The Science Behind the Pings: Meteor Scatter Communications (Amateur Radio)

🌠 Ever heard those mysterious "pings" and brief signal bursts on VHF that seem to come from nowhere? 🌠

You're experiencing one of nature's most fascinating communication phenomena – meteor scatter! Those fleeting trails of light streaking across the night sky are actually creating temporary radio highways in the upper atmosphere, and savvy hams have learned to harness this cosmic gift for extraordinary communications.

What You'll Explore

☄️ The Cosmic Connection
Discover how tiny space rocks, some no bigger than grains of sand, create powerful ionization trails as they burn up in our atmosphere. Learn about the difference between sporadic meteors (your everyday shooting stars) and dramatic meteor showers that can turn the upper atmosphere into a radio reflector's paradise.

📡 The Physics Made Simple
Understand exactly how HF and VHF radio signals bounce off these meteor trails to enable communications far beyond normal propagation limits. We'll demystify the science behind those brief but powerful signal reflections that can connect stations hundreds or even thousands of miles apart – sometimes for just a few seconds at a time!

🎯 Timing is Everything
Learn when and where to listen for meteor scatter opportunities. Discover which meteor showers offer the best communication windows, how to predict peak activity times, and why some meteors create better radio paths than others.

🔬 Join the Science Revolution
Get introduced to HamSCI (Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation), the exciting citizen science community that's using amateur radio to advance our understanding of meteor showers and atmospheric physics. Learn how your QSOs during meteor showers can contribute to real scientific research!

⚡ Practical Operating Tips
Master the techniques for successful meteor scatter communications, from choosing the right frequencies to understanding the unique timing and protocols that make these fleeting contacts possible.

Perfect For:

• VHF/UHF enthusiasts curious about exotic propagation modes
• Hams interested in the science behind unusual propagation
• Anyone who's heard those mysterious "pings" and wondered what they were
• Operators wanting to try something completely different
• Science-minded hams interested in citizen science participation

Prepare to see those shooting stars in a whole new light! You'll never look at a meteor shower the same way again, knowing that each streak of light is potentially opening a brief communication window to distant stations.

No advanced technical background required – just bring your sense of wonder about the cosmos and curiosity about unusual propagation modes.

Meet Your Instructor

Dr. Rob Suggs, NN4NT brings unparalleled expertise to this fascinating topic as both a NASA astronomer and dedicated amateur radio operator. With decades of professional experience studying meteoroids and space environments at Marshall Space Flight Center and Johnson Space Center, Rob has the unique perspective of someone who tracks these cosmic visitors professionally while also using them for ham radio communications.

His NASA career has included work on major programs like the International Space Station, Space Launch System, and Artemis Program, where understanding meteor and space debris environments is crucial for spacecraft safety. As an Extra class ham (licensed since 1974), Rob combines his professional astronomical knowledge with over 50 years of amateur radio experience.

Rob's involvement with the NASA MSFC Amateur Radio Club and the North Alabama DX Club, plus his passion for helping new hams explore different operating modes, makes him the perfect guide for this journey into the cosmic side of amateur radio.