18 Sep 03

18 September 2003 Status at The Aquatic Hillcrest

Headline: Many Faults eliminated, No Show Stoppers

Our tools were delivered at 09:54. Our spectrum analyzer is DOA. We have no 600 ft.-lb. torque wrench for a required test and the GAF is trying to find us one in Germany. If they can't we will ask to have one shipped. We also need a crow's foot about 1-3/8" since the studs are about 8" long above the hex nut to be tightened. We have written for a hard copy of Chapter 6 of the TO which Brian Budwey and Paula Trudell have shipped to us. Still no sign of the COTS shipment.

Ron and Bill began performing alignment procedures. Bill used a scope to check the noise levels. He saw a significant noise spike at 70.88 MHz, not in our Transmit or Receive frequencies but in the middle of our IF. We went up to the array, measured the array as pointing about 285° magnetic, and turned the array to aim about South. This eliminated the constant noise spike.

I sorted through the procedures and reports we have here. Much to our dismay, the box of what we thought were the blank procedures we need to run the formal SAT were actually copies of the Grosser Arber reports, and of no use to us. We are trying to find blank copies in Syracuse that can be shipped here ASAP.

Several adjustments were made. We started seeing low power output and thought the problem was in the RF switch. Then realized that the door was open, which we realized has an interlock, and when we closed the door things got much better.

Ron and Bill completed the initial alignment, and the B, D and E loops. We are providing the D Flags to Steve Dunyk and Doug Hornbacker to analyze. We were still getting very high clutter (which shuts down the situation display) between about 200º-300º. We installed the new terrain following calculated by Steve Dunyk. We left the system running over night, and programmed it to collect REPS data at 0700 when there should be lots of targets of opportunity.

In the morning Ron and Bill will complete the alignment procedures and collect more REPS data for Doug to analyze. I will work with Sgt. Pohl to get a cable for the Vax-PC so that we can electronically send data for analysis. In addition, I need to get the jumper configuration from the RES at Altenberg, and if necessary, the disk drive board from the SPU in the RES at that site.

Brad Shannon is going to stop in Syracuse Monday on his way here to hunt down the missing tools and documents if possible.

Daily oil leak analysis: 4-5 drops on base of gear drive near door, 1 drop on other gear drive base. 1 drop under motor near door. Several drops on "ceiling" beneath wagon wheel.

Photos from Tuesday night:

This photo was taken by Sgt. Pohl, using the digital camera in the model glider and is a bird's eye view of the radar installation:

Photos from today:

The radome from the road on the way up to the top.

Bill is wiggling boards and jiggling connections to try to clear some faults. And, it works. Green lights are good things!

Ron and Bill check the results of Bill's adjustments.

Bill follows the quality procedure to adjust a card and tune in the signals properly. He's using a flashlight because it is dark in the radome.