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The view from the gate of the European Radio Astronomy Club's station in Mannheim, Germany. This station has been doing fulltime parasitic SETI since the start of our Project Argus search. SETI League photo

This ten-foot dish is the heart of the ERAC's 1420 MHz hydrogen-line radio astronomy and SETI efforts. Preamps and filters are built into the pipe behind the prime-focus feedhorn assembly. SETI League photo

The ERAC ten-foot hydrogen line dish shares its full az-el mount with antennas for various other radio astronomy bands. SETI League photo

Peering over the rim of the dish is Peter Wright, DJ0BI, ERAC president and SETI League volunteer Regional Coordinator for Germany. SETI League photo

Since Europe has been converting over to Ku-band digital satellite delivery of its television programming, UHF TV antennas such as this one have become readily available at extremely low cost. They can be used for radio astronomy purposes, as described below. SETI League photo

Here a row of UHF TV antennas have been phased together for use in the 610 MHz radio astronomy band. SETI League photo

A pulsar array made out of eight UHF TV antennas with outputs combined. Using two such lines of antennas connected in phase, ERAC members have successfully detected the Crab Nebula Pulsar at 610 MHz. SETI League photo

The ERAC antennas are mounted atop a well shielded equipment cab. Through the open door will be found receivers and computers for a multitude of radio astronomy bands. SETI League photo

Peter Wright demonstrates the elevation rotation of a simple corner reflector antenna for the 137 MHz band, built out of two sections of galvanized fencing material. SETI League photo

Here ERAC president Peter Wright points to the simple dipole used to feed the 137 MHz corner reflector. SETI League photo

A standard cargo shipping container has been placed at the ERAC radio observatory site, to serve as a workshop and laboratory building. SETI League photo

Inside the ERAC workshop, a clutter of tools, parts and equipment gives silent testimony to a busy crew of amateur radio astronomers, hard at work. SETI League photo

Inside the workshop, Peter Wright holds up the strip-chart recording which documents the ERAC's first successful pulsar detection. SETI League photo

The above photos were all taken in 2000. This next group of images, all circa 2003, show how the ERAC station has grown in just three years. SETI League photo

The ERAC laboratory space has grown to two shipping containers, separated by a breezeway (through which the primary antenna platform can be seen). SETI League photo

Inside the newest laboratory container, club president Peter Wright, DJ0BI, shows off the newest ERAC microwave test equipment acquisitions. SETI League photo

On a September 2003 visit to the European Radio Astronomy Club, SETI League executive director H. Paul Shuch relaxes in the pavilion behind the radio telescopes, and enjoys a traditional German beverage. SETI League photo

ERAC president Peter Wright shows off first the club's Cosmic Ray Detector, built around a surplus x-ray tube and photomultiplier ... SETI League photo

...and then its output plot, which clearly exhibits the expected diurnal variation cycle. SETI League photo

On the laboratory roof, the remnants of a UHF pulsar detection array that didn't survive the winter winds. SETI League photo

ERAC's primary 3-meter dish (seen here at night) has sprouted multiple feeds for continuum radio astronomy. Band-switching is accomplish by swinging the appropriate hinged feed arm into position at the dish's prime focus. SETI League photo

A second 3-meter dish has taken over Project Argus duties, observing at the hydrogen line 24 hours a day. SETI League photo

Peter poses with the ERAC's Project Argus antenna, labeled for the benefit of passers-by. The club station is located adjacent to a public walkway, where it is often the center of attention, or at least the recipient of curious stares. SETI League photo

On the fence separating the observatory from the adjacent walkway and bicycle path, Das Universophone (a speaker connected to the output of ERAC's Project Argus receiver) allows the public to listen in on cosmic static. SETI League photo

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