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

Harry McNally harrymc at decisions-and-designs.com.au
Thu Mar 18 09:40:29 WST 2010 

Hi Craig

Yes, the reassembled mount (even without dish and the 500mm plinth) might
still be too heavy to stand on the UCC floor but I was thinking access to the
roof has various OHS and supervision issues.

It would be useful to have the mount somewhere that people can come and go
freely. Physics Workshop sounds like a good alternative but are there isolated
areas that allow a bunch of people to access without similar OHS and
supervision issues ? I'd suspect the workshop people might not like free reign
in their space.

But if it could stand on the floor at UCC it would be pretty cool since it
would be the centre of attention and easily accessible.

All the best
Harry

Craig Williams wrote:
> We could probably do it, yeah - we could also probably use the Physics
> Workshop facilities to work on the mount and stuff.
> 
> Before we do any dismantling I'd like to clear it with Professor McArthur
> though, so let's draw up a proper plan for why we want to take it apart,
> what we're going to do with it when it's dismantled, any special equipment
> we'll need to not break OH&S etc.
> 
> 
> On Wed, Mar 17, 2010 at 9:13 PM, Harry McNally <
> harrymc at decisions-and-designs.com.au> wrote:
> 
>> 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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