Simple Aurora Monitor (SAM) Kit Order Information - 3-Axis SAM-III
The
SAM-III Kit is a sophisticated semi-professional magnetometer system designed by
Dirk Langenbach and Karsten Hansky. The SAM-III allows real time sensing of
the Earth's magnetic (geomagnetic) field. Over 200 systems are in-service
in Europe.
We distribute the SAM-III kit everywhere in the world except Europe.
For orders from everywhere including North America but NOT including Europe, click here
For European orders, click here (you will be directed to another website)
The primary application of the SAM-III is in the sensing and
study of geomagnetism. The correspondences between geomagnetic storms,
solar events and solar wind, aurora and radio propagation anomalies are
well-known. The SAM-III will be a useful instrument to radio astronomers,
radio amateurs, aurora photographers and experimenters.
Click here for specifications and description of
the SAM-III.
The SAM-III is available in kit form but we offer a PCB-build option (see below under Optional). We do not recommend this as a first-time kit but if you have technical inclination, can solder or learn to solder, and know how to use a PC, you will have fun building the kit.
Support
- The kit includes complete construction and setup manuals on CD
- We provide email technical support for kit purchasers. When contacting us, please remember we work on this project in our private time and it is unlikely you will receive an instant reply
- If you have a question or problem that we cannot resolve, we will put you in contact with the designers (same limitation as above)
- A chatroom (The SAM Chat) has been setup so you can discuss your SAM-III project or ask questions in real time with others; click here to sign up. If you do not have a call sign, use a pseudo-call sign such as "SAM-yourname"
- Two Yahoo Groups have been established for users to discuss applications and problems, one in German (called Magmeter) and one in English (called SAM-INTL)
Production Runs
SAM-III Kits are prepared in limited production runs using private time and effort. We do not procure parts in large quantities, and we setup production runs to satisfy only current demand. Please take that into consideration when you place your order. If you would like to order the SAM-III Kit in quantity, please contact us for a delivery schedule before ordering. The SAM-III Kit includes over 100 components. The original SAM Kit (1- or 2-axis) has been retired and is no longer available.
The SAM-III Kit includes
- Controller and keyboard printed circuit boards (PCB)
- PIC16F877 microcontroller and 16 MHz clock crystal
- Logic and analog op-amp integrated circuits
- Voltage regulator and voltage conversion integrated circuits
- RTC-72421 Real time clock integrated circuit
- Real time clock battery
- Semiconductors
- Resistors and capacitors
- Pushbutton switches
- Pluggable terminal blocks for connecting input/output signals to SAM-III PCB
- 4x20 liquid crystal display, STN yellow/green with yellow-green LED backlight
- Ribbon cables and connectors
- DB-9M connector for EIA-232 serial interface
- Magnetometer sensor with cable connectors
- Null modem cable, DB9F-DB9F
- CD with application software and construction and setup manuals
Optional
- Additional magnetometer sensor with cable connectors
- AC adapter power supply, 115 Vac, 60 Hz input, 12 vdc, 300 ma output (North America only)
- Enclosure kit with mounting hardware for display, controller PCB, keyboard PCB and serial connector
- Substitute yellow-green LCD with blue-white LCD. Note: The blue-white LCD cannot be read in most lighting conditions without the backlight turned on
- USB-serial adapter (IOGear GUC232A). Note: Limited stock
- Construction and testing of main and keyboard printed circuit boards (PCB). Note: Does not include mounting in optional enclosure. We recommend purchasers build their own SAM-III
Not included with the SAM-III Kit
- Sensor cable (we recommend a separate cable for each magnetic sensor, direct-buried shielded twisted pair cable or direct-buried coaxial cable for outdoor installations and shielded Cat5 or better cable for indoor installations). If there is enough demand, we may offer sensor cable as an accessory in the future.
- Sensor enclosure (we recommend the builder fabricate an enclosure suitable for their application)
SAM-III Kit Ordering Information and Prices (subject to change)
| Item | Description |
Price - PayPal |
| SK3-1 | SAM-III Kit with (1) sensor | US $210.00 each |
| SK3-2 | SAM-III Kit with (2) sensors | US $265.00 each |
| SK3-3 | SAM-III Kit with (3) sensors | US $320.00 each |
| AS-1 | Additional magnetometer sensor | US $60.00 each |
| AC-1 | AC adapter power supply (NA only) | US $15.00 each |
| EC-1 | Enclosure (includes hardware) | US $36.00 each |
| BW-1 | Substitute blue-white LCD for standard yellow-green LCD | US $10.00 each |
| USB-1 | USB-Serial adapter, GUC232A or equiv. | US $20.00 each |
| BLD-1 | Constructing and testing SAM-III PCBs | US $100.00 each |
| USS | SK3-1, SK3-2 or SK3-3 shipping with insurance (US only) | US $19.00 |
| INS | Shipping International See note | Determined at shipment |
To place an order, contact us at the following address:
Important - Read This Before Ordering or Inquiring