2023-02-16 UCD dish and data issues

[gjscheer-ucd]

Multiple Receiver Issues

RF Interference (as of Feb 12 2023)
As of 2023/2/11 new RF interference believed to originate from cell phone carriers using new spectrum frequencies at UCD is saturating the GOES-R transmission band. The consequence is missing blocks in the data. Since missing blocks cause Spatial CIMIS calculation anomalies resulting in errors, they are filtered out of the calculation process (no PGM files) but are otherwise available to the CaSITA web demo. There is no immediate fix available at UCD and currently impacts DWR since they are also down.

Solutions

• Emergency action is to loan DWR the UCD receiver to stand up band-2 ASAP (DWR is down while awaiting new receiver replacement), Impact will be all data down at UCD also affecting the CaSITA demo.
• Short term solution will be implemented end of February 2023 (details to follow)
• Long term solution is to upgrade all LAMPS with RF filtering capabilities - expected May 2023

Secondary channel data availability (since Fall 2022)
Issues with the secondary channel data availability since Fall of 2022 is linked with the secondary side LAMP at the dish. It is currently getting repaired and expected to be back in operation by end of February 2023.

[gjscheer-ucd]

Update 2023-02-24

Hardware Status

• UCD receiver back at UCD site and installed but RF interference conditions continue to cause inconsistent data collection problems.

Solutions

• Current short term solution is to install a modified LAMP at the dish for the primary side at the end of February. If the replacement LAMP is successful at solving the RF interference issues, a second modified LAMP will be procured and installed for the secondary channel a week later.
• The long term solution is to upgrade both LAMPs with a newly engineered version in Fall of 2023

[gjscheer-ucd]

Update 2023-03-28

Solutions

• Secondary channel LAMP sent to Automated Sciences to undergo modification for new noise filtering strategy has been shipped back to UCD and is awaiting installation. Target date is early April.
• If modified LAMP is successful the second LAMP will undergo the same modification for the secondary channel

Long Term

• New DWR project renewal request for an additional 2 years of support for 7/23 to 6/25 is approved
• Budget includes funding for investment in new LAMP hardware that will replace existing modified LAMPs, backup receiver and parts to maintain existing servers and equipment.

[gjscheer-ucd]

Update 2023-04-11

Solutions

• The prototype filtering LAMP is now installed on the secondary channel side for evaluation
• The secondary channel LAMP was evaluated and returned from Automated Sciences and is now being used as the primary channel LAMP as it has the desired physical connectors. It is not modified for special filtering.

If the prototype LAMP works well for the secondary side, another similar LAMP will be installed on the primary side later this spring. This hopefully will bring both channels back up and resolve interference issues.

[gjscheer-ucd]

Update 2023-5-15 INTERFERENCE ISSUES RESOLVED

• The primary and secondary channels now each have their own new receiver
• The primary and secondary channels now each have their own interference filters installed

The newly installed filters appear to have resolved the interference issues observed in the past year. With each channel using its own new receiver, data for both channels and all bands should be fully available.