Torun (Tr) Station Report
(TOG, Noto, Dec 4th 2006)
Brief Report of Last EVN Sessions
All observations were made with the Mark5A recorder, which performed
generally without major problems. Although it was noted that when
two disk-packs are inserted there is a higher risk of malfunctioning.
The H-maser performed very well since its refurbishment last year
(no jumps in frequency or its acceleration observed till this day).
June 2006 Session:
All 22 user experiments scheduled at 30, 18/21, 5 and 6 cm
were observed without great problems. However, we experienced severe
RFI at UHF band. Our 5cm receivers suffered from power supply failure
(lost part of N06M2 and then 3 last hours of EF015).
November 2006 Session: It also passed without problems
except at the very beginning, when due to operator's error we observed
for an hour or so off source (quick info from JIVE was essential
to rectifying the situation).
Changes/Upgrades Made to Hardware/Software
Shortly before the June session the UHF receiver has been upgraded
with the Lange coupler to produce two circular polarizations
instead of linear ones.
In September 2006 our subreflector has been fixed for good (no movements
are now allowed) to get rid of its uncontrolled shifts (at the level of
0.02 deg) at certain telescope positions.
The telescope control room has been renovated in August/September.
10 DP modules have been purchased, six of which were already populated
with 250 GB disks and remaining four should become available by the end of year.
The Finnish PCEVN system is in last stages of preparation.
New telescope control system is nearly completed (it is based on the RT Linux OS).
New switches for improved internet bandwith and reliability are now being installed.
FS 9.7.7 version has been used during June and v. 9.9.2 during November session.
e-VLBI
Tr station has participated in all but one of the test and science
experiments organized by JIVE. Our 1 Gb/s connection poses various problems
so that its speed, although sometimes as high as 700 Mb/s, presently allows for
a reliable sustained transmission only at 128 Mb/s or at best 256 Mb/s.
We expect soon considerable improvement in the backbone network, since
a 10 Gb/s link is to become available before Spring 2007.
Kaz Borkowski, Genek Pazderski & Greg Hrynek