Progress for October, 2001

[Tom Droege <tdroege@veriomail.com>]

Status Report from Batavia, IL  October, 2001

We continue to take data with TOM1.  We now have about 110 CR ROMs of data 
"in the can".  The weather has been cloudy when the moon is not full, so we 
could have taken more data.  The local weather report is that November has 
been near the cloudiest on record.

We seem to have cured the fogging problem on the V camera.  I am just 
running more dry air through the camera.  I have bought some more of a 
different type of desiccant to try.  The  funny data problem now seems to 
be some sort of memory board reset problem.  I can cure it with enough turn 
offs of power to the Mark IV.

For the moment I am dropping the ECP design.  I will concentrate on getting 
more memory boards to work.

Dan and I have now tested a lot of boards.  We have big stacks of all types 
except Stamp/Scanners and Memory boards.  We just have to work on 
Stamp/Scanners, Memory boards are another problem.

The two Lumogen coated CCDs have arrived.  They look OK.  Many thinks to 
our friend.  They are tightly sealed in a bag with desiccant which is in a 
filtered container so as not to have dust in the bag.

I have been running the camera production line.   There are three more 
"good" cameras.  I have started putting in new chips that have never been 
exposed to dust and dirt while the cameras were being developed.

TOM2 now has lenses and cameras.  Just a few small things to fix before 
taking data.  TOM3 has lenses.  I have ordered another computer to run 
TOM3.  It is getting harder and harder to find new mother boards with an 
ISA slot.

We still have not shipped the RA drive to Arne.

Tom Droege