Metsähovi Radio Observatory, Finland (vlbi@hut.fi)


EVN Station Report, June 2005


Ari Mujunen (Ari.Mujunen@hut.fi)
Jouko Ritakari (Jouko.Ritakari@hut.fi)


 Status

1.3cm continues to be available LCP+RCP, as does 0.7cm.  (0.7cm is
still in receiver laboratory pending some wiring. If 0.7cm proposals
demand for it, it can be made available.)

13/3.6cm standard S/X (_not_ wideband X with the third IF3)
geo-RCP-only receiver is available.  It is owned by Finnish Geodetic
Institute (FGI) and using it for astronomy requires arrangements, thus
prospective PIs need to contact Mh directly.  (Best chances to get the
RX would be if EVN demand is time-wise close to a geodetic experiment
Mh takes part, check geo schedule at
http://ivscc.gsfc.nasa.gov/program/index.html, get the "Plain Text"
Master file and search for 'Mh'.)

Rack type has changed: 'VLBA+4' --> 'VLBA4' since the VLBA formatter
was dismantled from the rack.  Also the single-headstack VLBA recorder
(the upper tracks of which had been failing for years, no
reason/explanation ever found for this) has been detached from the
rack and put into storage, so no tape recordings at Mh anymore (just
like Noto).

The Mark5A unit bought by the Finnish Geodetic Institute has arrived
and has been installed.  This can be used for all astronomy VLBI as
well as for geodetic VLBI without extra negotiations with FGI.

All the 14 BBCs can achieve lock at their geodetic standard frequencies 
but BBC09--14 have all sorts of other troubles.  For astronomy it is best 
to favor 8 BBC modes.


 Manpower

At the moment MRO has two effectively part-time persons working in
VLBI: Ari Mujunen, whose main occupation is laboratory engineer and
Jouko Ritakari, who is working part-time at MRO. People from Finnish
Geodetic Institute are helping in the geo sessions.