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140<div id="block-hamsci-bs5-content" class="block block-system block-system-main-block"> 141 142 143 144<article class="node node--type-page node--view-mode-full"> 145 146 147 148 149 150 <div class="node__content"> 151 152 <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><h2>Motivation</h2><p>Since the beginning of the United States amateur radio service in 1912, amateur radio operators have made significant contributions to radio technology and the understanding of radio science. This work must be continued today, as Part 97 of the FCC rules states that a primary purpose of the amateur radio service is the âContinuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art.â Recent advances in the fields of computing, software defined radio, and signal processing provide unprecedented opportunities to meet this mandate, specifically in the field of radio science. These opportunities are already beginning to be realized with the advent of systems such as the <a href="http://www.reversebeacon.net/">Reverse Beacon Network</a> (RBN), the <a href="http://wsprnet.org/">Weak Signal Propagation Reporting Network</a> (WSPRNet), and <a href="https://pskreporter.info/">PSKReporter</a>. In addition, enabling amateurs to make and contribute legitimate scientific observations will expose amateur radio to a wider community of people interested in science around the world.</p><h2>What is HamSCI?</h2><p>HamSCI, the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation, is a platform for the publicity and promotion of projects that are consistent with the following objectives:</p><ul><li data-list-item-id="ea2e50adc0480edf92ed117124b6ca33d">Advance scientific research and understanding through amateur radio activities.</li><li data-list-item-id="e47a49a3949ca282461a03e7ac9a9d7ab">Encourage the development of new technologies to support this research.</li><li data-list-item-id="ea62ee24da8118a821879968f665348fc">Provide educational opportunities for the amateur community and the general public.</li></ul><p>HamSCI serves as a means for fostering collaborations between professional researchers and amateur radio operators. It assists in developing and maintaining standards and agreements between all people and organizations involved.</p><!--<h2> How HamSCI Works </h2> 153<p></p> 154<a href="http://www.reversebeacon.net/">Reverse Beacon Network</a>, <a href="http://wsprnet.org/">WSPRNet</a>, and <a href="https://pskreporter.info/">PSKReporter</a> 155--><h2>What is HamSCI's scientific focus?</h2><p>HamSCI was started by ham-scientists who study upper atmospheric and space physics. These scientists recognized that projects such as the Reverse Beacon Network, WSPRNet, PSKReporter, DX Cluster, ClubLog, and more are generating big data sets that could provide useful observations of the Earth's ionosphere and related systems. Because of this, HamSCI's initial focus is on these fields of research. In the future, other researchers may join HamSCI and broaden its scope. For scientists, working with the amateur radio community is a way to access individually managed stations, available by the hundreds in dozens of countries, with <a href="http://www.arrl.org/band-plan">receive and transmit capabilities across the electromagnetic spectrum</a>, <a href="https://www.qrz.com/listmaker/">easily identified in areas of interest</a> and<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DX-pedition#:~:text=A%20DX%2Dpedition%20is%20an,amateurs%20active%20from%20that%20place.&text=DX%20is%20a%20telegraphic%20shorthand,distant%22%20(see%20DXing)."> deployed to remote locations</a>, for free. You can read more about the utility of amateur radio as a teaching tool in <a href="https://eos.org/features/ham-radio-forms-a-planet-sized-space-weather-sensor-network">this <em>Eos</em></a> article. </p><p><strong>Science Questions</strong></p><ul><li data-list-item-id="e9aedcb8529c5fd4c69078e99a11363a7">How does the ionosphere respond to inputs from space and from the neutral atmosphere?</li><li data-list-item-id="eaae8909fa769ea5f3e33664854420d2e">How does the ionosphere couple with the neutral atmosphere and with space?</li><li data-list-item-id="e6aaa0fe11d6ce9e912516226723bd57c">What are the sources of medium and large scale traveling ionospheric disturbances?</li><li data-list-item-id="e873e1fad3ffe733d6c8235d28b2bc4bb">What are the causes of Sporadic E?</li></ul><p><strong>Amateur Radio Questions</strong></p><ul><li data-list-item-id="ee3662f3bb9f7e8efbbb90870c3e27dbe">How do disturbances such as solar flares, geomagnetic storms, and traveling ionospheric disturbances affect radio wave propagation?</li><li data-list-item-id="e9321fb10e57d282bfb5dac9dcf1c592c">How does ionospheric science help amateur radio operators improve c
155ommunications?</li><li data-list-item-id="e991f88279ea0c2a7671a3b363091b759">How can I use my existing radio equipment to science initiatives?</li></ul><h1>What is a ham radio operator?</h1><p>HamSCI is driven by data generated by the activities of ham radio operators (a.k.a. amateur radio operators). Ham radio operators are people who are interested in using radio as a hobby and have obtained a ham radio license from their state government. Ham radio is a very diverse hobby. Some operators enjoy talking to friends accross town, while others work to build stations that can communicate around the world. Ham radio operators can help with emergency communications and public service, or even help advance the boundaries of scientific knowledge.</p><p>Any interested person can become a ham radio operator. Amateur radio can introduce young people to an exciting career in the field of science and technology, or it can simply serve as a fun and productive hobby for anyone who would like to get involved. The <a href="http://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio">American Radio Relay League</a> is a great place to learn about how to become a ham radio operator.</p><h3>Operating</h3><p>One of the simplest ways to participate in HamSCI is simply to get on the radio! This is especially true if you enjoy operating HF CW or digital modes. Systems such as the <a style="line-height:20.8px;" href="http://www.reversebeacon.net/">Reverse Beacon Network</a>, <a style="line-height:20.8px;" href="http://wsprnet.org/">WSPRNet</a>, and <a style="line-height:20.8px;" href="https://pskreporter.info/">PSKReporter</a> will automatically hear your transmissions and report back to their respective databases.</p><h3>Participate in Receiving Networks</h3><p>HamSCI scientists rely on data from systems such as the <a href="http://www.reversebeacon.net/">Reverse Beacon Network</a>, <a href="http://wsprnet.org/">WSPRNet</a>, and <a href="https://pskreporter.info/">PSKReporter</a>. These systems rely on volunteers to install and operate receiving stations. Dense receiver coverage is needed globally, so installing a receiving node for one of these stations is a great way to help out!</p><h3>Follow the ARRL: <em>QST</em> (Official Journal), <em>QEX</em> (Experimenter's Journal) and <em>On the Air</em> (new ham's magazine)</h3><p>Learn more about ham radio operating by visiting the <a href="https://arrl.org">American Radio Relay League</a> website. Become an ARRL member to receive <em>QST</em>, along with the League's other publications.</p></div> 156 157 </div> 158 159</article> 160 161 </div> 162 163 </div> 164 165 </div> 166 </div> 167 </div> 168 169</main> 170 171<footer role="contentinfo" class="mt-auto footer-dark text-light bg-dark"> 172 <div class="container"> 173 <div class="region region-footer"> 174 <div id="block-hamsci-bs5-custom-3" class="block block-block-content block-block-content6045dc6b-e287-4c75-9f0f-06e57b0e39d5"> 175 176 177 178 <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><div class="hamsci-footer"> 179 <div class="hamsci-footer__supporters"> 180 <a class="hamsci-footer__logo hamsci-footer__logo--mark" href="https://www.nsf.gov/"><img src="/themes/custom/hamsci_bs5/images/footer/nsf.png" alt="U.S. National Science Foundation" width="64" height="64" loading="lazy"></a> 181 <a class="hamsci-footer__logo" href="https://www.scranton.edu/"><img src="/themes/custom/hamsci_bs5/images/footer/scranton.png" alt="The University of Scranton" width="201" height="52" loading="lazy"></a> 182 <a class="hamsci-footer__logo hamsci-footer__logo--mark" href="https://science.nasa.gov/citizenscience"><img src="/themes/custom/hamsci_bs5/images/footer/nasa-partner.png" alt="NASA Partner" width="81" height="64" loading="lazy"></a> 183 </div> 184 <div class="hamsci-footer__meta"> 185 <span>© 2026 HamSCI. All rights reserved.</span> 186 <a href="/rss.xml" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="/sites/default/files/field/image/rss_feed_icon.png" alt width="14" height="14" loading="lazy"> RSS Feed</a> 187 </div> 188</div></div> 189 190 </div> 191 192 </div> 193 194 </div> 195</footer> 196 197 </div> 198 199 200
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