Author Topic: Blitzortung Station Performance Index  (Read 788 times)

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Offline schwab

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Blitzortung Station Performance Index
« on: March 29, 2014, 08:43:28 AM »
I have the "Green 6.8 Station" in Rochester, Minnesota. My brother has the exact same setup in Peoria, Illinois.

Our "locating ratios" according to the longterm analysis on http://www.lightningmaps.org are as good or better than any other "Red" or "Green" station.

We enjoy participating in the network but it is still a challenge for us and possibly others to know what data is the best measure of station performance.

There's a multitude of measures which is terrific but all that data can lead to "analysis paralysis" when it comes to a simple understanding of how any given station is performing on the network.

Is it possible to construct an easy to understand Blitzortung Station Performance Index?

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Offline Cutty Sark Sailor

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Re: Blitzortung Station Performance Index
« Reply #1 on: March 29, 2014, 09:50:01 AM »
You know, Don F's been exploring this somewhat.  I've been chasing it 'mentally' since I went live last summer/fall, also.
Here are some caffeine deficient thoughts this morning....
1. If a network of stations were 'perfect'... all stations within, say 100mi of each other, then an excellent 'effectivity' would probably only be 20-40%.
2. Tobi tends to view 'effectivity %' as a general basic reference, not to be isolated as a measure. Now that's not strictly true, as I believe he'd tell you, but he tends to downplay its importance relating to station performance.
3. I'm currently thinking, which may change, that some type of interpretation of the "signals" total vs "EffectivityS" total for a given time, as a ratio, might be a better indication of overall performance, since it seems (I'm assuming, for now) to better express most factors, location relative to storm, station tuning, unusable signals. etc.... This is not a not-well-thought out idea - but:
        ...say Station X looked like this:
2014-03-29 12:58 9909 0 | 0% 1 | 100% 4538 | 72%
        And Station Y looked like this:
2014-03-29 12:58 26664 0 | 0% 1 | 100% 5739 | 91%
Station X, then would be 4539/9909  or .46
Station Y would be  5740/26664 or .22
        This might indicate that station X had a better tuned, better performing station overall than Station Y, even though Y had a much higher 'Effectivity' percentage than X.
        If that were applied to a more dense network than we have currently, it might be one indication of "overall" performance. With our currently 'thin' network, where each of us is 'reaching' further for detection, and with my system currently dialed back because of nearby storms, and the Truck Axle Plant's line #3 Welder operating, it makes more sense than the "Effectivity" %... there is no way I'd ever achieve an overall "95%" effectivity compared to other stations.  Likewise a Station in Los Angeles will never have a high Effectivity if all the storms are on Atlantic Coast.

Now, we all know there are other factors, but this might be something to consider. Also, especially with the new E-field receiver coming, there will be other data to consider beside 'strike number' and 'location ability'.. class of strike "C/G C/C" strength, polarity - possibly even "G/C"... who knows.

The sad thing, it appears that although Reds may be capable of accepting the new E data, I don't think greens will. So Then the network will have those other parameters to consider. As the network also improves in density, the need for 'longer range' detection individually will decrease. It's hard for me to remember that this is a "network" concept, not an individual station's performance taken alone.

But as you say, to contribute effectively to the network, we need some way to 'quickly' determine through the data available to us, if our station's parameters are at their best!

Mike

 


Offline miraculon

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Re: Blitzortung Station Performance Index
« Reply #2 on: March 29, 2014, 02:11:19 PM »
Quote
The sad thing, it appears that although Reds may be capable of accepting the new E data, I don't think greens will.

Actually Mike, you can use an E-field antenna with a "Green" system. There are alternate filter and input configuration jumpers that need to be set. In section 2.5 of the 6.8USB system documentation at http://www.blitzortung.org/Documents/TOA_Blitzortung.pdf?t=1396116030 there is the part about "Electrical Antennas".

I never tried the E-field antenna option personally, but I run my Green with the 34KHz and single-ended jumper options. I also have it terminated, currently with 10K.

Greg


Blitzortung Stations #706 and #1682
CoCoRaHS: MI-PI-1
CWOP: CW4114 and KE8DAF-13
WU: KMIROGER7
Amateur Radio Callsign: KE8DAF

Offline Cutty Sark Sailor

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Re: Blitzortung Station Performance Index
« Reply #3 on: March 29, 2014, 03:27:17 PM »
Quote
The sad thing, it appears that although Reds may be capable of accepting the new E data, I don't think greens will.

Actually Mike, you can use an E-field antenna with a "Green" system. There are alternate filter and input configuration jumpers that need to be set. In section 2.5 of the 6.8USB system documentation at http://www.blitzortung.org/Documents/TOA_Blitzortung.pdf?t=1396116030 there is the part about "Electrical Antennas".

I never tried the E-field antenna option personally, but I run my Green with the 34KHz and single-ended jumper options. I also have it terminated, currently with 10K.

Greg

I was referring to the extra data that might be gathered, not TOA.... with the processing ability of the STM32F4 but since I'm unfamiliar with Green, I really couldn't say... I personally hope my idea on that would be erroneous!
Mike
« Last Edit: March 29, 2014, 03:37:29 PM by Cutty Sark Sailor »
 


 

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