1. Lightning
radar MDF (= magnetic-direction-finding system), old system!
Frank Kooiman
developed the Lightning Radar that can be used as single lightning station
or in combination with a remote station. Lightning
radar is an easy and very cheap (40 Euro) homemade system which consists of a power supply, an amplifier
circuit, a double frame antenna and a free software.
Optimised double frame antenna:
2. TOA
(= time-of-arrival system)
Egon
Wanke (Blitzortung.org)
has designed an advanced lightning detection circuit. With the use of a
GPS device we can determine the time of lightning stroke within 1 µsec.
4 stations have to detect same strike and with time-of-arrival calculations
it is possible to determine lightning stroke position with an accuracy <1000m. This system uses
same technology as ALDIS or BLIDS.
Costs are 140 Euro (preamplifier &
evaluation board, GPS, box, power supply) with free software. See construction
manual by Egon Wanke.
I
also tried the Navilock
EM-406A (with PPS output) with a SIRF3 chip for higher sensitivity (size
of 30 x 30 x 10 mm). Now
it is possible to receive the GPS signal inside a room (near the window).
Either
you use the double frame antenna seen above under "lightning
radar" or 2 small ferrite antennas by Wolfgang
Friese mounted in the preamplifier board
housing.
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