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HamSCI Seeks Meteor-Scatter Observations During December’s Geminids
Back to NewsHamSCI will hold a Meteor Scatter QSO Party December 13–15, 2026, inviting amateur radio operators to collect reception reports and audio recordings on 6 and 10 meters during the Geminid meteor shower. The observations will support research into meteor-trail propagation, including how long useful radio paths last and how results differ between the two bands.
The December event welcomes both two-way contacts and receive-only monitoring. Its operating window runs from 0000 UTC December 13 through 2359 UTC December 15, with MSK144 as the designated digital mode.
Brief Signals Provide Research Data
Meteor scatter uses the ionized trails left by meteors to support short-lived radio paths. MSK144 repeatedly transmits short digital messages, allowing a brief opening to deliver a decodable exchange. A contact may require several bursts, with waiting periods between them.
HamSCI’s station guide describes equipment familiar from other computer-based digital modes: a suitable transceiver, a computer running WSJT-X, and an audio connection between them. The guide identifies 50.260 MHz and 28.145 MHz as popular activity frequencies.
The campaign seeks audio files of decoded signals as well as reception reports sent through PSK Reporter. Saving WAV recordings in WSJT-X preserves material for later analysis beyond the callsigns and reports recorded in a contact log.
Comparing Propagation on Two Bands
HamSCI’s operating guidelines identify several research questions, including the effects of meteor geometry, station capability, and frequency on successful communication. Another objective is distinguishing meteor-scatter decodes from signals arriving through other mechanisms, such as sporadic E or tropospheric propagation.
Researchers plan to develop a method for classifying recorded signals by propagation mechanism. The recordings and reception reports will contribute evidence for that work.
Participation is limited to fixed stations, excluding mobile and rover operation. Stations capable of operating both bands are asked to alternate between them at 20-minute intervals. Accurate six-character Maidenhead locators are important for interpreting the reception paths.
Recordings Are Central to Participation
The station guide emphasizes saving decoded WAV files and enabling PSK Reporter spotting for transmitting and monitoring stations alike. It also recommends disabling receiver automatic gain control so recordings can support measurements of how meteor signals decay.
HamSCI provides submission instructions for uploading recordings to its Zenodo repository after the event. The campaign combines amateur contacts with coordinated observations, giving researchers both individual signal recordings and reception data from participating stations.
Sources and Further Reading
- HamSCI Meteor Scatter QSO Party
- HamSCI Station and Recording Guide
- HamSCI Operating Guidelines
- WSJT-X User Guide