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

Harry McNally harrymc at decisions-and-designs.com.au
Wed Mar 17 21:13:01 WST 2010


Hi Craig

Is there a chance we can dismantle the thing and spirit bits down the stairs
and off to UCC (Stories of the justifying the original cost of crane
notwithstanding) ?

Harry

Craig Williams wrote:
> 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
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