Build your own Seismograph Station

Last Updated: 1/22/2013

• A White Paper on A/D system dynamic range needed for seismic recording.
• Article by Bob Barns on a method you can use to calibrate your sensor.
• Guidelines for Installing Broadband Seismic Instrumentation. Interesting information from the Berkeley Seismograph Station Web site.
• Article by Allan Coleman on lengthening the natural period of a Lehman seismometer.
• Homebuilt Seismograph FAQ. and Seismology Bibliography and Book Reviews
• E-Mail correspondence on how to build a Lehman Seismograph.
• PSN Event File Format used by WinQuake and Quakevu.
• Archives of the PSNLIST Mailing List.
• WWVB and SDR. This page describes how to use Radio Shack's Radio Controlled Clock as a time reference for SDR.
• Seismic Sensors and Their Calibration. Overview of feedback seismometers design by Prof. Erhard Wielandt.
• Seismometry another article by Prof. Erhard Wielandt.
• Seismometer Pivot / Flexure Studies by Charles R. Patton, Chris Chapman and Brett Nordgren
• Sensor Calibration using Free Software - Link to SeisoWin by Mauro Mariotti
• How to Build a Seismograph by Steve Jones

Seismograph Sensor Plans and Information

• Lehman Sensor
• Shackleford-Gundersen Sensor
• A Force-Balance Seismometer by Karl Cunningham
• A Leafspring Broadband Vertical Seismometer by Sean-Thomas Morrissey. Sean passed away March 6, 2002
• Compilation of Email Message from Sean-Thomas Morrissey about his VBB Vertical sensor (62K ZIP file)
• Photos of other PSN stations
• Greg's Geophone FAQ and Walt's Geophone FAQ have information on Geophones. Geophones are short period devices used to record local or large regional events
• Nice Little Seismograph for Children by Tom Leiper
• A Folded Pendulum seismometer Electronics package by David H. Youden
• Keith Payea's STM-8 Leafspring Broadband Vertical Seismometer
• Bernd Ulmann in Germany has constructed several seismometers as will as other seismic equipment
• Steve Jones (AlabamaQuake.com) has built several sensors including a S-G Sensor and Inyo Force Balance Broadband Vertical (FBV) Seismometer
• How to Build a Slinky Seismometer by the Boise State Seismic Station Network
• New - Amateur Horizontal Component Broadband Seismometer by Allan Coleman
• New - STS-2 Tri-Axial Seismometer Manual and Schematic

Datalogging Software

• WinSDR a Windows based datalogger for my new 16 Bit Serial Output A/D Board or my 12/16 Bit A/D Board.
• Seismic Data Recorder (SDR) requires a 386 or faster system and a PC Labs PC-711s A/D card or my 12/16 Bit A/D Board.
• Screen Shot (20k GIF file) of the main SDR screen showing a small event. The red trace is my Shackleford-Gundersen sensor.
• EMON Version 7.0 written by Ted Blank handles several A/D converters, including the one I have available, and is used by many PSN stations (Emon70.zip, 295k).
• Documentation for EMON 7.0 in three formats: Word 2.0, Windows WRI and TXT (Em70doc.zip, 155k).
• Documentation for EMON in Text format.
• e-Quake's Seismic Explorer software to link PSN stations in real-time with regional networks.

Equipment for Sale

• 16-Bit A/D Board for WinSDR (New version now available) 
• New! Enclosures for the 16-Bit A/D Board 
• Garmin GPS 18x-LVC OEM Timing Sensor for the 16-Bit A/D Board
• One to Four Channel Amplifier / Filter Board for the 16-Bit A/D Board
• Triaxial Accelerometer Sensor Board
• Used Geophone Sensors for Sale
• 12/16 Bit Analog to Digital Converter Board for SDR.
• Seismic Amplifier/Filter Board and Pickup Coil and Magnet for Lehman sensors.
• Telemetry Demodulator Board
• Motorola ONCORE GPS Timing System
• Shackleford-Gundersen Seismometer Electronics Board
• How to Order

Other Part Sources

• ForceField at www.wondermagnet.com specialize in selling surplus, and new Neodymium rare earth magnets.
• K&J Magnetics at www.kjmagnetics.com also has strong neodymium rare earth magnets for sale.
• Stanford Magnets at www.stanfordmagnets.com, magnet supplier specialized in NdFeB, SmCo, AlNiCo, and other magnets.
  

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