Enhancing Telecoms and Navigation Services Using Ham Radio Citizen Science and the Weak Signal Propagation Reporter Network

Enhancing Telecoms and Navigation Services Using Ham Radio Citizen Science and the Weak Signal Propagation Reporter Network | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 27 October 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Enhancing Telecoms and Navigation Services Using Ham Radio Citizen Science and the Weak Signal Propagation Reporter Network Authors : Gamal Zayed 0000-0001-9719-0338 [email protected] and Nathaniel Frissell Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176159367.77926148/v1 167 views 146 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Ground-based navigation systems are indispensable in modern multidisciplinary applications, ranging from emergency response to precision agriculture. The integration of space weather data with these systems not only improves their accuracy and reliability but also aligns perfectly with the transition from theoretical models to operational services. This research explores the implementation of navigation location estimation using data from the Weak Signal Propagation Reporter Network (WSPRnet). The WSPRnet database, part of the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI), offers extensive spatial coverage through voluntarily provided data. This dataset includes key parameters such as transmitter-receiver operation timestamps, frequency bands, grid locations, separating distances, callsigns, transmitter Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), drift, power, and receiver azimuth and mode. By utilizing the robust IntlWSPR transmitting beacon structure, which features approximately 40 active beacons globally distributed and continuously operating, we obtain a resilient, real-time dataset. These beacons transmit very low noise-buried signals around 23 dBm, allowing for reliable non-interfering location estimation functionality. We evaluate the performance of our localization system by generating a test dataset through ideal calculations using the free space path loss propagation model. Our findings indicate that the HamSCI-based localization system achieves an acceptable error margin, with a worst-case scenario error of just 10 meters per grid. Future work will involve the application of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) to incorporate additional ionospheric parameters, enhancing the precision of received power measurements for user location grids. Acknowledgements: Special thanks to the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI), Mr. Gary Mikitin (AF8A), Radio Operators Expert, and Mr. Bill Liles (NQ6Z), HamSCI Community Diversity Recruitment Chair, and Case Western Reserve University, in collaboration with the University of Scranton, for their invaluable contributions. Special thanks for the financial support of the U.S. National Science Foundation Grant AGS-2404997 and Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC). \cite{hb9vqq2021} \cite{chandrakasan2024} \cite{Frissell_2023} \cite{Carlton_2015} \cite{cahoy2018} \cite{degreesminutesseconds} \cite{page} \cite{station} \cite{wsprnet} \cite{katherine2024} \cite{radiohobbyistorg} \cite{mk3} \cite{kits} \cite{products} \cite{wsprneta} \cite{wsprnet} \cite{Marinan_2016} \cite{aa7bq2022} \cite{stations} \cite{zayed2024} \cite{participants} \cite{Zayed_2020} \cite{Tarr_o_2011} \cite{Zayed_2024} Supplementary Material File (esww2024-navigation-services-gamal-zayed-nathaniel-frissell.pdf) Download 4.46 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 27 October 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords beacons citizen science geolocalization gnss ground-based networks ionosphere navigation positioning radio occultation remote sensing rf location estimation space weather space weather modeling weak signal propagation wsprnet Authors Affiliations Gamal Zayed 0000-0001-9719-0338 [email protected] The American University in Cairo (AUC) View all articles by this author Nathaniel Frissell Department of Physics and Engineering, The University of Scranton Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 167 views 146 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Gamal Zayed, Nathaniel Frissell. Enhancing Telecoms and Navigation Services Using Ham Radio Citizen Science and the Weak Signal Propagation Reporter Network. Authorea . 27 October 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176159367.77926148/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. 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