Deep Space Network Equipment History

[Jarrett]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone had any knowledge of equipment used in the Deep Space Network. I acquired a bunch of equipment through an auction that contained about three server racks of "electronic boxes" with DSN stickers. I realize this is a shot in the dark, but I have come up empty so far. I think Covid might have something to do with that, emails and phone calls to JPL have gone mostly unanswerd. Any ideas where I can get this stuff looked at by knowledgeable people would be appreciated.

I think this is my first time "posting a thread", if anyone has additional advice regarding that, that would be cool too.

 

[COLGeek]

You mentioned this gear when you first joined.

Might be interesting to look at what you have. Post some pictures, please.

Use a site like imgur.com and then post a link here.

 

[Jarrett]

Thank You! I will, it will be this weekend, hopefully before. My son is 24, I think he can guide me through that process.

 

[Jarrett]

Hello,

I hope that this link works. If it does it should have 15 pictures.

Thanks,

Jarrett

https://imgur.com/a/8a6aTcX

View: https://imgur.com/a/8a6aTcX

 

[COLGeek]

Fascinating stuff. What do you hope to do with it?

 

[Jarrett]

I don't know yet. I was hoping to find out exactly what I have, if it has some sort of significance historically than I want to find it a proper home.

 

[Ashmore74]

The forerunner of the Deep Space Network (DSN) was established in January, 1958, when the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, or JPL – then under contract to the U.S. Army – deployed portable radio tracking stations in Nigeria, Singapore, and California.

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[Jarrett]

I found out yesterday from a JPL archivist that the equipment that I have was active and operational in the Deep Space Network. I have equipment that have green "GO" stickers form 1968 and 1969, pre-dating Apollo 11 and Apollo 13. I also found out that the DSIF (this pre-dates the DSN) and DSN were used in voice communications when they were trying to conserve power. This happened when they split the lunar lander from the main module, when they landed on the moon. Or in Apllo 13. Now I need to figure out what to do with it.