@proceedings {1022, title = {A Low-Cost Low-Power Chirp Ionosonde for Studying the Ionospheric Impacts of Space Weather}, year = {2026}, month = {03/2026}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Newington, CT}, abstract = {The ionosphere is a region of the atmosphere characterized by both ions and electrons. It is highly active and experiences changes in parameters such as electron density at different altitudes, based on the energy absorbed from the sun. Ionosondes are a type of radar used to gather data about the height of the ionosphere by transmitting a signal towards the ionosphere. This signal is refracted back to the Earth{\textquoteright}s surface and received in such a manner that return echoes can be timed to calculate the height profile of the bottomside ionosphere. Traditional ionosondes require large antenna systems and high amounts of power. Recent advancements in software defined radio (SDR) technology, advanced digital signal processing, and computational efficiency enable the size, cost, and power demands of an ionosonde system to be reduced. An Ettus N200 Universal Radio Peripheral was used in our system to verify the reliability of our methods, and during the 2024 total solar eclipse, the system was successfully used to sound the ionosphere. It recorded virtual layer height data comparable to multimillion-dollar ionosonde systems. Since then, we have updated the system to use the newer Red Pitaya SDRlab 122-16. This more affordable board is able to sound the ionosphere, using the same methods as the Ettus based system. Additionally, the system is now in a smaller and more portable form. Currently, we are improving its ability to collect data automatically and be controlled remotely. Furthermore, we are continuing to improve our sounding methods to obtain more data using the same hardware.}, author = {Gerard Piccini and Andrew Rodland and Robert McGwier and Robert Spalletta and Nathaniel Frissell and Majid Mokhtari and Philip Erickson} } @proceedings {1027, title = {Understanding HamSCI Magnetometers Measurements and Observations: A Preliminary Report and Demonstration }, year = {2026}, month = {03/2026}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Newington, CT}, abstract = {Ground-based magnetometers are unique instruments that allow for remote sensing of the dynamics and structure of the geospace magnetospheric environment directly from the Earth{\textquoteright}s surface. Traditionally, science-grade magnetometers for this purpose have been prohibitively expensive for individuals to operate; therefore, geomagnetic observations are normally restricted to select sites operated by research institutions and government agencies. Recent technological developments by industry and citizen science organizations have brought down the cost of magnetometer ownership and operation to a level affordable by individuals. Such a magnetometer is part of the HamSCI Personal Space Weather Station (PSWS) suite, which includes not only a ground magnetometer for magnetospheric studies, but also radio receivers for ionospheric studies. The HamSCI PSWS project is led by the University of Scranton, but research here has primarily focused on supporting the radio instrumentation of the project. In this presentation/demonstration we have established a laboratory testbed in the University of Scranton Loyola Science center. This testbed is currently being used to develop in-house expertise in the HamSCI magnetometer system to allow faculty, staff, and students at Scranton to better understand instrument operation, capabilities, limitations for the purpose of improved data analysis and support of the Citizen Science Community that will be operating these systems. In this presentation/demonstration, we will showcase how we are using it and our simulation of the Gannon Storm. }, author = {Rachel Frissell and Christine Zakzewski and Majid Mokhtari and Dave Witten and Nathaniel Frissell} } @proceedings {957, title = {How Do We Put a HamSCI Personal Space Weather Station in Antarctica?}, year = {2025}, month = {03/2025}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Newark, NJ}, abstract = {

We present initial ideas on how to place a HamSCI Personal Space Weather Station at United States Antarctic Research Stations.

}, author = {Rebecca Potter and Nina Tormann and Christine Zakzewski and Majid Mokhtari and Nathaniel Frissell and Ken Martin and Jermey McLynch and Hyomin Kim and Gareth Perry and David McGaw and James LaBelle and Tedi Godfrey and Michael Hartje and Gwyn Griffiths and Rob Robinett and Paul Elliott} } @proceedings {961, title = {A Low-Cost Low-Power Chirp Ionosonde for Studying Eclipse Ionospheric Impacts}, year = {2025}, month = {03/2025}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Newark, NJ}, abstract = {

The ionosphere is a region of the atmosphere characterized by both ions and electrons. It is highly active and experiences changes in parameters such as electron density at different altitudes, based on the energy absorbed from the sun. Ionosondes are a type of radar used to gather data about the height of the ionosphere by transmitting a signal towards the ionosphere.\  This signal is refracted back to the Earth{\textquoteright}s surface and received in such a manner that return echoes can be timed to calculate the height profile of the bottomside ionosphere. Traditional ionosondes require large antenna systems and high amounts of power. Recent advancements in software defined radio (SDR) technology, advanced digital signal processing (DSP), and computational efficiency enable the size, cost, and power demands of an ionosonde system to be reduced. Two systems are currently used in this project: the Ettus N200 Universal Radio Peripheral (USRP) and the newer Red Pitaya SDRlab 122-16. Using amateur radio fan dipoles and GNU Radio code, the Ettus system was used successfully to sound the ionosphere during the 2024 total solar eclipse. It recorded virtual layer height data comparable to multimillion-dollar ionosonde systems. We are now working to assemble the Red Pitaya system into a smaller form that can be assembled inexpensively and operated with ease. In the following weeks we will improve our sounding methods to be able to obtain more data.

}, author = {Gerard Piccini and Robert McGwier and Robert Spaletta and Nathaniel Frissell and Majid Mokhtari and Philip Erickson} } @proceedings {956, title = {Understanding HamSCI Magnetometers Measurements and Observations}, year = {2025}, month = {03/2025}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Newark, NJ}, abstract = {

Measurements and observations are important to any project. Understanding where the measurements came from and how they are collected is vital. In this presentation, we will aim to describe what a magnetometer is, how it works, and what information it can tell us about space weather/physics. We will focus on what measurements and observations we can collect from the magnetometers{\textendash} specifically HamSCI magnetometers as various magnetometers will have different capabilities. Furthermore, we will outline an experimental procedure to help the user better understand the collected measurements and observations from the HamSCI magnetometer. We will focus on some questions such as, what can HamSCI magnetometer measurements and observations tell us? How do we know good vs bad HamSCI magnetometer data? Do we need to calibrate the measurements and observations of the HamSCI magnetometer data? Why do we collect three components of the magnetic field yet primarily use only the horizontal component. How does the internal magnetic field of the Earth impact the magnetic field around the Earth? Where can we see and access the raw measurements and observations from the HamSCI magnetometers? How are the measurements and observations displayed? By answering these questions and outlining the experiment(s), we hope to provide an education guide to help users better understand how the HamSCI magnetometers record observations and measurements and what insight they can give us into better understanding various space weather/physics phenomena.

}, author = {Rachel Frissell and Nathaniel Frissell and Majid Mokhtari and David Witten and Hyomin Kim} } @proceedings {864, title = {Design and 3D Printing of the Grape 2 Enclosure}, year = {2024}, month = {03/2024}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Cleveland, OH}, abstract = {

This poster presents the design of the 3D printed enclosure for the Grape 2 Personal Space Weather Station HF Doppler Receiver.

}, author = {Majid Mokhtari and John Gibbons and Nathaniel A. Frissell} } @proceedings {762, title = {Development of HamSCI PSWS Ground Magnetometer and Data Visualization on the PSWS Central Website}, year = {2023}, month = {03/2023}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, author = {Hyomin Kim and Nathaniel A. Frissell and David Witten and Julius Madey and William D. Engelke and Tom Holmes and Majid Mokhtari and Scotty Cowling and Anderson Liddle and Nicholas Muscolino and Zhaoshu Cao} } @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} }