 |
About
the Northern Utah WebSDR |
This WebSDR server is located near Corinne, Utah, at a site
previously used for HF propagation research. As a crow flies,
it is about 60
miles (94km)
north of Salt Lake City and 14 miles (23km)
east of the Golden Spike National Historic - link
site where, in 1869,
the transcontinental railroad was completed, linking the eastern
and western United States by rail for the first time: This
railroad was just 0.23 miles (375
meters) from the WebSDR site's location.
The main
receive antenna at this site is a TCI Model 530 omnidirectional Log
Periodic which is (mostly)
circularly-polarized and optimized for higher-angle incident waves,
having up to 6dBi gain. Go
to the "Technical
Info" page for more detail about the gear used at this site.
This WebSDR system was put online at this site on 28
February, 2018 with the
help of many local amateurs.
There are several WebSDR systems online at this location offering
coverage on all
of the U.S. LF, MF and HF amateur bands plus a portion of the
6 meter band and all of the 2 meter band:
- WebSDR #1 (the "Yellow"
server):
This server covers the lower amateur bands - those that are
active all day or only at night, namely 160, 80/75, 60 and 40 meters,
along with the AM broadcast band and the 120, 60 and 49 meter shortwave
broadcast bands.
- WebSDR #2 (the "Green"
server):
This
covers the higher amateur HF bands - those that are active mostly
during the day and/or when solar terrestrial conditions permit such as
30, 20, 17, 15, 12, 10 and the bottom 1 MHz of 6 meters, along with the
31 and 13 meter
shortwave broadcast bands.
- WebSDR #3 (the "Blue" server):
On this server there is also redundant
coverage of the very
popular 80/75 and 40 meter amateur bands so that it can
serve as a (lower-performance,
but usable) back-up to WebSDR #1 should it fail - and with
these bands we also get the 90 and 41 meter SWBC (shortwave broadcast)
bands for "free". It
also includes all of the 2 meter amateur
band using a 5 element Yagi pointed south toward the Salt Lake metro
area along with the 25 and 19 meter shortwave broadcast bands.
Finally, it covers the "new" 2200 and 630 Meter amateur bands
and
adjacent frequencies: Like 160 meters, 2200 and 630 meters
are
primarily
"winter" bands due to the crescendo of noise that accompanies the
summer
season.
- WebSDR #4 (the "Magenta" server):
This server is connected to a log-periodic beam antenna that
is
pointed east, providing improved coverage across the eastern U.S. on
the 40 through 10 meter bands - not to mention incidental coverage into
southern Europe and Africa.
- WebSDR #5 (the "Teal" server):
This server is connected to a log-periodic beam antenna that
is
pointed west-northwest, providing of much of the west coast of the U.S., Alaska, Australia, New Zealand and much of Asia on
the 30 through 10 meter bands
A VHF/UHF-only WebSDR:
In addition to the five WebSDRs at the remote receive site.there is the
"Salt Lake Metro" server in the Salt Lake area that provides coverage
of all of 2 meters, the upper 4 MHz of the 70cm band (where the
repeater outputs are located here in Utah), 6 meters, a portion of the
Aircraft band and the Earth<>Satellite portion of the 2 meter
amateur band.
KiwiSDRs on site:
Another type of Web-interfaced, multi-user SDR system at this site uses
KiwiSDRs that (theoretically)
have continuous coverage from 0 through 30 MHz. For more
information about those receivers read the
KiwiSDR section on the FAQ page.
- Note: If
you are listening to amateur, mediumwave or SWBC frequencies that are already
covered by a WebSDR server, please use the WebSDR instead
of a
KiwiSDR: Not only can the WebSDR servers handle
many more
users,
but its receivers are likely to be a bit better than those on the Kiwi!
WSPR
and the Northern Utah WebSDR:
This WebSDR system also functions as a major monitoring point for
WSPRNET activity in North America, receiving and reporting WSPR
transmissions on the LF, MF and HF spectrum. Please read
the page "WSPR Monitoring at
the Northern Utah WebSDR" for more information.
The Northern Utah WebSDR and the Reverse Beacon Network:
As of August, 2023 the receivers/antennas at the remote Northern
Utah WebSDR site have been used for reception of CW transmissions via
the "CW Skimmer" software and reporting the observations to the Reverse Beacon Network (link).
As of late September, CW transmissions on the 160, 80, 40, 30,
20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meter bands are being monitored, with the
possibility of more being added in the future - all using the TCI-530
Omni antenna.
In theory we could add other monitors for modes such as RTTY, FT-8,
FT-4, etc. but we need to carefully consider what we do to make sure
that we don't over-use computer resources and be sure that any
contribution that we might make would not be a duplication of efforts.
Purpose
of the Northern Utah WebSDR:
The Northern Utah WebSDR (and its legal entity, the "Utah
SDR Group") is dedicated to the proposition that Amateur
radio can provide a role in emergency preparedness, emergency
communications ("EMCOMM"),
fellowship and international goodwill, technical education and
development, and the sciences related to the ionosphere and the
interaction of the Earth's magnetic fields and atmophere with the sun
itself.
"Ham radio includes
talking to others - but it isn't just that!"
One of the growing challenges to amateurs that
wish to operate on the HF bands - particularly if they are interested
in the "EMCOMM" aspects - is that of dealing with the crescendo of QRN
at
the
typical home QTH, largely owing to the proliferation of devices that
are, in their own right, power oscillators - namely, devices with
switching power converters. Now ubiquitous, these devices can
be
found in almost anything that is powered from the AC mains, from
appliances to chargers to TV and computers. Even if one,
single
device contributes relatively little to one's own receive noise floor
on a given band, the sheer number of these devices - both in your
residence and those of your neighbors - they can contribute to the
overall
degradation of your receive capability, masking out weaker signals.
One useful tool that this - and other WebSDRs - provide is the ability
to compare your system and its capabillities to others: If
you have
a problem that hinders your communications abilities, how bad is it?
As you work to improve your situation, having a basis of
comparison is valuel - both as a benchmark, but also as a source of
encouragement to help you toward improvment.
No matter your circumstance there are several reasons why you might
frequent a WebSDR:
- If you do
have a noisy receive location, a remote receiver can augment your own -
particularly when it comes to digging out weaker signals.
- If you plan to just listen, it may be more convenient to do
so from your computer or mobile device.
- If you are participating in a round table or net, listening
from
"somewhere else" may allow you to hear stations that might not be
audible for some reason - such as your being so close that the signal
skips over you, too far to hear that station or just
due to band conditions.
- To test your
transmit antenna - or compare several antennas. Remember:
Conditions change, so one would do several "A-B"
tests
rather than just one.
- A "sanity" check of your station: If you hear
nothing on your home station, you can tell if the band is dead.
- If you just want to "listen" - whether you have your own
station or not!
It should be noted that there are some instances where a remote receive
system may be of limited benefit - specifically, some contest
situations where there may be rules that limit/prohibit the use of a
remote/distant receive station.
Having the availability of a "good" receiver site - that is, one that
is "RF quiet", when coupled with a system such as a WebSDR - can
provide
a wider benefit to a far larger number of amateurs than a single,
dedicated remote receiver. This system can accommodate a
large number
of simultaneous users, each independently tuning around and thus
benefit the greatest number of users - not only from locations near
the WebSDR system itself, but also those across the country and across
the world.
In
other words: A
system like this can provide a bigger
"bang for the buck" and benefit far more people than simple remotely
accessible receive
system!
The
scientific aspects:
The Northern Utah WebSDR is uniquely situated in an
RF-quiet
environment such that one of the side-benefits is the collection of raw
data pertaining to the interaction of the Sun and ionosphere - and
other aspects of our geophysical environment. This raw data,
which includes noise data related to such interactions and the
measurements of signal levels contribute to a large data set that does
- and will, in the future - contribute to our understanding of the
still-mysterious effects that the Sun and our space environment have on
our planet. These interactions not only include effects on
our
natural environment, but they can have impact on things like our power
grid, telecommunications, and satellite-based navigation.
While we know of some of the uses to which this data is currently being
put, today's contributions - and tommorow's - add to an ever-growing
pool of never-before available raw data that may provide insights into
the nature of these effects and interactions that we have yet to
consider. For more information read the "WebSDR and Science" page - link.
Terms and conditions of use of the Northern Utah WebSDR:
The Northern Utah WebSDR system
is a free-to-use, publically-available resource that allows
remote reception on the HF and select VLF, LF, MF and VHF bands.
The Northern Utah WebSDR is supported entirely by
volunteer effort and donations and any commercial or governmental use
that might be
ocurring is being done serreptitiously and without our consent.
While best
efforts are made to keep the system online and available to everyone, there are no
warranties expressed or
implied, nor shall there be any liabilities related to the use and usability of the Northern Utah WebSDR for any
purposes whatsovever.
Use for
emergency communications:
During special events, exercises or emergencies, we'll do what we can
to accommodate and maintain the system, but we cannot guarantee that
the system will be available - and, of course, any incident dependent
on the vagaries of HF propagation is subject to the whims of mother
nature. The Internet, being what it is, can also be adversely
impacted, depending on the footprint and nature of whatever event might
occur.
Remember: The
Northern Utah WebSDR - or any
WebSDR - should NEVER
be used as the primary
or sole resource for life and safety concerns. In the event
that life-critical communcations are
undertaken - via this or any WebSDR, or over the air - IMMEDIATELY
contact the appropriate first responder agencies.
By using
the Northern Utah WebSDR you agree to acknowledge and abide by these
conditions.
If you have any questions about these terms and conditions please
refer them to the contact information found at the bottom of this page.
Operational
hints:
- Starting on a
specific band/frequency/mode: If you want this
to start on a particular frequency and mode, append "/?tune=<freq
in kHz><mode> to the end of the URL as
in: http://ip.address/?tune=7200lsb .
Valid modes are LSB, USB, AM and CW. After bringing
up the
web page with this URL you may save it in your bookmarks - but remember
to name it to include the frequency and mode!
- Using the
"memories": You can save frequencies using the
"memory" functions on the web interface. Please be aware
that these settings are saved as cookies in your
browser, on the machine that you are using and NOT on the
web server.
What this means is that if you change machines or use a
different
browser program, these "memories" will not be carried over.
Furthermore, many browsers can be configured to erase cookies
when the program is shut down so if these memories don't "stick" it
will be up to you to figure out why.
- Audio
drop-outs: Audio drop-outs are not uncommon if you have multiple browser
tabs open - including the WebSDR page - and you have changed
to another browser tab or window. Navigating away from the
browser window with WebSDR tends to lower the priority of that
non-active window which means that real-time audio processing can
suffer - even if you are using a very fast machine!
- Note that WebSDR servers 1, 2 and 3 have a button labeled
"Additional Audio Buffering" that can help reduce dropouts at the
expense of adding a bit more delay.
- Waterfall
updating:
The waterfall may stop updating when you switch/minimize the
browser window such that it is no longer visible on-screen, causing
signals to appear/disappear when you switch back to the WebSDR and the
waterfall resumes updating. This is not
a bug but rather a means of reducing bandwidth/load on the server.
- Waterfall/audio
problems: If you can't see the waterfall and/or
can't hear any audio make sure that you aren't blocking scripts.
If you are using an older browser, consider upgrading.
If you are using the Chrome
browser and having audio problems, read the "Fixing audio with Chrome"
web page.
- Important note: You need both Java
and JavaScript enabled for this
page to work properly - particularly on older browsers. For a
detailed discussion about browser support, click here.
- Decoding
digital modes: While there are no decoders on
the WebSDR system for
digital modes like PSK31 and RTTY (the
processor load and system complexity would increase significantly!)
it is possible to use a program like "Virtual Audio Cable" to
route audio from the WebSDR running on your computer into such
applications. Note that some modes like WSPR, JT-65, JT-9 and
FT-8 require tight synchronization to UTC and the delay in processing
and propagation across the Internet - plus the possible, occasional
drop-out and re-sync of the audio stream - may make the reception of
such modes unreliable.'
"Isn't this WebSDR
supported by one of the local Utah ham clubs?"
The quick answer is: No.
For various reasons (practical,
legal, tax, liability, etc.) the Northern Utah WebSDR is
its own, stand-alone organization and is NOT
associated directly with any
other amateur radio club.
Having
said, that, many members of the local amateur radio clubs have provided
assistance and support in the establishment and continued operation of
the WebSDR system and occasionally, one of them throws some
money in
our direction as a donation.
How
can I help support the Northern Utah WebSDR:
We gratefully accept donations to help support the Northern Utah
WebSDR: To find out how to do that, please visit our How
to Donate
page.
Who's behind all of this?
The installation and maintenance of this WebSDR system is a joint
effort of many amateur radio operators in
Northern
Utah with many locals offering support by donating equipment, their
time and money. As mentioned above, this WebSDR is not
associated
with any
particular
amateur club and is based around a non-profit IRS 501c(3)
organization set up
specifically to support the WebSDR.
If you were wondering why there isn't a list of supporters
here, the answer is that if we did so, we'd inadvertently leave someone
out. We used to
have a partial
list of volunteers here, but certain people (you
know who you are!) used it to send everyone on that list
email that they didn't really want (uncool!)
- so we removed it.
What are the future plans?
To make it better, of course! In the future we hope to:
- Resolve technical issues - see the "Latest
News" page for currently-known issues to read
about past problems.
- There is another antenna
on site that is NOT in
use at the moment - a large Log-Periodic antenna covering 6-30 MHz that
is
pointed due east. We are hoping to make this antenna usable
and add
receivers to use it exclusively to enhance coverage on these bands to
the
Eastern U.S. and covered "DX" areas of the world.
- We are looking into adding additional services such as a
Skimmer, FT8 and FT4 monitoring, etc.
- We now offer
coverage on all of the U.S. HF, MF and LF amateur
bands! Cover some/all of the
HF bands that we do not yet cover.
- Add more of the "popular"
shortwave broadcast bands. We
currently have the AM broadcast band and the 120, 90, 75, 60, 49, 41,
31, 25,
19 and 13 meter shortwave broadcast
bands, some of these being covered because they are conveniently
proximate to amateur bands. Some of the SWBC bands that we
don't (yet?) cover
are 22, 16, 15 and 11 meters. (All of these bands are, in
fact, covered by the KiwiSDRs.)
- We would like to add additional "wideband" coverage
receivers to allow some users to tune across the entire HF spectrum as
the technology becomes more available/affordable.
- If you have some (reasonable!)
suggestions for frequency coverage, drop us a line: If it
makes sense, we'll at least think
about trying it!
Contact
information:
If you wish to find out how you can contribute to this project, or if
you have any questions/comments that weren't answered on the "latest
news", "FAQ" or "technical
info" pages, you may
send an email to the following address:
sdrinfo@sdrutah.org.
Alternatively, you can send email/snail-mail to KA7OEI
using the information found at QRZ or the FCC database.
Important:
If you wish to contact us,
please avoid using an email
service that has one of those "Please fill in this form to reply" type
of SPAM filters.
If you really
want a reply, please have the courtesy to allow us to do so without
having to fill out a form and supply extra personal
information to who knows where, etc. - I wasn't planning to sell or
give out your
email address, anyway!
Additional information:
- For answers to possible questions, visit the FAQ
page (link).
- For more information about the WebSDR project in general -
including information about other WebSDR servers worldwide and
additional technical information - go to http://www.websdr.org
Go to the Northern Utah WebSDR
landing page