Wireless Network between TAO Site and Base Established!!

On Feb. 22 2011, antennae was installed at the summit of Co. Chajnantor, the site of miniTAO telescope, and the base camp in San Pedro de Atacama, at the distance of about 48 km from the summit, and the wireless network between the TAO site and the base camp was successfully established.

▲ Left-bottom picture shows TAO site. Two antennae were attached to blue container. White spherical dome behind container is dome of miniTAO telescope. Right picture shows antennae installed at base camp. Two pairs (a total of four) parabola antennae were established to make one pair to function as a backup line in case of failure of the other pair.

Left-bottom picture shows TAO site. Two antennae were attached to blue container. White spherical dome behind container is dome of miniTAO telescope. Right picture shows antennae installed at base camp. Two pairs (a total of four) parabola antennae were established to make one pair to function as a backup line in case of failure of the other pair.

The successful establishment of the wireless network between the TAO site and the base camp is the first step to the remote operating system of miniTAO telescope. We will keep up the development of the system to operate the telescope, dome and instruments from the base step by step.

▲ TAO site has high good weather rate. But, from December to February, unstable weather, called Bolivian Winter, attacks the site. Establishing work of wireless antennae at TAO site was conducted on rare fine day in the bad weather season. Picture is Co. Chajnantor covered with snow.
▲ For establishing of wireless antennae, we drove to TAO site on summit of Co. Chajnantor. However, from close to summit, we climbed by foot because of heavy snow coverage. After establishing remote observing system, we will be able to observe without such heavy labors.

Also, this successful establishment of the wireless network is reported in a news release from UBITEQ INC., who worked together for network equipment selection, the acquisition of radio use permission, and the field construction and tuning.

• UBITEQ Constructed a 48-km Long Wireless Network for the University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory. (Japanese Only)