Name: DARA training @ Hartebeesthoek - 2025 September
Start: 2025-09-14T08:00:00+02:00
End: 2025-09-28T14:00:00+02:00
Location: SARAO Hartebeesthoek

Monday, 8 September 2025
Tuesday, 9 September 2025
Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Thursday, 11 September 2025
Friday, 12 September 2025
Saturday, 13 September 2025
Sunday, 14 September 2025

Monday, 15 September 2025

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:00 Welcome + Site Safety - Roelf Botha (SARAO)
Welcome + Site Safety
- Roelf Botha (SARAO)
08:00 - 09:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
09:00 Fourier Analysis - Heystek Grobler (North-West University (NWU))
Fourier Analysis
- Heystek Grobler (North-West University (NWU))
09:00 - 10:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
09:45 Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:30 Digital Signal Processing - Heystek Grobler (North-West University (NWU))
Digital Signal Processing
- Heystek Grobler (North-West University (NWU))
10:30 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:00 Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:00 Fourier and DSP Exercises - Heystek Grobler (North-West University (NWU))
Fourier and DSP Exercises
- Heystek Grobler (North-West University (NWU))
13:00 - 16:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
14:30 Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room

18:00 Dinner
Dinner
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Tuesday, 16 September 2025

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: Visitor Centre
08:00 An introduction to radiofrequency receivers for radio astronomy - Tinus Stander (University of Pretoria)
An introduction to radiofrequency receivers for radio astronomy
- Tinus Stander (University of Pretoria)
08:00 - 10:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:00 Tea
Tea
10:00 - 10:30
Room: Foyer
10:30 Water vapour radiometers: Why, what and how - Tinus Stander (University of Pretoria)
Water vapour radiometers: Why, what and how
- Tinus Stander (University of Pretoria)
10:30 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:00 Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:00 Radiometer Equation - Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds, UK)
Radiometer Equation
- Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds, UK)
13:00 - 14:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room Summary of variables in the Radiometer Equation wrt to observational requirements (simpilifed) plus adaption for pulsar observations.
14:30 Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
15:00 Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) - Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds, UK)
Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)
- Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds, UK)
15:00 - 16:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
18:00 Dinner
Dinner
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Wednesday, 17 September 2025

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:00 Time and Position from Astronomy - Roelf Botha (SARAO)
Time and Position from Astronomy
- Roelf Botha (SARAO)
08:00 - 08:55
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:55 Space Geodesy - Roelf Botha (SARAO)
Space Geodesy
- Roelf Botha (SARAO)
08:55 - 09:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room General background and an overview of what we do at SARAO Hartebeesthoek site
09:45 Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:15 GNSS - basic principles and RINEX data format - Roelf Botha (SARAO)
GNSS - basic principles and RINEX data format
- Roelf Botha (SARAO)
10:15 - 10:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:45 GNSS processing with GAMIT/GLOBK - Slindile Nyide (SARAO) Nkululeko Qwabe (SARAO - Geodesy) Roelf Botha (SARAO)
GNSS processing with GAMIT/GLOBK
- Slindile Nyide (SARAO)
- Nkululeko Qwabe (SARAO - Geodesy)
- Roelf Botha (SARAO)
10:45 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room Introduce GAMIT/GLOBK for: - Timeseries - PWV
12:00 Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:00 GNSS Exercise with GAMIT/GLOBK - Slindile Nyide (SARAO) Nkululeko Qwabe (SARAO - Geodesy)
GNSS Exercise with GAMIT/GLOBK
- Slindile Nyide (SARAO)
- Nkululeko Qwabe (SARAO - Geodesy)
13:00 - 16:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room Use GAMIT/GLOBK for: - Timeseries - PWV
14:30 Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room

18:00 Dinner
Dinner
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Thursday, 18 September 2025

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room

09:45 Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:15 Geodesy's remote station network - Bongani Ngcobo (NRF/SARAO)
Geodesy's remote station network
- Bongani Ngcobo (NRF/SARAO)
10:15 - 11:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:00 Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:00 Brightness temperature of the sun 1 - Pfesesani van Zyl (SARAO)
Brightness temperature of the sun 1
- Pfesesani van Zyl (SARAO)
13:00 - 14:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room Calibrating a small Radio Telescope
14:30 Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
15:00 Brightness Temperature of the Sun 2 - Pfesesani van Zyl (SARAO) Roelf Botha (SARAO)
Brightness Temperature of the Sun 2
- Pfesesani van Zyl (SARAO)
- Roelf Botha (SARAO)
15:00 - 16:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room Measuring the brightness temperature of the sun using a DSTV dish
Friday, 19 September 2025

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:00 Introduction to Pulsars - Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds, UK)
Introduction to Pulsars
- Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds, UK)
08:00 - 09:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
09:45 Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:15 Pular backend systems - Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds, UK)
Pular backend systems
- Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds, UK)
10:15 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:00 Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room

14:30 Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
15:00 Week 1 wrap-up + feedback - Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds, UK) Roelf Botha (SARAO)
Week 1 wrap-up + feedback
- Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds, UK)
- Roelf Botha (SARAO)
15:00 - 15:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
15:30 Data collection with 26m dish - Fanie van den Heever (North West University)
Data collection with 26m dish
- Fanie van den Heever (North West University)
15:30 - 17:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Saturday, 20 September 2025

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room

08:30 Outing: Cradlestone Mall
Outing: Cradlestone Mall
08:30 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room (11 students max) Outing to Cradlestone Mall, if you want to do something different or look for gift - this mall has a huge variety of shops so it should offer something for most / all.
Outing: Drive to a nature reserve, hike - Roelf Botha (SARAO)
Outing: Drive to a nature reserve, hike
- Roelf Botha (SARAO)
08:30 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room (12 students max)
12:00 Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room

18:00 Dinner - braai
Dinner - braai
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Sunday, 21 September 2025

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room

08:00 Weekend Outing
Weekend Outing
08:00 - 16:30

18:30 Dinner
Dinner
18:30 - 19:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room

Monday, 22 September 2025

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:00 Masers - Fanie van den Heever (North West University)
Masers
- Fanie van den Heever (North West University)
08:00 - 09:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
09:45 Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:15 Caibration of RA data - theory + exercise - Pfesesani van Zyl (SARAO)
Caibration of RA data - theory + exercise
- Pfesesani van Zyl (SARAO)
10:15 - 11:20
Room: VC and Lecture Room
11:00 Spectral line reduction - Fanie van den Heever (North West University)
Spectral line reduction
- Fanie van den Heever (North West University)
11:00 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:00 Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:05 Spectral line reduction 2 - Fanie van den Heever (North West University)
Spectral line reduction 2
- Fanie van den Heever (North West University)
13:05 - 14:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
14:30 Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
15:00 Radio frequency components and receiver practical - session 1 - Siphelele Blose Ronnie Nombembe (SARAO)
Radio frequency components and receiver practical - session 1
- Siphelele Blose
- Ronnie Nombembe (SARAO)
15:00 - 17:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room Location: Microwave workshop Content: Providing an overview of a typical receiver (VGOS test receiver) and associated power supply and control components. Practical measurements of various radio frequency components. Ambient tests and starting a cool down of the test receiver.
18:30 Dinner
Dinner
18:30 - 19:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Tuesday, 23 September 2025

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:00 Building an Observatory - Philip Mey (SARAO) Pieter Stronkhorst (SARAO HartRAO)
Building an Observatory
- Philip Mey (SARAO)
- Pieter Stronkhorst (SARAO HartRAO)
08:00 - 09:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
09:45 Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room

12:00 Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:00 Engineering workshops tour - Philip Mey (SARAO)
Engineering workshops tour
- Philip Mey (SARAO)
13:00 - 14:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room Walk through the different engineering workshops at HartRAO giving an overview of the electronic, control, radio frequency, cryogenic, and mechanical works.
14:30 Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
15:00 Radio frequency components and receiver practical - session 2 - Siphelele Blose Ronnie Nombembe (SARAO)
Radio frequency components and receiver practical - session 2
- Siphelele Blose
- Ronnie Nombembe (SARAO)
15:00 - 17:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room Location: Microwave workshop Content: Continuation of day 1 concluding with test receiver measurements at cryogenic temperatures illustrating gain characterisation through hot/cold sky measurements.
18:00 Dinner
Dinner
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Wednesday, 24 September 2025

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:00 Antenna Basics + Calibration - James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
Antenna Basics + Calibration
- James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
08:00 - 09:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Receiver Exercises - James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
Receiver Exercises
- James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
08:00 - 09:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
09:45 Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:15 Antenna Exercises - James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
Antenna Exercises
- James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
10:15 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:00 Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:00 Receiver basics - James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
Receiver basics
- James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
13:00 - 14:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
14:30 Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room

18:30 Dinner
Dinner
18:30 - 19:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Thursday, 25 September 2025

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:00 VLBI Fundamentals / Radiometer equation (tbd) - James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
VLBI Fundamentals / Radiometer equation (tbd)
- James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
08:00 - 09:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
09:45 Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:15 Shuttling to SANSA with Pool cars - Roelf Botha (SARAO)
Shuttling to SANSA with Pool cars
- Roelf Botha (SARAO)
10:15 - 10:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:30 SANSA Space Ops visit - Roelf Botha (SARAO)
SANSA Space Ops visit
- Roelf Botha (SARAO)
10:30 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:00 Shuttle fron SANSA with pool cars - Roelf Botha (SARAO)
Shuttle fron SANSA with pool cars
- Roelf Botha (SARAO)
12:00 - 12:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:15 Lunch
Lunch
12:15 - 13:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:15 VLBI - James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
VLBI
- James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
13:15 - 14:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
14:30 Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room

15:00 SETI
SETI
15:00 - 16:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room

18:00 Dinner
Dinner
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Friday, 26 September 2025
08:00 AVN + ARAP (zoom) - Carla Mitchell (SARAO)
AVN + ARAP (zoom)
- Carla Mitchell (SARAO)
08:00 - 09:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room Exact title to be confirmed
09:15 TSun data analysis - Pfesesani van Zyl (SARAO)
TSun data analysis
- Pfesesani van Zyl (SARAO)
09:15 - 09:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
09:45 Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:15 Ubuntu installation, PC Setup and Linux overview - Roelf Botha (SARAO)
Ubuntu installation, PC Setup and Linux overview
- Roelf Botha (SARAO)
10:15 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:00 Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room

13:00 PC setup and linux overview (continued)
PC setup and linux overview (continued)
13:00 - 14:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room

14:30 Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
15:00 Wrap-up: week 2 - Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds)
Wrap-up: week 2
- Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds)
15:00 - 16:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Saturday, 27 September 2025

11:30 Photo shoot, interviews, etc.
Photo shoot, interviews, etc.
11:30 - 12:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room

13:35 Photo Session
Photo Session
13:35 - 15:35
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Sunday, 28 September 2025