(meteorobs) SNOTEL/SCAN - further info for radio meteor observers

[Jay Salsburg]

Hello Thomas

I was able to watch my reception performance as the ISS passed over the
SNOTEL transmitter in Mississippi. Nothing happened. I suppose I need to
improve the antenna. At 180 miles, I should pick up aircraft if this beacon
is emitting 100,000 watts.

This morning 5:00 AM I was watching my SkyCam and saw a bright fireball, it
was fogged because it was so cold, I have not reconnected its heater since
putting it on my roof.

-----Original Message-----
From: meteorobs-bounces at meteorobs.org
[mailto:meteorobs-bounces at meteorobs.org] On Behalf Of Thomas Ashcraft
Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 8:43 PM
To: Meteor science and meteor observing
Subject: Re: (meteorobs) SNOTEL/SCAN - further info for radio meteor
observers

On 4/10/13 6:23 30000, Jay Salsburg wrote:
> I will contemplate further on the idea of using the transmitter in 
> Mississippi for it is 180 miles away and may offer a viable source of 
> Forward Scatter Meteor Data. My only concern is that this low 
> frequency may be plagued by electric/electronic interference.
>
>
Well, you just have to experiment and see. It might also be totally
interference-free.  Who knows since interference is so site specific?

One problem though is sporadic-E which picks up in June. 40 MHz is prone to
this condition and this means your radio will pick up a constant carrier
wave and obscure any meteors. But, sporadic-E is a problem at all
frequencies below 100 MHz especially.

Good luck and please report back with your results.

Thomas