Introduction​

Teleseismic signals refer to seismic waves generated by earthquakes occurring hundreds to thousands of kilometers away. Monitoring these signals provides valuable geophysical information—such as Earth’s internal structure and event characteristics—and is therefore useful for scientific research, education, and hobbyist networks.

Compared with local earthquakes, teleseismic waves exhibit much lower frequencies, typically below 2 Hz (Fig. 1), and significantly smaller amplitudes. For example, when an earthquake from Alaska arrives in the Philippines, its dominant frequency content often lies in the 1/f noise–dominated band, making the useful signal easily masked and the seismic phases difficult to detect reliably.

On the other hand, traditional seismic instruments such as force-balance accelerometers (FBA) and very-broadband (VBB) seismometers offer excellent low-frequency response and high SNR, but their cost is prohibitive for individuals, schools, or small research groups.

With the rise of low-cost sensors, open-source hardware, and inexpensive microcontrollers, low-cost teleseismic monitoring has become feasible. This application note discusses how to implement a teleseismic monitoring system under budget constraints, including sensor selection, data acquisition architecture, cost-performance trade-offs, and deployment considerations.

AnyShake Explorer is an open-source, professional-grade seismic monitoring system designed for researchers, engineers, educators, and enthusiasts. In a market dominated by expensive, closed-source “black boxes,” AnyShake Explorer offers transparency, affordability, and top-tier performance.

The AnyShake Project began in the summer of 2023, sparked by an undergraduate student's desire to create a personal earthquake monitoring system. In the two years since, it has evolved from a breadboard prototype into a fully realized product — thanks to extensive research, continuous learning, and unwavering dedication.