https://forum.blitzortung.org/ Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:34:28 +0000 MyBB https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4249 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:57:04 +0000 BenCos18]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4249
I'm not 100% sure on what parts/ what model is best for my area really so I'm wondering if I can get some advice in that regard, I'm used to soldering and that sort of stuff so that's not a problem just what hardware I need is what I'm not sure on/ or if it's best to just order the bare pcbs myself and that sort of stuff?

I'm based in Co Galway on the Ardrahan side.

I don't mind spending more on the more expensive model if it's worth it though.

thanks]]>
I'm not 100% sure on what parts/ what model is best for my area really so I'm wondering if I can get some advice in that regard, I'm used to soldering and that sort of stuff so that's not a problem just what hardware I need is what I'm not sure on/ or if it's best to just order the bare pcbs myself and that sort of stuff?

I'm based in Co Galway on the Ardrahan side.

I don't mind spending more on the more expensive model if it's worth it though.

thanks]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4250 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 22:46:53 +0000 Mazufa]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4250

My name is Matias and I live in Evijärvi, South Ostrobothnia, Finland.

I have been interested in the Blitzortung project for a long time and I would really like to become part of this amazing community by installing a lightning detection station at my home.

The station would be located in Evijärvi, South Ostrobothnia, Finland, and I hope it could help improve the lightning detection coverage in this part of the country.

I already operate an Ambient Weather WS-2000 weather station and I would like to complement it by contributing real lightning detection data to the Blitzortung network.

However, I have a few questions.

When I visit the "Cover Your Area" page, I cannot find the application or registration button that is mentioned in older documentation and forum posts. Has the application process changed, or is there another way to join the project?

I would also like to know how new participants currently obtain the hardware.

My first choice would be to purchase a complete, fully assembled and tested Blitzortung lightning detector that is compatible with the project. If this is possible, I would be very interested in buying one.

If complete stations are no longer available, I would gladly build one myself.

In that case, I would appreciate advice on the following:

• Where can I order all the required electronic components?
• Where can I obtain the official PCB files?
• Which PCB manufacturer would you recommend? I live in Finland, so recommendations for reliable European suppliers would be appreciated.
• Has anyone had good experiences with manufacturers such as PCBWay, JLCPCB or Aisler?

I am willing to invest both time and money into building a reliable station because I would like to contribute to the Blitzortung network for many years.

Thank you very much for your time. I look forward to becoming a member of the Blitzortung community.

Best regards,

Matias
Evijärvi, South Ostrobothnia
Finland]]>

My name is Matias and I live in Evijärvi, South Ostrobothnia, Finland.

I have been interested in the Blitzortung project for a long time and I would really like to become part of this amazing community by installing a lightning detection station at my home.

The station would be located in Evijärvi, South Ostrobothnia, Finland, and I hope it could help improve the lightning detection coverage in this part of the country.

I already operate an Ambient Weather WS-2000 weather station and I would like to complement it by contributing real lightning detection data to the Blitzortung network.

However, I have a few questions.

When I visit the "Cover Your Area" page, I cannot find the application or registration button that is mentioned in older documentation and forum posts. Has the application process changed, or is there another way to join the project?

I would also like to know how new participants currently obtain the hardware.

My first choice would be to purchase a complete, fully assembled and tested Blitzortung lightning detector that is compatible with the project. If this is possible, I would be very interested in buying one.

If complete stations are no longer available, I would gladly build one myself.

In that case, I would appreciate advice on the following:

• Where can I order all the required electronic components?
• Where can I obtain the official PCB files?
• Which PCB manufacturer would you recommend? I live in Finland, so recommendations for reliable European suppliers would be appreciated.
• Has anyone had good experiences with manufacturers such as PCBWay, JLCPCB or Aisler?

I am willing to invest both time and money into building a reliable station because I would like to contribute to the Blitzortung network for many years.

Thank you very much for your time. I look forward to becoming a member of the Blitzortung community.

Best regards,

Matias
Evijärvi, South Ostrobothnia
Finland]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4243 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 21:35:42 +0000 dd1sb]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4243
with my last PCB order i decided to add the System Blue Basic 22.2b with Piggyback 22.2c and Preamp 23.1.
Adding the official partlist from the directory to my last Digikey order worked like a charm.

Except one thing: the throughole components are not in there  All of them are more or less easy to identify on the pictures, but i got one simple problem.

Which quarz oscillators 8 / 25MHz do i have to use - the CL (or Belastungskapazität) on the board is 10pF, everything else results in a slightly lower or higher frequency. What about the capacity of the tracks etc., do i have to pay attention at them?
That would lead to a quarz with a CL > 10pF

As the system should be used for participation later on, i'd like to have all values as close as possible to the "detector kit".

I'd also buy a "throughole component kit" (as seen on the picture on limaps org hardware ) if that is the easier way

Cheers, 73 & 77 de Stefan, DD1SB]]>
with my last PCB order i decided to add the System Blue Basic 22.2b with Piggyback 22.2c and Preamp 23.1.
Adding the official partlist from the directory to my last Digikey order worked like a charm.

Except one thing: the throughole components are not in there  All of them are more or less easy to identify on the pictures, but i got one simple problem.

Which quarz oscillators 8 / 25MHz do i have to use - the CL (or Belastungskapazität) on the board is 10pF, everything else results in a slightly lower or higher frequency. What about the capacity of the tracks etc., do i have to pay attention at them?
That would lead to a quarz with a CL > 10pF

As the system should be used for participation later on, i'd like to have all values as close as possible to the "detector kit".

I'd also buy a "throughole component kit" (as seen on the picture on limaps org hardware ) if that is the easier way

Cheers, 73 & 77 de Stefan, DD1SB]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4225 Mon, 11 May 2026 12:43:03 +0000 NWStwisterman]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4225 https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4209 Sat, 21 Mar 2026 16:40:07 +0000 gmiller43]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4209
Can someone point me in the direction of:

• Where (geographically) would you expect the greatest improvement of accuracy (closer to the new detector)?
  
• Is there an explicit measure of error that would be expected to improve and where in the dataset would I find that?
  

Thanks.]]>
Can someone point me in the direction of:

• Where (geographically) would you expect the greatest improvement of accuracy (closer to the new detector)?
  
• Is there an explicit measure of error that would be expected to improve and where in the dataset would I find that?
  

Thanks.]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4203 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:43:53 +0000 PetrosKa]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4203
I do have some interference from a solar inverter during the day, but the station was working ok.

Station 18, green pcb 6.8
Thank you.

  tr.jpg (Size: 37.98 KB / Downloads: 5) ]]>
I do have some interference from a solar inverter during the day, but the station was working ok.

Station 18, green pcb 6.8
Thank you.

  tr.jpg (Size: 37.98 KB / Downloads: 5) ]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4201 Sat, 07 Mar 2026 09:36:51 +0000 Gorzzz]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4201
Looks like my p/s for my system blue is starting to die as it's only putting out 4v. I was going to get another powerstream one (https://www.powerstream.com/AC-1898.htm), but I'm not going to pay $70US (!) for postage to Australia.
So, can any Aussies on here point me to some alternatives??

Thanks,

John (Gorzzz)]]>
Looks like my p/s for my system blue is starting to die as it's only putting out 4v. I was going to get another powerstream one (https://www.powerstream.com/AC-1898.htm), but I'm not going to pay $70US (!) for postage to Australia.
So, can any Aussies on here point me to some alternatives??

Thanks,

John (Gorzzz)]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4172 Thu, 18 Dec 2025 20:28:44 +0000 meteolab]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4172 I will buy a functional GPS device for the Green system or exchange the Red system 3233 for a functional Green system. Thank you in advance for the offer. 
Regards

  20251113_120439.jpg (Size: 2.06 MB / Downloads: 14) ]]> I will buy a functional GPS device for the Green system or exchange the Red system 3233 for a functional Green system. Thank you in advance for the offer. 
Regards

  20251113_120439.jpg (Size: 2.06 MB / Downloads: 14) ]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4157 Tue, 18 Nov 2025 18:57:36 +0000 meteolab]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4157 I managed to get the Green PCB 4 Version 3. 2008 system. Does anyone still have software that supports this PCB??? There are newer versions on the compendium page and it doesn't work for this PCB.......I am very grateful for any valuable advice.......regards Erik
  20251118_193945.jpg (Size: 2.01 MB / Downloads: 10)
  20251118_193958.jpg (Size: 3.03 MB / Downloads: 11)
  20251118_193931.jpg (Size: 3.18 MB / Downloads: 14) ]]> I managed to get the Green PCB 4 Version 3. 2008 system. Does anyone still have software that supports this PCB??? There are newer versions on the compendium page and it doesn't work for this PCB.......I am very grateful for any valuable advice.......regards Erik
  20251118_193945.jpg (Size: 2.01 MB / Downloads: 10)
  20251118_193958.jpg (Size: 3.03 MB / Downloads: 11)
  20251118_193931.jpg (Size: 3.18 MB / Downloads: 14) ]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4107 Tue, 12 Aug 2025 09:12:39 +0000 heibert]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4107 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.]]> 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.]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4104 Fri, 01 Aug 2025 01:29:25 +0000 Art_Brown]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4104
"The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has established a new world record for the longest lightning flash – an incredible 829 km (515 miles) in a notorious storm hotspot in the United States of America."

"The megaflash occurred in October 2017, during a major thunderstorm complex. It extended from eastern Texas to near Kansas City - equivalent to the distance between Paris and Venice in Europe."

The original article can be read here: https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/wmo-ce...record-usa

Enjoy!

Update:

Original publication introduction:

"Lightning is viewed as a localized hazard to the general public, with safety guidance implying
being close enough to the thunderstorm to hear or see lightning (Cooper, 2012). Lightning
“megaflashes” (Lyons et al. 2019) challenge this view as single continuous long horizontal
flashes that extend for hundreds of kilometers through the clouds, initiating up to hundreds of
Cloud-to-Ground (CG) strokes along their paths. Moreover, megaflashes occur in regions of
organized storm systems that might seem inactive with 30 minutes or longer passing between
flashes (Peterson and Stano 2021). They are also known to produce noteworthy effects –
including potentially damaging high peak current CG strokes with continuing current, and
dazzling sprites above the cloud-top."

PDF can be downloaded here:

https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journa...0037.1.xml]]>
"The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has established a new world record for the longest lightning flash – an incredible 829 km (515 miles) in a notorious storm hotspot in the United States of America."

"The megaflash occurred in October 2017, during a major thunderstorm complex. It extended from eastern Texas to near Kansas City - equivalent to the distance between Paris and Venice in Europe."

The original article can be read here: https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/wmo-ce...record-usa

Enjoy!

Update:

Original publication introduction:

"Lightning is viewed as a localized hazard to the general public, with safety guidance implying
being close enough to the thunderstorm to hear or see lightning (Cooper, 2012). Lightning
“megaflashes” (Lyons et al. 2019) challenge this view as single continuous long horizontal
flashes that extend for hundreds of kilometers through the clouds, initiating up to hundreds of
Cloud-to-Ground (CG) strokes along their paths. Moreover, megaflashes occur in regions of
organized storm systems that might seem inactive with 30 minutes or longer passing between
flashes (Peterson and Stano 2021). They are also known to produce noteworthy effects –
including potentially damaging high peak current CG strokes with continuing current, and
dazzling sprites above the cloud-top."

PDF can be downloaded here:

https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journa...0037.1.xml]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4100 Thu, 24 Jul 2025 08:28:42 +0000 Ok8leo]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4100 I have a question.
I have the mini version at home and works nicely.
But I am also as Hamradio transmitting on 136 kHz 474 kHz and HF and VHF frequencies. I noticed that this gives a disturbance on the mini receiver.
Is this Harm full for the preamplifier , so I should disconnect the preamplifier  or using band pass filter for the mini or is this ok and the AGC can handle it.
The output power of the transmitters is  max 100 watt.
Thanks
ok8leo]]> I have a question.
I have the mini version at home and works nicely.
But I am also as Hamradio transmitting on 136 kHz 474 kHz and HF and VHF frequencies. I noticed that this gives a disturbance on the mini receiver.
Is this Harm full for the preamplifier , so I should disconnect the preamplifier  or using band pass filter for the mini or is this ok and the AGC can handle it.
The output power of the transmitters is  max 100 watt.
Thanks
ok8leo]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4095 Tue, 15 Jul 2025 08:51:23 +0000 droid]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4095 I'm using the data stored at Data/Protected but I'm struggling to understand whether the Region subsetting is mutually exclusive.

Suppose I want to gather ALL pulses detected over Europe in a certain day.
As far as I understand this means I have to gather the data from AT LEAST folders Strikes_1 and Strikes_18. Strikes_19 appears to be just a mirror of Strikes_18.




However, there are some lighthings over Europe that are coming from the other regions, for example Strikes_3.

Does that mean that the pulses detected in that region (which in theory does not include Europe) also need to be considered? 
Basically I just want to make sure that lighthings saved in every region do not contain duplicate in other regions, which would mean that the only 100% safe way of extracting data from the archive is to consider all regions every time.]]> I'm using the data stored at Data/Protected but I'm struggling to understand whether the Region subsetting is mutually exclusive.

Suppose I want to gather ALL pulses detected over Europe in a certain day.
As far as I understand this means I have to gather the data from AT LEAST folders Strikes_1 and Strikes_18. Strikes_19 appears to be just a mirror of Strikes_18.




However, there are some lighthings over Europe that are coming from the other regions, for example Strikes_3.

Does that mean that the pulses detected in that region (which in theory does not include Europe) also need to be considered? 
Basically I just want to make sure that lighthings saved in every region do not contain duplicate in other regions, which would mean that the only 100% safe way of extracting data from the archive is to consider all regions every time.]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4091 Thu, 10 Jul 2025 13:33:50 +0000 Geewizard]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4091
Any comments?]]>
Any comments?]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4079 Fri, 04 Jul 2025 15:17:34 +0000 davidmc36]]> https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=4079
I wonder what might be the best way to optimize performance by removing noise floor?

1. Provide cleaner power supply

2. Shorten twisted pair back to 1 foot and use 20 feet of Cat5 to amp 

3. I have 100 feet of direct burial Cat5 on hand that could run out to a weatherproof enclosure up to 75 feet away from the house.

I seem unable to turn gains up past 10x2 or it goes steady interference.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Image of vIn


  Screenshot_20250704_111822_Chrome.jpg (Size: 45.96 KB / Downloads: 20) ]]>
I wonder what might be the best way to optimize performance by removing noise floor?

1. Provide cleaner power supply

2. Shorten twisted pair back to 1 foot and use 20 feet of Cat5 to amp 

3. I have 100 feet of direct burial Cat5 on hand that could run out to a weatherproof enclosure up to 75 feet away from the house.

I seem unable to turn gains up past 10x2 or it goes steady interference.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Image of vIn


  Screenshot_20250704_111822_Chrome.jpg (Size: 45.96 KB / Downloads: 20) ]]>