To get your SuperSID detector automatically uploading data to the Stanford servers, you only need to enable and verify a few configuration settings. The functionality is already built into the software.

🔧 1. Edit the SuperSID configuration file

Open the file:

C:\supersid_v1_1\Config\supersid.cfg

Use Notepad or similar.

🌐 2. Enable automatic upload

Find this line in the [PARAMETERS] section:

automatic_upload = no

Change it to:

automatic_upload = yes

This is the key switch—without it, nothing gets sent.

📡 3. Check (but don’t change) the server settings

Make sure these are present and correct:

ftp_server = sid-ftp.stanford.edu
ftp_directory = /incoming/SuperSID

These tell SuperSID where to send your files. You normally should not change them unless instructed by Stanford.

⏱️ 4. Understand when uploads happen

• Data files are written daily at 00:00 UTC
• At that time, SuperSID checks the upload setting and sends files via FTP automatically

So you won’t see uploads happening continuously—it’s a once-per-day batch.

🌍 5. Ensure internet access

The PC running SuperSID must:

• Be connected to the internet
• Allow outbound FTP connections (some firewalls may block this)

🧪 6. Verify it’s working

After a full day:

1. Check your local folder:C:\supersid_v1_1\Data
2. Then look for your data on the Stanford SID database:
   • http://sid.stanford.edu/database-browser/

If your station name is correct in the config, your files should appear there.

⚠️ Common pitfalls

• Leaving automatic_upload = no
• Incorrect site_name or monitor_id (affects identification)
• Firewall blocking FTP
• No internet at midnight UTC

👍 Practical tip

It’s best to run for a few days first without upload, confirm your signals look good, then enable upload—this is exactly how the SuperSID documentation suggests proceeding.

How to sanity-check your supersid.cfg (especially station list and timing), which often affects whether your uploaded data is actually useful?

Here is how to perform a quick but thorough sanity check of your supersid.cfg:

🔍 Key sections to verify

1. Station identity (very important)

In [STATION] or [PARAMETERS]:

site_name = YOUR_STATION_NAME
monitor_id = YOUR_ID

✔ What to check:

• site_name → something unique (e.g. LICHFIELD_LRO_1)
• monitor_id → usually assigned by Stanford Solar Center

⚠️ Why it matters:

If this is wrong or missing, your uploaded data:

• may not appear in the database
• or could be misidentified

📡 2. Station list (signal sources)

stations = NAA, GQD, DHO

✔ What to check:

• You’ve listed valid VLF transmitters
• They are actually receivable in the UK

Good UK/Europe stations:

• GQD (UK, 19.6 kHz)
• DHO (Germany, 23.4 kHz)
• HWU (France, 21.75 kHz)
• NAA (USA, 24.0 kHz — sometimes weaker but usable)

⚠️ Common mistake:

Including stations you can’t actually receive → results in flat/noisy data uploads

🎚️ 3. Audio / input configuration

audio_sampling_rate = 44100

✔ Check:

• Matches your sound card or SDR output
• No clipping or saturation in your signal

If you’re using SDR (like your SDRplay setup), make sure:

• audio is routed correctly into SuperSID
• levels are not too high

⏱️ 4. UTC timing (critical)

utc_offset = 0

✔ Must be:

• 0 for the UK (even during BST — SuperSID expects UTC)

⚠️ If wrong:

• Your data timestamps will be incorrect
• Uploads may still happen but become scientifically useless

📁 5. Data + logging paths

data_path = Data/
log_path = Logs/

✔ Check:

• These folders exist
• Files are actually being written daily

🌐 6. Upload settings (you already changed this)

automatic_upload = yes
ftp_server = sid-ftp.stanford.edu
ftp_directory = /incoming/SuperSID

✔ Confirm:

• No typos
• No extra spaces
• Firewall allows FTP

📊 7. Sampling interval

log_interval = 5

Typical values:

• 5 seconds (standard)
• Don’t go too large or you’ll lose resolution

📉 8. Signal quality check (most important practical step)

Before trusting uploads:

• Open SuperSID plot display
• Look for:
  • Clear diurnal curve (day/night variation)
  • Sudden spikes during solar events
  • Low noise floor

Bad signs:

• Flat line → no signal
• Random noise → poor antenna or interference
• Clipping → levels too high

📡 Given your setup (radio astronomy + SDR)

You’re in a great position to optimise this:

• Your antenna should ideally be:
  • Long wire or loop tuned for VLF
• Avoid:
  • Switching power supplies
  • Nearby digital noise sources

🧪 Final checklist

Before enabling uploads:

✔ Data files appear daily
✔ Signals show clear variation
✔ Station names are valid
✔ UTC timing is correct
✔ Internet working at midnight UTC

👍