 to 6.200 MHz and 7.100 to 7.300 MHz) and the other to FM (88 to 108 MHz), where shortwave radio stations with foreign language broadcasts were randomly tuned to characterize broadcasts from abroad. It was compared with some FM radio broadcasts from neighboring municipalities, previously researched on the internet and it is reckoned that it was not possible to receive these stations. There was a surprise from the students when they heard transmissions in other languages (from other distant countries) and did not listen to FM radio stations relatively close, thus proving the existence and application of the ionosphere during science classes.

}, url = {https://hamsci2021-uscranton.ipostersessions.com/?s=89-49-DB-01-08-CF-69-14-C0-96-58-9C-AB-F9-C9-A3}, author = {Alexandre Takio Kitagawa} } @proceedings {484, title = {The use of the Sudden Ionospheric Disturbance Radio Telescope to predict the signal and observe the North American 2017 Total Solar Eclipse}, year = {2021}, month = {03/2021}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA (Virtual)}, abstract = {

The Sudden Ionospheric Disturbance (SID) monitor shows significant variations at sunrise and sunset. The Northern Hemisphere experienced a total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017. This paper showed the development of a mathematical model to predict the signal response of the solar eclipse on the SuperSID radio telescope. The data from several SuperSID observers, who measured data during the eclipse, was obtained and analyzed. The model was applied to each observers{\textquoteright} data to determine its predictive properties. The results show excellent predictive correlation of the actual eclipse observation to the predictive model.\ 

}, url = {https://hamsci2021-uscranton.ipostersessions.com/?s=49-22-13-0F-3A-3B-0A-84-E0-67-13-10-47-91-30-7C}, author = {Richard A. Russel} } @conference {382, title = {Update on the Golden Ears Project}, booktitle = {HamSCI Workshop 2020}, year = {2020}, month = {03/2020}, publisher = {HamSCI}, organization = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, abstract = {

The Radio Receiver Instrument (RRI), part of the Enhanced Polar Outflow Probe (e-POP) science payload on the Cascade, Smallsat and Ionospheric Polar Explorer (CASSIOPE) spacecraft, has recorded continuous wave (CW; Morse code) transmissions during the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Field Day exercises since 2015. Perry et al. (2018) demonstrated the value of such transmissions to radio science. By identifying a handful of hams in the RRI data collected during the 2015 Field Day and inputting their transmitting locations into a high frequency (HF) ray tracing model, Perry et al. were able to accurately estimate foF2 over a portion of the midwestern United States. They were also able to diagnose the periodic fading in the amplitude of one ham{\textquoteright}s transmission as a multipath propagation effect unique to transionospheric propagation.

One lesson from the Perry et al. analysis was that decoding the transmissions using CW {\textquotedblleft}skimmers{\textquotedblright}, software capable of decoding large bands of CW signal, was not feasible with the RRI data. This is likely due to the fact that the signals disperse and degrade as they transit from the ground, through the ionosphere, and up to the spacecraft. As a result, the Perry et al. transmissions had to be decoded aurally by the article{\textquoteright}s co-authors. Since 2015, RRI has collected several hours of ARRL Field Day transmissions, necessitating a more organized decoding effort, rather that the ad hoc methodology employed thus far.

Accordingly, the {\textquotedblleft}Golden Ears Project{\textquotedblright} was initiated following the RRI operations for the 2019 ARRL Field Day. The goal of the project is straightforward: use members of the ham community with a distinct aptitude for aurally decoding CW signals (i.e., individuals with {\textquotedblleft}Golden Ears{\textquotedblright}) to decode data collected by RRI in thorough and organized way. In this presentation we will disseminate the first project{\textquoteright}s first results from 2019 Field Day operations. We will describe the experimental setup, methodology used to prepare the data from the decoders, discuss their results, and outline the future directions of the project.

Perry, G. W., Frissell, N. A., Miller, E. S., Moses, M., Shovkoplyas, A., Howarth, A. D., \& Yau, A. W. (2018). Citizen Radio Science: An Analysis of Amateur Radio Transmissions With e-POP RRI. Radio Science, 933{\textendash}947. https://doi.org/10.1029/2017RS006496

}, author = {G. Perry and P. J. Erickson and B. D. Blain and R. Reif and N. A. Frissell} } @conference {377, title = {Update on the Low-Cost Personal Space Weather Station}, booktitle = {HamSCI Workshop 2020}, year = {2020}, month = {03/2020}, publisher = {HamSCI}, organization = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, author = {K. Collins and D. Kazdan and J. Gibbons} } @conference {402, title = {Using a PVC Pipe Antenna and a Raspberry Pi to Detect VLF Natural Radio (ePoster)}, booktitle = {HamSCI Workshop 2020}, year = {2020}, month = {03/2020}, publisher = {HamSCI}, organization = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, abstract = {

It{\textquoteright}s possible to detect half of the world{\textquoteright}s lightning anywhere on Earth. Because most of a lightning discharge{\textquoteright}s spectral power is within the Very Low Frequency (VLF) and Ultra Low Frequency (ULF) bands, the emissions from lightning discharges (sferics) propagate rather easily across the globe. These propagation conditions allow for other natural radio events like tweeks, whistlers, and chorus to propagate well within the Earth-ionosphere waveguide. Using a simple E-Field VLF receiver, a GPS timing receiver, a Raspberry Pi with Audioinjector soundcard, it is possible to build a fully contained low power VLF reception system to detect natural radio events in the VLF/ULF band using open source software that will capture, GPS timestamp, and filter (remove mains hum) the VLF audio feed and record, detect individual events, detect sudden ionospheric disturbances, and perform analysis on detected events. VLF event data, recordings, and live streaming is possible, all from a PVC pipe active E-Field antenna receiver, GPS timing receiver, and a Raspberry Pi.

}, author = {Jonathan Rizzo} } @conference {387, title = {Using amateur radio to validate model-based properties of earth{\textquoteright}s protective shield}, booktitle = {HamSCI Workshop}, year = {2020}, month = {03/2020}, publisher = {HamSCI}, organization = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, abstract = {

Amateur radio has the capability of assisting researchers with the validation process of model-based studies of the magnetosphereionosphere (M-I) system. Over the years many model-based studies have demonstrated that several key M-I systems exhibit a Universal Time (UT) dependence. Our recent study shows that the dayside of the open/closed boundary of the geomagnetic field exhibits a UTdependent variation. We demonstrated that this variation can be as much as 15 degrees in latitude. Recent results have shown that the proton energy cutoff latitude for protons with energy between 1-20 MeV shows a significant UT-dependent variation. This variation could have important consequences related to predicting the level of high frequency (HF) absorption in the D-region of the ionosphere during so-called polar cap absorption (PCA) events. HF communication continues to be of considerable importance in and around earth{\textquoteright}s Polar Regions. Commercial aviators use HF radio communications during transpolar flights. During PCA events it is critical that commercial airlines have up-to-date information regarding HF communication forecasts to properly route their aircraft to ensure crewmember and passenger safety. Generating observational evidence for this suggestion is particularly challenging. A ground station is by definition located at one longitude. Hence, a unique UT and Local Time (LT) are associated with its location. Therefore, many ground-based sites would be needed to have long-term data sets such that the UT dependence could be separated from space weather effects. Satellites perhaps have a better likelihood to have data streams capable of identifying the cutoff latitude, but this would require large satellite constellations coordinated in such manner that the spacecraft would be near the polar cusp region simultaneously. Such a constellation does not yet exist. Amateur radio could assist with gathering observational data to test the model-based results. Using existing systems such as WSPRnet it could be possible to gather HF propagation data near earth{\textquoteright}s Polar Regions during quiescent times as well as during PCA events. The newly-proposed Personal Space Weather Station could prove useful. Over time, a substantial data set could exist that would allow examination of the proposed UT-dependent variation. This presentation will discuss the model-based results and potential amateur radio involvement.

}, author = {D. A. Smith and J. Sojka} } @unpublished {442, title = {Using Fldigi for the ARRL Frequency Measuring Test (FMT)}, year = {2020}, month = {10/2020}, type = {Technical Instructions}, url = {https://fmt.arrl.org/}, author = {Bob Howard} } @conference {330, title = {Update on Personal Space Weather Station \& SDR Hardware}, booktitle = {Hamvention HamSCI Forum}, year = {2019}, month = {05/2019}, publisher = {Dayton Amateur Radio Association}, organization = {Dayton Amateur Radio Association}, address = {Xenia, OH}, abstract = {

The Personal Space Weather Station is a HamSCI project to create a distributed network of ground-based ionospheric and space science instrumentation. This presentation will discuss the current mission objectives and project requirements, as well as the status of current hardware development.

}, author = {Scotty Cowling} } @conference {162, title = {Upper Level Lows and Six Meter 50 Mhz Sporadic E}, booktitle = {Dayton Hamvention}, year = {2017}, address = {Xenia, OH}, abstract = {

Amateur radio is used to explore possible correlations between weather storm systems and sporadic E clouds to see if they are collocated. While some of the main causes of sporadic E propagation are wind shear, meteor strikes and upper atmospheric tides (ultimately coming from solar EUV energy inputs), radio operators have noticed that sporadic E propagation is also changed significantly by hurricanes and storms. \ Specific cases where K1YOW used amateur radio to investigate the effects of low pressure weather storms on the formation and/or enhancement of 6 meter sporadic E clouds are presented. DX Maps and earth wide weather model charts combined with operations on 6 meters are used to examine possible correlations between the location of the sporadic E clouds and the low pressure weather storm systems. \ Initial findings show a high degree of correlation when magnetic field strength is taken into consideration.

}, author = {Joseph A. Dzekevich and Philip J. Erickson} } @article {227, title = {Upper-Level Lows and 6-Meter Sporadic E}, volume = {101}, year = {2017}, month = {12/2017}, pages = {30-35}, abstract = {

Amateur radio is used to explore possible correlations between weather storm systems and sporadic E clouds to see if they are collocated. While some of the main causes of sporadic E propagation are wind shear, meteor strikes and upper atmospheric tides (ultimately coming from solar EUV energy inputs), radio operators have noticed that sporadic E propagation is also changed significantly by hurricanes and storms. \ Specific cases where K1YOW used amateur radio to investigate the effects of low pressure weather storms on the formation and/or enhancement of 6 meter sporadic E clouds are presented. DX Maps and earth wide weather model charts combined with operations on 6 meters are used to examine possible correlations between the location of the sporadic E clouds and the low pressure weather storm systems. \ Initial findings show a high degree of correlation when magnetic field strength is taken into consideration.\ \ 

}, issn = {0033-4812}, author = {J. Dzekevich} } @conference {158, title = {On the use of solar eclipses to study the ionosphere}, booktitle = {15th International Ionospheric Effects Symposium IES2017}, year = {2017}, month = {05/2017}, address = {Alexandria, VA}, abstract = {

Exploring the effects of solar eclipses on radio wave propagation has been an active area of research since the first experiments conducted in 1912. In the first few decades of ionospheric physics, researchers started to explore the natural laboratory of the upper atmosphere. Solar eclipses offered a rare opportunity to undertake an active experiment. The results stimulated much scientific discussion.
Early users of radio noticed that propagation was different during night and day. A solar eclipse provided the opportunity to study this day/night effect with much sharper boundaries than at sunrise and sunset, when gradual changes occur along with temperature changes in the atmosphere and variations in the sun angle.
Plots of amplitude time series were hypothesized to indicate the recombination rates and re- ionization rates of the ionosphere during and after the eclipse, though not all time-amplitude plots showed the same curve shapes. A few studies used multiple receivers paired with one transmitter for one eclipse, with a 5:1 ratio as the upper bound. In these cases, the signal amplitude plots generated for data received from the five receive sites for one transmitter varied greatly in shape.

}, author = {W. Liles and C. Mitchell and M. Cohen and G. Earle and N. Frissell and K. Kirby-Patel and L. Lukes and E. Miller and M. Moses and J. Nelson and J. Rockway} }