RFI alert for Feb 2011

Fortunately, A2010 should not be affected by this GPS alert which
announce GPS tests on:
   20110324     AST 0400-1300 no conflict
   20110325     AST 0400-1300 no conflict   

We have received advanced notice from the US Space Command
(USSC), Colorado Springs, CO, informing the RA community of
upcoming, extended L3 test transmissions.  The observatories
should expect increased RFI @ 1381 MHz during the dates &
times detailed below.

VLA & VLBA schedulers should attempt to schedule 1381 MHz use
around these times if possible.  Observing scientists should
be made aware of the increased possibility of corrupted data
on these dates and times.  VLA and VLBA operators should note
unusual L-band Tsys or total power fluctuations observed during
these times in the Operator Log forwarded to observers.

-Mert

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============================================================
GPS-L3 ALERT SCHEDULE:
============================================================
SUBJECT:  GPS Satellite Testing Operations, multiple platforms.

FREQUENCY AFFECTED:    1381.05 ± 2.5 MHz

DATE (UTC)  TIME (UTC)    Comments
(YYYYMMDD)  (HHMM)-(HHMM) (TEXT)
------------------------------------------------------------
20110324     0800 - 1700   Extended L3 tests, world-wide.
20110325     0800 - 1700   Extended L3 tests, world-wide.
================================================================
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 From the clear, high deserts of central New Mexico, The Land of
Enchantment, the VLA, and dark, dark, starry, starry nights ...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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# * # * # * # * # * # * # * # * # * # * # * # * # * # * # * # *

Daniel J. Mertely
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Interference Protection Office Engineer
P.O. Box o
Socorro,  NM  87801
(575) 835-7128
dmertely@nrao.edu

-Mert