====== Acronym Dictionary ======

^Acronym ^Meaning^
|AGC | Automatic Gain Control |
|CNS II clock | Takes signal from GPS antenna and provides a 1 PPS for comparison to other time sources (e.g. the maser) using the counters. Also provides time via a NTP server on (cnsshb, cnsske, cnssyg).phys.utas.edu.au |
|DBBC | Digital Base-Band Converter. Takes IF signals from the antenna and preforms filtering, tuning and digitisation of bands, then sends them to the Mark5 for recording|
|IF | Intermediate Frequency. A signal mixed down to a lower frequency from its original RF (Radio Frequency) |
|IF Unit | Takes the four IFs from the antenna (S and X band, LCP and RCP) and provides amplification and attenuation before splitting the signal to go to the DBBC, power sensor and spectrum analyser |
|KVM | Keyboard, Video, Mouse. A switch box that takes keyboard, video and mouse inputs from multiple PCs and allows the user to switch between them and interact with the PC from a single location. The KVM switches at the sites are networked so that a remote user can connect to a computer at the console level |
|LCP | Left-hand Circular Polarisation |
|LNA | Low Noise Amplifier|
|Mark5 | Data recording equipment. Takes digitised data from the DBBC and records it to one of two possible disk modules |
|PCFS | PC Field System. Used extensively throughout geodetic VLBI observatories, a PC running the Field System software to control and monitor the antenna, recorder, sampler etc. The central computer for operating the observatory |
|PPS | Pulse Per Second. Refers to the 1 second time-ticks distributed to various instruments around the sites |
|RCP | Right-hand Circular Polarisation |
|RF | Radio Frequency. A radio signal that has not been mixed to a lower frequency |
|S-band | Radio band covering 2 to 4 GHz. Our receivers cover approx 2.1 to 2.5 GHz only |
|SML | Signal generator. Each site is equipped with a Rhode & Schwartz SML signal generator to generate test signals |
|X-band | Radio band covering 8 to 12 GHz. Our receivers cover approx 8.1 to 9.1 GHz only |