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lightning detection device

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ace2
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lightning detection device

Post by ace2 »

Just wondering if anyone has or has played around with such a device and wishes to share their knowledge?
My goal would be to have some sort of USB device that can detect and track lighting strikes and output like a radar map in realtime.

I have a budget of a nickel and dimeof course. :D
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PaulMy
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Re: lightning detection device

Post by PaulMy »

Blitzortung perhaps? http://www.wxforum.net/index.php?board=115.0 and http://www.blitzortung.org/Webpages/index.php?lang=en Unfortunately my station's participation is on hold.

Enjoy,
Paul
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ace2
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Re: lightning detection device

Post by ace2 »

PaulMy wrote:Blitzortung perhaps? http://www.wxforum.net/index.php?board=115.0 and http://www.blitzortung.org/Webpages/index.php?lang=en Unfortunately my station's participation is on hold.

Enjoy,
Paul
Very interesting Paul, Thanks.....
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Re: lightning detection device

Post by PaulMy »

When kits become available again sometime in 2015 they will be encouraging more participants from Australia, and elsewhere as well. But this is a build-your-own type of project... are you willing?

Paul
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ace2
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Re: lightning detection device

Post by ace2 »

PaulMy wrote:When kits become available again sometime in 2015 they will be encouraging more participants from Australia, and elsewhere as well. But this is a build-your-own type of project... are you willing?

Paul
I have a hammer and sticky tape!!!!

:D
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Re: lightning detection device

Post by pernaczy »

There is the thread on this issue on the "Weather Stations" Forum in Poland http://stacjepogody.waw.pl/index.php?topic=1793.0 (unfortunately it's in Polish of course).
Earlier in 2014 some members of this forum bought couple of sets of the lightning detector from Blitzortung. They were being sold as to the wishing forum members as "Ready to use" (except of antenna which everybody was supposed to do by itself).
Approximate price was about 300 US dollars. They may have one more for sale. If you want I can contact the leader of this group for the details and possibility to contact him in English.
Regards,
Piotr
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Re: lightning detection device

Post by ace2 »

Wishing Santa hadn't killed the credit card.
Plus awaiting next years model, hopefully it might have wireless/network compatibilities.
The wife would :bash: me if I were to run cables down the wall.
And I think I need to study it some more as well....
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Re: lightning detection device

Post by salineweather »

Hi Chris,

The Blitzortung system does not require a direct computer connection. It has its own built-in web server. Just plug the controller into your home network and away it will go. Now one thing you may be concerned is the amount of bandwidth it uses. Case in point, yesterday with the severe weather that was in the South U.S. with the tornadoes, etc., I used over 150MB of bandwidth alone on my Blitz system just yesterday, so if you have a bandwidth limit, it may be something to think on. During the spring and summer months, I used no less than that amount most days. A lot of times quite a bit more.

Like Paul said, this is not plug and play currently with the Red systems. Lots of assembly is required. I had to buy new equipment and relearn how to solder again after a 10+ year hiatus. And once built, it isn't plug it in and leave it, either. It takes time and trial and error to find the correct spot for the antenna in terms of the least amount of electrical noise environment. That is probably one of the biggest challenges and properly grounding the controller.

I have not heard anything on the "new" system being developed from Egon, Tobi, and Richo. I know they have been hard at work on the server side of things in terms of cleaning up the signals received by the servers and eliminating false positives. The system they have in place in Europe (there are over 500 systems online) puts the NLDN (National Lightning Detection Network) we have here in the U.S. to shame in its accuracy. We currently have 116 stations here in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America, but out of those there are probably 50-80 operating at any one time. Some of the those like in the Caribbean, South America operate some of the time because of bandwidth issues, I believe.

John
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duke

Re: lightning detection device

Post by duke »

I have not heard anything on the "new" system being developed
There is a link on the Blitz website where you can subscribe for updates on the improved / new system.
Unfortunately, we can not accept new orders this year, because the system needs some major upgrade to improve the location quality. Additionally, we want to offer some improved hardware next year in larger quantities. As soon as we have any detailed information about the further enhancements, we will post it on our website. If you have questions, then please use our forum instead of contacting us directly. If you want to get informed when new hardware is available or if you think your site is very special then please insert your email address.
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ace2
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Re: lightning detection device

Post by ace2 »

Subscribed some days ago, even had this update which solves one issue.
"We are actually sold out, but still have some remaining kits on stock
that we send to potential participants at special locations. If you are
interested, you can order maximal one set within the next 7 days.
If you are not interested, you can wait until spring/summer when we
probably will offer already assembled detectors.
Bandwidth is not an issue. My concern is location and connection.
I have a pergola where the station and cam are installed, but its all wireless been outdoors.
Would make an ideal location for the antenna but a concern for connection.

I haven read about setup/connecting the device as of yet and as Santa has killed my funds, I'm a little way of purchasing one.

But I do appreciate the advice and information....

Chris
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Re: lightning detection device

Post by salineweather »

Hi Chris,

Merry Christmas!!!!! My system is out in a storage shed running wirelessly. It is connected to the web via an Apple Airport Express, which is talking to an Apple Airport Extreme in the house, which talks to my modem/router sitting next to me here. Straight line distance from me to the system is on the order of 150 feet or so. The power supply for the Red system is an Apple charger for the iPhone, pad, pod, etc. The system is very temperature tolerant. The max temp in the building over last summer was around 112°. The system ran at around 55°C or so. I had to mount a fan on a timer for the Airport Express to keep it cool enough to operate.

John
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Re: lightning detection device

Post by ace2 »

That sounds promising.
My plan (see what you think) :

Setup the detector on the pergola
run the power and network into a water proof box(have now for power to camera)
use a network over power plug(running a few in the house) to hook it into the network in the water proof box.

How high is required for the antenna??
Here is the area where it'll be installed.
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Chris
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Re: lightning detection device

Post by ace2 »

Also a question regarding this type of setup..
What is required to be mounted outside and what goes where???
I understand you have a controller board, amp and gps board and the antenna.

Sorry for the vague questions, but just trying to understand how I would position/setup this.
running cables down a wall is out, i have a line of sight via wireless of around 10m to router and 15 to Netbook running the weatherstation.
Will a netbook be enough to run software, it does all the encoding of my time-lapse mp4's and cumulus at the moment...

Chris
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Re: lightning detection device

Post by ace2 »

Reading reading, I would go with the ferrite antenna to make everything indoors.
Do you require a good earthing even for indoors??

I'm currently receiving donations from visitors to get this setup, so I'm interested in these prebuilt setups...

Chris

**getting excited**
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Re: lightning detection device

Post by PaulMy »

so I'm interested in these prebuilt setups...
I don't think that is available, as yet. But some, like me, had someone else volunteer to assemble and test. Unfortunately things for me have gone haywire so my station #1076 is in limbo.

http://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=23201.0

Paul
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