
\section{Call for Observing Proposals on the 30m Telescope}

\subsection{Summary}
%
Proposals for three types of receivers will be considered for the
coming winter semester:

\begin{enumerate}
\item the observatory's  set of four dual polarization heterodyne
receivers centered at wavelengths of 3, 2, 1.3,  and 1.1 mm.
\item the 9 pixel dual-polarization heterodyne receiver array,
HERA, operating at 1.3 mm wavelength
\item The MAMBO--2 bolometer array with 117 pixels operating at 1.2 mm; 
the smaller MAMBO--1 array with 37 pixels is kept as a backup.
\end{enumerate}

Emphasis will be put on observations at the shorter wavelengths.
%summer/winter 
%, but 3mm proposals are also encouraged inasmuch
%as they are suited for medium or low quality weather backup onservations.
About 2800 hours of observing time will be available.
%which will allow
%scheduling of a few longer programmes ($\simlt 150$ hours).

The main news relevant for the coming winter semester are described
below. The details of proposal formalities, instrumentation, observing
modes, and estimation of observing time are described  
\htmladdnormallink{on the IRAM web site}
{http://www.iram.fr/GENERAL/Proposals_observing.htm}.




\subsection{What is new?}

Since November 2005, the telescope runs under a VME and Linux based
new control system (NCS). Virtually all functionality of the old
control system  has been recovered. Notable exceptions are the
coordinate system (only J2000 is currently supported) and the {\tt
RASTER} command. OTF, ONOFF or TRACKING (with frequency switching)
commands together with SIC loops should be used instead.
Observations with the rotated wobbler (non--azimuth wobbling
directions) which are of interest mainly for bolometer mapping, are
possible again. Other ongoing work concerns fine--tuning the tracking
and slewing motions of the telescope.



Remote observing is available from the IRAM offices in Granada
and Grenoble, and from the MPIfR in Bonn. 
The remote stations in Madrid and Paris are planned to become available
also during this winter semester.

The NCS team  maintains a web page
(\htmladdnormallink{../IRAMES\-/ncs30m}{/IRAMES/ncs30m})
where the current NCS status is described in detail.

The  {\bf dual polarization HERA} is operational together with its
backends for high (VESPA) and low spectral resolution (WILMA, 4 MHz
filters). Although tuning parameters are now available for a large
range of frequencies, it is still requested to send us HERA
frequencies in advance.

Like last semester, a {\bf bolometer array}, preferentially  the
117--channel MAMBO--2, will be available.
% despite its showing signs of
%aging (increasing number of dead and unstable pixels).  HERA  and bolometer
%observations will be organized in observing pools.
Users should be aware that this instrument has lately shown some
performance instabilities. Trouble shooting and maintenance efforts 
might reduce the available observing time.

A replacement of the current {\bf single pixel receivers} by a modern more
compact receiver is planned for next year. The new receiver will have
strongly improved sensitivities and much larger IF bandwidth. However
in a first time the frequency range below 83 GHz will not be
covered. In view of this fact we encourage astronomers with an
interest in frequencies below 83 GHz to propose such observations now.  


The {\bf full Call for 30m Proposals} is available on the IRAM web
site.

\signed{
%\htmladdnormallink{Clemens Thum}{mailto:thum@iram.fr},
%\htmladdnormallink{Rainer Mauersberger}{mailto:mauers@iram.es}}
Clemens Thum  \& Rainer Mauersberger}
%\end{document}
