There will be several Ham Radio experiments during the eclipse. Please see: http://HamSCI.org

Anyone can do the AM radio experiment by listening for the 13 clear channel AM radio stations that are along the path of totality. As the D layer is darkened these stations should come up out of the noise. Check the web page for times and frequencies. The eclipse traverses the USA over about an hour with any one observer seeing totality for about 2 minutes.

Also, APRS will be used during the day of the eclipse (21 Aug) for locating those hams involved in eclipse observations to be able to see where other nearby ham observers are located. Imagine the APRS map that day showing a clustering of mobile and portable positions all along the totality line. Please use the station symbol SUNNY (\U) for this event so these stations will stand out among all others on the national tracking page http://aprs.fi

In addition to position reporting, APRS real-time messaging can be used for direct station-to-station texting plus the announcement server will give national connectivity for announcements. To use it, just send an APRS message to ANSRVR and begin the message with CQ ECLIPSE… Such a message will be sent to every other station in the event that has also sent a similar message. Due to the load, limit transmissions to no more often than once every half hour.

Bob Bruninga, WB4APR@amsat.org