Simple Aurora Monitor (SAM) Kit Order Information - Coming soon: 3-axis SAM-III

The SAM Kit is a sophisticated semi-professional magnetometer system designed by Dirk Langenbach and Karsten Hansky.  The SAM allows real time sensing of the Earth's magnetic (geomagnetic) field.  Over 200 systems are in-service in Europe.

We distribute the SAM kit everywhere in the world except Europe.

For orders from North America and everywhere else except Europe, click here. 

For European orders, click here (you will be directed to another website).

The primary application of the SAM 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 will be a useful instrument to radio astronomers, radio amateurs, aurora photographers and experimenters.  Click here for specifications and description.

The SAM presently is available only in kit form but in the future we may add an option for an assembled and tested version (with or without enclosure).  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 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 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 Kit in quantity, please contact us for a delivery schedule before ordering.  The SAM Kit includes over 100 components.

The SAM 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
• DIN connectors for connecting input/output signals to SAM 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 accessories

• Additional magnetometer sensor with cable connectors
• AC adapter power supply, 115 V ac, 60 Hz input, 12 vdc, 300 ma output
• Enclosure 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.

Not included with the SAM Kit

• Sensor cable (we recommend direct-buried shielded twisted pair cable or direct-buried coaxial cable for outdoor installations and 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 Kit Ordering Information and Prices (subject to change)

Note: The shipping charge for US destinations applies to orders for individual items SK-1 or SK-2.  When multiple quantities or accessories are ordered with a kit, we will combine all items and calculate the applicable shipping charges. We generally use insured Priority Mail for US orders. International orders will be shipped using insured Priority Mail International or Express Mail International, where available.  International shipping charges will depend on the destination.  Other shipping options are available, including UPS and FedEx.

To place an order, contact us at the following address:

Important - Read This Before Ordering or Inquiring:

1. Put the text "SAM Kit" in the subject line or else your order may be caught by our spam filters
2. Specify the items and quantities you would like to order and provide your shipping address so we can quote shipping charges. For the main kit, be sure to specify SK-1 or SK-2
3. Your order must include your telephone number so we can contact you if there is a problem. Also, the US postal service customs forms require a telephone number
4. We will send you a confirming email with kit availability information
5. If we do not have enough kits in stock to satisfy your order, we will indicate availability and production run (backorder) status; if kits are available we will indicate payment amount due
6. At this time, we only accept payment by PayPal in US funds. Unfortunately, we DO NOT accept checks or money orders or other forms of payment because of the large amount of counterfeit activity
7. To use PayPal, buyers will need to have a PayPal account in their residing country. The requirements to send payments through PayPal vary from one country to another, so buyers should verify their PayPal account policies before ordering
8. If we have kits in stock, your order will be shipped within 48 hours of funds transfer
9. Kits and accessories are returnable and refundable only if the package is returned to us unopened. Return information will be included with the kit contents
10. If you order arrives damaged or does not arrive at all, please contact your carrier; all orders are insured for the full amount of your order, and the carrier is responsible for its delivery
11. Thank you for ordering the SAM and participating in the Worldwide SAM Network