Publications

Personal Space Weather Station (PSWS) (deprecated page)

Overview

The Personal Space Weather Station project goal is the creation of a geographically distributed, multi-instrument system capable of making ground-based measurements of the space environment. The observations from this project will be useful to the owner of each system, but, more importantly, they will be aggregated into a central database for space science and space weather research purposes. The systems are designed to be relatively low cost (between 100 and 1000 US dollars), easily constructed and deployed by science professionals, educational institutions and citizen scientists. As of mid-2024, HamSCI members and their supporting institutions have designed and deployed numerous GRAPE* WWV Doppler Monitors, WSPR^ receivers and ground magnetometers. HamSCI and its partners are constantly at work on expanding the network, improving the PSWS data collection hardware and software, growing the network infrastructure for data storage and retrieval, as well as meeting HamSCI's ultimate goal, analysis of the collected data. This project is led by the The University of Scranton, in collaboration with the Tucson Amateur Packet Radio, Inc. (TAPR), Case Western Reserve University, the University of Alabama, the New Jersey Institute of Technology Center for Solar Terrestrial Research (NJIT-CSTR), and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Haystack Observatory.

*GRAPE = Great Radio Amateur Propagation Experiment, GPS disciplined frequency measurements of standard time signal stations, such as WWV, WWVH and CHU

^WSPR = Weak Signal Propagation Reporter, a method of transmitting and receiving digital signals, uniquely suited to the study of radio wave propagation (wsjt.sourceforge.io)

Getting Involved

HamSCI welcomes involvement from anyone interested in space weather - the physical processes, daily variations and occasionally spectacular events which affect the Earth's ionosphere. HamSCI members consist of citizen scientists (ordinary folks volunteering their time, resources and knowledge towards HamSCI's primary missions of research, education and technology development), educators, university researchers, and professional space scientists - a broad spectrum of interests, educational experiences and practical backgrounds. HamSCI has a Get Involved page, listing resources such as Google Groups and regular telecons on various subjects.

HamSCI highly encourages all readers to explore the components of the PSWS. Consider building or sourcing one or more components, so that you may put your own Personal Space Weather Station 'on the air', receiving and contributing valuable data in the name of space physics research.

Note: HamSCI occasionally receives grant monies for deploying PSWS components at little or no cost to a volunteer willing to host the component(s) (such as a Grape receiver, ground magnetometer, or VLF receiving system) . Depending on which component is hosted, the host may be expected to erect a simple antenna, bury a magenetometer sensor, and, in all cases, provide an Internet connection. Requirements are spelled out, in some detail, on each PSWS component web page. Announcements regarding grant funded equipment are generally made via the main HamSCI Google Group. Questions are welcomed at HamSCI's general email address.

Components

The Personal Space Weather Station is a modular system, with each module being developed by a different team. Visit the links or see the photos below to learn about the modules. Some can be assembled and programmed in a home workshop, while others consist mainly of commercially available components. All require some degree of 'systems integration' to assure the components are connected/programmed properly, and sending data to aggregation servers via the Internet. HamSCI strives to provide information and instructions for all modules here on the website.

The most basic PSWS would consist of just a single module - such as one of the WWV Doppler Monitors or a Ground Magnetometer. More ambitious PSWS hosts may wish to install and operate multiple instruments, eg WWV Doppler Monitor + Ground Magnetometer, or, in the future, adding a VLF Receiving System.

GRAPE 1 fldigi Single Channel WWV Doppler Monitor
GRAPE 1 DRF Single Channel WWV Doppler Monitor
GRAPE 2 Three Channel WWV Doppler Monitor
WSPRDaemon GRAPE Full Spectrum Receiver System (Doppler Monitor and WSPR/FST4w Decoder)
Ground Magnetometer Module
VLF (Very Low Frequency) Observatory (hardware/software/web page under development - preliminary details at the link below )


GRAPE 1 - fldigi	GRAPE 1 - DRF	WSPRDaemon - SDR Full Spectrum Receiver


GRAPE 2	Ground Magnetometer

Research Questions

The PSWS project is motivated by questions from both from the science and amateur radio communities:

Science Questions

How does the ionosphere respond to inputs from space and from the neutral atmosphere?
How does the ionosphere couple with the neutral atmosphere and with space?
What are the sources of medium and large scale traveling ionospheric disturbances?
What are the causes of Sporadic E?

Amateur Radio Questions

How do disturbances such as solar flares, geomagnetic storms, and traveling ionospheric disturbances affect radio wave propagation?
How does ionospheric science help amateur radio operators improve communications?
How can I make measurements in my own backyard that will help improve my amateur radio operations?

Further Information

Most terms and topics relevant to the PSWS can be explored via the Search Page here on the HamSCI website. (The search function can be a bit buggy - if you receive an error message, reload and try again.) A few suggested links:

The science behind the GRAPE HF Receiver/Doppler monitor
A comprehensive poster explaining how HF Doppler observations made with a network of low cost HamSCI Personal Space Weather Stations can be used to detect ionospheric phenomena
An Atlas of HamSCI’s PSWS Doppler Spectrograms - How to graphically interpret the Doppler Shift data generate by the various GRAPE receivers and the WSPRDaemon SDRs
What needed to host a GRAPE 1, 2, or WSPRDaemon - GRAPE Full Spectrum Receiver? (web page under development)
WsprDaemon: A site dedicated to scientific applications of the WSPR (Weak Signal Propagation Reporter) and FST4W digital modes
Commentary on the value of ground magnetometer networks and their application to space physics, AGU (American Geophysical Union) Earth and Space Sciences
What is possible with a VLF Observatory? The W2NAF-KC3EEY VLF Observatory: Building Exciting New Developments from a Solid Foundation
HamSCI Glossary

HamSCI WSPR Enthusiast Files Comments with FCC

Long time HamSCI contributor, propagation analyst and (to put it mildly) WSPR enthusiast Gwyn Griffiths, G3ZIL, recently authored a response to the Federal Communication Commission's Request for Comments on the May 10, 2024 geomagnetic storm, regarding its effects on the US communication sector. The paper's focus was on the HF bands, for the period of 10-14 May, 2024.

Gwyn began by giving a thorough explanation of the why's and wherefore's of Weak Signal Propagation Reporter (WSPR) data generation and collection, including the WSPRDaemon database which holds terrabytes of WSPR reception reports.

Not one to simply explain his findings, via colorful graphs and succinct text, Gwyn created a series of dashboards specifically for use by the FCC, by providing the FCC with their own unique login and password in the Grafana data visualization tool, available on the WSPR Daemon website. Rather than simply giving the FCC bureaucrats and engineers a document to read, he gave them opportunity to visualize the data, delving in as deeply as they desire, via their own mice and keyboards.

Gwyn's conclusions, best viewed directly in the Response to Comments, covered subjects such as HF noise measurements, propagation disturbances, signal-to-noise ratio and frequency spread of HF signals.

Gwyn noted that the response was from WsprDaemon - a US-led, international group of radio amateurs making, reporting, archiving, interpreting and publishing data and information on radio propagation.

The full paper can be viewed here.

Well done, Gwyn, and the entire WsprDaemon community!

2024 GSSC Contest Results Announced

HamSCI is pleased to announce the results from the second running of the Gladstone Signal Spotting Challenge (GSSC). Held during the April 8, 2024 North American total solar eclipse, the competition was designed to recognize operators of digital mode stations who contribute valuable data to ionospheric research. Receiving stations upload their records to sites such as PSKreporter.info, WSPRnet.org and reversebeacon.net. Transmitting stations are received by stations worldwide who upload to those same databases, creating records of the transmitting stations’ activity.... Link to full results (All participant scores, sampling of entrants' comments, station design details and photographs.)

Congratulations to all who entered. HamSCI appreciates your contribution to space physics and citizen science via on-air amateur radio competition.

If you have any questions on the results, please email [email protected] .

Top 3 WSPR/FST4W Receive-Only Stations for 2024. Link to Full Results

Callsign	Grid Square	WSPR Rx Bands	WSPR Rx Reports	FST4W Rx Bands	FST4W Rx Reports	Final Rx Score
N2YCH	FN31jg	160,80,40,30,20,17,15,12,10,6	31,179	80,40,30,20,15,12,10	623	39,753
NJ0U	EN71ib	40,30,20,17,15,12	26,002		0	26,002
VE3KI	FN25ce	80,40,20,15	16,544	80,40,20,15	392	23,287

Final Scores are calculated from Rx reports and bonus multipliers...see the GSSC rules for full details.

Top 3 WSPR/FST4W/ Transmit-Only Stations for 2024. Link to Full Results

Callsign	Grid Square	WSPR Tx Bands	WSPR Tx Reports	FST4W Tx Bands	FST4W Tx Reports	Final Tx Score
K6XX	CM87vd	160,80,40,30,20,17,15,12,10,6	144,323		0	166,693
N1QM	EM79xr	80,40,30,20,17,15, 12,10,6	128,575		0	128,575
VA2CY	FN46lw	40,20,17,15,12,10	49,056	80	3,156	75,381

Final Scores are calculated from Tx reports and bonus multipliers...see the GSSC rules for full details.

Top 3 Stations who both Received and Transmitted in 2024. Link to Full Results

Callsign	Grid Square	Final Rx Score	Final Tx Score	Final Combined Score
PT2FHC	GH64cg	20,934	7,018	27,952
AI5MM	EM34NP	59	26,655	26,714
K7NC	CN87sm	164	26,067	26,231

Final Scores are calculated from Rx+Tx reports and bonus multipliers...see the GSSC rules for full details.

Link to all FoEIS results

2023 GSSC Contest Results Announced

Results for the Gladstone Signal Spotting Challenge 2023

HamSCI is pleased to announce the results from the inaugural running of the Gladstone Signal Spotting Challenge (GSSC). Held during the October, 14, 2023 North American annular solar eclipse, the competition was designed to recognize operators of digital mode stations who contribute valuable data to ionospheric research. Receiving stations upload their records to sites such as PSKreporter.info, WSPRnet.org and reversebeacon.net. Transmitting stations are received by stations worldwide who upload to those same databases, creating records of the transmitting stations’ activity.... Link to full results (All particpant scores, sampling of station design details and station photographs.)

Congratulations to all who entered. HamSCI appreciates your contribution to space physics and citizen science via on-air amateur radio competition.

If you have any questions on the results, please email [email protected] .

The Top 3 WSPR/FST4W/CW Receiving Stations for 2023 are shown below. Link to Full Results

Callsign	Grid Square	WSPR Rx Reports	FST4W-120 Rx Reports	FST4W Rx Multiplier	CW Rx Reports	Station Photos Multiplier	Station Design Mulitplier	Final Rx Score
W1WRA	FN42fx	20,406		1		1	1.1	22,447
HB9TMC	JN46lj	21,335		1		1	1	21,335
PT2FHC	GH64cg	9,025	254	1.25		1	1.1	10,277

The Top 3 WSPR/FST4W/ Transmitting Stations for 2023 are shown below. Link to Full Results

Callsign	Grid Square	WSPR Tx Reports	FST4W-120 Tx Reports	FST4W Tx Multiplier	Station Photos Multiplier	Station Design Mulitplier	Final Tx Score
KG5JEN	FN33cf	67,089		1	1	1.1	73,798
K6XX	CM87vd	39,695	231	1.25	1.05	1.1	46,181
AE4PE	EM85mm	40,184		1	1	1	40,184

The Top 3 FT4 Transmitting and Receiving Stations for 2023 are shown below. Link to Full Results

Callsign	Grid Square	FT4/8 Rx Reports	FT4/8 Tx Reports	Photos (x1.05)	Station Design (x1.10)	Final FT4/8 Score
HB9TMC	CM99df	224,550		1	1	224,550
CT7ANO	FM19gh	13,989		1	1	13,989
PS7JN/P	DN07ds		1,127	1	1	1,127

Link to all FoEIS results

HamSCI at CEDAR 2024 Workshop

HamSCI at the National Science Foundation's CEDAR Workshop: A Thriving Collaboration in Ionospheric Science

The National Science Foundation’s annual Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions (CEDAR) Workshop, was held June 9-14 in San Diego, CA. It was once again been a focal point for groundbreaking research and collaboration in ionospheric science. This year, the HamSCI community has been exceptionally active, showcasing their significant contributions to the field.

A Strong HamSCI Presence

Many members of the HamSCI community were in attendance, with those listed here giving six oral presentations and eleven research posters. Their contributions covered a range of topics, demonstrating the wide range of research being conducted within the HamSCI community.

Cuong Nguyen KC3UAX

Alex Papadopoulos KC3WUD

Gerard Piccini KD2ZHK

Tom Pisano KE2BAC

JP Fox KE2ANL

Michael Molzen

Nicholas Guerra AC3LB

Diego Sanchez KD2RLM

Rachel Boedicker AC8XY

Kristina Collins KD8OXT

Bill Engelke AB4EJ

Gareth Perry KD2SAK

Jesse Alexander WB2IFS

Nejon McBride-Stubbs KJ5AXD

Nathaniel Frissell W2NAF

Phil Karn KA9Q

Jesse Alexander's Plenary DEI Talk

One of the workshop's high points was Jesse Alexander, WB2IFS's invited plenary talk on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). His talk not only reflected on the ongoing efforts to enhance inclusivity within the scientific community but also powerfully called to action to develop an equitable framework for geoscience projects.

Phil Karn KA9Q

Phil Karn, KA9Q, a well-known figure in the amateur radio and communication technology communities, attended this event. His participation provided him an opportunity to see how his latest project , KA9Q Radio, contributes directly to ionospheric research. It is likely that Phil came away from the Workshop with numerous ideas for further development of his software defined radio platform.

Engagement and Networking

The CEDAR workshop is more than presentations and scientific sessions; it’s a platform for budding scientists and seasoned researchers to interact, share ideas, and build collaborations. We are proud of the robust participation from HamSCI members, who engaged actively in discussions, shared insights, and widened their professional networks.

Looking Forward

The HamSCI community continues to actively foster opportunities for interaction between the amateur radio and professional space physics communities. The enthusiasm and commitment of HamSCI volunteers and researchers to advancing our understanding of the Earth’s ionosphere and magnetosphere through collaborative science serve to highlight the unique role that amateur radio operators play along side the scientific community.

Please visit the official workshop website for more details: CEDAR Workshop

- Article submitted by McKenzie Denton, KO4GLN

- Photos courtesy Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF

2023 SEQP Contest Results Announced

The complete results for the October 14, 2023 running of the SEQP have been published. They contain participants' scores and a sampling of photos, soapbox comments and station diagrams. Finally, credits appear for those who helped make the SEQP possible.

Download the Complete October 14, 2023 SEQP Results

Download certificates for winners and participants

Visit the SEQP home page

A hearty 'Thank You' to all who participated and made it a successful event!

2023 SEQP Winners


	Single Op	Total Score	Multi-Op	Total Score
1	WP3R Angel Vasquez Arecibo, PR	163,340	K0PZH University of Iowa ARC Iowa City, IA (K0PZH, N0GJW)	74,185
2	N7RCS Jim Smallwood Palm Bay, FL	98.062	W2NPT Fairlawn ARC (KD2BRV, KD2GKA, KD2KLN, KD2SOG, N2JLF, N2SU, NP4H, W2JC, W2MSA, WX2R)	34,876
3	W0DTM Travis Hambach Warrenton, MO	69,432	W2OW Binghamton ARA Vestal, NY (KE2BKW, KD2YSN, NE2B, N2ENG, AB2HS, KA1M, KA2YRA, KU2O, WM2R, KE2BON)	6,665

Link to all FoEIS Results

Hamvention 2024

HamSCI Searching for Instrumentation Sites and Hosts

Destination Url

/site-search

HamSCI Searching for Instrumentation Sites and Hosts

Project Goals

The Personal Space Weather Station project aims to create a geographically diverse, multi-instrument network (consisting of 15 to 30 sites) that will make ground-based measurements of the space environment. The observations from this project will not only be useful to the owner of the system, but also aggregated into a central database for space science and space weather research purposes. Much of HamSCI’s research to date has been on the Earth’s ionosphere and magnetosphere, there is a strong desire in the research community, and from the participating institutions (see below), for an expanded network featuring co-located instruments noted below. It is believed this approach will be a ‘first’ in space weather research.

The Need for Receiving Sites

HamSCI is making plans to deploy roughly 30 multi-instrument Personal Space Weather Stations across the US and possibly into Canada. ‘RF quiet’ sites are needed where the hosts would be willing to install and operate the following:

HamSCI PSWS HF Receiver (HFRx) - GPS disciplined HF SDR receiver, covering 160-6 meters, using an active vertical antenna
Ground Magnetometer (GMag) - Magnetic field detector, buried in PVC pipe, cabling from the field to a building, Raspberry Pi or PC
Whistler Catcher VLF Receiver (VLF-WC) - VLF receiver at ~8kHz, ground mounted active antenna, cabling from the field to a building, Raspberry Pi

The Need for WSPR Transmitting Sites Across North America

Update: 25 June, 2025: HamSCI is making plans to deploy ten WSPRSonde Transmitters all around the US. They are 8-band, GPS frequency disciplined, low power (~1 watt/band) transmitters, designed to make WSPR and FST4w transmissions on a 24/7/365 basis.

Project Status - Receiving Equipment

Update: 1 July, 2026: HamSCI has received a grant to deploy ~30 stations, thanks to The National Science Foundation's DASI2 (Distributed Array of Small Instruments, Track 2) program.

The HamSCI PSWS HF Receiver is a stable design, having been deployed to over a twenty sites, from northern Canada to the Antarctic continent. Both documentation and testing for further deployments are underway.

The Ground Magnetometer is a stable design. HamSCI is producing the hardware needed for DASI2 deployment. Software development and testing are underway.

The VLF Receiving System is in the prototype phase. Some issues with system compatibility have arisen. At this time, it is not recommend to site an HFRx antenna and a VLF-WC in close proximity.

Grant monies grants will cover the costs of the project hardware, thus expenses incurred by hosts should be minimal (but we can’t guarantee that they will be zero). We are asking for a commitment of time and place. HamSCI intends this project to be an example of citizen science at its very best. Of course, if any hosts wants to self-fund some or all of the equipment, HamSCI would be most appreciative.

Site Selection Criteria - Receiving Sites (revised 27 Apr 2024)

Long term commitment, 1 year or more

Hamshack or workshop with spare monitors, keyboards, mice, cables, hand tools, etc.

Host (operator) of reasonable technical competence - familiar with simple wire antenna construction and installation, single board computer (Raspberry Pi) software configuration, Ethernet connectivity, outdoor cabling (weatherproofing, protection from animals, mowers, cultivators, etc.)

Stable Internet connection for sending data to the Cloud

Time to participate in virtual meetings with project leaders, other hosts and the general HamSCI community (most HamSCI project teams meet weekly - but that is not a requirement!)

Rural or semi-rural location for both the VLF Rx’s active antenna and the buried Ground Magnetometer (which can be co-located):

Ground Magnetometer Site Considerations

should be at least 200 ft away from any type of aerial, underground, or structures with power wiring.
should be at least 200 ft away from any underground ground wire (for example, used to tie an antenna site ground to the main shack ground)

VLF Receiver Site Considerations

200 ft separation from above/below ground aerials, wiring, ground wires to a home or other source of mains harmonics (same as magnetometer considerations, see above)
should be at least 30 ft away from a tree's farthest overhanging branch
cannot be installed in brush, bushes, or under trees, but tall grasses are acceptable
should have an earth ground connection at all times
open fields are usually the best locations if the above conditions could be satisfied

If you have questions regarding the Personal Space Weather Station, please send them to [email protected]

Interested Participant Form - HF/VLF/Ground Mag and WSPRSonde Transmitter

Please complete this form if you are interested in providing a site and hosting the next generation of the Personal Space Weather Station. Doing so will enable the project team to see 'the big picture' and reach out to you with comments, questions, etc.

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Supporting Institutions

FIve Grape Institutions.jpeg

April 8, 2024 Solar Eclipse QSO Party First Results

The April 8, 2024 HamSCI Total Solar Eclipse QSO Party (SEQP) first results are in! Over 52.7 million radio communications were observed over the continental United States using the PSKReporter, WSPRNet, and Reverse Beacon Network networks. Eclipse effects were observed between 18 to 21 UTC, particularly on the 1.8, 3.5, and 7 MHz bands. These bands all showed enhancement in propagation resulting from the eclipse, suggestive of a reduction in D region absorption. The 14, 21, and 28 MHz bands also showed hints of eclipse impacts. A reduction in communications observed at near-ranges during the eclipse likely results from a reduction in ionospheric electron densities during this time. More analysis to be done in the future!

Special thanks to all the team members and volunteers who made this possible! This work was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation and NASA.

HamSCI Workshop Wins 'Best Event' Award

HamSCI's 2024 Workshop was awarded 'Best Event of the 2023-2024 Academic Year' by Case Western Reserve University's Media Board. The Case Amateur Radio Club (CARC), W8EDU, hosted this year's HamSCI Workshop.

"The University Media Board fosters responsible forums of student expression through a variety of media covering writing, photography, cinematography, film, and radio. Groups that fall under the University Media Board include The Athenian, Case Reserve Review, Discussions, Film Society, CWRU Footlighters, LUX, The Observer, Studio 300, SPARC[conversations], WRUW-91.1FM, and Young Writers of Cleveland." The CARC is also represented on the University Media Board.

Congratulations to all involved, and especially to the 2024 Workshop Committees:

Local Organizing Committee

Mr. Nathaniel Vishner, KB1QHX, Chair
Mr. Matthew Canel, KE8NZR
Dr. Kristina Collins, KD8OXT
Mr. John Gibbons, N8OBJ
Dr. David Kazdan, AD8Y
Mr. Gary Mikitin, AF8A

Science/Program Committee

Dr. Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, Chair, The University of Scranton (Assistant Professor)
Dr. Kristina Collins, KD8OXT, Space Science Institute
Mr. Jesse Alexander WB2IFS, NRAO
Ms. Rachel Boedicker AC8XY, Case Western Reserve University
Dr. Gareth Perry, KD2SAK, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Mr. Bill Liles, NQ6Z, HamSCI Community (Diversity Recruitment Chair)
Dr. Phil Erickson, W1PJE, MIT Haystack Observatory (Director of MIT Haystack Observatory)
Mr. Gary Mikitin, AF8A

Save The Dates: HamSCI at Hamvention

HamSCI will be playing a major role at the 2024 Dayton Hamvention. It will be held in Xenia, Ohio May 17-18-19, 2024 at the Greene County Fairgrounds. Hamvention is the world's largest ham radio gathering, recently scoring over 30,000 attendees per year. The Hamvention, sponsored by the Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA), is an extremely important event for engaging with the amateur radio community, sharing ideas, developing collaborations, and sharing scientific results.

The Hamvention 2024 theme is Expanding Our Community, an excellent fit for HamSCI's goals. HamSCI will be hosting Booth 5008 in the Hertz Building, giving presentations in the ARISS/YOTA area and hosting the HamSCI Forum. Support for the 2024 HamSCI Hamvention activities comes from The University of Scranton, the Yasme Foundation, TAPR, the National Science Foundation, NASA, and volunteers like you.

Details and a presentation schedule are available here.

As always, we welcome HamSCI booth volunteers. As a volunteer, we ask that you be present in the HamSCI booth during your scheduled time slot, welcoming visitors, talking with them about HamSCI in general, HamSCI projects and your specific research interests. Feel free to bring demonstration items and materials and to talk about what you know best. The goal of HamSCI is to connect ham radio with scientific research. So, any topic that supports this goal is a good topic to talk about. The booth uniforms, are, by tradition, HamSCI labcoats. The 2024 HamSCI Booth Volunteer Page is viewable now.

HamSCI at 2024 Hamvention

HamSCI will be playing a major role at the 2024 Dayton Hamvention. It will be held in Xenia, Ohio May 17-18-19, 2024 at the Greene County Fairgrounds. It is the world's largest ham radio gathering, having over 30,000 attendees in 2023. The Hamvention, sponsored by the Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA), is an extremely important event for engaging with the amateur radio community, sharing ideas, developing collaborations, and sharing scientific results. The Hamvention 2024 theme is Expanding Our Community, an excellent fit for HamSCI's goals. HamSCI will be hosting Booth 5008 in the Hertz Building, giving presentations in the ARISS/YOTA area and hosting the HamSCI Forum.. Support for the 2024 HamSCI Hamvention activities comes from The University of Scranton, the Yasme Foundation, TAPR, the National Science Foundation, NASA, and volunteers like you.

HamSCI will be in Booth 5008, next to TAPR, in Building 5, the Hertz Building (map below). Stop by to learn about HamSCI's mission, our space weather projects and how you can play a role in our citizen science activities. HamSCI members will be hard to miss - just look for our white lab coats!

HamSCI Presentations

Members of HamSCI will be speaking and taking questions at various forums throughout Hamvention Weekend. Consult the links below, your Hamvention program or Hamvention phone app for details on how and where to attend.

Date & Time	Sponsor/Venue	Title	Presenter(s)	Organization	Home QTH(s)
Friday, May 17th 2:00 PM	Hamvention Antenna Forum	First Results of the HamSCI 2023-2024 Festivals of Eclipse Ionospheric Science	Nathaniel Frissell W2NAF		Scranton, PA

HamSCI Forum

Date & Time	Sponsor/Venue	Title	Presenter(s)	Organization	Home QTH(s)
Friday, May 17th 3:55 PM	Forum Room 2	HamSCI: Bringing the Amateur Radio and Professional Scientific Communities Together	Nathaniel A. Frissell, W2NAF		Scranton, PA
Friday, May 17th 4:00 PM	Forum Room 2	Results from the 2023/2024 Festivals of Eclipse Ionospheric Science and Solar Eclipse QSO Parties	Gary Mikitin AF8A		Cleveland, OH
Friday, May 17th 4:15 PM	Forum Room 2	Solar Eclipse Observations Using the HamSCI Grape Personal Space Weather Network	Rachel Boedicker AC8XY	CWRU	Cleveland, OH
Friday, May 17th 4:30 PM	Forum Room 2	WSPRDaemon, KA9Q Radio, and the HamSCI Personal Space Weather Station	Rob Robinett AI6VN		Half Moon Bay, CA
Friday, May 17th 4:45 PM	Forum Room 2	The NRAO Exploring the EMS/Ham Radio Project: Progress and the Way Ahead	Jesse Alexander WB2IFS	NRAO	Clinton, MD

Booth Talks: ARISS, HamSCI and YOTA

Booth talks, social hours and demonstrations will be given by ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station), HamSCI and YOTA (Youth on the Air). They will take place at Booth 4303 in the Building 4, the Volta Building (map below).

Date & Time	Sponsor	Title	Presenter(s)	Organization	Home QTH(s)
Friday, May 17th 10:00 AM	ARISS*	Ham TV from ISS	Randy Berger WA0D	ARISS-USA	Ft. Worth, TX
Friday, May 17th 11:00 AM		MUF Observations Using Personal Space Weather Stations	Gary Mikitin AF8A		Cleveland, OH
Friday, May 17th 12:00 PM	YOTA*	Youth Social Hour	YOTA team	YOTA	Americas
Friday, May 17th 1:00 PM		Observations of Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances with SuperDARN Radars	JP Fox KE2ANL	University of Scranton	Scranton, PA
Friday, May 17th 2:00 PM	ARISS	ARISS 2.0 Education: STEREO/SPARKI and STAR	Tanya Anderson KD9BQZ	ARISS-USA	Lisle, IL
Friday, May 17th 3:00 PM		Ionospheric Science Using AM Broadcast Signals	David McGaw N1HAC	Dartmouth College	Hanover, NH
Saturday, May 18th 10:00 AM	ARISS	How to Develop a Winning ARISS Contact Proposal	Tanya Anderson KD9BQZ	ARISS-USA	Lisle, IL
Saturday, May 18th 11:00 AM		In-Depth: WSPRDaemon, KA9Q Radio, and the HamSCI Personal Space Weather Station	Rob Robinette AI6VN, Paul Elliott WB6CXC	HamSCI	Half Moon Bay, Occidental CA
Saturday, May 18th 12:00 PM	YOTA	Youth Social Hour	YOTA team	YOTA	Americas
Saturday, May 18th 1:00 PM		KA9Q Radio: Software Defined Radio System	Phil Karn KA9Q	ARDC	San Diego, CA
Saturday, May 18th 2:00 PM	ARISS	Amateur Radio Demo of Lunar Operations	Randy Berger WA0D	ARISS-USA	Ft. Worth, TX

*YOTA = Youth On The Air (youthontheair.org), ARISS = Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ariss.org)

Booth Location

HamSCI will be at Booth 5008, next to TAPR, in the Building 5, the Hertz Building.

2024 Hamvention Map.002.jpeg

HamSCI Booth Photo 2023

Hamvention 2024

HamSCI at Hamvention 2023

Overview

HamSCI will be present at the 2024 Dayton/Xenia Hamvention in order to further its goal of connecting the ham radio and scientific communities. Support for the 2024 HamSCI Hamvention activities comes from The University of Scranton, The Yasme Foundation, TAPR, The National Science Foundation, NASA, and volunteers like you. Per long standing tradition, HamSCI will be hosting booth 5008 (next to TAPR in Building 5, the Hertz Building, map below), hosting the HamSCI Forum and giving booth talks in the ARISS/YOTA area (map below). To help out, please sign up to volunteer at the booth.

Booth Volunteering

The 2024 HamSCI booth location will be in Building 5, the Hertz Building, same as in years past. Please use the button below to sign up as a booth volunteer using NeedToMeet. (NOTE: NeedToMeet adjusts its calendars to your time zone based on your web browser settings. Please be aware that the HamSCI booth will be staffed from 9AM-5PM Friday and Saturday, and 9AM-1PM on Sunday. If you are in the Western time zone, the NeedToMeet calendar will probably show the days as starting at 6AM. Please know that translates to an actual Hamvention start time of 9AM.) (That's a NeedToMeet feature, not a bug!) As a volunteer, we ask that you be present in the HamSCI booth during your scheduled time slot, welcoming visitors, talking with them about HamSCI in general, HamSCI projects and your specific research interests. Feel free to bring demonstration items and materials and to talk about what you know best. The goal of HamSCI is to connect ham radio with scientific research. So, any topic that supports this goal is a good topic to talk about. The booth uniforms, are, by tradition, HamSCI labcoats. Purchase details below.

Volunteer Sign-Up

Lab Coats

HamSCI labcoats may be ordered from https://www.allheart.com/lab-coats. Please use custom logo code C_5163_Q5D and place the logo on the left chest. Put your whole name on Line 1, and your call sign on Line 2. Use block style lettering.

Recommended Styles for 2024

Note that allheart.com changes their available styles on a regular basis. The important thing is to pick a white lab coat that fits you and put the custom logo code C_5163_Q5D and place the logo on the left chest.

https://www.allheart.com/allheart/basics-by-allheart/unisex/unisex-41-ipad-pocket-lab-coat/ah8004.html

Sample Order - Information confirmed April, 2024

Natural Uniforms Unisex 41" Lab Coat
Item #: AH-8200---WHTLGE
Color: WHT White
Size: LGE
Personalization - Left Chest
  Embroidery Style: Block Style
  Thread Color: Black
  Letter Height: 1/2 inch (25 characters)
  Text Line #1: Dr. Nathaniel A. Frissell
  Custom Emblem: C_5163_Q5D
  Text Line #2: W2NAF

Exhibitor Badges

If you are volunteering at the booth or giving a talk, HamSCI will supply an exhibitor badge. These badges give you full access to the Hamvention, including the set-up and break-down times. However, these badges will not enter you in the prize drawings the way a normal Hamvention ticket will. Please coordinate requests for exhibitor badges with Gary Mikitin AF8A via [email protected].

Group Photo

A HamSCI group photo will be taken during the Hamvention on Saturday at 9:30 AM (1330 UTC) at the HamSCI booth. Wear your labcoats!

HamSCI Presentations, Talks and Demonstrations

Members of HamSCI will be presenting at many events throughout the Hamvention weekend, beginning Thursday evening. Some talks will be at offsite events, while others will be held on the Hamvention grounds. A complete list of talks, presenters and dates/times can be found by visiting the 2024 HamSCI Hamvention Schedule.

Questions?

If you have questions about HamSCI's 2024 Hamvention plans, please contact the HamSCI Team at [email protected].

Booth Location

HamSCI will be at Booth 5008, next to TAPR, in Building 5, the Hertz Building.

2024 Hamvention Map.002.jpeg

SEQP, GSSC and TDOA Logs Are Rolling In

Have you submitted your log?

HamSCI's Festivals of Eclipse Ionospheric Science events are experiencing a tremendous response from the ham radio community. Only 4 days past the total solar eclipse over North America:

We’ve already received well over 350 logs for our signature event, the Solar Eclipse QSO Party (SEQP). That number is 50% ahead of last October's event, and the log submission window is open until May 7th.
Participation in the Gladstone Signal Spotting Challenge (GSSC), where our radio wave propagation enthusiast entries number 110 so far, is running about 25% ahead of last October.
The third operating event, the Time Delay of Arrival Event, drew interest from over 50 HamSCI members and non-members alike. Files of received audio transmissions are still being collected.

Our reach has been far and wide, with participants not only across the US, but in Canada, the UK, Reunion Island (Africa), India and more.

If you participated in any of the above, please submit a log (SEQP) complete an entry form (GSSC), or provide your recordings (TDOA). Your results can be submitted as follows (details on these pages):

SEQP

GSSC

TDOA (Look for links to the Pre-Event Checklist - Contact information on the last page)

Reports are expected soon from the organizers of the other FoEIS Events: VLF Reception, MW Recordings Event, Grape 1 and Grape 2 Doppler Receiver Experiments, and the CWRU/CHU Reception Experiment.

HamSCI FoEIS Roundtable

HamSCI Members Hold an FoEIS Roundtable: Q&A on Eclipse-Related Ham Radio Events

Watch the video and learn how you can participate as a citizen-scientist during the North American Total Eclipse, April 8, 2024

HamSCI members AF8A, W2NAF and WX2R met with curious hams on Wednesday, March 27 for a Zoom presentation on HamSCI's Festivals of Eclipse Ionospheric Science.

Click here to view the presentation (40 minutes, on YouTube) --> HamSCI FoEIS Zoom Roundtable

The presentation began by covering HamSCI's basis and purpose, quickly moving into why we are holding the FoEIS, how hams and SWLS can participate, what we hope to learn from the event. Along the way, we discussed why the science behind the events is important to users of the high frequency radio spectrum - including amateur radio operators!

Learn about the FoEIS's eclipse-focused operating events:

Solar Eclipse QSO Party (SEQP)
Gladstone Signal Spotting Challenge (GSSC)
Medium Wave Recording Event
Time Delay of Arrival (TDOA) Event
Grape 1 Doppler Receiver project
...and more!

HamSCI Receives Multiple Mentions in NCJ

National Contest Journal magazine masthead

The March/April, 2024 issue of the National Contest Journal (NCJ) spotlights HamSCI members and activities across three different articles.

Most prominent is the cover photo and three-page column 'Next Gen Contesters', which features McKenzie Denton, KO4GLN. McKenzie shares her essay 'What Attracted me to Amateur Radio'. The column is a regular feature written by Youth On The Air director (and HamSCI member) Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

The lead article, written by HamSCI member and supporter Tim Duffy, K3LR, is entitled '15 Years of Contest University' . CTU is major event, held annually at the Dayton (Xenia) Hamvention. The talk by Dr. Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, 'Contesting for Ionospheric Science During the 2023 and 2024 North American Solar Eclipses', was mentioned in the 2023 rundown of instructors and sessions.

Finally, the results of the Gladstone Signal Spotting Challenge were presented in an article authored by Gary Mikitin, AF8A. It is hoped that by publishing last October's results only weeks before the 2024 North American solar eclipse that NCJ readers will be inspired to participate in the next running of the GSSC.

NCJ is published bi-monthly by the ARRL, an on-line benefit to all ARRL members. A hard copy subscription is available from the ARRL. NCJ masthead image c. 2024 by the ARRL.

Case Radio Club Solicits Help with Eclipse Research

The Case Amateur Radio Club, W8EDU, is asking for hams and SWLs to participate in a research project being run during the April 8, 2024, solar eclipse.

W8EDU club member Adam Goodman, W7OKE, said the project centers around studying the effects of the eclipse on propagation to better understand the recombination time of the ionosphere.

"To do this, we are recruiting North American amateur stations interested in recording the Canadian time standard station CHU (Canada's WWV) for two weeks surrounding the eclipse," added Goodman. "Anyone with a KiwiSDR or a rig that can interface with analysis/recording software such as Fldigi is encouraged to reach out to us to participate."

W8EDU club member and project software manager Maris Usis, KE8TXG, said that while the software is simple to use, there is some detailed work involved. "We can help make it easier and there are good online instructions as well," said Usis.

All of the participation details are on the club's website.

W8EDU club faculty advisor David Kazdan, AD8Y, said the research project has received positive attention from the ARRL Collegiate Amateur Radio Program, the HamSCI community and Case Western Reserve University's engineering deans. "It is already a truly international effort, and we are collaborating with more than 20 stations across the continent, from collegiate and high school stations, to a representative from the Radio Amateurs of Canada, to a station in Mexico," said Kazdan.

2024 Workshop Program and Registration Links Announced

The agenda for the March 22-23, 2024 HamSCI workshop at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio has been published and can be viewed here! The workshop will focus on the theme of Alignments - between the Sun, Moon and Earth; between collegiate amateur radio recreation and STEM curriculum; between data collection and analysis; between professional and citizen science.

The HamSCI Workshop is a hybrid workshop with both in-person and virtual components. The registration link for virtual attendance (via Zoom) is available on the 2024 Workshop home page. A link to in-person registration is available on the same page, though in-person attendance slots are nearly filled, and may be closed.

Full details can be found on the 2024 Workshop home page

HamSCI 2024 Program

Posters and presentations at the HamSCI workshop are made for community discussion and for exploration of new possibilities. Please note that these materials are not peer-reviewed.

Main workshop page: http://hamsci.org/hamsci2024
HamSCI Glossary

YouTube Playlist of 2024 HamSCI Workshop Recordings by Ham Radio 2.0

Friday, March 22, 2024

Eastern Daylight Time	UTC	NR	Title	Presenter	Modality	Location
7:15 AM EDT	1115z		Registration & Continental Breakfast			Eldred Hall
8:15 AM EDT	1215z		Day 1 Welcome & Opening Remarks	Dr. Nathaniel Frissell W2NAF HamSCI Lead Associate Professor of Physics and Engineering University of Scranton Dr. Chris Zorman Associate Dean, Research Case School of Engineering		Eldred Hall
ORAL SESSION I - Personal Space Weather Station Chair: Gary Mikitin AF8A
8:30 AM EDT	1230z	O1	Personal Space Weather Network, Status Report	William Engelke AB4EJ The University of Alabama	In-Person	Eldred Hall
8:50 AM EDT	1250z	O2	Grape 2 - The Finalized Version	John Gibbons N8OBJ Case Western Reserve University	In-Person	Eldred Hall
9:10 AM EDT	1310z	O3	The WsprDaemon GRAPE reporting network	Rob Robinett AI6VN & Paul Elliot WB6CXC WSPRDaemon / HamSCI Community	In-Person	Eldred Hall
9:30 AM EDT	1330z	O4	The W2NAF-KC3EEY VLF Observatory: Building Exciting New Developments from a Solid Foundation	Jonathan Rizzo KC3EEY HamSCI Community / University of Scranton Alumnus	In-Person	Eldred Hall
9:50 AM EDT	1350z	O5	Citizen Science: Development of a Low-Cost Magnetometer System for a Coordinated Space Weather Monitoring	Joseph Visone New Jersey Institute of Technology	In-Person	Eldred Hall
10:10 AM EDT	1410z		COFFEE BREAK			Eldred Hall
ORAL SESSION II Chair: Dr. Philip Erickson W1PJE
10:30 AM EDT	1430z	O6	Five Years of prop.kc2g.com: Evolution of an HF Forecasting Tool	Andrew Rodland KC2G prop.kc2g.com	In-Person	Eldred Hall
10:50 AM EDT	1450z	O7	Considering the Sudden Loss of WWV's signal as seen by HamSCI Grape Stations	George Kavanagh KB1HFT New England Grape Group	Virtual	Eldred Hall
11:10 AM EDT	1510z	O8	Exploring Ionospheric Variability Through Doppler Residuals: A Study Utilizing the HamSCI Grape V1 Receiver	Sabastian Fernandes New Jersey Institute of Technology	In-Person	Eldred Hall
11:30 AM EDT	1530z	O9	Initial Review of the October 2023 Grape Eclipse Data	Rachel Boedicker AC8XY Case Western Reserve University	In-Person	Eldred Hall
11:50 AM EDT	1550z	O10	Ions and Beacons and Flares: Examining HF Propagation Along the 8 April 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Path	Adam Goodman W7OKE Laura Schwartz AC1PW Maris Usis KE8TXG Case Western Reserve University	In-Person	Eldred Hall
12:10 PM EDT	1610z	O11	Analysis of changes to propagation and refraction height on specific paths induced by the 14 October 2023 eclipse	Gwyn Griffiths G3ZIL WSPRDaemon / HamSCI Community	In-Person	Eldred Hall
12:30 PM EDT	1630z		LUNCH			Eldred Hall
ORAL SESSION III Chair: Jesse Alexander WB2IFS
1:30 PM EDT	1730z	O12	Early Results from the 2023 Eclipse Medium Wave Recordings	Nick Hall-Patch VE7DXR HamSCI Community	In-Person	Eldred Hall
1:50 PM EDT	1750z	O13	EclipseNB: A network of low-cost GNSS receivers to study ionospheric response to April 2024 solar eclipse	Dr. Anton Kashcheyev University of New Brunswick	Virtual	Eldred Hall
2:10 PM EDT	1810z	O14	Plans to Observe Changes to the Ionosphere During the April 8 Eclipse Using Doppler Shifts of AM Broadcast Stations	David McGaw N1HAC Dartmouth College	In-Person	Eldred Hall
2:30 PM EDT	1830z	O15	Operating GBO's 20m Radio Telescope with Ham Radio Students	Mia Bridges, KQ4MGZ The College of William & Mary / The Ham Radio Project	In-Person	Eldred Hall
2:50 PM EDT	1850z	O16	Student Reflections of NRAO's Exploring the Electromagnetic Spectrum - Ham Radio Program	Erin McDonald, KQ4IES The College of William & Mary / The Ham Radio Project	In-Person	Eldred Hall
3:10 PM EDT	1910z	O17	"And Science will Know To-morrow": An Exploration of Rudyard Kipling's "Wireless"(Read "Wireless" here)	Leah Davydov	In-Person	Eldred Hall
3:30 PM EDT	1930z		COFFEE BREAK WITH SNACKS			Eldred Hall
ORAL SESSION IV Chair: Rachel Boedicker AC8XY
3:50 PM EDT	1950z	O18	When Life isn't Gaussian: The Allan Deviation Family of Statistics	Aidan Montare KB3UMD National Institute of Standards and Technology	In-Person	Eldred Hall
4:10 PM EDT	2010z	O19	Extreme Values in Short-Term 20 m Sequential Matched WSPR Observations	Bob Gerzoff, WK2Y HamSCI Community	Virtual	Eldred Hall
4:30 PM EDT	2030z	O20	Comparative Analysis of Medium Scale Travelling Ionospheric Disturbances: Grape PSWS vs. SuperDARN	Veronica Romanek KD2UHN Virginia Tech	In-Person	Eldred Hall
4:50 PM EDT	2050z	O21	Possible Drivers of Large Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances by Analysis of Aggregated Ham Radio Contacts	Diego Sanchez KD2RLM and Dr. Mary Lou West KC2NMC New Jersey Institute of Technology & Montclair State University	In-Person	Eldred Hall
5:10 PM EDT	2110z	F01	Forum: How Ham Radio Can Further Help Ionospheric Research		In-Person	Eldred Hall
5:50 PM EDT	2150z		Day 1 Closing Remarks	Dr. Nathaniel Frissell W2NAF The University of Scranton	In-Person	Eldred Hall
Friday Night Banquet Cleveland History Center Chairs: Nathaniel Frissell W2NAF & Kristina Collins KD8OXT
6:30 PM EDT	2230z		Banquet Begins			Cleveland History Center
7:30 PM EDT	2330z		Results from the 2023 SEQP and GSSC	Gary Mikitin, AF8A HamSCI Community	In-Person	Cleveland History Center
7:45 PM EDT	2345z		Keynote: On Final Approach To Solar Maximum: Testing A Hypothesis In Real Time	Dr. Scott McIntosh National Center for Atmospheric Research	In-Person	Cleveland History Center

Saturday, March 23, 2024

Eastern Daylight Time	UTC	NR	Title	Presenter	Modality	Location
7:15 AM EDT	1115z		Registration & Continental Breakfast
8:30 AM EDT	1230z		Welcome & Opening Remarks		In-Person	Eldred Hall
9:00 AM EDT	1300z	T1	INVITED TUTORIAL: The ka9q-radio SDR package	Phil Karn KA9Q TAPR / HamSCI Community / ARDC	In-Person	Eldred Hall
9:45 AM EDT	1345z	T2	INVITED TUTORIAL: HF Ray Tracing	Dr. Kate Zawdie Naval Research Laboratory	In-Person	Eldred Hall
10:30 AM EDT	1430z		COFFEE BREAK
ORAL SESSION V Chair: Nathaniel Vishner KB1QHX
11:00 AM EDT	1500z	O22	Why is sporadic-E propagation so weird?	Dr. Chris Deacon G4IFX The University of Bath	In-Person	Eldred Hall
11:20 AM EDT	1520z	O23	Sensitivity analysis of ray-tracing techniques to ionospheric electron density profiles	Dr. Ana G. Elias Universidad Nacional de Tucumán	Virtual	Eldred Hall
11:40 AM EDT	1540z	O24	On the ray tracing block of a sky wave over-the-horizon radar simulation tool	Zenon Saavedra Universidad Nacional de Tucumán	Virtual	Eldred Hall
12:00 PM EDT	1600z	O25	Trial of applying PHaRLAP raytracing to reproduce HAM spot data	Dr. Kornyanat Hozumi NASA CCMC & Catholic University of America	Virtual	Eldred Hall
12:20 PM EDT	1620z		LUNCH
ORAL SESSION VI Chair: Bill Liles NQ6Z
1:30 PM EDT	1730z	O26	CatSat: CubeSat Engineering and Communication Technologies	Shae Henley & Walter Rahmer University of Arizona	In-Person	Eldred Hall
1:50 PM EDT	1750z	O27	Earth's Magnetic Field Migration and Its Effects on HF Propagation	Dr. Phil Erickson W1PJE MIT Haystack Observatory	In-Person	Eldred Hall
POSTER / DEMO / BREAKOUT SESSION
2:15 PM EDT	1815z		POSTER / DEMO SESSION BREAKOUT SESSSION BEGINS			think[box]
3:00 PM EDT	1900z		COFFEE BREAK WITH SNACKS
			BREAKOUT Sessions / Special Programs
		B1	ARDC - 44Net and Grants	John Hays K7VE Amateur Radio Digital Communications	In-Person	think[box]
		B2	Collegiate Amateur Radio Program (CARP) Panel	Nathaniel Vishner KB1QHX Case Western Reserve University	In-Person	think[box]
		B3	W8EDU Open Station Hours / GOTA Station		In-Person	W8EDU Shack (Glennan 709)
4pm		B4	VE Session - Ham Radio Exam	Glennan 458	In-Person	think[box]


			POSTERS AND DEMOS
		P01	Why you should attend the Youth on the Air camp!	Jack Roberts W9RFT and Dylan Romero KN6IVW Youth on the Air	In-Person	think[box]
		P02	Operating GBO's 20m Radio Telescope with Ham Radio Students	Mia Bridges, KQ4MGZ The College of William & Mary / The Ham Radio Project	In-Person	think[box]
		P03	Student Reflections of NRAO's Exploring the Electromagnetic Spectrum - Ham Radio Program	Erin McDonald, KQ4IES The College of William & Mary / The Ham Radio Project	In-Person	think[box]
		P04
		P05	A Low-Cost Low-Power Chirp Ionosonde for Studying Eclipse Ionospheric Impacts	Gerard Piccini KD2ZHK & Dr. Robert W. McGwier N4HY The University of Scranton	In-Person	think[box]
		P06	Analysis of the HamSCI Solar Eclipse High Frequency Time Difference of Arrival Experiment Observations Using Automated Techniques	Alex Papadopoulos KC3WUD, Gerard Piccini KD2ZHK, & Steve Cerwin WA5FRF The University of Scranton	In-Person	think[box]
		P07	Estimation of Ionospheric Layer Height by Measuring the Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) Between 1 and 2 Hop Propagation Modes: 2023 Annular Eclipse Observations	Steve Cerwin WA5FRF HamSCI Community	In-Person	think[box]
		P08	Construction of a Table-Top Antenna Range for Learning Electromagnetics Concepts	Augustine Brapoh KC3YNE, Matthew Dittmar KC3WAV, Aidan Szabo, Robert Troy KC3VJC, Dr. Nathaniel Frissell W2NAF, & Steve Cerwin WA5FRF The University of Scranton	In-Person	think[box]
		P09	Learning Communications Systems Using Amateur Radio Satellites	Augustine Brapoh KC3YNE, James Hankee KC3YND, Aidan Szabo, Robert Troy KC3VJC, Robert W. McGwier N4HY, & Dr. Nathaniel Frissell W2NAF The University of Scranton	In-Person	think[box]
		P10	Incorporating HamSCI Project into a College Physics Course	Dr. Hyomin Kim KD2MCR New Jersey Institute of Technology	In-Person	think[box]
		P11	University of Michigan Space Weather Sensor Package	Theodore Masterson University of Michigan	In-Person	think[box]
		P12	3D Printing of the Grape 2 Enclosure	Majid Mokhtari The University of Scranton	In-Person	think[box]
		P13	Development of Back-End Software for the Grape 2	Cuong Nguyen KC3UAX The University of Scranton	In-Person	think[box]
		P14	The Grape III: Pondering new varietals for the RF vineyard	Dr. David Kazdan AD8Y Case Western Reserve University	In-Person	think[box]
		P15	PyLap/PHaRLAP HF Ray Tracing and SAMI3: Integration and Refactoring	Devin Diehl The University of Scranton	In-Person	think[box]
		P16	Ray-trace modelling of diurnal variation in two-hop sidescatter propagation	Gwyn Griffiths G3ZIL WSPRDaemon / HamSCI Community	In-Person	think[box]
		P17	High Resolution WSPR Transmissions for Ionospheric Research	Rob Robinett AI6VN & Paul Elliott WB6CXC WSPRDaemon / HamSCI Community	In-Person	think[box]
		P18	The ka9q-radio SDR package	Phil Karn KA9Q TAPR / HamSCI Community / ARDC	In-Person	think[box]
		P19	Three-Channel VLF Reception System using a Raspberry Pi, Soundcard, and GNSS Receiver	Jonathan Rizzo KC3EEY HamSCI Community	In-Person	think[box]
		P20	Signatures of Space Weather in the NJIT V1 Grape Low-IF Receiver	Tiago Trigo New Jersey Institute of Technology	Virtual	think[box]
		P21	Ionospheric response to geomagnetic storm	Samuel Abaidoo	Virtual	think[box]
		P22	Statistical Study of the Magnetospheric Open-Closed Boundary (OCB) using ULF Wave Observations from Antarctic Ground Magnetometers As Compared to the Tsyganenko Model	Prof. Rachel Frissell W2RUF The University of Scranton	In-Person	think[box]
		P23	Reexamining the Characteristics of Flare-Driven Doppler Flash using multipoint HF Observations	Dr. Kristina Collins KD8OXT Space Science Institute	In-Person	think[box]
		P24	Effect of X-class Solar Flare on 40 Meter Propagation	Vincent Leveque KF6FLJ HamSCI Community	In-Person	think[box]
		P25	Wave Activity in Thermospheric Vertical Winds and Temperatures at Subauroral Latitudes	Anneliese Schmidt New Jersey Institute of Technology	In-Person	think[box]
		P26	Reworking the MUSIC Algorithm to Mitigate MSTID Direction Estimation Bias Associated with SuperDARN Radar Field-of-View Geometry	Michael Molzen, Thomas Pisano KE2BAC, and Nicholas Guerra AC3LB The University of Scranton	In-Person	think[box]
		P27	Detection of SuperDARN-Observed Medium Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances in the Southern Hemisphere	James P. Fox KE2ANL The University of Scranton	In-Person	think[box]
		P28	Automated Methods for Studying Long Scale Ionospheric Disturbances and Climatology	William Engelke AB4EJ The University of Alabama	In-Person	think[box]
		P29	Quality of AM Radio Reception at Night and Daytime for Future Use in Natural Disaster Situations	Alexandre Takio Kitagawa Department of Education of Indaial	Virtual	think[box]
		P30	Optimizing Location Estimation with Novel Numerical Solution using Real-Time Transmitting Beacons WSPRlive, Weak Signal Propagation Reporter Protocol, and Friis Propagation Model	Gamal Zayed	Virtual	think[box]

6:15 PM EDT	2215z		DINNER and CLOSING REMARKS	Dewey's Pizza	In-Person	think[box]
7:00 PM EDT			First Showing of Frequency on 35mm	CWRU Film Society - films.case.edu	In-Person	Strosacker Auditorium
9:00 PM EDT			Second Showing of Frequency on 35mm	CWRU Film Society - films.case.edu	In-Person	Strosacker Auditorium

Grape 2 Case Printing

If you have 3D printing capabilities, the HamSCI Grape 2 Team needs your assistance!

The Grape 2 is close to being ready for release, but there is still some 'manufacturing' to be done. Specifically, the Grape 2 Team needs help printing (4) case parts for the Grape 2 assembly.

We are looking for volunteers to provide materials and printer time to make about 22 sets. Shown below are the final products. After printing, we'll ask you to ship them to the final assembly location (Cleveland, OH).

Suggested material and print specs: 1.75 MM PLA filament. Quality set to 0.2mm and infill set to 15%. Color? What do you have available? While we'd prefer the purple (it is a Grape receiver, after all) and yellow shown below, but we realize volunteers are donating material, so we don't want to dictate requirements.

Print time (varies by printer, of course): Front/Back panels, about 1.5 hours each, or 2.5 hrs. if printed together. Back Top Box: About 5 hrs. Front Top Box: About 2.5 hrs.

The (4) STL files are located here

The (3) gcode files for a Prusa MK3S+ printer are here (the gcode prints the Front and Back Panels as one piece, which are then broken apart.)

Time frame? Start now, if possible (Feb 22) for delivery to Cleveland, OH, some time during the week of Feb 26th. Shipping address:

John C. Gibbons - CWRU

10900 Euclid Ave, Glennan 321

Cleveland, OH 44106-7071

2024-02-17 G2All4PrintedParts.jpg

Grape 2 Case Printing

If you have 3D printing capabilities, the HamSCI Grape 2 Team needs your assistance!

The Grape 2 is close to being ready for release, but there is still some 'manufacturing' to be done. Specifically, the Grape 2 Team needs help printing case fronts and case backs for the Grape 2 assembly.

We are looking for volunteers to provide materials and printer time to make a total of 35 of each piece shown. Here's what the final products should look like, approximately 4 inches wide x 2 inches tall x 0.25 inches thick.

Material Specs: White (???) polymer

Print time (varies by printer, of course): About 1.5 hours per piece.

G2 Case Front 3D View.png G2 Case Back 3D View.png

HamSCI Workshop 2024 Abstract Submission Open

We are looking for presenters for the March 22-23, 2024 HamSCI workshop at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio! The workshop will focus on the theme of Alignments - between the Sun, Moon and Earth; between collegiate amateur radio recreation and STEM curriculum; between data collection and analysis; between professional and citizen science. We are preparing for the solar eclipse of 8 April 2024, for which Cleveland will be in totality. If you would like to present, please visit https://hamsci.org/hamsci2024 to submit an abstract. Abstracts are due by February 10, 2024. Presenters will be notified by March 1, 2024.

HamSCI at HamCation (Orlando, FL) in February

HamSCI will have a booth at the Orlando HamCation, February 9, 10 and 11, 2024

Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo Park in Orlando, Florida, Booth 189, in the North Hall.

If you are at the event, be sure and stop by to say hello. Even better, spend as much time as you'd like in the booth, talking about HamSCI with the HamCation attendees.

Visitors will see HamSCI banners and posters promoting our projects. We'll be handing out flyers and SEQP (Solar Eclipse QSO Party) cards as souvenirs (sure to be in much demand - after all, the next major eclipse in North America won't be until 2044!). Top of mind will be the Festivals of Eclipse Ionospheric Science - the events and activities occurring around the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse in North America.

We hope to meet quite a few hams, SWLs and those interested in radio technology. Attendance is usually in the 20,000 range, making it the second biggest ham radio gathering in the world.

More details, including a scheduling tool for those who want to 'work the booth', are available on the HamSCI website

HamSCI at the 2024 Orlando Hamcation

HamSCI will be at the Orlando HamCation, February 9, 10 and 11, 2024

We will be in Booth 189, in the North Hall

If you are at the event, be sure and stop by to say hello. Even better, spend as much time as you'd like in the booth, talking about HamSCI with the HamCation attendees.

Ed, WX2R and Gary, AF8A will be setting up the booth with HamSCI banners and posters promoting our projects.

Top of mind will be the Festivals of Eclipse Ionospheric Science - the events and activities occurring around the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse in North America.

We'll be handing out flyers and SEQP (Solar Eclipse QSO Party) cards as souvenirs (sure to be in much demand - after all, the next major eclipse in North America won't be until 2044!).

if you'd like to schedule your time in the booth, that's easy to do via Need to Meet. We hope to see you there!

HamCation Booth 2024.png

Publications

Overview

Getting Involved

Components

Research Questions

Further Information

Results for the Gladstone Signal Spotting Challenge 2023

HamSCI at the National Science Foundation's CEDAR Workshop: A Thriving Collaboration in Ionospheric Science

A Strong HamSCI Presence

Jesse Alexander's Plenary DEI Talk

Phil Karn KA9Q

Engagement and Networking

Looking Forward

2023 SEQP Winners

Project Goals

The Need for Receiving Sites

The Need for WSPR Transmitting Sites Across North America

​Project Status - Receiving Equipment

Site Selection Criteria - Receiving Sites (revised 27 Apr 2024)

Interested Participant Form - HF/VLF/Ground Mag and WSPRSonde Transmitter

Supporting Institutions

Local Organizing Committee

Science/Program Committee

Details and a presentation schedule are available here.

HamSCI Presentations

HamSCI Forum

Booth Talks: ARISS, HamSCI and YOTA

Booth Location

Booth Location

HamSCI Members Hold an FoEIS Roundtable: Q&A on Eclipse-Related Ham Radio Events

Posters and presentations at the HamSCI workshop are made for community discussion and for exploration of new possibilities. Please note that these materials are not peer-reviewed.

Friday, March 22, 2024

ORAL SESSION I - Personal Space Weather Station Chair: Gary Mikitin AF8A

ORAL SESSION II Chair: Dr. Philip Erickson W1PJE

ORAL SESSION III Chair: Jesse Alexander WB2IFS

ORAL SESSION IV Chair: Rachel Boedicker AC8XY

Friday Night Banquet Cleveland History Center Chairs: Nathaniel Frissell W2NAF & Kristina Collins KD8OXT

Saturday, March 23, 2024

ORAL SESSION V Chair: Nathaniel Vishner KB1QHX

ORAL SESSION VI Chair: Bill Liles NQ6Z

POSTER / DEMO / BREAKOUT SESSION

If you have 3D printing capabilities, the HamSCI Grape 2 Team needs your assistance!

If you have 3D printing capabilities, the HamSCI Grape 2 Team needs your assistance!

HamSCI will be at the Orlando HamCation, February 9, 10 and 11, 2024

We will be in Booth 189, in the North Hall

Project Status - Receiving Equipment

ORAL SESSION I - Personal Space Weather Station
Chair: Gary Mikitin AF8A

ORAL SESSION II
Chair: Dr. Philip Erickson W1PJE

ORAL SESSION III
Chair: Jesse Alexander WB2IFS

ORAL SESSION IV
Chair: Rachel Boedicker AC8XY

Friday Night Banquet
Cleveland History Center
Chairs: Nathaniel Frissell W2NAF & Kristina Collins KD8OXT

ORAL SESSION V
Chair: Nathaniel Vishner KB1QHX

ORAL SESSION VI
Chair: Bill Liles NQ6Z