• ERPd Restrictions values amended PW 28MAR08

* Continue working with Naval Surface Warfare Center and Virgina Tech on propagation model verification project. Identified sites for feasibility study an ran propagation studies. Continue to discuss test methods.

* Continue working with Naval Surface Warfare Center and Virgina Tech on propagation model verification project. Identified sites for feasibility study an ran propagation studies. Continue to discuss test methods. Started investigation availability of new topography data and the ability to read/use it.

• Bulkheads for New Education Center shielded racks await installation.

• Bulkheads for New Education Center shielded racks await installation. Spoke with business management about removing telephone patch boxes from rack and with computer division about disconnecting and reconnecting fiber optic cables in rack.

• • Receiver repaired amplifier from Miteq. Still unsure of failure mechanism. Roger will help investigate before amplifier reinstalled.
  • Receiver "Radio Control" software for evaluation. This software can be used to control the new AOR AR-ONE receiver.

• Pending Processing

• Non-Governmental - ERPd restrictions

• Governmental assignments: Objection/Tabled

• Governmental assignments: No new assignments for cycle

• Governmental assignment concerns:

• Site inspections - Completed:

• Site inspections - Pending:

• Special Conditions:

• Investigations of potential interference

• Pending Processing .......................57
• Non-Governmental, ERPd restrictions .......0
• Governmental assignments, processing......24
• Governmental assignments, Tabled..........33
• Governmental assignment concerns..........17 Agriculture
• Site inspections, Completed................0
• Site inspections, Pending.................14
• Special Conditions.........................7 Commerce
• Interference investigations................4

• • Coordinated shutdown of 450 transmitter
  • Meeting to discuss proposed interference database
  • Meeting with Joe Gonzalez regarding development of interoperatability transmitters located within QZ
  • Attended All-Hands meeting 1/26

• Continued efforts to bring the NRQZ transmitter at 464.925 MHz into compliance.

• Monitored the 450-470 MHz band for NRQZ violation and identified several. Working to mitigate.

• LO1B continues to be the primary suspect for the narrowband RFI in the RA band 1400 - 1427 MHz being investigated for Peter Martin, Toney Minter, and Jay Lockman. In a test conducted by Jay Lockman, Roger Norrod and Carla Beaudet, changing the LO1B frequency seems to change the frequency of the interference. No specific mitigation plans as yet.

• Working to mitigate apparent NRQZ violations on the frequencies 451.45, 461.4, 464.900 and 464.925 MHz.

• • 3871 Highland Cellular (QZ compliance)
  • 4349 Highland Cellular (QZ compliance)
  • 4544 Highland Cellular/Cellular One (Abandoned by applicant)
  • 4578 Pendleton County (Pending final engineering)
  • 4683/P1478 Randolph County (Pending final engineering)
  • 4684 Amherst County (Engineering approved. Pending regulatory + SI)
  • 4758 (HA) M. Knight (Pending final engineering)
  • 4790 Monroe County (Pending final engineering)
  • 4797 State of WV DNR (Pending final engineering + regulatory)
  • 4847 Verizon Wireless (AMSL discrepancy)

• • 4819/P1554 nTelos (OBJ-ERPd limit, sector 1 and 3)
  • 4825 Cingular (OBJ/coordinates)
  • 4832 Markwood Dodge (OBJ/coordinates or AMSL)
  • 4838 Greater Harrison PSD (OBJ/coordinates or AMSL)
  • 4843 nTelos – (OBJ/ERPd limit, sector 2)
  • 4844 Harrison County EMS (OBJ/ERPd limit)
  • 4845 Pendleton County (OBJ/ERPd limit)

• • DOA: (17 sites) 4551, 4553, 4620, 4653-2, 4655-2, 4656, 4658, 4722, 4723, 4724, 4725, 4728, 4770, 4772, 4773, 4774, 4775
  • DOC: (3 site) 4614, 4615, 4755
  • DOI: (5 sites) 4638, 4640, 4748, 4749, 4750
  • DOJ: (2 sites) 4559 Cleared, 4757
  • DHS: (1 site) 4839/4454-3
  • FAA: (6 sites) 4429, 4616, 4617, 4618, 4761, 4762
  • HHS: (2 sites) 4700, 4701
  • NG: (1 site) 4703

• • 06DEC06 The US Department of Agriculture has filed a complaint with NSF concerning NRAO QZ objections and special conditions on 11 assignments. The USDA has stated that the sites have been operational for over 20 years “with no report of radio interference by NRAO.” The QZ office provided documentation to Dr. A. Clegg which indicated that the technical data of the assignments had changed resulting in the objections. In Dr. Clegg's letter to USDA, he indicated that “the staff of the NRQZ coordination office is willing to work with you to help successfully coordinate the subject assignments.” At present, the USDA representative has not contacted the NRQZ office.

• • None during this cycle.

• • 4449-2 DOJ
  • 4508 Nextel
  • 4509, 4518, 4777, 4778, 4779 City of Harrisonburg
  • 4511-3 Shenandoah Natl Park
  • 4863/4605 Quorum Radio
  • 4642 DOJ
  • 4657/P1468 US Cellular
  • 4842 The Greenbrier Hotel

• • 4820 R. Grider (HA)
  • 4831 P. Schaffner (HA)

• Investigations of potential interference (450-470 MHz)
  • NRQZ#'s: 4779, 4850, 4851, 4852

• Investigations of potential interference

• • Participated in a group visit to Sugar Grove Research Station, Sugar Grove, WV
  • Richard Prestage and Wesley met with the Commanding Officer, Sugar Grove Research Station and discussed continuation of MOU, possible manpower support for propagation model verification project and mutual site visits.
  • December Observers/MOA report distributed
  • Meeting with Amy Henry concerning NRQZ and RFI
  • Meeting with The Greenbrier Hotel regarding proposed cellular DAS system
  • January Observers/MOA report distributed

• Investigated and reported potential illegal use of Forest Service frequency 159.285.

• Frontier Communicatons technician met with Wesley to determine locations of Frontier wireless DSL modems in the immediate vicinity. Only approximately one third of the identified modems belong to Frontier. The remained are privately owned and therefore the responsibility of NRAO to mitigate.
• Met with business and EPO groups on 12/30/06 to discuss PR efforts.
• Identified illegal spectrum users in the VHF band. Information provided to appropriate authority for investigation.

• At Frontier's request, crafted a letter for public consumption to be delivered by Frontier Communicatons in conjunction with their replacement of wireless modems in the 10 mile radius. The letter explains the necessity for this change.
• Met with business and EPO groups on 2/9/07 to collaboratively craft the Frontier letter.
• Met with Joe Gonzalez to discuss RFI policy in connection with the Starquest event.

• Met with business and EPO groups on 1/26/07 to determine a good photographic opportunity in Zone 1, and on 2/2/07 to work on the RFI video storyboard.

• • Xantrex Inverter
  • SRBS Low-Frequency racks (2)
• Replacement window for Time-O-Matic sign arrived broken; aranging payment from FedEx? and replacement from Optical Filters, Inc.

• • None this Cycle.
• Broken window for Time-O-Matic sign returned to Optical Filters, Inc.

• Performed a Q&D GBT sidelobe assessment with the assistance of Frank Ghigo. The objective was to determine whether there is any directional information about a signal to be gained by knowing where the sidelobes of the GBT are. A transmitter was set up on the Jansky Lab balcony, and the GBT was rotated in AZ while receiving the signal. It appears that the sidelobes are numerous and complex, so there is little to be gained by using the GBT to direction find; it is better to use a secondary receiver (like the GBT RFI monitoring station) to DF RFI sources.

• • Connectors replaced on optical cable; system (RF and Optical, 5 channels) gains remeasured and they look good.
  • Meeting with safety, operations, mechanical and telescope mechanics to discuss installation; last minute issues identified and are being worked on.
  • Alignment issue with Lefthand counterweight continues to hinder rotation of masts; counterweight sent to shop for re-alignment.
  • RFI group met to review initial design of RFI database.

• • Final systems check performed, and all antennas, cabling, etc. removed from the gimabl, weighed, and stored.
  • Gimbal installation scheduled with Harry Morton.
  • Alignment issue with Lefthand counterweight has been resolved.
• RFI database designed and a preliminary structure written in MySQL?. Ray Creager is designing web based forms for data entry.

• • New Miteq amplifier installed, died and was sent back for repair. Investigation failure mechanism.
  • Improved grounding and shielding of frontend box.
  • ICOM R9000 sent for repair of bad CRT. CRT no longer available and will be replaced with LCD.

• Participated in 2 days of Green Bank Strategic Planning Initiative meetings. In these meetings, the primary value of the Green Bank site as a relatively RF quiet environment was made clear, and RFI was considered a priority second only to maintaining and improving cutting-edge technological and scientific research, and attracting and keeping quality employees. The future of the Green Bank site depends on our ability to preserve the low-RFI environment.

%META:TOPICINFO{author="CarlaBeaudet" date="1171652746" format="1.0" version="1.1"}% %META:TOPICPARENT{name="Electronics.RfiGroup"}%

Green Bank RFI Management Cycle 1 Progress Report (Jan. 1 - Feb. 16, 2007)

1. Direct Observer Support:

• Continued efforts to bring the NRQZ transmitter at 464.925 MHz into compliance.

• Monitored the 450-470 MHz band for NRQZ violation and identified several. Working to mitigate.

• LO1B continues to be the primary suspect for the narrowband RFI in the RA band 1400 - 1427 MHz being investigated for Peter Martin, Toney Minter, and Jay Lockman. In a test conducted by Jay Lockman, Roger Norrod and Carla Beaudet, changing the LO1B frequency seems to change the frequency of the interference. No specific mitigation plans as yet.

2. NRQZ (Zone 5) Administration:

• Pending Processing
  • 3871 Highland Cellular (QZ compliance)
  • 4349 Highland Cellular (QZ compliance)
  • 4544 Highland Cellular/Cellular One (Abandoned by applicant)
  • 4578 Pendleton County (Pending final engineering)
  • 4683/P1478 Randolph County (Pending final engineering)
  • 4684 Amherst County (Engineering approved. Pending regulatory + SI)
  • 4758 (HA) M. Knight (Pending final engineering)
  • 4790 Monroe County (Pending final engineering)
  • 4797 State of WV DNR (Pending final engineering + regulatory)
  • 4847 Verizon Wireless (AMSL discrepancy)

• Non-Governmental - ERPd restrictions
  • 4819/P1554 nTelos (OBJ-ERPd limit, sector 1 and 3)
  • 4825 Cingular (OBJ/coordinates)
  • 4832 Markwood Dodge (OBJ/coordinates or AMSL)
  • 4838 Greater Harrison PSD (OBJ/coordinates or AMSL)
  • 4843 nTelos – (OBJ/ERPd limit, sector 2)
  • 4844 Harrison County EMS (OBJ/ERPd limit)
  • 4845 Pendleton County (OBJ/ERPd limit)

• Governmental assignments: Objection/Tabled
  • DOA: (17 sites) 4551, 4553, 4620, 4653-2, 4655-2, 4656, 4658, 4722, 4723, 4724, 4725, 4728, 4770, 4772, 4773, 4774, 4775
  • DOC: (3 site) 4614, 4615, 4755
  • DOI: (5 sites) 4638, 4640, 4748, 4749, 4750
  • DOJ: (2 sites) 4559 Cleared, 4757
  • DHS: (1 site) 4839/4454-3
  • FAA: (6 sites) 4429, 4616, 4617, 4618, 4761, 4762
  • HHS: (2 sites) 4700, 4701
  • NG: (1 site) 4703

• Governmental assignments: No new assignments for cycle

• Governmental assignment concerns:
  • 06DEC06 The US Department of Agriculture has filed a complaint with NSF concerning NRAO QZ objections and special conditions on 11 assignments. The USDA has stated that the sites have been operational for over 20 years “with no report of radio interference by NRAO.” The QZ office provided documentation to Dr. A. Clegg which indicated that the technical data of the assignments had changed resulting in the objections. In Dr. Clegg's letter to USDA, he indicated that “the staff of the NRQZ coordination office is willing to work with you to help successfully coordinate the subject assignments.” At present, the USDA representative has not contacted the NRQZ office.

• Site inspections - Completed:
  • None during this cycle.

• Site inspections - Pending:
  • 4449-2 DOJ
  • 4508 Nextel
  • 4509, 4518, 4777, 4778, 4779 City of Harrisonburg
  • 4511-3 Shenandoah Natl Park
  • 4863/4605 Quorum Radio
  • 4642 DOJ
  • 4657/P1468 US Cellular
  • 4842 The Greenbrier Hotel

• Special Conditions:
  • 4820 R. Grider (HA)
  • 4831 P. Schaffner (HA)

• Investigations of potential interference (450-470 MHz)
  • NRQZ#'s: 4779, 4850, 4851, 4852

• Other:
  • Participated in a group visit to Sugar Grove Research Station, Sugar Grove, WV
  • Richard Prestage and Wesley met with the Commanding Officer, Sugar Grove Research Station and discussed continuation of MOU, possible manpower support for propagation model verification project and mutual site visits.
  • December Observers/MOA report distributed
  • Meeting with Amy Henry concerning NRQZ and RFI
  • Meeting with The Greenbrier Hotel regarding proposed cellular DAS system
  • January Observers/MOA report distributed
  • Continue working with Naval Surface Warfare Center and Virgina Tech on propagation model verification project. Identified sites for feasibility study an ran propagation studies. Continue to discuss test methods.

3. Community RFI Suppression (Zones 3-4):

• Continued monitoring for power line and cable TV RFI.
• Frontier Communicatons technician met with Wesley to determine locations of Frontier wireless DSL modems in the immediate vicinity. Only approximately one third of the identified modems belong to Frontier. The remained are privately owned and therefore the responsibility of NRAO to mitigate.
• Met with business and EPO groups on 12/30/06 to discuss PR efforts.
• Identified illegal spectrum users in the VHF band. Information provided to appropriate authority for investigation.

4. On-Site RFI Mitigation (Zones 1-2):

• Actuator Controller Cover installation continues.
• Anechoic Chamber testing:
  • Xantrex Inverter
  • SRBS Low-Frequency racks (2)
• Replacement window for Time-O-Matic sign arrived broken; aranging payment from FedEx? and replacement from Optical Filters, Inc.
• Bulkheads for New Education Center shielded racks await installation.

5. RFI Policy, Instrumentation, Reporting Mechanism, etc:

• GBT Monitoring Station
  • Connectors replaced on optical cable; system (RF and Optical, 5 channels) gains remeasured and they look good.
  • Meeting with safety, operations, mechanical and telescope mechanics to discuss installation; last minute issues identified and are being worked on.
  • Alignment issue with Lefthand counterweight continues to hinder rotation of masts; counterweight sent to shop for re-alignment.
  • RFI group met to review initial design of RFI database.
• RFI Monitoring Station at 40'
  • New Miteq amplifier installed, died and was sent back for repair. Investigation failure mechanism.
  • Improved grounding and shielding of frontend box.
  • ICOM R9000 sent for repair of bad CRT. CRT no longer available and will be replaced with LCD.
• RFI Truck
  • Working on outfitting. Jeff Cromer designing equipment rack/mounts. Dave Woody working on inverter installation.

6. Outreach:

• Worked on materials for EPO to raise RFI awareness in tour center visitors.
• Provided technical assistance to Charles Osborne at PARI Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute.

7. Other:

-- CarlaBeaudet - 16 Feb 2007