Excellent work for lightning detector

Hardware Home Built/Kit Weather Stations/Sensors
61

it would not need to be 15 degrees further east in longitude though to be a 15 degree angle from being due north I would have thought?

62

I am not sure Brian,
I thought is 15o between stations,
hope someone can help us with this.

   Cheers, Rolf
63

It appears that if the lightening storm was midway between the two stations (WGN & ROT) along the direct path or within 7.5

64

Hi Colin
Yes it’s my station, I’m quiet happy with LR and for what it can do. I’m sure you will enjoy it too and the other stations in your area, take care and follow the instructions for building the antenna which is the most important part of the project, find the position of the installation first so you can arrange the mounting before you start building it (you might have to extend the main boom so you can mount it). Here are some ideas for the wood antenna.
http://www.syroswx.gr/weather/lr/001.jpg
http://www.syroswx.gr/weather/lr/005.jpg
http://www.syroswx.gr/weather/lr/035.jpg
http://www.syroswx.gr/weather/lr/036.jpg
http://www.syroswx.gr/weather/lr/nz.jpg
Also included is a map with the best position for the stations.
Peter

65

Hi Peter,thanks for the pictures.

Some more project info which also contains version 2.0 of the manual.

http://members.inode.at/576265/lr.htm

and some antenna design ideas here

http://users.edpnet.be/DanielV37/Detecteur3/Antenna/Antenna.htm

and a pdf of more antenna design stuff here

http://users.edpnet.be/DanielV37/Detecteur3/Antenna/Loop_Antenna_Detail_JS.pdf

I like the pvc pipe encased one, which is described as Hi gain Hi Q, but there isn’t any technical info on the construction. I’ll PM Daniel and see if he will share more details.

Cheers
Colin.

edit: Also an interesting, and fairly detailed design, for a field mill http://members.inode.at/576265/efield.htm

66
67

I too like the PVC one, the copper tube one looks good, but complicated to make.

Any data you get on the PVC job feel free to pass on to me. I have started digging out my old antenna design notes and texts to look at what is behind the design of these antennas

68

The PVC antenna (Hi gain) is under test that’s why there isn’t any technical info, it should be tested soon.
Peter

69

I certainly would be happier with the build of the High Gain version, the other one does require good turning and pipe bending skills, the PVC one, should be just a saw and glue :slight_smile:

70

Have just finished building a antenna,
after available documents, it is the simple type,
building is easy, finding a place to put it is more complicated :wink:
if all works out ok then I will wait for the new type and
start all over.

       Cheers, Rolf
71

How about some picys?? It’s always interesting to see peoples methods of construction.

72

Sorry,
camera not working, have to use webcam and
the pics are not so good.

                 Cheers,Rolf

www.geyserlandobservatory.org/Picture3.jpg
www.geyserlandobservatory.org/Picture6.jpg

73

Hardware update:

Daniel posted our boards on Saturday so hopefully they will not take too long to get to me. I suppose I had better get A into G and at least build a basic antenna :? I’m hoping that I will get away with putting it inside our roof - it has a fairly steep pitch and is made of the older fibro-cement material.

Cheers
Colin.

74

Colin, that is very good news, I have finished
my basic antenna and try to get the NZ map
ready to use, I have downloaded “Mapcreator 2”.
I also have installed the software LightningRadar
and try to learn it as well.

             Cheers, Rolf
75

Well done Rolf, and good first go at the construction Version 1 :slight_smile: I’m looking forward to see how this lightening detecting network pans out - very interesting!

I am going to work on an image for a NZ Weather Network site, I have some mountain landscapes and sheep and cattle photos but may just use a plain sunset or landscape scene…

76

Hi everybody

I have just received my circuit board and components from Daniel for the lightning radar project :slight_smile:
I have made the antenna

May take me a few days to assemble

mick

Cannot wait to get this working

77

Hi Graeme,
me to I can’t wait to get it going, and see what it can do, my antenna is looking good, and I think it will be
alright for a start till I get a better and more permanent one.
I am still straggling with a NZ Map, I think Mapcreator is not so good and I have downloaded Azimuth Map and I will
spend a bit time with this one. See how it go’s.

                   Cheers, Rolf
78

Hi everybody

Lightning radar project
I’ve just been looking to find a audio cable to connect from the lightning circuit board to the PC soundcard
found this link on eBay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/30M-98Ft-RCA-Power-Audio-Video-AV-Cable-For-CCTV-Camera_W0QQitemZ320253193181QQihZ011QQcategoryZ60839QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

would this be suitable
appreciate any comments

mick :slight_smile:

79

Should be fine. I use a mono version of that cable type (CCTV) for my VLF solar flare antenna and it works nicely. You can put 600 Ohm audio transformers at each end of the line to isolate interferance if you pick up too much in the downlink.

80

IIRC this application pushes the limits of the sound card frequency response, so I would worry about the bandwidth of a 600 ohm audio transformer - but maybe they are better than they used to be in the days of steam :slight_smile: