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We wish to develop a net.radio station, based at a major astronomical research site

In August 2001 r a d i o q u a l i a participated in the Acoustic Space Lab at the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center (VIRAC) in Latvia. This creative workshop was attended by 25 artists, scientists and researchers, including some of the makrolab team: Marko Peljhan, Borja Jelic, and Aljosa Abrahamsberg.
View documentation.

The occasion was to explore the a 32 metre satellite dish located in the forests of Latvia west of Riga. This former spy satellite dish was abandoned and nearly destroyed as the Soviet occupying forces retreated from Latvia in 1994. Since then a small group of Latvian scientists have dedicated themselves to the resurrection of the dish and have returned the radio telescope to complete functionality. The VIRAC satellite dish is one of the ten best sites in the world for radio astronomical observations, and one of the only facilities of its kind in the world which has invited artists to visit and carry out research.

In the next 6 months, r a d i o q u a l i a wish to build on the research and information we gathered at VIRAC and develop a series of projects. We will work alongside the media laboratory, Re-Lab and the participants of the Acoustic Space Research Labto develop a continuous on-air net.radio station based on sounds intercepted at VIRAC from space. The radio station will be entitled Radio Astronomy.
This will require returning to the site in 2002 to start an ambitious process of getting the satellite dish online. Phases of development may include:

Online Access
The control rooms of the satellite dish have no facilities for connecting to the internet. r a d i o q u a l i a and there has been discussion about the possibility of installing phone lines at VIRAC to facilitate online activities. r a d i o q u a l i a would like to work with the Acoustic Space Research Lab and the staff at VIRAC to assess what needs and requirements VIRAC has with regards to internet usage. We would like to attempt to develop a strategy which may enhance the facility's scientific and research potential, by connecting the facility with other similar research sites, and making aspects of the research undertaken at VIRAC available via the internet.

24/7 Streaming
One simple project which could be attempted once Part 1 has been achieved, is to establish a live streaming facility at VIRAC. At its most basic, the resulting net.radio station would have the capacity to stream the audio output of the collected data from the dish on a continuous basis. This would mean that anyone with access to the internet could hear live the sound of the data the dish receives in its ongoing research of our galaxy. We would also like to develop the facility for online discussions, and research workshops to be streamed via the net.radio station, to connect VIRAC scientists with colleagues in other research institutions.

Serial Port Controls
The dish is currently controlled by the serial port of a standard 386 computer. It is entirely possible to provide an interface to this computer so that the dish itself can be moved and controlled via the internet, allowing internet users to set the co-ordinates for the dish's research themselves.

At makrolab we would like to begin to research some of the issues involved in enabling this project. Key to our interest in siting this research at makrolab is the knowledge and expertise the makrolab crew have in working with satellite communication mechanisms and radio communications devices. Being able to consult with key members of the crew about the logistics involved in considering this initiative will be key to the planning stages of the project.