BAA Radio Astronomy Group
November Update
Hello again!
Just a brief note to keep you up to date with the Group's activities.
Work in progress:
Starbase software
Laurence Newell is almost at the point of being able to issue an evaluation
copy of Starbase for user testing. If you want to help with this, and
can commit to putting in some systematic, structured testing of Starbase,
please get in touch.
You do not have to be a Java programmer to evaluate the software - all
we ask is that you commit to giving detailed feedback. The main purpose
is to establish if the interaction design is on the right track, but you
may find a buglette or two along the way... The evaluation copy is able
to connect to Martyn Kinder's VLF receiver using FTP, and can show how
the basic networked observatory will work.
Most of the Framework services are working reliably, but the data persistence
layer has been switched off for now. In principle it will work on Linux
(or Mac), but it has only been tested on Windows. There is *very* little
documentation!
Starbase controller
We are now evaluating some commercial controllers which appear to meet
our needs, thus removing the necessity to make our own from scratch. If
you can write 8051 assembler or C, and want to help, please get in touch.
The published architecture of Starbase remains for the time being.
1420MHz receiver
David Farn and Alan Morgan are making good progress on the Rx, and David
is now writing control software for one of the (8051) evaluation boards.
VLF receiver
Martyn Kinder is making an add-on A2D board for the original VLF design,
to make it compatible with Radio Sky Pipe. Starbase can read RSP files,
and so we will shortly have an end to end interim solution, usable by
the VLF beta testers. Martyn is also working on a redesign on a smaller
board, with an integrated PIC controller, to talk directly with Starbase.
Magnetometer
Owing to personal circumstances, John Cook has had to slow down the magnetometer
development, but rest assured that it is still in progress! John does
however continue to send out his monthly VLF observation reports. Please
contact him directly if you would like to receive these.
2.7GHz receiver
Project 'parked' for the time being owing to shortage of manpower, although
Martyn Kinder does some work from time to time!
Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory
Trevor Sutton is negotiating with the director of the MRAO to establish
if we can proceed with a project at MRAO as explained previously. We expect
to hear one way or the other by Christmas. If we do get the go-ahead,
we have most of the software systems in place to establish contact with
MRAO using Starbase almost immediately. There remains work still to be
done on the anntenna array, and a small team is waiting in the wings...
National Space Centre Telescope
Please contact Jeff Lashley if you can help with this project.
VERY IMPORTANT!!
Circular Volume 2 Issue 1
There is now about one month to go for a sensible cut-off date for material
for the next issue of the Circular. To date I have received *no* material
(I have only one article 'in stock'). Please take this opportunity to
let us know about your RA project, or write an article on the science
of RA, or whatever takes your fancy. Without your contributions there
can be no Circular! If you do intend to contribute, please take a moment
to read the 'Guide for Contributors' in the last issue. If there is insufficient
material by December 18th, then I shall have to postpone the issue.
I am hoping that this will be the last newsletter sent by email in this
way. We are setting up a distribution system via the BAA, to which you
will be automatically subscribed (and may unsubscribe from if you wish).
You will have the facility to send a note to the whole group (which will
be moderated). When the changeover is complete, you will receive an appropriate
email.
Remember that if you'd like to get involved in any of
the above, just get in touch with myself or the project leader directly.
All email addresses are in the Circular. We are very
short of manpower...
Please write and let us know if we are delivering the kind of material
you find useful and interesting!
Laurence Newell
RAG Coordinator
radiogroup@<no spam>btinternet.com
laurence.newell@<no spam>bt.com
Skype: laurence.newell
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