SearchLites - Vol 01 No 3

Magazine Overview

SearchLites, Volume 1, Number 3, Autumn 1995, is the quarterly newsletter of The SETI League, Inc. It is a membership-supported, non-profit, educational, and scientific corporation dedicated to the electromagnetic Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. The issue covers various aspects of SETI research, technology, and community engagement.

League Selects Name for All Sky Survey

The SETI League, Inc. has chosen "Project Argus" as the name for its upcoming radio Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. This project, scheduled to begin on Earth Day, April 21, 1996, aims to involve five thousand radio amateurs worldwide in scanning the entire sky for signs of other technological cultures. The necessary equipment is currently under development at The SETI League's Little Ferry, NJ, laboratories. The name "Argus" pays tribute to the finest radiotelescope never built, referencing a mythological guard-being with 100 eyes and its use in science fiction novels. Dr. Robert Dixon, technical advisor, is also designing an Argus-type radiotelescope for Ohio State University and hopes to share technology with The SETI League. The article emphasizes SETI's goal to determine if humankind is alone in the universe, noting that NASA's SETI funding was terminated in late 1993. Interested individuals can contact The SETI League for participation or support.

Charter Membership Period Drawing to a Close

This section announces that the discounted ($35) charter membership period for The SETI League, Inc. is nearing its end, with a deadline of midnight eastern time on December 31, 1995. After this date, the regular $50 annual membership rate will apply. A special discount is also offered for Charter Life memberships, requiring an additional tax-deductible contribution of $700, with the rate increasing to $1000 on January 1st. The membership campaign has attracted enthusiasts from 34 states and five countries, but the League is still seeking active members in the southern hemisphere to ensure full sky coverage.

In Search of Alien Limericks

The SETI League, Inc. is launching a Limerick Contest in memory of Dr. Isaac Asimov, a proponent of SETI and an "incurable limericist." The public is invited to submit limericks in classical form, related to extraterrestrial research, encouraging technical jargon and puns. The contest is open-ended, with selected submissions to be published in the newsletter and rewarded with a SETI League pocket protector. A sample limerick is provided:

"There once was a little green man
Whose signal I happened to scan
On the Hydrogen Line.
This antenna of mine
Is fulfilling The SETI League's plan."

Technical Feature: Indistinguishable From Magic

This article explores Arthur C. Clarke's "Law of Technology," which states that "any sufficiently advanced technology is virtually indistinguishable from magic." This concept, along with Shklovskii's and Sagan's Assumption of Mediocrity, forms a basis for SETI research. SETI League President Richard Factor proposed a corollary: "Any sufficiently advanced modulation scheme is virtually indistinguishable from noise." Dr. Thomas A. Clark of NASA expressed skepticism about SETI's viability, questioning how we can detect unknown signal forms, especially given the prevalence of spread-spectrum signals like GPS. Kent Britain's analysis of spread-spectrum signals in the 33 cm amateur band is discussed, highlighting how simple components can decode these signals. The article posits that the challenge for SETI lies in detecting interstellar signals whose forms are unknown, unlike terrestrial signals. Digital signal processing, particularly the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), is mentioned as a tool for detecting coherent signals but requires assumptions about signal nature. Professor Chuck Klein at Ohio State University is developing an alternative, the Karhunen-Loeve (KLT) transform, which is an adaptive transform making no assumptions about signal nature and appears effective with complex signals in computer simulations. This breakthrough thinking is presented as crucial for SETI's viability and potential practical applications.

Component Watch: Hewlett-Packard GaAs MMICs

This section highlights three Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) microcircuits from Hewlett-Packard, suitable for constructing microwave equipment for SETI receivers. These Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs) are described as small, broadband gain blocks with low noise and 50 ohm impedances. The MGA-87563 is a two-stage RF amplifier with 12.5 dB gain, and the MGA-86563 is a three-stage version with 21.8 dB gain. Both have a 1.6 dB noise figure and operate from +5VDC. Their small SOT-363 surface mount package requires skilled soldering. The MGA-86576, in a 70-mil round ceramic Micro-X package, is easier to work with and priced around $8.00. SETI League engineers have prototyped a Water Hole LNA using this device, achieving 23 dB gain from 1.2 to 1.7 GHz with excellent performance. Kits and assembled units are planned for future release.

Hardware Corner: ICOM 7000 Series Receivers

This section addresses member inquiries about suitable off-the-shelf receivers for SETI. The ICOM 7000, an all-mode, synthesized VHF and UHF receiver (25-2000 MHz), is recommended and currently used by The SETI League. It was previously recommended by NASA SETI scientist Dr. Kent Cullers and supports AM, NBFM, WBFM, USB, and LSB detectors, with an audio output for Digital Signal Processors. The newer ICOM 7100 is mentioned as a replacement, offering similar capabilities but with inhibited reception of the 800-900 MHz cellular band. The ICOM 7000 is available from amateur radio suppliers, and used models are in demand due to their unrestricted frequency coverage. Contact information for ICOM America is provided.

Conference Calendar

This section lists upcoming SETI-related conferences from September 1995 to August 1998, including dates, locations, and contact information for organizers. Events include VHF conferences, space symposia, microwave updates, and general science fiction conventions like Philcon, Arisia, and Worldcon.

Editorial: The Knowledgeable Layman

In his editorial, Executive Director H. Paul Shuch reflects on the interdisciplinary nature of SETI research, inspired by meeting Martyn Fogg, a dentist and authority on terraforming. Shuch questions how individuals without formal scientific backgrounds can contribute significantly to SETI. He reassures potential contributors that participation is possible beyond just financial support, emphasizing that the "knowledgeable layman" can bring novel perspectives. The success of SETI, he argues, depends on its diverse support base, both economically and intellectually, and that breakthroughs may come from unexpected fields, not just traditional radioastronomy.

Who's Who in The SETI League

This section provides a list of key personnel within The SETI League, including the Founder and President (Richard C. Factor), Executive Director (H. Paul Shuch), Secretary (Diana Davidson), Treasurer (Martin Schreiber), Administrator (A. Heather Wood), Registered Agent (Marc Arnold), and Trustees (Marc Arnold, Richard Factor, Martin Schreiber, Anthony Agnello, Poul Anderson, Robert S. Dixon, Frank D. Drake, Bernard M. Oliver, Malcolm I. Raff, Clifford Stoll). It also lists members of the Advisory Board.

SETI League Memberships

This section details various membership levels for The SETI League, including Household, Scholarship, Charter, Full, Life, Patron, Director, and Benefactor, with corresponding donation amounts. It also promotes SETI League merchandise like T-shirts, coffee mugs, pocket protectors, and buttons, with pricing for US and other addresses, and notes the New Jersey sales tax.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of SearchLites revolve around community engagement and the expansion of SETI efforts. The SETI League actively seeks new members and encourages participation through its charter membership drive and limerick contest. There is a strong emphasis on the technological aspects of SETI, with detailed reviews of electronic components and receivers, as well as discussions on signal processing. The editorial stance, particularly in "The Knowledgeable Layman," champions the idea that diverse backgrounds and perspectives are crucial for SETI's success, moving beyond traditional scientific disciplines. The newsletter also serves as a vital communication channel for upcoming conferences and membership information, reinforcing the League's role in fostering a community dedicated to the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence.