 The
Simple Aurora Monitor (SAM) magnetometer system is a sophisticated
semi-professional geomagnetometer designed by Dirk Langenbach (hardware) and
Karsten Hansky (software). In the description below, "SAM" refers to both the
original 2-axis SAM and the newer 3-axis SAM-III. Where only "SAM-III" appears,
it refers to the 3-axis SAM-III.
The primary application of the
SAM-III is in the sensing and study of geomagnetism, but it is possible to use
the SAM-III in other applications requiring magnetic sensing. The
correspondences between geomagnetic storms, solar events and solar wind, aurora
and radio propagation anomalies are well-known. The SAM-III will be a useful
instrument to radio astronomers, radio amateurs, aurora photographers and
experimenters.
The kit can be purchased from
Whit Reeve in Alaska (click
here for details).
I purchased my kit semi built.
That is I had Whit build and test the main components (the PCB) so all I needed
to worry about was the assembly of the sensors themselves. Pre-building
these would be problematic since there is a myriad of ways that you as the end
user may wish to install them based on your own circumstances. Below is a
picture of one of Whits own processing units.
Whit's aim is to have a world
wide network of these units. There are a plethora of units in Europe, but
very few anywhere else (operational that is).
The worldwide SAM site is located
here. As you can see from
this map, coverage
outside Europe is nearly non existent.
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