RTL-SDR, dump1090, VirtualRadar, and Sofia

Posted on 2016/02/29 by gaspo

having a lot of fun watching the air traffic. i loaded dump1090 onto a debian machine, plugged in an RTL-SDR usb dongle, a hacked coax 1/4 wave vertical, and bam, we got all sorts of fun info about the planes flying over. here’s the raw dump from dump1090

then, using mono to run VirtualRadar, can see from other machines browser live updating with tracks, and net lookups of the tail numbers. i can only “see” about 10-30 miles out, so very lucky to be looking at it just the right time…..

…..and then along comes SOFIA, the NASA flying telescope. Yes, they open a door on the side, the back section is de-pressurized, so to have a clear view of the heavens. the Ultimate Convertible, no?

and a double check against the pro’s,

so, who read all the way down here, and want’s to hear about the CHP Ghost C-130 flying circles over Folsom Lake?

Rain diverted again

Posted on 2016/02/17 by gaspo

yesterday it looked like we would get some good rain from some nice cold cloud tops.

NOAA 19 northbound 86W at 16 Feb 2016 22:09:52 GMT on 137.10MHz, HVC-precip enhancement, Normal projection, Channel A: 2 (near infrared), Channel B: 4 (thermal infrared)

but last night the fronts collided into the Cali Rex Block, and we barely got 1/8″ overnight.

NOAA 18 southbound 49E at 17 Feb 2016 13:48:28 GMT on 137.9125MHz, contrast enhancement, Normal projection, Channel A: 3/3B (mid infrared), Channel B: 4 (thermal infrared)

The wind picked up to match the 15mb drop in 24hrs, and is still dropping today.

pray the second front will bring us more blessings of Rain !!!

DC3 Touch Test

Posted on 2016/02/11 by gaspo

quick little video of the DC3 new touch sensors in action. just a simple sensor-faceedges mapping for now to get the sensitivity dialed in. works about 1″ out from the face of the glass, and seems to be stable with power fluctuations thanks to extra regulator.

youtube link here

testing youtube embed here. Continue reading →

Summer Block is Back

Posted on 2016/02/08 by gaspo

soaring record temps across the western US, guess what kids, the Rex Block is Back. 2 incoming systems have bounced already, and looks like the next will have a hard time getting over the high pressure too.

NOAA 19 northbound 79E at 08 Feb 2016 21:59:51 GMT on 137.10MHz, MSA enhancement, Normal projection, Channel A: 2 (near infrared), Channel B: 4 (thermal infrared)

the wrap around results in some serious vortex activity on the east coast, here can see the curve over washington state over B.C., dives back down into the midwest, and spills out over the atlantic, creating an intense low pressure spiral. That should have been rain for us, but the human heat is already summer levels.

even the big ships don’t scale well https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2016/02/08/4000-passenger-cruise-ship-inexplicably-sails-into-atlantic-mega-storm/

electric motorcycle battery pack dissection

Posted on 2016/02/06 by gaspo

48V at 40Ah, this is quite the LiPo battery pack. well, it was, before it self-discharged. looks like about $1K to replace all those magic baggies, last picture can see the magic smoke has leaked out and left an aromatic grunge behind. at least the BMS has a clever tab attachment setup. searching for LiFe replacement options. anyone recommend source for 20-40Ah that would fit roughly 210x210x150mm form factor? only one cell has 2V on it, the others 0.2V at most, so no youtube pack puncture fun here.

Almost Summer

Posted on 2016/02/03 by gaspo

it is said that plants know the weather long before it happens. now we have science, so to see what it is they know. here is 2016 air temps so far, and last year 2015. notice the white (colder than 2015) upper air is warming up fast (er than 2015). my prediction, summer will be here by march. there may be another burst of upper cold or two before then, weather is never predictable, only observable.

Solar Sail probe steers like a hangglider.

Posted on 2016/02/03 by gaspo

a hangglider steers by weight shift. to over-simplify, the pilot moves the body weight in relation to the balance point of the wing, inducing a lateral force, that turns the craft. this soon to be launched NASA NEA Scout probe is powered by a solar sail that catches the sun’s photons. in order to steer a course other than away from the sun, the craft will move its center of gravity in relation to the sail very similar to hangglider weight shift. because, physics.

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