Build your own magnetometer

Relying on the apps puts you slightly behind the actual state of the magnetic field of our planet. If you want to be able to react fast you will need to build and maintain your own putting you directly in the front line of events.

The magnetometer can be obtained as a build it yourself kit including lots of soldering components to a printed board or as an almost ready to use kit. One disappointment: at the moment only available for Windows not (yet?) for Mac. The latter is unclear as the producer is not sure yet to invest in both time and effort to program the software for the Mac. It is run by a one person small garage sale company on the side.

BUT... building/buying a magnetometer is one thing. Placing and interpreting the data is something different. It's not just a matter of placing the hardware on a shelf at the wall and a signal that there is (going to be) an Aurora. This equipment is extreeeeeemely sensitive to any electrical and magnetic field. So once installed and running you have to learn to interpret the graph it is producing. Ideal would be to place it underground in a big free environment without powerlines in the vicinity. So... try to find that, I wish you lots of luck!

On the other hand, with lots and lots of passion and dedication it IS possible...
Wesley Hogervorst is the top Dutch Aurora Hunter and has taken on the challenge of building and placing a magnetometer of his own and has built a website for it that is as simple as it is effective.