[RadioTelescope] Fwd: FW: Radiotelescope on the roof of physics

Wed Mar 17 19:06:20 WST 2010

Hi guys,

Check out the message from Dr Fletcher in Physics below :

tl;dr : we've found the stepper motors, random other bits, maybe the
original documentation/circuit diagrams

-----Original Message-----
From: Andre Fletcher [mailto:abf at cyllene.uwa.edu.au]
Sent: Wednesday, 17 March 2010 6:04 PM
To: Craig Williams
Cc: Ian McArthur(Physics); Lister Staveley-Smith; Richard Dodson; Jay
Jay (Cyllene); Joe Coletti; aburrell at cyllene.uwa.edu.au;
lance at physics.uwa.edu.au; timo at physics.uwa.edu.au
Subject: Re: Radiotelescope on the roof of physics

Dear Craig, and others,

It's great that you and others in the UCC are thinking
about reviving the unused radio dish in the School of Physics!

This email contains some background information on the
old Bofors gun-mounted radiotelescope dish (`The Dish') on the
roof of the School of Physics.

  1) Yes, I just found those stepper motors which we used to
     drive the Bofors gun mounted-dish for 2006 Open Day at UWA.
     These stepper motors were working then.

  2) I have some limited documentation that may/may not relate to
     this project, which I managed to dig up in 2006, but I lack the
     expertise to know whether it is useful or not, or what to do with it.
     There are some circuit diagrams, for example, that might relate to
     the weather-proofed control box on the side of the Bofors mount.
     A former electronics technician, PETER SMITH, designed this
     control box (see item 4 below) for this project.

  3) I believe I can find the helical antenna that used to go
     with the dish. It's either in the `Radio Room' in the School
     of Physics, or perhaps Lance Maschmedt or Joe Coletti might
     remember where it is. It might also be in Ken Frost's old office?

  4) I don't think there is a receiver specifically for this antenna,
     but we do have some satellite receiver boxes that we managed to
     use in 2007, to detect satellites passing overhead. This was
     using a long cable connection to a Yagi antenna on top of the
     Physics roof tower. We successfully detected the satellite
     signal using the receiver box and an old PC. This was a
     reconstruction of a project set up by a former electronics
     technician, PETER SMITH.

     If necessary, we could probably contact Peter Smith; this would
     be a great help to those interested in reviving the dish project,
     as he was one of its main drivers.

  5) However, somewhere there are parts for a low-noise amplifier (LNA),
     and I don't know if this was for the satellite detection project
     or for the Bofors dish (probably the latter?- the satellite detection
     project already works). There might be a circuit diagram(s) too for
     this LNA amongst the information that I have. Unfortunately, some of
     the components may have gone missing, as the plastic bag(s) holding
     components was found open when I rummaged through a storage room in
     2006.

  6) There are some big bolts that go with the Bofors gun mount (I think
     they're supposed to fasten it onto the battleship?). I'm not sure
     if they're on the mount, or stored elsewhere. I think that when a
     new proper platform gets built for the Dish, the Workshop can help
     out with that work without much difficulty (contact: John Moore
     and Workshop Manager: Gary Light).

I'll be in the School of Physics almost every afternoon of the week.
It's best for me to meet people on Tuesdays or Thursdays, say 2-3 PM,
as I don't have teaching duties on those days.

I'll be happy to meet with Craig and others of the UCC to talk about
plans to revive the School of Physics Dish. I need a little time to
find the information that I have on this project. How about
Tuesday 23 March, 2 PM?

I had a quick look at the UCC's wiki website on this project.

   http://wiki.ucc.asn.au/RadioTelescope

That looks like a definite plan!

Cheers,
   Andre Fletcher

Room 4-5
School of Physics

Quoting Ian McArthur <mcarthur at physics.uwa.edu.au>:

> Hi Craig,
>
> Yes, you should try Joe (glac at cyllene.uwa.edu.au) and Andre Fletcher
> (abf at cyllene.uwa.edu.au), both copied into this reply.
> \
> - ian
>
> On 17/03/2010, at 10:49 AM, Lister Staveley-Smith wrote:
>
>> Joe Coletti or John Moore?
>> Lister
>>
>> On 17/03/2010, at 10:36 AM, Craig Williams wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Ian, Lister, Richard, Jay Jay
>>>
>>> We performed a preliminary inspection of the radio telescope
>>> yesterday afternoon to draw up a plan of action. While doing so we
>>>  noticed that the original stepper motors are missing.
>>>
>>> We are hoping that these might still be located somewhere in
>>> Physics - maybe down in the workshop? Who should we contact in
>>> order to chase down where these might be?
>>>
>>> Our project log is here - http://wiki.ucc.asn.au/RadioTelescope -
>>> if you are interested in staying informed about our progress :)
>>>
>>> Regards
>>>
>>> Craig Williams
>>> University Computer Club
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Ian McArthur [mailto:mcarthur at physics.uwa.edu.au]
>>> Sent: Friday, 12 March 2010 5:28 PM
>>> To: Craig Williams
>>> Cc: Lister Staveley-Smith; Richard Dodson; Jay Jay (Cyllene)
>>> Subject: Re: Radiotelescope on the roof of physics
>>>
>>> Hi Craig,
>>>
>>> You should contact Jay Jay (copied in), our School manager.
>>>
>>> - ian
>>>
>>> On 12/03/2010, at 5:19 PM, Craig Williams wrote:
>>>
>>>> Lister, Richard
>>>>
>>>> In order to kick this project off we will need to organize access to
>>>> the Physics roof to inspect the telescope and see what we have to
>>>> work with.
>>>>
>>>> What's the easiest way to do this?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Craig Williams
>>>> University Computer Club
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Ian McArthur [mailto:mcarthur at physics.uwa.edu.au]
>>>> Sent: Thursday, 11 March 2010 12:47 PM
>>>> To: Craig Williams
>>>> Cc: Lister Staveley-Smith; Richard Dodson
>>>> Subject: Re: Radiotelescope on the roof of physics
>>>>
>>>> Dear Craig,
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for you email. We would be happy to talk to you about trying to
>>>> recommission the radiotelescope.  The people you should contact are
>>>> Lister Staveley-Smith and Richard Dodson. I have copied them in. I
>>>> would like to clarify that the existing hardware would remain the
>>>> property of the School of Physics.
>>>>
>>>> All the best,
>>>> Ian
>>>>
>>>> On 05/03/2010, at 6:42 PM, Craig Williams wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Ian,
>>>>>
>>>>> I am writing on behalf of a group of members of the University
>>>>> Computer Club who are interested in attempting to repair/commission
>>>>> the defunct radiotelescope (the one mounted on the Bofors gun mount)
>>>>> that is on the roof of Physics.
>>>>>
>>>>> I was wondering if you would allow us access to telescope and
>>>>> permission to install or remove components from what has currently
>>>>> been installed.
>>>>>
>>>>> If you have any question or have any requirements please get in
>>>>> touch.
>>>>>
>>>>> regards
>>>>> Craig Williams
>>>>> University Computer Club
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Professor Ian McArthur
>>>> Head of School
>>>> School of Physics
>>>> The University of Western Australia
>>>> +61 8 6488 2737
>>>> mcarthur at physics.uwa.edu.au
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> Professor Ian McArthur
>>> Head of School
>>> School of Physics
>>> The University of Western Australia
>>> +61 8 6488 2737
>>> mcarthur at physics.uwa.edu.au
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
> Professor Ian McArthur
> Head of School
> School of Physics
> The University of Western Australia
> +61 8 6488 2737
> mcarthur at physics.uwa.edu.au