Cheap hardware alternatives?

[heibert]

Hello!
Are there any designs with inexpensive components, such as ESP32, GPS module, and some other modules from AliExpress? There is an SI4732 chip, a digital CMOS AM/FM/SW/LW/RDS radio receiver. Perhaps something else.
A device costing €200-300 is probably not “cheap” for many countries. This will not contribute to the development of the project.
By the way, the project website looks a little unfriendly or abandoned. I can't find the price for the “system mini” kit. The data looks scattered or incomplete, as if it was collected in a hurry. It's a cool global project, but it seems unfinished.

[cutty]

Hello!
Are there any designs with inexpensive components, such as ESP32, GPS module, and some other modules from AliExpress? There is an SI4732 chip, a digital CMOS AM/FM/SW/LW/RDS radio receiver. Perhaps something else.
A device costing €200-300 is probably not “cheap” for many countries. This will not contribute to the development of the project.
By the way, the project website looks a little unfriendly or abandoned. I can't find the price for the “system mini” kit. The data looks scattered or incomplete, as if it was collected in a hurry. It's a cool global project, but it seems unfinished.

Er... looks like your IP indicates 'Russia'.... sorry to say, there are restrictions on technology exports to some countries, Russia included.  Can't help you. I do NOT know if Egon, et.al. have the website, certain pages, etc restricted for IPs in such areas, but I suppose it's possible.  Sorry, but unfortunately world politics govern certain things.    And the Blitzortung network 'lives' in the European Union, and must first comply with the EU regulations, laws, etc.  This is also NOT a project where a participant is led around by the hand, we don't do the work for you, including navigating the website, etc.  Some things folks need to discover themselves. That's part of the reason for existence... learn, experiment, explore. Hobby. Something not necessarily feasible using two thumbs on a smart phone.

Politics are also one major reason component costs and availability  took a major jump a few years ago, eventually resulting in the 'less expensive', 'stripped down' system BLUE mini (basic system, with 2 H field channels only) designed, and made available, rather than continuing to produce the 'BLUE Max' 4 channel system.  FYI, the cost for the MINI basic today is about the same as the Blue Max was previously.  The production / distribution costs for the Max skyrocketed, and REALLY became outrageous.  Also, the systems are produced in 'batches' and total costs depend on the 'costs' for the current batch that is 'in stock'.  This is a 'non-profit' non-commercial project.

If you just want to play around with 'detecting' lightning, and do it as cheaply as possible, with no intent to locate, define or whatever, a configured AS3935 cheapo can probably be obtained beginning at about $15 US, 13 Euros, or 2000 Rubles...  and shipping may cost more than the product.  Keep in mind this has NOTHING in common with 'real' lightning locating and analyzing systems.  Our old 'System Red' included hardware and firmware to interface a 3935, but few of us used it, and most who installed simply ignored it, or removed it... it contributed absolutely nothing to the Blitzortung Network... yeah, I've got one somewhere in my 'junk' box... which was passed on to me by a friend.

Best Wishes!

[GeezerD]

Hello!
Are there any designs with inexpensive components...

If you want a system blue mini, I describe how I got one this year, complete with pricing, in this thread:

https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread...4#pid27054 

If you're looking for alternate, cheaper hardware, realize that you'll have a single receiver, and will not be able to leverage an entire network of cooperating stations. 

If you wanted to submit to the blitzortung with your cheaper hardware, you would need to reproduce the data format and interface of the blitzortung network. You'd have to buy a blitzortung receiver to obtain access to the network, as well. Nobody would pay you to do that!

Of course, one of the advantages and basic values of the network is the uniformity of the receivers, and the administrators might not look kindly at your homebrew efforts. 

That said,i t is well known that VLF can be observed using a "sound card" on your computer, up to about 20 KHz. The days of "sound cards" are mostly gone: modern computers use integrated audio, but I would be surprised if you not use your microphone jack and an antenna and some kind of <hand-waving> interface to observe lightning emissions in the VLF Band.