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Welcome to the web site of the UK branch of the SETI League. - Last update 05/10/00 18:54:28 This site is intended to complement the main SETI League Web Site which, although giving a wealth of useful information, can tend to be a little US-centric at times. We aim to provide information which is of specific interest to members of the SETI league in the UK, or to non-members who are interested in our Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence. |
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SETI - The Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence is an attempt to obtain evidence of intelligent life outside our Solar System. There are many projects pursuing this goal, but we are focusing our efforts looking for narrow-band radio transmissions in the 1GHz to 10GHz region, and with the majority of stations looking at the frequency of neutral hydrogen - 1420MHz.
The SETI League is a global organization, and this is essential for the search because not all of the sky can be viewed from any country. A signal seen in the UK at a particular point in the sky will be visible for confirmation on the East coast of the USA 5 hours later. It is a function of the SETI League to co-ordinate this activity.
The SETI League Web Site contains a comprehensive guide to building and operating a Project Argus SETI station. However, some information such as component suppliers, is US specific.
This site exists to encourage other people in the UK to build and operate their own stations, and to give help and advice to solve those problems specific to the UK, such as
The SETI League's is but one of a number of SETI projects.
The SETI@home project is now active. You can download a program from this Web Site to process audio from the Arecibo radio telescope.
The Planetary Society Project BETA
Please follow the above links if you have any questions about these specific projects.
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Regional co-ordinator - England |
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Regional co-ordinator - Wales/Membership Services |
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Regional co-ordinator - Northern Ireland |
None |
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Regional co-ordinator - Scotland |
None |
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Radio design |
When building a Project Argus SETI station, many articles refer to equipment supplied from the USA. Although it is possible to import components from abroad using a debit card, it is usually easier to source the components locally.
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Supplier |
Specialty |
Location |
Phone |
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Harrison Electronics |
Large Dishes |
March, Cambridgeshire |
01354 651289 |
None |
| MICROWAVE COMMITTEE COMPONENTS SERVICE | Microwave kits and components | Northamptonshire | ||
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Radio Kits for SETI |
Tegryn Llanfyrnach Pembs SA35 0BL |
01239 698427 |
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General electronic components |
PO Box 777, Raleigh, Essex, SS6 8LU |
01702 554000 |
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General components |
PO Box 99, Corby, Northants, NN17 9RS |
01536 201201 |
None |
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General components and wire. |
Canal Road,Leeds,LS12 2TU |
0113 263 6311 |
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RF component suppliers |
TBA |
TBA |
None |
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RF component suppliers |
Park Lane, Broxbourne Herts EN10 7NQ |
01992 448899 |
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Bonnex |
RF component suppliers |
12 Elder Way, Slough, Berks SL3 6EP |
01753 549502 |
None |
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Technical Radio Books |
Lambda House, Cranborne Road, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 3JE |
01707 659015 |
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SETI books |
Edinburgh Building, Shaftesbury Road, |
01223 312393 |
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Name of operator |
Location |
Status of SETI Station |
Picture of Station |
Amateur Radio Call |
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Jenny Bailey |
Cambridge |
Operational |
G0VQH |
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Ken Chattenton |
Cleveland |
Operational |
No Picture |
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Trevor Unsworth |
Cleveland |
Operational |
No Picture |
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Bernie Wright |
Cambridge |
Under Construction |
No Picture |
G4HJW |
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Will Higgs |
Northumberland |
Under Construction |
No Picture |
None |
It was suggested that a SETI-UK newsletter i.e. a photocopied Post Office mail letter, would be a good way of reaching people who do not have internet connection. Ideally this would be something like quarterly A5 booklet with 4 pages. In reality, it may be better to aim for one newsletter and see how we get on. Of course we will need articles for inclusion into the newsletter
Every Saturday and Sunday at 19:00 UK local on 3.713 + QRM. Listen for G4HJW, G0VQH or GW0FJV - Please feel free to call in.
We now have a SETI-UK mailing list. This is for discussion of UK specific SETI matters only. For example, meetings, newsletters and local suppliers of SETI kit.
To subscribe to this list, send an email to majordomo@eartha.cyberware.co.uk with SUBSCRIBE seti-uk in the message body.
Once you have subscribed, you can post to the list at this address mailto:seti-uk@lists.cyberware.co.uk
If you want to be removed from the list, send an email to majordomo@eartha.cyberware.co.uk with UNSUBSCRIBE seti-uk in the message body.
The UK is a big place, and getting everyone together at one time could be difficult. However many of us got together at Jodrell Bank in October when the SETI League Director, Dr Paul Shuch came to visit us. Click here for a picture.
It would be good to try and arrange a SETI-UK meeting, at a mutually convenient location, once a year. This is open to discussion.
Many potential SETI participants may be put off by the technical aspects of building a SETI station. We can help in a number of ways :
Another possible problem could be commissioning the system one it is built, this often involves the use of expensive test equipment. We should be able to provide a service calibrating items such as SETI LNAs and receivers.
We are actively encouraging enthusiasts to build their own SETI station. An example system together with approximate costing is shown here . We hope to attract people with a diverse range of expertise, so we can offer advice to those with a technical background and complete systems for purchase to others.
This is a very regional problem that I hope you will not have to face. I am seeking advice on this subject..
Jodrell bank is hosting a SETI project. It is being used as a Follow-up detection device, checking candidate signals as received by the Arecibo Radio Telescope.
Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory located near to Cambridge.
Cambridge Amateur Radio Astronomers
We have a number of low-cost designs for the keen amateur - see the section Technical Scrapbook. We also have a number of dishes and mounts freely available to anyone wanting to conduct Radio Astronomy or SETI experiments. Photos to come..
We have some dishes free to a good home :
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Dish with mount |
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Dish without mount |
Larger Dishes
Amanda has also arranged for a number of decommissioned 3.7m dishes to be available. They are in a 4m by 2.5m crate and require low loader transportation. There may also be larger dishes available. Information here.
Life on Other Worlds by Steven J Dick - Published by Cambridge University Press ISBN 0-521-62012-0
Extraterrestrial Intelligence by Jean Heidmann - Published by Cambridge University Press ISBN 0-521-58563-5
Search for Life on Other Planets by Bruce Jakosky - Published by Cambridge University Press ISBN 0521598370
Radio Communication Handbook Published by the Radio Society of Great Britain ISBN 1-872309-24-0
Microwave Handbook , Volumes 1,2 and 3 Published by the Radio Society of Great Britain
DUBUS, Technic III,IV,V Microwave Techniques handbooks
16th March 2000 - Radio 4 Today program 07:55 - Ian Morrison talking about SETI and Jodrell Bank
Here are a number of MS PowerPoint slides as used for the presentation. <seti_lecture.ppt>
Design of a low cost SETI receiver : argusrx
Modifying Used commercial ( PMR ) FM equipment for SETI use : SETI UK rx
A x6 diode LO multiplier with an 18 element interdigital output filter for 1275MHz : Local Oscillator
SETI uses for old Satellite LNBs : LNB
SetiSearch - Linux SETI software under development
This site is maintained by Jenny Bailey
