RFI alert for Aug, Sep, Dec 2014

We have received updated notice from the US Space Command (USSC),
Colorado Springs, CO, informing the RA community of more detail
in the schedule for the on-orbit checkout of the NDT capabilities
of the new GPS 2F-7 SV.  (The GPS 2F-7 launch is currently scheduled
for 201407305.)  These tests trigger GPS satellites over the central
U.S., but may propagate throughout the entire GPS constellation.  The
observatories should expect increased RFI @ 1381 MHz during the dates
& times indicated below.

(These extended-duration tests are in addition to the regular, daily
short-duration (< 180 sec/day) GPS-L3 tests allowed for in the USAF/
NSF MOU.)

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.

Please contact me for coordination should any of these dates and times
conflict with planned radio astronomy observations.

-Mert

============================================================
GPS-L3 ALERT SCHEDULE:
============================================================
SUBJECT:  GPS 2F-7 SV on-orbit tests (preliminary schedule).

FREQUENCY AFFECTED:    1381.05 ± 2.5 MHz (intermittent)

DATE (UTC)  TIME (UTC)    Comments
(YYYYMMDD)  (HHMM)-(HHMM) (TEXT)
------------------------------------------------------------
20140814     1800 - 2400  GPS 2F-7 on-orbit ck, Primary, CONUS.
20140815     0000 - 0200  GPS 2F-7 on-orbit ck, Primary, CONUS.

20140815     1800 - 2400  GPS 2F-7 on-orbit ck, Primary, CONUS.
20140816     0000 - 0200  GPS 2F-7 on-orbit ck, Primary, CONUS.

20140816     1800 - 2400  GPS 2F-7 on-orbit ck, Back-up, CONUS.
20140817     0000 - 0200  GPS 2F-7 on-orbit ck, Back-up, CONUS.
------------------------------------------------------------
Look-ahead for the rest of 2014 (Preliminary):

FREQUENCY AFFECTED:    1381.05 ± 2.5 MHz

DATE (UTC)  TIME (UTC)    Comments
(YYYYMMDD)  (HHMM)-(HHMM) (TEXT)
------------------------------------------------------------
20140909     2000 - 2400  Quarterly L3 tests, Primary, CONUS+.
20140910     0000 - 0400  Quarterly L3 tests, Primary, CONUS+.

20140910     2000 - 2400  Quarterly L3 tests, Back-up, CONUS+.
20140911     0000 - 0400  Quarterly L3 tests, Back-up, CONUS+.

20140911     2000 - 2400  Quarterly L3 tests, Back-up, CONUS+.
20140912     0000 - 0400  Quarterly L3 tests, Back-up, CONUS+.
------------------------------------------------------------
20141202     2000 - 2400  Quarterly L3 tests, Primary, CONUS+.
20141203     0000 - 0400  Quarterly L3 tests, Primary, CONUS+.

20141203     2000 - 2400  Quarterly L3 tests, Back-up, CONUS+.
20141204     0000 - 0400  Quarterly L3 tests, Back-up, CONUS+.

20141204     2000 - 2400  Quarterly L3 tests, Back-up, CONUS+.
20141205     0000 - 0400  Quarterly L3 tests, Back-up, CONUS+.
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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
NRAO-RFI@nrao.edu

-Mert