MH370 SEARCH - WSPR CLARIFIED #mh370

Summary

In this special edition of Daily Airline News, the focus is on the search for MH370. Host Richard Godfrey, a UK aerospace engineer, discusses the latest progress of search efforts, including the movement of Amada 7806 and the role of Whisper Technology in tracking aircraft. Whisper, a global passive radar system, uses radio signals from over 3 million radio amateurs to detect aircraft. Richard elaborates on Whisper’s capabilities, such as tracking MH370, and addresses debates within the radio amateur community about its effectiveness. The episode highlights the scientific efforts involved in the ongoing search for the missing aircraft.

Takeaways

• 😀 Richard Godfrey is a UK aerospace engineer who has developed Whisper Technology as a tracking tool for MH370.
• 😀 Amada 7806 is currently progressing toward the first survey area, expected to arrive in a couple of days. Its mission's maximum endurance is 35 days.
• 😀 The weather conditions in the MH370 search area remain favorable, with moderate wave heights and light winds.
• 😀 The global radio amateur community, with over 3 million members, is divided on the potential of Whisper Technology for detecting and tracking aircraft.
• 😀 Richard is engaged in a discussion with Peter, a radio amateur with 30 years of experience, who has raised critical questions about Whisper Technology.
• 😀 Whisper Technology uses passive radar by analyzing radio transmissions from global amateur radio signals to track aircraft.
• 😀 The Whisperet database, which contains billions of global radio links, enables real-time and historical tracking of aircraft.
• 😀 Whisper Technology relies on short-path propagation data and can track aircraft over distances of up to 20,000 kilometers.
• 😀 Long-range ionospheric propagation is possible, and Whisper has shown the potential to detect aircraft over vast distances, such as MH370.
• 😀 Whisper's protocol includes error correction and integrates signals over time, allowing the system to detect weak signals buried in noise.

Q & A

What is Whisper Technology, and how is it used in tracking aircraft like MH370?

Whisper Technology is a global passive radar system that utilizes radio amateur test signals to detect and track aircraft. It works by capturing signals from multiple transmitters and receivers across the globe, offering real-time and historic tracking data. Whisper is particularly useful in detecting aircraft by measuring reflections or deflections of radio signals off the aircraft's surfaces.

How many radio amateurs use Whisper technology, and what is its significance in detecting aircraft?

There are over 3 million radio amateurs worldwide, many of whom use Whisper technology. This technology is vital in detecting aircraft because it provides a global passive radar capability, with signals recorded every two minutes and added to the Whisperet database. The vast network of participants allows for wide coverage in tracking aircraft.

How does Whisper Technology differ from traditional radar systems?

Unlike traditional radar, which uses active signals reflected from an aircraft, Whisper is a passive radar system. It relies on signals from various sources that are reflected or deflected by the aircraft. Traditional radar uses a single transmitter and receiver at the same location, while Whisper employs thousands of transmitters and receivers globally, operating at multiple frequencies.

What is the Whisperet database, and how is it useful in tracking aircraft like MH370?

The Whisperet database is a collection of 8.5 billion global radio links, with new data added daily. It contains information on signal propagation, including the signal-to-noise ratio, frequency drift, and transmission power. This data is used to help track aircraft like MH370 by analyzing how radio signals travel and reflect off objects like aircraft, providing critical information about their potential locations.

What is the role of the radio amateur community in the search for MH370?

The radio amateur community plays a significant role in the search for MH370 by contributing data to the Whisper technology. These enthusiasts help monitor and track signals from aircraft, with some radio amateurs actively investigating and providing insights into Whisper's capabilities. However, there are varying opinions within the community about the effectiveness of Whisper for tracking aircraft.

How can Whisper Technology help determine the crash site of MH370?

Whisper Technology can help determine the crash site of MH370 by analyzing the short-path propagation of radio signals. The Whisperet database contains data on the reception of signals, including the frequency, signal-to-noise ratio, and location of receivers. By examining the path of these signals, experts can narrow down the location where MH370 might have crashed.

What is the significance of the short-path and long-path propagation in Whisper's tracking capabilities?

Short-path propagation refers to the direct transmission of signals between the transmitter and receiver, while long-path propagation involves signals that travel around the world, often reflected by the ionosphere. Whisper’s database primarily records short-path propagation, but both types of propagation are considered in analyzing aircraft movements.

What role do radio wave reflections play in Whisper Technology’s ability to detect aircraft?

In Whisper Technology, radio waves are reflected or deflected by aircraft, allowing them to be detected by receivers. Similar to how active radar systems reflect signals from an aircraft, Whisper’s passive radar system captures these reflections from multiple transmitters and receivers, helping track aircraft without emitting active signals.

Can Whisper Technology detect aircraft over long distances, and what is the maximum range?

Yes, Whisper Technology can detect aircraft over long distances. The maximum range recorded in the Whisperet database is just over 20,000 kilometers, which is almost halfway around the world. This long-range capability is made possible by the global network of radio amateurs and the use of ionospheric propagation, allowing for detection over vast distances.

How does Whisper Technology integrate error correction to ensure accurate detection?

Whisper Technology uses a robust error correction system based on convolutional encoding. This ensures that the 50-bit messages transmitted in the Whisper protocol are decodable even in low-signal conditions. The integration of error correction allows Whisper to extract weak signals over time, enhancing the reliability of the tracking process even when signals are buried deep in noise.