[amsat-bb] APRS, AM and the solar Eclipse

[Robert Bruninga]

There will be several Ham Radio experiments during the eclipse.  Please
see: http://HamSCI.org

Anyone can do the AM radio experiment by listening for the 13 clear channel
AM radio stations that are along the path of totality.  As the D layer is
darkened these stations should come up out of the noise. Check the web page
for times and frequencies.  The eclipse traverses the USA over about an
hour with any one observer seeing totality for about 2 minutes.

Also, APRS will be used during the day of the eclipse (21 Aug) for locating
those hams involved in eclipse observations to be able to see where other
nearby ham observers are located.  Imagine the APRS map that day showing a
clustering of mobile and portable positions all along the totality line.
Please use the station symbol SUNNY (\U) for this event so these stations
will stand out among all others on the national tracking page http://aprs.fi

In addition to position reporting, APRS real-time messaging can be
used for direct
station-to-station texting plus the announcement server will give national
connectivity for announcements. To use it, just send an APRS message to
ANSRVR and begin the message with CQ ECLIPSE… Such a message will be sent
to every other station in the event that has also sent a similar message.
Due to the load, limit transmissions to no more often than once every half
hour.

Bob Bruninga, WB4APR at amsat.org