@proceedings {861, title = {Learning Communications Systems Using Amateur Radio Satellites}, year = {2024}, month = {03/2024}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Cleveland, OH}, abstract = {

Introductory undergraduate classes on communication systems for electrical engineers typically include theoretical treatments of signals and systems, spectral analysis, modulation, noise, filtering, and digital techniques. While theory is extremely important and useful, a purely theoretical treatment of Communications Systems can leave students without a strong intuition of the practical application of these topics. In the past, it might reasonably be expected that students might have some of this intuition from listening to analog AM and FM radio in the car, or using license-free two-way communication systems such as FRS or CB radios. These systems all expose noise, the need for filtering, and other underlying communications systems concepts to the end user. However, due to the advanced nature of modern digital communications, many of these underlying factors are now effectively hidden. To develop a hands-on intuition communications systems topics, students in the Spring 2024 EE 451 Communications Systems class at The University of Scranton are earning their amateur radio licenses learning to operate low-Earth orbit (LEO) Amateur Radio Satellites. In addition to the communications topics discussed above, these students also gain first-hand experience with directional antennas, polarization, Doppler shift, and basic orbital mechanics. In this presentation, students from the EE 451 class explain the basics of communicating through amateur satellites and discuss what they have learned so far.

}, author = {Augustine Brapoh and James Hankee and Aidan Szabo and Robert Troy and Robert W. McGwier and Nathaniel A. Frissell} } @proceedings {758, title = {Low-Cost Low-Power Ionosonde}, year = {2023}, month = {03/2023}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, abstract = {

Ionosondes are a type of radar used to gather data about the height of the ionosphere. Typically, these systems can easily cost thousands of dollars and demand a lot of power. Using newer software defined radio technology, our goal is to develop a low cost, low power ionosonde.

}, author = {Gerard N. Piccini and Robert W. McGwier and Robert A. Spalletta and Majid Mokhtari and Nathaniel A. Frissell and Philip J. Erickson} } @conference {165, title = {The Solar Eclipse QSO Party: Ionospheric Sounding Using Ham Radio QSOs}, booktitle = {Dayton Hamvention}, year = {2017}, address = {Xenia, OH}, abstract = {

The 2017 Total Solar Eclipse is expected to temporarily induce profound changes on ionospheric structure, dynamics, and radio propagation. The ARRL and HamSCI are sponsoring a Solar Eclipse QSO Party (SEQP) that will be used to generate to assist in imaging ionospheric changes before, during, and after the eclipse. Data will be collected through participant submitted logs and the use of automated tools such as the Reverse Beacon Network (RBN), PSKReporter, and WSPRNet. SEQP rules and a prediction of results will be presented.

}, author = {Nathaniel A. Frissell and Joshua D. Katz and Andrew J. Gerrard and Magdalina Moses and Gregory D. Earle and Robert W. McGwier and Ethan S. Miller and Stephen Kaeppler and H. W. Silver} } @conference {143, title = {HamSCI: The Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation}, booktitle = {Fall 2016 American Geophysical Union}, year = {2016}, month = {12/2016}, publisher = {American Geophysical Union}, organization = {American Geophysical Union}, address = {San Francisco}, abstract = {

Amateur (or {\textquotedblleft}ham{\textquotedblright}) radio operators are individuals with a non-pecuniary interest in radio technology, engineering, communications, science, and public service. They are licensed by their national governments to transmit on\ amateur radio frequencies. In many jurisdictions, there is no age requirement for a ham radio license, and operators from diverse backgrounds participate. There are more than 740,000 hams in the US, and over 3 million (estimated)\ worldwide. Many amateur communications are conducted using transionospheric links and thus affected by space weather and ionospheric processes. Recent technological advances have enabled the development of\ automated ham radio observation networks (e.g. the Reverse Beacon Network,\ www.reversebeacon.net) and specialized operating modes for the study of weak-signal propagation. The data from these networks have been\ shown to be useful for the study of ionospheric processes. In order to connect professional researchers with the volunteer-based ham radio community, HamSCI (Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation,\ www.hamsci.org) has\ been established. HamSCI is a platform for publicizing and promoting projects that are consistent with the following objectives: (1) Advance scientific research and understanding through amateur radio activities. (2) Encourage\ the development of new technologies to support this research. (3) Provide educational opportunities for the amateur community and the general public. HamSCI researchers are working with the American Radio Relay League\ (ARRL,\ www.arrl.org) to publicize these objectives and recruit interested hams. The ARRL is the US national organization for amateur radio with a membership of over 170,000 and a monthly magazine, QST. HamSCI is\ currently preparing to support ionospheric research connected to the 21 Aug 2017 Total Solar Eclipse by expanding coverage of the Reverse Beacon Network and organizing a large-scale ham radio operating event ({\textquotedblleft}QSO\ Party{\textquotedblright}) to generate data during the eclipse.

}, url = {http://hamsci.org/sites/default/files/publications/2016_AGU_Frissell_HamSCI.pdf}, author = {Nathaniel A. Frissell and Magdalina L. Moses and Gregory Earle and Robert W. McGwier and Ethan S. Miller and Steven R. Kaeppler and H. Ward Silver and Felipe Ceglia and David Pascoe and Nicholas Sinanis and Peter Smith and Richard Williams and Alex Shovkoplyas and Andrew J. Gerrard} }