Request for lightning data
#1
Request for limited real-time data access — Skycam Groningen / SkyHUD
Hello,

My name is Alex and I run Skycam Groningen, a personal, non-commercial live camera and weather project in Groningen, the Netherlands:
https://www.youtube.com/live/dCYnQST6YDI

The livestream includes a custom HUD combining local weather information, rain radar, astronomical events and aircraft received by my own ADS-B receiver.
I would like to ask whether Blitzortung could explicitly permit limited use of its real-time lightning data for this project.
The lightning data would not be used to create another general-purpose lightning map. It would be integrated into the existing local SkyHUD:
  • only strikes within approximately 150 km of Groningen;
  • short-lived lightning markers on the existing local rain/ADS-B radar;
  • distance, bearing and age of nearby strikes;
  • no storm warnings, safety alerts or risk analysis;
  • purely observational and entertainment use.
The project is freely accessible and does not redistribute the raw data.
To minimise server load and prevent misuse, the public HUD would never connect directly to Blitzortung. A small local relay on the stream computer would retrieve only the required data, filter and cache it, and provide a limited local JSON feed to the HUD.
Blitzortung.org would be clearly credited on screen and in the stream information, for example:
“Lightning data: Blitzortung.org — CC BY-SA 4.0”
I would only need the timestamp, latitude and longitude of recent detections. Historical bulk data is not required.
Would this project qualify for explicit permission to use the real-time data? If so, could you advise me which supported access method I should use?
I would also be open to operating a Blitzortung receiver in Groningen if becoming a participant is the preferred route.
Thank you for maintaining this remarkable volunteer network.
Best regards,
Alex
Skycam Groningen
Reply
#2
(2026-08-20, 19:11)Alidigitaly Wrote: Request for limited real-time data access — Skycam Groningen / SkyHUD
Hello,

My name is Alex and I run Skycam Groningen, a personal, non-commercial live camera and weather project in Groningen, the Netherlands:
https://skycam.alexfrankes.nl 
The livestream includes a custom HUD combining local weather information, rain radar, astronomical events and aircraft received by my own ADS-B receiver.
I would like to ask whether Blitzortung could explicitly permit limited use of its real-time lightning data for this project.
The lightning data would not be used to create another general-purpose lightning map. It would be integrated into the existing local SkyHUD:
  • only strikes within approximately 150 km of Groningen;
  • short-lived lightning markers on the existing local rain/ADS-B radar;
  • distance, bearing and age of nearby strikes;
  • no storm warnings, safety alerts or risk analysis;
  • purely observational and entertainment use.
The project is freely accessible and does not redistribute the raw data.
To minimise server load and prevent misuse, the public HUD would never connect directly to Blitzortung. A small local relay on the stream computer would retrieve only the required data, filter and cache it, and provide a limited local JSON feed to the HUD.
Blitzortung.org would be clearly credited on screen and in the stream information, for example:
“Lightning data: Blitzortung.org — CC BY-SA 4.0”
I would only need the timestamp, latitude and longitude of recent detections. Historical bulk data is not required.
Would this project qualify for explicit permission to use the real-time data? If so, could you advise me which supported access method I should use?
I would also be open to operating a Blitzortung receiver in Groningen if becoming a participant is the preferred route.
Thank you for maintaining this remarkable volunteer network.
Best regards,
Alex
Skycam Groningen


Hi,
When checking your website I get (with the latest Firefox and Vivaldi) the following warnings;

= Vivaldi webbrowser
" ...
This site can’t provide a secure connection
skycam.alexfrankes.nl uses an unsupported protocol.
ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH
..."


= Firefox webbrowser
"....
Be careful. Something doesn’t look right.
Firefox can’t create a secure connection to the server at skycam.alexfrankes.nl.

Advanced.
What makes the site look dangerous?
It looks like this site is using old software with known security issues.
What can you do about it?
Make sure you’re using the latest version of Firefox. Go to Help > About Firefox in the menu. If you’re using the latest Firefox, the problem is most likely with the site itself.

Learn more about secure connection failures

Error Code: SSL_ERROR_NO_CYPHER_OVERLAP
..."


Kind regards,
RWvdK
Stations: 2641 & 3138
Reply
#3
Thats a bit of an oopsy, it should redirect to youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/live/dCYnQST6YDI

I'll get into that later on.

edit: Fixed!
Reply
#4
cool project, I must admit

Let's hope Egon comes by to see it. He is the big boss that decides these questions. Do you have a detector btw ?
Reply
#5
(2026-08-21, 18:05)Eric.Wouters Wrote: cool project, I must admit

Let's hope Egon comes by to see it. He is the big boss that decides these questions. Do you have a detector btw ?


Thank you very much!   Smile

It's still evolving every day, like today I build in Seismic notifications since we had a bit of an earthquake in the province.
It also gives a good impression about how i intend to implement the lightning data.

[Image: seismic.png]

Also, I do not have a receiver..yet Smile
Would love to help with the project and do my part.
Reply
#6
Trying to find a complete step by step tutorial of some sort in how to participate but not very successful.
I believe I need a system blue i guess. Does not come preassembled but soldering is not an issue.
I'm curious about the antenna part because I’m not seeing a whole lot on that. Is that part of the package?
So many questions.. :-)

I also see that in Groningen there are zero receivers. So I guess that’s a valuable asset to have.
Where can I get me a complete kit!? Preferably preassembled :-)
Reply
#7
(2026-08-21, 22:26)Alidigitaly Wrote: Trying to find a complete step by step tutorial of some sort in how to participate but not very successful.
I believe I need a system blue i guess. Does not come preassembled but soldering is not an issue.
I'm curious about the antenna part because I’m not seeing a whole lot on that. Is that part of the package?
So many questions.. :-)

I also see that in Groningen there are zero receivers. So I guess that’s a valuable asset to have.
Where can I get me a complete kit!? Preferably preassembled :-)

Check here --> https://www.limaps.org/Order-List.pdf


There is info about antennas and different systems and how to order them.


Have a good weekend!
Reply
#8
(2026-08-21, 17:36)Alidigitaly Wrote: Thats a bit of an oopsy, it should redirect to youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/live/dCYnQST6YDI

I'll get into that later on.

edit: Fixed!

NICE!
Stations: 2641 & 3138
Reply
#9
Did some more digging and order is placed.  Lightning
Reply


Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)