[NLRS] 439MHZ Radar

Fri, 11 Apr 2003 08:55:55 -0500

I think Barry's close to being correct re: power(i.e., 32,000 KW -- 32
Megawatts !).  I don't recall the building being that SHORT, but yeah, it
has 10 floors, so....  It was L-O-N-G time ago. And yes, most of the
equipment was water-cooled.  But water is THE most efficient heat transfer
medium there is, period.  The site was originally designed to operate
"buttoned up" for hours at a time in case of nuclear attack.  Had to keep
the inside cool enough to not par-boil the operators !!

73 Donn
WA2VOI/0

-----Original Message-----
From: Barry Malowanchuk [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2003 8:48 PM
To: John Scherer; [email protected]
Subject: Re: [NLRS] 439MHZ Radar

That is very interesting. It used be designated as the Perimeter Acquisition
Radar CS?

32,000 watts is of course relatively "peanuts" power, I would be inclined to
believe 32,000 KW,  but of course that is average power.  Those peaks are
really impressive !

Perhaps Donn WA2VOI can shed some light on his recollections of the place?

I doubt that the computers are old and I don't think water cooled is old
technology/

Thanks

Barry VE4MA
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Scherer" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2003 7:38 PM
Subject: Re: [NLRS] 439MHZ Radar

> I thought this was intresting..  Its about the radar in Cavelier ND:
>
> -John
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The PARCS radar, the largest phased-array radar system in the world,
> is easily the most prominent building at the base. It is a concrete
> structure that stands 121 feet high, making it the second tallest
> structure in North Dakota. As of march 1999, 26 American and two
> Canadian military members were assigned to the facility, as well as
> 150 contractor employees. As of mid 1997, Litton PRC was the
> contrator the facility. Prior to that, ITT Federal Systems had been
> the site contractor for the prior five years.
>
> Cavalier's radar consumes 32,000 watts of electricity around the
> clock, and can spot an object the size of a basketball at 2,000
> miles. It analyzes more than 20,000 tracks per day, from giant
> satellites to space debris. Some of its banks of computers are
> reportedly so large and old that they are water-cooled.
>
>
> --- Barry Malowanchuk <[email protected]> wrote:
> > I have been seeing it at about 150 degrees for the past few days.
> > My R7000
> > does a really good job of killing all the radar. The radar you hear
> > stays up
> > higher because the "woodpecker" from Cavelier ND sits at 431 or 433
> > MHz
> >
> > Barry VE4MA
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Bill K0AWU" <[email protected]>
> > To: <[email protected]>
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2003 8:56 PM
> > Subject: [NLRS] 439MHZ Radar
> >
> >
> > >   Earlier today it looked like the radar was NNW of here.
> > >
> > >   Tonight it is stronger up around 439Mhz and I can't get a peak
> > on it.
> > > Equally loud on all beam headings at 439Mhz. Yagi pattern at
> > 439Mhz is
> > > unknown. Signal is well over S9 ALL THE TIME!  .... HUGE.
> > >
> > >    At 432MHz can't be sure of direction either, but 330 degrees
> > seems
> > about
> > > the peak. Wally W0PHD sees it at about 120 degrees and Barry
> > VE4MA
> > > south .... Sure don't know of anything in those whereabouts. HOPE
> > they
> > > stay up on 439!!!!
> > >
> > >   Back in the 1960's Barry's dad (Andy), Wally and I ran Wescom
> > blankers
> > in
> > > the IF of our 432 converters to "tame" the ND radar. With today's
> > "rice
> > > boxes" it won't be that easy.
> > >
> > >   Thanks to all for the reports ......... So far Ed VE3KRP has
> > not heard
> > the
> > > radar.
> > >
> > > Bill K0AWU  EN37ed
> > >
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