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operations:acronyms

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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
/home/www/auscope/opswiki/data/pages/operations/acronyms.txt · Last modified: 2011/10/26 06:37 (external edit)