Update, and really big news!

Hi all,

As it turns out, those yagis aren't all they're cracked up to be:

http://groups.google.com/group/sara-list/t/9eb42eac638f3b29

So, in this respect, I have come to a couple of decisions for the radio observatory.

1. I am going to be scrapping the 1.2 x 2.7 meter cylinder and making a new improved and more well constructed one. It will be 2.4 x 2.7 meters, with the same f-ratio (f/0.25). This one will be much more rigidly constructed, with an improved and motorized (in declination) mount.

2. I am now accepting donations!

Go here to donate (its at the bottom of the page): http://channel37.110mb.com/

The observatory name is what you are paying towards, which is the Tesla Memorial Observatory (its in my personal account). Anything helps, donate as little or as much as you would like. I am just not going to be able to get this thing done at any good speed with the rate I'm going to be making (usable) money. I just got laid off from the tech support place, and am now working a part-time job at a restaurant for minimum wage, and all the paycheck is going to my family for the mortgage, utilities, groceries, etc.

I have also made an approximate budget for the new reflector and mount that I will report all purchases to by crossing out the item in the list. These dollar amounts are _approximate_ and just for those considering donating to refer to to get an idea of what the observatory needs and what they would consider giving. There will also be a donation count on that page, the spent amount, and the balance.

Its here:

http://channel37.110mb.com/rev_2_ant_budget.html

I greatly appreciate all contributions and their contributors.

Thank you all,

KM.

Another update... and big news!

Hi all,

I have come across a startling discovery:

http://www.tvaerials.com/product.aspx?productid=32

Its a 19 dBi gain yagi! This means that as of now I am making the cylinder the temporary UHF radio telescope. That is to say, I will be using the cylinder for UHF until I can get my grubby little hands on a couple of these yagis (I will phase together two of them)! A collinear phased array of two of these yagis will also be the new VLBI antenna, and be used in my eight meter "house interferometer."

The yagis will also be on a motorized alt-az mount made from two ordinary TV antenna rotors, some PVC pipe, potentiometers (for position feedback), and a little electronics magic with this:

http://www.geocities.com/yyz228/

As for the cylinder, I will be completing it for UHF to see how well it works on the source test ("first light"), and for some work until the yagis are installed. It will then be converted to L-band. It will also be the leading contender for the L-band VLBI antenna.

Cheers,

KM.