20200524, updated 20220901


Not counting the MADAR's microcomputer, the MADAR Operations Center has four computers running 24/7, three of which are online. Three have OBS (Open Broadcast Software), a free program for displaying and recording and streaming whatever is onscreen at the time. The main computer is an Optiplex 7040M micro-computer and is the workhorse for most activities also runs the 4 Reolink skycams which have their own recorder built into the Reolink system.

At any time, the 4 Reolink skycams on the 32" monitor on the west wall are ready to be recorded. In the spring and summer these cameras are set to automatically record from 9 pm to 6 am, a total of 9 hours for each camera. This is about 5 gigabytes stored for each day. A separate 4 terabyte hard drive stores the daily folders. As a rule the files are archived for two weeks and the older files are deleted periodically. Incidentally, with this Reolink system the recording segment links can be adjusted from 5 mins to 60 mins. Our selection went to 15 mins so that a one day (9 hr) cycle is 36 files per camera.




Each skycam has a microphone to capture any sounds, dogs barking, jet or prop engines, or a sudden drop-off of crickets chirping, etc.



To my left on the L-shaped workstation and dead ahead in the photo is a  42" monitor, driven by another micro-computer running 24/7 with the Gold version of Flight Radar 24 and the OBS recorder system.  With the  Gold version there are no timeouts, no ads, no unwanted graphics, no delays.  Over my left shoulder is a 22" flat screen displaying the MADAR screen (madar.site/ live map), generated by an old outdated pc tower running on XP.  The MADAR screen can be viewed at any time, displaying whatever part of the world is being monitored and as close or as far as desired. This monitor could be recorded but presently is not, but is valuable in picking up alerts. Not only does the registration dot turn red, but if the  "Sound on" box is checked, one can hear the alert klaxon and move the cursor over the area affected.
 


The OBS resolution recorded is a stunning 1920x1080 at 24 fps. Note: This display shows two audio tracks. We only use one at the present time for aircraft transmissions and they cover our region of Indianapolis Center, Kansas City Center, and Memphis Center. The sector lines are clearly delineated. At the present time the FR24 is recorded manually and on one file, a little over 8 gigabytes from 9 pm to 6 am each day. OBS couldn't be configured to record automatically but we are happy to have this area being recorded 9 pm to 6 am.







We also have the geiger counter graphics on the third micro-computer which displays the last 60 seconds readings of counts per minute at a glance. This computer gets its data from the GMC-300E geiger counter and is connected to the internet to the GQ Electronics site.  The geiger counter has an audio out (clicks).  The recordings can be manually recorded from the OBS system using its 2 terabyte hard drive when needed. However, the data we get from the GQ site is all we really need in most cases.

So in the vent a UAP passes over our area during the wee night hours between 9 pm to 6 am, all we have to do is grab some other piece of equipment and move quickly outside. In my case I would grab my Creative XP night vision camera. If MADAR would sound an alarm at any other time I would have to override the system, but sightings are more prevalent at night and easier to pick out in the sky. 

Fran Ridge
skyking42@gmx.com