This video details recent infrastructure advancements and operational improvements at the DSES (Deep Space Exploration Society) site. Key updates include the successful relocation of a University of Texas GPS scintillation experiment's antenna to a location offering unobstructed views, and the planning of an upcoming open house, which faces logistical and financial challenges. A significant development is the unexpected benefit from fiber optic installation, where an additional direct-burial fiber line was acquired at minimal cost, greatly expanding internet connectivity across the site. Furthermore, these infrastructure upgrades are enabling a new 24/7 drift scan experiment using the 60-foot dish, facilitated by a Raspberry Pi 5 for remote data collection. The speaker also highlights critical on-site safety protocols requiring a two-person team for all work and describes ongoing efforts to improve ground bonding and lightning protection for equipment in the new building.
DSES Site Updates: From Antenna Relocation to 24/7 Remote Operations
0:00 GPS Experiment Relocation: A dual-band GPS antenna for a University of Texas scintillation experiment was successfully moved at the DSES site. Its new location, 700 feet away from the trailer and tower (previously obstructing the 60-foot antenna), offers significantly improved horizon views, impressing the university.
3:50 Open House Planning & Challenges: An open house is tentatively scheduled for late September or early October. Significant concerns exist regarding the high costs of the previous event and the low donation returns. A major logistical challenge for the upcoming event is mowing the property, which is rough and requires a "bush hog."
6:18 Fiber Optics Installation: The fiber optic installation deviated from the original plan, utilizing an underground "mole" method instead of trenching. This unexpected change resulted in a favorable outcome: the contractor buried an additional fiber line for DSES at a very low cost (30 cents per foot), establishing a direct burial connection.
7:50 Enhanced Connectivity: Thanks to the new fiber lines, the DSES site now boasts comprehensive internet connectivity at the bunker, the new building, the trailer under the tower, and the "doghouse" (a small wooden structure).
8:55 24/7 Drift Scan Experiment: The improved fiber optic infrastructure is enabling a new drift scan experiment with the 60-foot dish, designed to operate 24/7 in drift scan mode. This system utilizes a Raspberry Pi 5 with a 1TB solid-state drive to store data locally, allowing for remote data retrieval and significantly increasing the dish's active usage, especially when no personnel are on site. The dish can safely operate at +/- 20 degrees azimuth for these scans.
12:55 Site Safety Protocol: A strict two-person rule is enforced for all on-site work (e.g., steering the dish, digging trenches) due to safety concerns like rattlesnakes and potential accidents, emphasizing the importance of a "buddy system" at remote sites.
14:02 Grounding and Lightning Protection: Ongoing work includes establishing robust ground bonding of all chassis within the new building, using 2-inch copper strap to minimize background noise and enhance lightning protection for all computing and radio equipment.
15:08 Future Outlook: These completed and ongoing infrastructure and operational upgrades represent significant forward strides for the DSES site, promising increased efficiency and expanded scientific capabilities, including efforts to detect signals from Venus.