Data Logging and Data Processing

Abstract

After constructing a radio telescope consideration needs to be given on how to log and process the information your receiver is gathering. The old way used paper chart recorders, which have been made obsolete now by the personal computer. Even an old obsolete computer can be valuable tool for the electronics bench or as a processing and control unit for a radio telescope. Old unused PCs can often be obtained free of charge and put to use in a second life. PCs can be energy hungry, so there is an intermediate step that is possible, the stand-alone data logger. A low-power device based around a microcontroller and some flash memory used to constantly record the data from the telescope. Data can be dumped once a day or so to a PC for further processing.