@proceedings {1050, title = {New GOES Signal Application for Monitoring Ionospheric Irregularities: A HamSCI Collaboration Vision}, year = {2026}, month = {03/2026}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Newington, CT}, abstract = {Radio waves at UHF and VHF frequencies pass largely undisturbed through a smooth ionosphere{\textemdash}for example, in routine EME and AMSAT activities. When the ionosphere becomes turbulent the amplitude, phase and polarization of transionospheric signals will fluctuate, termed {\textquotedblleft}ionospheric scintillation.{\textquotedblright} Scintillation is often associated with near-equatorial and high-latitude regions but also occurs in mid-latitudes in response to geomagnetic activity. Scientists are only now starting to study continent-scale mid-latitude scintillation patterns in earnest. It has historically been expensive to distribute enough scintillation monitors to cover a region once deemed geophysically uninteresting. Even low-cost GNSS receivers, like ScintPi from the University of Texas, Dallas, approach ~$400 per site. Moreover, GNSS receivers are insensitive at low ionospheric turbulence levels due to the higher radio frequencies used. The NOAA GOES Data Collection System (DCS) provides many, many lower-frequency signals of opportunity that could be used to map out scintillation occurrence in real time. Approximately 33,000 active Data Collection Platforms (DCPs) uplink on hundreds of narrow transmit channels near 402 MHz, relaying ~1 million environmental monitoring messages per day via GOES East and West. These signals downlink at 1.68 GHz and are openly available. A similar DCS exists on European Meteosat and Japanese Himawari satellites. Receiving the signal requires minimal hardware. An RTL-SDR using a manageable dish antenna and a decent preamp should be sufficient. Plus, hobbyist hardware exists for the adjacent GOES images at 1.6941 GHz. A single passive receive site can potentially capture all these DCS links. The challenges are to process the brief transmissions in real time to detect scintillation and to unravel the transmit locations for mapping. The DCP stations are readily identified via their assigned transmission times and frequency channels, but the position information in NOAA{\textquoteright}s DCP database is not always accurate. For example, DCP operators manually enter station locations via an arcane fixed-field format and often make mistakes. My hope in interacting with HamSCI is to build up interest to develop an open-source community to address these issues with a goal of generating public maps of basic ionospheric scintillation data for amateur radio and scientific use{\textemdash}including citizen science.}, author = {Theodore Beach} } @proceedings {947, title = {The NRAO Exploring the EMS/Ham Radio Project: The Way Ahead}, year = {2025}, month = {03/2025}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Newark, NJ}, abstract = {

Abstract: The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) Ham Radio Project "Exploring the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS)" is an Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC)-funded project that is designed to help young people{\textemdash}especially those from communities not traditionally involved in radio astronomy or amateur radio{\textemdash}by exposing them to both interrelated fields. The 40-week program accomplishes this goal by encouraging learners to build self-sustaining STEM identities and communities that center their governance structures, ways of knowing, and meaning-making, as well as creating a scalable, open-source licensed curriculum on the SuperKnova Moodle Learning Management System (LMS). The project{\textquoteright}s mission, connecting and acquainting learners with the development of wireless technology and radio astronomy while helping them achieve amateur radio licensure, continues considering recent retrenchment of programs designed to include historically excluded People of Culture (PoC). Lessons learned from this program as well as the way ahead will be described.

}, author = {Jesse Alexander and Alia Wafford} } @proceedings {756, title = {A New Station for the W3USR University of Scranton Amateur Radio Club}, year = {2023}, month = {03/2023}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, author = {Tom Pisano and Nathaniel Frissell and Jeff DePolo and The W3USR University of Scranton Amateur Radio Club} } @proceedings {843, title = {A New Web Interface to the SuperDARN MSTID Analysis Toolkit}, year = {2023}, month = {03/2023}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, author = {Francis Tholley and Nathaniel A. Frissell} } @proceedings {702, title = {The North Dakota Dual Aurora Camera Version 2.0 (NoDDAC2.0), a Platform for Citizen Science and a Use Case for Implementing Best Practices in Open Data and Collaboration}, year = {2023}, month = {03/2023}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, abstract = {

The North Dakota Dual Aurora Camera (NoDDAC) is an interdisciplinary project created in collaboration with the University of North Dakota (UND), Live Aurora Network, and Aurorasaurus. Aurora cameras provide ground-truth visual data to aurora chasers and scientists but are sparse at midlatitudes (35-55{\textdegree}N). Deploying light-sensitive video and all-sky still cameras at these midlatitudes provides a valuable resource to aurora-chasing communities, as well as amateur radio operators in the auroral zone. In addition, NoDDAC data demonstrate scientific merit, as it can be correlated with radio and ionospheric propagation changes to investigate the connection between optical aurora and radio science. This project is unique; the practices of utilizing dual cameras with consumer-off-the-shelf equipment, emphasizing open data as a responsive community resource and promoting citizen science make NoDDAC an accessible resource benefiting multiple audiences. Since early 2021, NoDDAC has detected hundreds of auroras as well as notable events like STEVEs (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement). NoDDAC is stationed at Martens Observatory (48.1{\textdegree}N, 97.6{\textdegree}W), which is operated by the UND Department of Physics and Astrophysics. Live Aurora Network provides weatherproof camera housings and their proprietary IPTimelapse software which allows for remote control of the cameras. This year we present NoDDAC2.0, the next evolution of NoDDAC funded by NASA{\textquoteright}s EPSCoR program. NoDDAC2.0 will upgrade the all-sky camera and feature a robust open-data platform to share aurora data with the public and scientists. We outline a strategy to increase the science utility of NoDDAC data, incorporating a citizen science project launching on the Zooniverse platform. We also present plans to integrate NoDDAC data into the AuroraX conjunction finder system so that satellite data can be easily correlated to aurora images. Most importantly, we are collaborating with the Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation to install an independent aurora camera system in North Dakota. Not only does this represent a unique collaborative opportunity, but at a separation distance of 300 miles from Martens Observatory, this second camera will allow us to explore research questions relating to the precise location, height, and spatial extent of certain auroral phenomena.

}, author = {Timothy Young and Vincent Ledvina and Elizabeth MacDonald and Laura Brandt and Wayne Barkhouse and Alex Schultz and Cody Payne and Anne Mitchell and Kristian Haugen and Will Shearer and Kerry Hartman and Sasha Sillitti and Michael McCormack and Steve Collins} } @proceedings {601, title = {NASA/HPD/Space Weather/Citizen Science Programs Contributions to the HamSCI Workshop}, year = {2022}, month = {03/2022}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Huntsville, AL}, abstract = {

This contribution to the HamSCI 2022 Workshop will provide: A\ summary of the goals of the NASA{\textquoteright}s Heliophysics Division (HPD); A summary of the strategies and activities of the space weather and citizen science programs in NASA{\textquoteright}s HPD.\ The presentation will discuss the relevance of the space weather and citizen science research programs to the HamSCI community.

NASA/HPD ROSES programs solicit research proposals so that amateur radio observations could be utilized for innovative science and technology research. NASA/HPD anticipates creating opportunities to enhance participation of the HamSCI community in observations of natural events in the 2023-2024 timeframe: The Heliophysics Big Year (HBY) including the upcoming annular solar eclipse (Oct 14, 2023) and total solar eclipse (Apr 8, 2024) over North America as well as the next solar max. NASA/HPD anticipates supporting HamSCI activities through space-based observations that can be leveraged by amateur radio scientists to enhance scientific contribution of the HamSCI community.
}, author = {E. Shume and J. Spann and J. Woodroffe and R. Friedel and J. Favors and W. Twetten and E. MacDonald and A. Rymer and S. Finn and J. Kozyra and K. Korreck} } @proceedings {614, title = {The North Dakota Dual Aurora Camera (NoDDAC), A Student-led Citizen Science Project: Data Showcase, Future Developments, and Scientific Potential}, year = {2022}, month = {03/2022}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Huntsville, AL}, abstract = {

The North Dakota Dual Aurora Camera (NoDDAC) is a student-led project in collaboration with the University of North Dakota (UND), Live Aurora Network, and Aurorasaurus. Aurora cameras provide ground-truth visual data to aurora chasers and scientists, but are sparse at midlatitudes. Deploying a light-sensitive video camera and allsky still camera in these areas provides a valuable resource to aurora-chasing communities, including ham radio operators in the auroral zone, and demonstrates scientific merit. For example, the analysis of rare phenomena benefits from observations at multiple locations. In addition, NoDDAC data can be correlated with radio and ionospheric propagation changes, as well as geomagnetic activity, to investigate the connection between optical aurora and radio science. This project is unique; utilizing dual cameras with COTS equipment, emphasizing open data as a responsive community resource, and promoting citizen science make it an accessible resource benefing multiple audiences. Since early 2021, NoDDAC has detected aurora on more than 20 occasions, as well as unusual events like overhead auroras, STEVEs, and noctilucent clouds.\ 

NoDDAC is stationed at Martens Observatory (48.1{\textdegree}N), which is operated by the UND Department of Physics and Astrophysics. Live Aurora Network housings weatherproof both cameras, and their proprietary IPTimelapse software uploads images to a web server for analysis. The north-facing camera records video, allowing Zooniverse-style citizen science for small auroral features. Live Aurora Network streams both cameras on their website and app. Ultimately, when aurora is detected IPTimelapse will post a clip of the display to @NODDAC_cameras on Twitter. Automated reports will be mapped on Aurorasaurus, alongside citizen scientist observations. Image data are archived according to open source and FAIR data principles. NoDDAC will also look for crossovers with projects such as the Personal Space Weather Station to provide additional ground-based measurements of the space environment. This presentation will reflect on the data captured with NoDDAC and outline a timeline for its future, and open the floor for collaborations with other citizen science efforts.

}, author = {Vincent Ledvina and Elizabeth MacDonald and Laura Brandt and Michael McCormack and Steve Collins and Wayne Barkhouse and Timothy Young} } @conference {401, title = {Neutral Winds in the Equatorial Thermosphere as Measured With the SOFDI Instrument (ePoster)}, booktitle = {HamSCI Workshop 2020}, year = {2020}, month = {03/2020}, publisher = {HamSCI}, organization = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, abstract = {

The Second-generation, Optimized, Fabry-Perot Doppler Imager (SOFDI), a triple-etalon Fabry-Perot interferometer, is designed to measure both nighttime and daytime thermospheric winds from OI 630-nm emission. These continual 24-hour observations of thermospheric winds made with SOFDI under the geomagnetic equator at Huancayo, Peru, during northern summer, provide a unique data set. Results obtained from these data set are compared to the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) derived from\ \ total electron content (TEC) and Jicamarca incoherent scatter radar (ISR) measurements of the pre-reversal enhancement (PRE). We investigate the dynamics of the EIA asymmetry in response to measured thermospheric winds. A direct relationship between the afternoon winds and the magnitude of the PRE is also reported. The large variability of winds is observed in the afternoon which is likely caused by synoptic tidal activity modulating gravity waves. Also, a comparison between the measured neutral winds to that obtained from Horizontal Wind Model 14 is demonstrated. These results confirm the role that the thermospheric winds play in modulating equatorial dynamics and further demonstrate the need for both zonal and meridional components of the wind flow.

}, author = {Sovit Khadka and Andrew Gerrard and John Meriwether} } @conference {385, title = {A new CHAIN site in New Brunswick: low-cost HF and GNSS instruments for Solar Eclipse 2024}, booktitle = {HamSCI Workshop 2020}, year = {2020}, month = {03/2020}, publisher = {HamSCI}, organization = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, abstract = {

The Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Network (CHAIN) is an array of ground-based radio instruments deployed in the Canadian Arctic and operated by the University of New Brunswick. The network consists of 25 GISTMs/GPS receivers and 9 ionosondes located in Canada at high geographic latitudes spanning between 56{\textdegree} and 80{\textdegree} and has been expanded recently with a new mid-latitude station in New Brunswick, Canada. The coordinates of the new station (Blissville, 45.6 N, 66.54 W) make the station an ideal location to host space weather instrumentation for study of the Solar Eclipse 2024. The predicted path of the total solar eclipse is passing through the site. The Blissville station is equipped with a range of scientific grade instruments, including a multi-constellation GNSS scintillation monitor and CADI ionosonde. Likewise, this station is hosting a low-cost, low-power HF-radar and a low-cost dual frequency GNSS receiver. The ongoing tests are showing good performance with room for potential improvements of the low-cost devices with respect to the citizen science applications. The results of the data comparison of the scientific grade and low-cost space weather instruments will be presented. Possibilities for collaboration with amateur radio community will be discussed.

}, author = {A. Farnham and A. Kashcheyev and T. Kelly and P. T. Jayachandran} } @conference {395, title = {Nikola Tesla {\textendash} The Pioneer who Paved the Road to the World and Ham Radio as We Know It (Invited Tutorial)}, booktitle = {HamSCI Workshop 2020}, year = {2020}, month = {03/2020}, publisher = {HamSCI}, organization = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, abstract = {

I presented a talk in 2006 at Penn State that was the 150th anniversary of the birth of Nikola Tesla, the inventor of many things that we still use today. That talk presented the history and life of Tesla who is one of the most interesting scientists and persons of all time. He has a cult following and is the subject of many conspiracies and mysteries. He was at the forefront of the current wars at the time (DC vs AC), and his system of power generation is still the basic system we use to this day, quite a feat for something in engineering to last that long. Nikola Tesla also had some very eccentric personality traits that I will discuss as well. His Tesla Coil invention is still a popular item to be built and cause fascination by many Tesla hobbyists. This talk will essentially be an abbreviated version to what was given at Penn State. Many of Tesla{\textquoteright}s most important inventions and patents will be discussed and how they changed the world as we know it now. Guglielmo Marconi is usually credited with inventing radio, but it was shown after a long fight in 1943 that Tesla was indeed the first, and his much earlier patent proved it. Unfortunately, Tesla{\textquoteright}s death occurred about 6 months before the patent office corrected the history. In the talk at Penn State, many demos were performed and recorded on video. Some of these videos of the demos will be shown of various Tesla Coils including some playing music. Tesla{\textquoteright}s work and inventions would clearly be something similar in the spirit of today{\textquoteright}s HamSCI charter.

}, author = {J. Breakall} } @conference {399, title = {Novel methods for characterizing ionospheric irregularities in the high-latitude ionosphere (ePoster)}, booktitle = {HamSCI Workshop 2020}, year = {2020}, month = {03/2020}, publisher = {HamSCI}, organization = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, abstract = {

Plasma structuring in the high-latitude ionosphere impacts over-the-horizon radio communication and global navigation systems, and is an important space weather effect. Therefore, characterizing the formation and evolution of these structures is critically important. It is useful to create {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}irregularity spectra", which quantify the sizes of plasma structures in the high-latitude ionosphere.\ \ The shape of the spectra (and other characteristics) can provide insight into the source of the irregularities. From this information it is then possible to forecast the occurrence of irregularities and predict their impact on radio wave propagation and communications. We are able to compute irregularity spectra by leveraging the phased array design of several incoherent scatter radars (ISRs), and using some unique properties of the F-region plasma at high-latitudes.\ \ In this presentation we will describe how we develop and apply a novel technique for ISR measurements to resolve high-latitude ionospheric irregularity spectra at a finer resolution than has been previously possible with ground-based instruments. We will motivate the newly developed ISR technique, describe its methodology, and provide some first results demonstrating its effectiveness. This technique will enable future studies that will directly link high-latitude ionospheric plasma structure drivers to their impact on radio wave communications.

}, author = {Lindsay V. Goodwin and Gareth Perry} } @conference {320, title = {N2PK Vector Network Analyzer; A sophisticated portable HF VNA for field work (Demonstration)}, booktitle = {HamSCI Workshop 2019}, year = {2019}, month = {03/2019}, publisher = {HamSCI}, organization = {HamSCI}, address = {Cleveland, OH}, author = {Robert Melville} } @conference {297, title = {The New Arecibo Ionospheric Modification HF Facility Dual Array Cassegrain Antenna {\textendash} History and Design}, booktitle = {HamSCI Workshop 2019}, year = {2019}, month = {03/2019}, abstract = {

A new HF facility has been built at Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico, that has replaced the prior Islote heater that was destroyed by Hurricane Georges in 1998. It was decided to use the 1000 foot dish for this new heater antenna instead of rebuilding the previous installation. This will make it possible to have all research activities with ionospheric modification including the 430 MHz incoherent scatter radar (ISR) to be located at the Observatory. This will be perfect to provide the ability to study the upper atmosphere, study plasma effects, and other future experiments. Historically, ionospheric modification has been carried out before at Arecibo using originally a Yagi and later a crossed-log periodic antenna hanging from the platform. These both had logistic and electrical arcing problems, and that was what led to the construction of the Islote facility on the north coast of Puerto Rico. The Islote facility also had logistic and arcing problems from both the wires in the antenna and the wire cage pseudo-coaxial transmission lines. The transmission lines were upgraded, and this improved performance and reliability greatly just before the hurricane destroyed the facility. The first feasible concept to be considered for the current design was a dual-band crossed-Yagi that would hang with cables from pulleys and winches on the three support towers. The total power for each polarization would then travel up a 4-wire open transmission line from below. A combining and phasing system design was formulated for the six 100 kilowatt transmitters in this concept. It was later decided to use another design based on a Cassegrain concept of a phased-array at the bottom of the dish feeding energy to a sub-reflector mesh hanging from cables and winches from the three support towers. This paper will describe some of the history and the design of the present antenna that is currently being used for ionospheric modification at Arecibo.

}, author = {James K. Breakall} } @conference {292, title = {New Directions in Sporadic-E Research}, booktitle = {HamSCI Workshop 2019}, year = {2019}, month = {03/2019}, publisher = {HamSCI}, organization = {HamSCI}, address = {Cleveland, OH}, abstract = {

A complete understanding of the causes of Sporadic-E propagation has so far defied analysis. The large number of possible parameters, many of which are non-linear and/or stochastic (random) in nature, has made it very difficult to model the system well enough to tease apart the causes and effects so as to be able to predict this phenomenon. This research effort, spurred in part by Joe Dzekovich{\textquoteright}s (K1YOW) QST article which suggested a possible relationship between Upper Level Lows and Sporadic E on 6 meters, is applying methods of Deep Learning (a branch of Artificial Intelligence) combined with traditional analytics to better understand what make the 6-meter {\textquotedblleft}magic{\textquotedblright} band work. The HamSCI HARC spots database is used along with data from NOAA, NASA, and meteorite monitoring networks. This is a progress briefing on research which is ongoing and not yet complete.

}, author = {William Engelke} } @article {139, title = {The New Sunspot Numbers}, volume = {100}, year = {2016}, month = {10/2016}, pages = {38-41}, issn = {0033-4812}, url = {http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/arrl/qst_201610/index.php}, author = {Carl Luetzelschwab} }