A Relative Ionospheric Opacity Meter is a scientific radio instrument that can measure ionospheric D layer absorption by using cosmic radio noise as the relative signal source. A legacy riometer is a sensitive, single frequency, narrow band receiver using a single (linear) polarization antenna having a high takeoff angle, desirable towards the Zenith. As cosmic radiation and undergoes diurnal variation during the ionospheric transition process, a riometer incorporates a compensating, calibrating process whereby the diurnal noise variation is redacted from the measurement result. This calibration data is called the Quiet Day Curve and covers a 24 hour period of data taken over the period of one or more days of low solar activity.
The RFsRIO1
The RF-shamaanit Oy RFsRIO1 instrument is all this, but covers the complete frequency range of 20 – 55 MHz, allowing absorption analysis as a function of frequency and furthermore, polarization. All polarization components are available for processing (e.g. Stokes Parameters). A chain of RFsRIO1 instruments would thus allow sophisticated ionospheric tomography in addition to the traditional D layer absorption measurement. This instrument is fully independent and provides both quick-look data and raw data downloadable over fiber optical LAN. The instrument is easy to deploy and relocatable with reception based on software-defined radio and FPGA technologies. The receiver is protected by a three-layer EMC-shielded outdoors enclosure.
What is a riometer?
A Relative Ionospheric Opacity Meter is a scientific radio instrument that can measure ionospheric D layer absorption by using cosmic radio noise as the relative signal source. A legacy riometer is a sensitive, single frequency, narrow band receiver using a single (linear) polarization antenna having a high takeoff angle, desirable towards the Zenith. As cosmic radiation and undergoes diurnal variation during the ionospheric transition process, a riometer incorporates a compensating, calibrating process whereby the diurnal noise variation is redacted from the measurement result. This calibration data is called the Quiet Day Curve and covers a 24 hour period of data taken over the period of one or more days of low solar activity.
The RFsRIO1
The RF-shamaanit Oy RFsRIO1 instrument is all this, but covers the complete frequency range of 20 – 55 MHz, allowing absorption analysis as a function of frequency and furthermore, polarization. All polarization components are available for processing (e.g. Stokes Parameters). A chain of RFsRIO1 instruments would thus allow sophisticated ionospheric tomography in addition to the traditional D layer absorption measurement. This instrument is fully independent and provides both quick-look data and raw data downloadable over fiber optical LAN. The instrument is easy to deploy and relocatable with reception based on software-defined radio and FPGA technologies. The receiver is protected by a three-layer EMC-shielded outdoors enclosure.
Features
Datasheet / more info
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Instrument photos
RFsRIO1 plot samples