GPS-ABCGPS-ABCa device designed to supporta device designed to support

the visual observerthe visual observer

bybyTony Barry and Dave GaultTony Barry and Dave Gault

Presented toPresented toInternational Occultation Timing Association 2012 AGMInternational Occultation Timing Association 2012 AGM

Friday, 19Friday, 19thth October 2012 (US) October 2012 (US)Saturday, 20Saturday, 20thth October 2012 (AU) October 2012 (AU)

Remember the The-Good-Old-Days…Remember the The-Good-Old-Days…

When visual observations were King.When visual observations were King.

All an observer would need were…All an observer would need were… A simple telescopeA simple telescope A shortwave radio (or two) tuned to A shortwave radio (or two) tuned to

WWV, WWVH, CHU, or in Australia, WWV, WWVH, CHU, or in Australia, VNG time broadcastVNG time broadcast

A cassette tape recorder (or two)A cassette tape recorder (or two)

And a loud voice to make call from the And a loud voice to make call from the telescope when the event(s) occurred.telescope when the event(s) occurred.

Thousands of historical observations wereThousands of historical observations weremade using this method…made using this method…

Observer Hal Povenmire

… … And still are.And still are.The Great (90) Antiope Occultation 2011, July 19thThe Great (90) Antiope Occultation 2011, July 19th

Now video observations are King…Now video observations are King…

Some blokes have huge visual scopes and don’t want to climb the video learning curve

They can make valid observations if good time-base is available…

time-bases for visual observationstime-bases for visual observations

Closed in 2002

enter… GPS-ABC

The coded beep of GPS-ABCThe coded beep of GPS-ABC

every secondevery second = normal beep= normal beep beginning of the minute beginning of the minute = long beep= long beep 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th and 50th seconds10th, 20th, 30th, 40th and 50th seconds = short beep= short beep 55th, 56th. 57th and 58th second55th, 56th. 57th and 58th second = brief beep= brief beep 59th second 59th second = silent (no beep)= silent (no beep)

GPS-ABC has a clear and static free coded time-beep

Click to hear GPS-ABC and John Vetter in actionOr goto YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32NYYs_9AS8

GPS-ABCGPS-ABCbuilt on the IOTA-VTI pedigreebuilt on the IOTA-VTI pedigree

IOTA-VTI P#4

GPS-ABC P#5

How to procure a GPS-ABC?How to procure a GPS-ABC?

GPS-ABCGPS-ABCan open-source devicean open-source device

Hand WiredHand WiredHome Assembly with or without Hardware HelpHome Assembly with or without Hardware Help

The cheapest method to procure aThe cheapest method to procure a

GPS-ABC is the hand-wired optionGPS-ABC is the hand-wired option

because you do all the purchasingbecause you do all the purchasing

and work.and work.

About $113 worth of components About $113 worth of components and about 6 to 8 hours work. and about 6 to 8 hours work.

Hardware Help…Hardware Help…

Metal ChassisMetal Chassis $12.50$12.50

Modified Case to suitModified Case to suit $35.00$35.00

GPS-ABC #8GPS-ABC #8by Chris Chadby Chris Chad

Printed Circuit BoardPrinted Circuit BoardHome Assembly or Ready-to-GoHome Assembly or Ready-to-Go

Option 2a;Option 2a;Home Assembly - owner purchases the three major components and a KIT-of-PartsHome Assembly - owner purchases the three major components and a KIT-of-Parts

- about an hours work with basic tools and a soldering iron…- about an hours work with basic tools and a soldering iron… ……… ……… Cost about $199Cost about $199

Option2B;Option2B;Purchased Fully Assembled, Tested, and Ready-to-Go …………….. Price $249 Purchased Fully Assembled, Tested, and Ready-to-Go …………….. Price $249

Questions…?Questions…?

For more info, seeFor more info, seehttp://www.kuriwaobservatory.com http://www.kuriwaobservatory.com