Network Station Response Form
             Joint CSTG/IERS Call for Participation
     International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry
                                
Network Station name: Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory

Parent/Funding organization: Foundation for Research Development

Name and title of onsite technical contact: 
        Ludwig Combrinck, Geodesy Project Leader, HartRAO
        Jonathan Quick, Head: Instrumentation and Computing, HartRAO

Name and title of administrative contact:
        George Nicolson, Director, HartRAO 

Station mailing address: 
        Postal address: HartRAO, PO BOX 443, Krugersdorp, 1740,
                        South Africa 

Onsite phone: +27-12-326-0742  Onsite fax: +27-12-326-0756  
Onsite e-mail address: ludwig@bootes.hartrao.ac.za
                       vlbi@bootes.hartrao.ac.za

Web access onsite? Yes_x_ No__  Internet access onsite? Yes_x_No__   
Internet connection type or bit rate: 64 kb/s

Check the collocated space geodetic techniques at your site:
SLR___GPS_x__DORIS_x__PRARE_x__GLONASS___Gravimeter___ Other (specify):

(Note: Doris and Prare at adjoining sit 2 km away)

Indicate the observing networks and programs in which your station 
regularly participates:

NEOS___ EUROPE___ CORE-A_x__ CORE-B___ RDV___ IRIS-S_x__ Other (list):
Astrometry_x__

Percentage of time your station is used for geodesy/astrometry __12%____

List other observing time allocations and percentages of each:

Astonomical VLBI (e.g. imaging):  15%

Single telescope observing (Continuum fluxes and mapping, 
spectroscopy and pulsars):        60%

Indicate the configuration(s) you use for data acquisition 
(check all that apply): 

Rack: Mark IIIA_x_ VLBA__ VLBA-G__ Mark IV_(late 1998)_ VLBA4__ 
      K4__ S2___ LBA_x_ Other (list): Mark III/Mark IV - S2 sampler

Recorder: Mark IIIA_x_ VLBA__ Mark IV_(late 1998)_ S2_x_ P&G(VLBA)__ 
VLBA4_  K4 (specify type)__  Other (list):

FS Version:  9.3.17       PC model: 486 DX50     

Other control software/computer (specify): Local software for 
controlling telescope via PC 386 SX16

H-maser model: Oscilloquartz EFOS 6  
Other frequency standards: HP Rubidium

GPS timing receiver model: Magellan OEM 

X/S receiver RF bandwidths:  S-band 240 MHz  X-Band 800 MHz

Number of full-time-equivalent personnel assigned to station functions: 

Total staffing: 42,  Geodetic VLBI support: 3 FTE (excluding overheads).


Describe any hardware/software/equipment upgrades that are planned for
your station.

Mark IV   (late 1998)
Replace hydrauic drive with electic drive  (Oct 1998)
New Linux telescope control computer (PC 486 DX33)  (Late 1998 for VLBI) 
S/X  Dual polarisation (April 1999)
Resurface telescope   (In progress. 2000?)
New, automated S/X dichroic reflector system (1999)

Attach a list of personnel (names and titles) whom you designate as IVS
Associate Members through their affiliation with your station.
    
 Dr George Nicolson, Director, HartRAO, george@bootes.hartrao.ac.za
 Dr Jonathan Quick, Head: Instrumentation and computing, HartRAO, 
     jon@bootes.hartrao.ac.za
    Ludwig Combrinck, Geodesy Project Leader, ludwig@bootes.hartrao.ac.za


Please provide any other information that you feel will be helpful in
demonstrating your station's capabilities to participate in the IVS.
If you proposed to the IERS in 1995/6 as a radio telescope observatory
and wish to have that proposal carry over to the IVS, please make such
a statement in this proposal. 

We did not make a proposal to IERS in 1995/96.

HartRAO has been involved in VLBI since 1971, and was the first station 
in the southern hemisphere to be equipped with Mark III (January 1986).
It is one of the most-used telescopes in the geodetic network, and has 
long timelines of data to a number of stations for tectonic studies. 
It is the only VLBI telescope in Africa, and fills an important gap in
the coverage of global networks.  For this reason it is used as a
fundamental station in defining the terrestial reference frame.

HartRAO operates a GPS station which, because of its collocation with
the VLBI antenna, is also a key station in the IGS network  Subject to 
support from the SA Government we also plan to operate a NASA supplied
MOBLAS-6 SLR at HartRAO, which will make it a fiducial station for the
three primary space geodesy techniques.

We have a competent technical staff who maintain cryogenic systems, the
H-maser, VLBI systems, computers etc, and have an on-site mechanical 
workshop for construction and maintenance support. 

We take care to ensure high reliability and good data quality in VLBI
operations and believe that our track record in geodetic VLBI proves that
we can meet the standards being set by IVS.

Finally, we anticipate having a vacancy for a VLBI geodesist (PhD), 
in which case we will participate in the analysis of geodetic VLBI data.

Your signature on this form indicates your agreement to participate
in the IVS as a Network Station, to comply with IVS performance standards
for data quality and operational reliability, and to work closely with
the IVS Network and Technology Coordinators. If this is a new proposal
(i.e. not carried over from IERS) your signature commits your organization
to participate in the IVS.
                              
Name of person signing: George D. Nicolson              
Title:                  Director, HartRAO



Signature: ________________________________________  Date: 29 September 1998