SearchLites - Vol 04 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: SearchLites
Issue: Volume 4, Number 1
Date: Winter 1998
Publisher: The SETI League, Inc.
Type: Quarterly Newsletter

Editorial: Accept No Substitutes

Dr. H. Paul Shuch, Executive Director of The SETI League, Inc., addresses the organization's role and distinguishes it from other emerging SETI-related groups. He highlights that The SETI League is a premier non-profit, membership-supported amateur SETI organization with nearly 1,000 members across six continents. While welcoming new organizations that wish to contribute to amateur SETI, Shuch emphasizes that The SETI League has no formal ties to most of them, with the exceptions of AMSAT and Artemis Society, which are official Affiliate Societies. He stresses that support for other organizations does not automatically equate to support for The SETI League and may not be tax-deductible under its 501(c)(3) designation. The League is actively seeking like-minded organizations for affiliation, with announcements to be made on their website and in SearchLites. Shuch concludes by stating that there is only one SETI League and appreciates all support for its mission.

Conference Calendar

This section lists numerous upcoming conferences and events related to SETI and amateur radio astronomy from January 1998 through August 2000. Events are scheduled in various locations, including Sydney, Australia; Framingham, MA; Sunnyvale, CA; Rye Brook, NY; Little Ferry, NJ; Marietta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Trenton, NJ; Dayton, OH; San Jose, CA; Rochester, NY; Green Bank, WV; Kansas City, KS; Paris, France; Enfield, CT; Longmont, CO; Caracas, Venezuela; Horsham, PA; and Vicksburg, MS. The calendar encourages readers to check the SETI League's website for further details and to submit information about other upcoming events.

Clips and Quotes

This section compiles various quotes and excerpts from different publications that outline the history and strategy of SETI and The SETI League:

• USA Today notes that scientists are using sophisticated radio telescopes to search for signals from intelligent life.
• Popular Electronics defines SETI as the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, using radio telescopes to detect electromagnetic signals of intelligent origin.
• Radio Communication (UK) explains that SETI enthusiasts study microwave measurements to determine if intelligent alien life exists.
• North Jersey Herald & News reports that no definite extraterrestrial signals have been recorded by over 70 radio searches.
• Time mentions that since NASA's SETI program was eliminated by Congress in 1993, the search is largely carried out by two groups.
• Daily News, Conejo Valley, CA states that The SETI League was formed as a nonprofit corporation to continue research, headquartered in New Jersey with 400 members worldwide.
• Daily Record, Morris County, NJ quotes Richard Factor, SETI League president, who was motivated to form the non-profit league after Congress cut funding for NASA's SETI program.
• Huntsville Times, Huntsville, AL quotes Factor expressing frustration over Congress killing SETI and the Superconducting Supercollider in the same year, but feeling SETI could be salvaged.
• Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA describes the plan to divide the sky and have volunteers monitor different sections for radio broadcasts from distant planets.
• Carl Sagan, in Planetary Report, states that we are at the beginning of a systematic SETI program covering the whole sky and radio spectrum, and that to search is key.
• Globe & Mail, Toronto, ON, Canada notes that The SETI League needs amateur radio enthusiasts with satellite TV dishes.
• Air and Space Smithsonian quotes Seth Shostak of the SETI Institute calling the effort viable, drawing parallels to amateur astronomers searching for comets.
• Evening Gazette, Middlesbrough, Teesside, UK mentions Project Argus aims to prove the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life by coordinating amateur radio telescopes.
• Sun-Gazette, Williamsport, PA quotes Executive Director Dr. H. Paul Shuch developing hardware for the search phase.
• San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, CA quotes Dr. Frank Drake stating Shuch's plans are reasonable and not "flaky stuff like the UFO people."
• Science News reports recent discoveries of planets orbiting other stars, complex organic molecules in interstellar space, and evidence of primitive life on Mars.
• Analog describes the interstellar medium as a "veritable chemistry set."
• Popular Electronics suggests that billions of Earth-like planets may exist, older than Earth, potentially spawning life.
• Natural History notes renewed interest in the question of how many intelligent civilizations populate the universe.
• Los Angeles Daily News quotes Shuch stating the goal is "existence proof" to understand our place in the cosmos.
• Mercury Magazine describes amateurs converting satellite TV dishes for backyard radioastronomy.
• Wired quotes Dr. Rachel Tortolini comparing SETI dishes to flowers waiting to receive signals.
• Omni quotes Frank Drake suggesting amateur systems might detect a signal first if civilizations had powerful transmitters.

Ask Dr. SETI

This section addresses a reader's question about SETI and Hungarians, linking it to the Fermi Paradox. Dr. Shuch explains the paradox, famously posed by Enrico Fermi: "Where are they?" He then recounts physicist Leo Szilard's purported response, "They are among us... but they call themselves Hungarians." This is further elaborated with a passage from John McPhee's "The Curve of Binding Energy," which discusses a theory that people of Hungary are Martians who concealed their differences, citing their wanderlust, unique language, and "unearthly intelligence" as evidenced by figures like Teller, Wigner, Szilard, and von Neumann. The column also provides contact information for submitting questions to "Ask Dr. SETI."

Membership Meeting Scheduled

This announcement details the Third Annual Membership Meeting of The SETI League, Inc., scheduled for Sunday, March 29, 1998, at their headquarters in Little Ferry, NJ. It outlines the preliminary agenda, including Call to Order, Minutes, Financial Report, Committee Reports, Old/New Business, and Good and Welfare. Members are encouraged to submit agenda items via email by March 1, 1998. The notice also mentions that written notice with directions will be mailed to members.

Field Organization Takes Shape

This article reports on the establishment of a volunteer Field Organization for The SETI League, driven by rapid membership growth, partly spurred by the film "Contact." Over 30 volunteer Regional Coordinators have been appointed to assist members. Details about these individuals will be in the upcoming Membership Roster and on the website. Members are encouraged to volunteer as Regional Coordinators in areas with vacancies.

Technical Feature: Detecting Weak Signals at Receiver IF

By Chris Cadogan G3XWB, this article details a signal detection system developed 20 years prior, which was effective at detecting weak signals in a wide bandwidth. The SETI League uses DSP for narrow bandwidth signals, but Cadogan's method involves two phase-locked loops (PLLs) to extract narrow-band coherent signals from a wideband IF output (typically 4 MHz wide at 70 MHz). While not as sensitive as audio DSP filtering, it offers the advantage of observing the entire wideband IF at once. The sensitivity arises from the PLLs' narrower bandwidth compared to the receiver's IF bandwidth. The article explains the theory behind the system, noting that a weak signal causes the PLLs to capture it, leading to a DC output proportional to signal strength. It suggests applications for amateur SETI sites, such as an alarm signal or a scanning system. The author reflects on the chaotic behavior of the PLLs and notes that Racal, where he worked, patented a similar system, though it was deemed overly complicated for narrow-band HF signals. He concludes by suggesting that amateurs are free to build such systems and that SETI communications might be optimally coded and difficult to distinguish from noise.

G3XWB Detector Block Diagram

A block diagram illustrates the technical feature, showing the IF input feeding into two parallel paths, each containing a Phase Sensitive Detector (PSD), Low Pass Filter (LPF), and Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO), ultimately producing a DC Output. The diagram defines PSD, LPF, and VCO.

Back Cover Information

The back cover provides contact details for The SETI League, Inc., including its address, phone, fax, email, and website. It also features a form for accepting credit card payments (Visa/MasterCard) for membership dues and contributions. A section titled "Memberships Make Great Gifts!" lists various membership levels with corresponding prices, from Household Member ($15) to Benefactor ($1,000,000). It also details "Membership Premiums" such as T-shirts, coffee mugs, and technical manuals, with prices for both US and other addresses. A special "SETI Nerd Gift Set" is offered at a discount for members. The page notes that non-US checks must be payable through a US bank and that tax-deductible gifts are welcome.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the promotion and clarification of The SETI League's mission and identity within the broader SETI landscape. The editorial explicitly aims to differentiate the organization and its supporters from others, emphasizing its unique role and non-profit, membership-driven structure. The technical article highlights the practical application of amateur efforts in SETI, aligning with the organization's core mission. The conference calendar and membership drive further underscore the League's active engagement and outreach within the amateur astronomy and radio communities. The overall stance is one of dedicated pursuit of SETI, encouraging participation and support while maintaining a clear organizational identity.