[TangerineSDR] Question about Personal Space WX functionality

[Ward Silver]

Hi Bill,

I am wandering around the Southwest and running a little behind on email :-)

I expect the PSWS to eventually support:

Standalone single-channel instrumentation, either as a PSWS module or a
separate device, such as a magnetometer, irradiation meter, event counter
(Geiger counter), or other useful devices related to space weather and
general ionospheric studies.  I often use the apocryphal "second grade
science project" as our lowest common denominator and I think there is a
lot of interest in citizen science at this level.  Witness the
proliferation of personal weather stations (from which the PSWS concept was
created) operated by interested individuals.  At any rate, a series of
simple instruments that plug into the PSWS either physically or virtually
via a data interface somewhere in the architecture would be very useful.
There is no reason to limit these instruments to geophysical / ionospheric
measurements, either.  Any earth science variable would benefit from a
distributed monitoring network - for example, electric fields and
earthquakes.

Automated signal monitoring and tracking, such as an RBN node, WSPR
receiver, PSK Reporter node, etc. We are just at the beginning of what
automated receivers can do and how they will integrate with both scientific
research and amateur radio.  This function can range from simple,
single-mode decoders to wide-band spectrum capture.  The upper end of this
function is probably not sufficient for ionospheric research but would be
targeted toward operational use and low-end event monitoring - like the
Solar Eclipse QSO Party data and intruder alerts watching for OTH radar and
things like that which pop up from time to time.

Noise characterization on a long-term basis beyond what the ARRL is
envisioning with their Noise Study.  We need to get some long-term baseline
monitoring in place before wireless power transfer becomes widespread.  The
increasing noise floor and unintentional radiators are putting all
amplitude-modulated modes under pressure, from broadcasting to
point-to-point comms.  Without data, we will have a hard time making a case
against it.

Those are the three that come to mind this morning.  We should also reach
out to SARA and similar groups with an interest in radio data collection so
to broaden the interest and support for PSWS development and deployment.  I
hope this is what you were looking for!

73, Ward N0AX

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On Wed, Sep 25, 2019 at 10:53 AM Engelke, Bill <bill.engelke at ua.edu> wrote:

> Hello Ward – here is a topic that came up in discussions at the DCC in
> Detroit, about the functionality of the Personal Space Weather station (in
> particular, the Tangerine SDR).
>
> (Sorry if you got this twice, I inadvertently sent it first from the wrong
> email account).
>
>
>
> For phase 1, we’re putting our emphasis on functions that will scientists
> to characterize Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (i.e., observing Doppler
> shift in WWV, etc.)
>
>
>
> Perhaps you could help us identify some other functionalities that could
> be added to make the system more appealing to hams. Examples we can think
> of already include:
>
>
>
>    - Copying & reporting FT8 stations heard on up to 8 bands (to PSK
>    Reporter and/or to local tracking)
>    - Copying & reporting WSPR stations heard (to WSPRNet and/or local)
>    - Watching for a selected station or stations to appear on the air and
>    notifying the user by text message (or something like that)
>    - Monitoring the noise level and/or total energy on a band to watch
>    for when it opens or when certain types of noise become present
>
>
>
> Can you think of others?  Also, do we need to somehow poll the ham
> community to see what other ideas people might have?
>
>
>
> (Sorry if someone else already asked you about this, it wasn’t clear to me
> who was supposed to contact you; but I am writing the Functional
> Specification, so I need to know anyway).
>
>
>
> Please let me know your thoughts – tnx es 73-  Bill Engelke AB4EJ
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> W. D. Engelke (Bill), Asst. Research Engr.
>
> Center for Advanced Public Safety
>
> Cyber Hall
>
> The University of Alabama
>
> Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
>
> Desk: (205) 348-7244
>
> Mobile: (205) 764-3099
>
>
>
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