A list of the components that are needed to build and operate a horn radio telescope system is presented below. Links to documentation and instructional videos are provided where applicable.
For the reasoning behind the design — why the horn has the dimensions it does, and how that follows from observing the 21 cm line — see Horn Telescope Design
What’s Needed for a Complete Horn Radio Telescope System
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the horn & antenna assembly
- the front end horn Click here for horn details
- the back end can and feedthrough antenna Click here for CAN details
- the front end and back end support stand Click here for stand details
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a low noise amplifier (LNA)
All of the following work fine for use with the horn telescope. The DSPIRA LNA is the most stable and long lasting.
- Best option: the DSPIRA LNA – click on the Detailed Information and Instructions Link
- Next best option: Low Noise Amplifier Filtered Hydrogen Line 1420 MHz LNA 32 dB Gain LNA with Bias Tee
- Next best option: Nooelec SAWbird+ H1 - Premium SAW Filter & Cascaded Ultra-Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) Module for Hydrogen Line (21cm) Applications
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an Airspy Software Defined Radio: Airspy R2
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A coaxial cable with SMA connectors is needed to connect the LNA to the SDR.
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computer & software options:
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computer with a Linux (Ubuntu) operating system
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install GNU Radio 3.8
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install the program spectrometer_w_cal.grc from the Github repository gr-radio_astro
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computer with Windows operating system - the GNU Radio and spectrometer_w_cal.grc program can be run from a bootable flash drive
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computer with Mac operating system - the GNU Radio and spectrometer_w_cal.grc program can be run from a bootable flash drive
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