10/03/2006
		Medicina station report to EVN TOG meeting


These items cover the period June 2005 - March 2006:

1) Mark5:
	
	- The old tape recorder shows recording problems and it is under the way to close its life cycle. 
	Last VLBI session was then made by using hard disks. Since now a total storage capacity of 93TB 
	has been added to the VLBI network. At the moment 5 disk packs are available at the station for 
	a total storage of about 6TB.
	
	-Mark5 O.S. kernel was updated from 2.4.18 to 2.4.32
	
	-Mark5 software version installed: 2.7x (2005.147)
	
	-Mark5 firmware version: 0xb8,0x19

2) Field System:

	-Field System version installed: 9.7.7. VLBI session of Feburary was ran with this release.

3) E-VLBI:

	- The fiber optic link at 1Gb/sec between Medicina and Bologna is now available. 
	Medicina is planned to partecipate in ENV tests and E-VLBI experiments during the 2006. 

4) Receivers:

	- A 7-horn multifeed receiver is under construction. All the parts are almost available for being 
	integrated in a complete receiver. A dual-feed system for contemporary observations at 305-425MHz
	and 1.3-1.8GHz is under design,	as well as a 5.8-7.8GHz receiver: all of these are intended to be 
	used on the Sardinia Radio Telescope, the first one, anyway, could be fastly replicated for
	Medicina if funds should be available. A 4.3-5.8GHz receiver for Medicina antenna is also under 
	completion.

	-In the framework of the FARADAY project together with the production of 7-multifeed receiver we designed
	many LNA using the MMIC (monolithic microwave integrated circuits) solution and InP (Indium Phosphide) 
	technology. The wafer run is now completed so we will have available LNA chips working at the following bands:
	4-8GHz, 8-12GHz, 26-40GHz, 33-50GHz, 70-90GHz, 90-115GHz. The diced amplifiers will be delivered in the next
	months.

5) Frequency agility:

	- Medicina is now fully capable of changing all receivers in a fast and automatic way. 
	Up to 9 receivers can now be placed in the cassegrain cabin, each one can be selected by tilting the subreflector.
	The switch between primary and cassegrain receivers is made by moving aside the secondary mirror. 



A. Orfei
A. Orlati
G. Maccaferri