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1. Direct Observer Support:

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

2. NRQZ (Zone 5) Administration:

• ERPd Restrictions values amended PW 28MAR08
• 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

• Other: * 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.
  • 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

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

• Investigated and reported potential illegal use of Forest Service frequency 159.285.
• Continued monitoring for power line and cable TV RFI.
• 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.

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

• 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.
• Actuator Controller Cover installation continues.
• Anechoic Chamber testing:
  • None this Cycle.
• Broken window for Time-O-Matic sign returned to Optical Filters, Inc.
• 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.

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

• 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.
• GBT Monitoring Station
  • 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.
• RFI Monitoring Station at 40'
  • 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.

• 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:

• 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.

-- CarlaBeaudet - 16 Feb 2007