[time-nuts] nubie querie

[jimlux]

Hal Murray wrote:
>> This, and similar impressive accomplishments, has prompted some
>> lunchtime discussion at work (JPL).. One of us (N5BF) has been
>> contemplating what it would take to do an amateur EarthVenusEarth
>> (after some of his experiments doing EME with 5 watts).. 
> 
> Perhaps a better question is:  What is the bandwidth?
> 
> What sort of signal do I have to receive in order to claim contact?  Is one 
> bit/blob of energy at the right time/frequency good enough, or do I have to 
> demodulate the signal and extract a few bits of data?
> 
> 
>> So, when talking about "amateur" accomplishments.. where do you draw
>> the line on using "big stuff".  If you're an amateur who happens to
>> have access to Arecibo or to a DSN 70m dish, is that *really* an
>> amateur contact/event? 
> 
> I think the traditional test for an amateur is do you get paid for it.  (Yes, 
> it helps to be independently wealthy.)

Well, that's sort of the 18th/19th century model, certainly.  Lavoisier 
wasn't paid to figure chemistry out. Neither did John Strutt, 3rd Baron 
Rayleigh.  But is that an appropriate model for today?

> 
> Even if you build your own antenna, there is the question of where do you 
> start.  Is it OK to buy a dish if I build the mount?  Can I buy steel pipe or 
> do I have to start from iron ore?

I've always wanted to start with smelting, but my wife says "no cupola 
furnace in the backyard"  (this after I was pointing out the books on 
this in the Lindsay Books catalog).


> 
> I suspect if you look at other amateur activities (say sports), there are 
> examples equivalent to scrounging time on Arecibo.

Sure.. and the sponging off others has historical precedent, for 
DXpeditions and 8000 meter peak attempts alike.

> 
> 
> My 2 cents...  You get credit for the part that you do.  Anything goes as 
> long as you are honest about what you do.  If you buy the electronics and 
> build the antenna, you get credit for building the antenna.  If you build the 
> electronics and buy (or scrounge) the antenna, then you get credit for the 
> electronics.  ...
> 
> Some people are really good at scrounging.
> 
> 
>