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West Virginia University · Radio Astronomy Instrumentation Laboratory DSPIRA

Software Setup

Computer and Software Needs for the Horn Telescope Spectrometer

Details on computer systems that can be used to operate the horn spectrometer

  • Each software option below can run the horn telescope’s spectrometer program. The telescope needs an LNA, an Airspy or equivalent software defined radio, and appropriate cables. See What is Needed to Build a Horn Telescope and its links for system details.

  • Different options for operating the horn telescope spectrometer program, spectrometer_w_cal.grc, are presented here. The options provided vary depending on the user’s computer system and his or her comfort level working with computers.

The options presented below include a brief description of the system requirements and what is involved in the installation process.

  1. Download a fully operating image onto a flash drive that can be operated from most computer systems.

    • Easiest for those who are the less experienced in working with computer system software.

    • Requires a computer and a 32 GB, 3.0 USB flash drive.

    • Once the flash drive image is created, the spectrometer program can be run on the following systems:

      • pc with Windows: minimum system specs?, brand names?

      • MAC with OS ?? or higher

      • Linux system, such as one running Ubuntu 20.04.

      • The software needed is to complete the installation is free and easy to install.

    • Click the bootable USB guide for installation instructions.

  2. Install the free and open-source software, GNU Radio, on a Linux system operating Ubuntu 20.04.

    • This option is for those who are more experienced with computers and feel comfortable installing software on a hard drive.

    • You need a computer running Ubuntu, or a Windows computer with a drive you can partition.

    • If Ubuntu is not installed, you may need to partition the Windows drive and install Ubuntu 20.04.

    • After installing Ubuntu, install the free, open-source GNU Radio software. Then install the spectrometer program from GitHub.

    • After installation, the computer will be able to run the telescope system directly.

    • Click the computer software guide for installation instructions.

  3. Install the spectrometer program on a Raspberry Pi.

    • This can be done, but the details have not been fully worked out by us (the DSPIRA group).

    • Details to follow.

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All 11 lessons in Software Setup Published August 14, 2020