[Scan-DC] FW: ARRL VHF Contest and the GBT Observing Schedule

[Andrew Clegg]

For those hams among us who are in or near the National Radio Quiet Zone...

Subject: ARRL VHF Contest and the GBT Observing Schedule
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2015 20:17:42 +0000









Good afternoon everyone.
 
I don’t often reach out to the amateur community, but due to a recent call regarding an ARRL contest. As I am sure you are aware, ARRL sponsors contests throughout the year. Soon, in mid –September, there is a VHF contest. I feel confident
 that many of you will be participating. The purpose of this email is bring some information to your attention.
 
What I would like for you to know is that the NRAO Green Bank Observatory is involved with a very interesting project called NANOGrav (http://nanograv.org/index.html). The GBT – Green Bank Telescope
 (aka great big telescope) is used in these observations. What you may not realize is that the NANOGrav frequency range of observations is inclusive of the 33 cm band which is also utilized during the contest.

 
I am writing you to spread the word about this wonderful program and to ask you to let others know about it as well. During the weekend of Sept 12-14, 2015, the time of the contest, the NANOGrav project will be observing, thus capable of
 receiving interfering signals from terrestrial transmitters. 
 
If you would like to help us out, then what I am respectfully requesting it this. If possible, when/if you will be transmitting in the 33 cm band, please utilize directional antennas that are pointed away from ground zero (38-25-59.2N,
 79-50-23.4W), the location of the GBT. The GBT is very sensitive and capable of receiving signals from space at 0.0000000000000000000001 (or 1E-32) watts per square meter per Hertz. It is highly probable that due to power levels, antenna heights, terrain features,
 or combinations thereof, your transmissions will cause interference to this project. If you would like to voluntarily coordinate your temporary-fixed station, please contact me directly.

 
If you would like to avoid transmitting during the NANOGrav observations, check out our website at
https://dss.gb.nrao.edu/schedule/public. This URL will let you view all three days (use the drop down window and select the date) of observing schedules (dates and times) and determine
 when the NANOGrav is scheduled for observations. The project titles are GBT 15B-160 and GBT 15B-999. If you would like to see additional information on those projects, just click on the URL for the project.

 
Whatever you can do to spread the word would be great. If you would like to forward it to others that you think would benefit from this information, please feel free to do so. That said, if you did receive this email as a forward from others
 and would like to added to our distribution list, email me at 
nrqz at nrao.edu.
 
I thank you for your help in keeping the RF environment here in Green Bank as quiet as possible. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
 
Sincerest regards.
 
TNX, 73
Paulette
 
 
Paulette W. Woody
NRAO Interference Office
National Radio Quiet Zone Administrator (nrqz at nrao.edu)
 
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
155 Observatory Road
PO Box 2
Green Bank, WV 24944-0002
KD8NKC