Daily Image
21-10-2025
ALF prototype 2 in the air
| Submitter: | The ALF team |
| Description: | The ALF prototype-2 is a next step towards a more robust and better designed low-noise receiver system for the WSRT, operating at ambient temperature for the frequency range between 1 and 2 GHz. Initial tests on the test field in Dwingeloo have shown that this system performs well, but the ultimate test is to operate it in one of the WSRT dishes. For that we have integrated the ALF prototype 2 receiver in an old MFFE frame. This frame can be easily transported and fixated in the old focus boxes at the WSRT. We refer to an earlier daily image that highlights the design of this prototype in an MFFE frame. On October 9th, everything had been prepared for placing Prototype 2 into the WSRT's RT2 focus box. The frontend had been carefully transported from ASTRON's headquarters in Dwingeloo to the WSRT building. Some last minute improvisations had to be done there to be able to acquire the frontend data. When that was fixed, the frontend was transported from the WSRT building to RT2 and hoisted upwards with the cherry picker. Then it was hauled into the frontend box, structurally fixated in the box and finally the power and network were connected. The first tests during the day showed that this operation has been successful. The engineers and astronomers are collecting and analysing the first data from the system. These initial results will be presented in another daily image, soon. |
| Copyright: | ASTRON |
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