Monolith (Jun 14 2011)

In the days before Boinc...................

I'm not so sure you can blame it on the advances in computing since it happens on both sides of the equation. Also, since the graphics cards are cranking them out so fast, can't the computers at SETI employ the same technique to speed things up?

I'm not convinced that their problem is lack of computing power, it seems to me that it is lack of being able to keep them cranking all the time.

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Oz,

I agree with you completely.

I guess I find that from past experiences from the early days of SETI, I had a lot of communication problems that were on my side of the fence, so naturally I wanted to know if the problem was still on my side or SETI's side. For this reason it was nice to know immediately if they had something shutdown or not.

Since they don't have a way to immediately notify us if they has system or network problems, they might just as well get rid of that screen as it seems to be useless.

Of course, nowadays the connection and/or system problems on our side are largely gone. But old memories are hard to forget.

Allen
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This is addressed to everyone who expresses, understandably, frustrations with SETI.

First, about me. Although I've been with SETI since 1999, I seldom post to this forum, as others usually handle the necessary communications. I follow it religiously, however, and feel I know many of you personally (at least the SETI/BOINC side of your lives).

I have been in IT longer than many SETI users have been alive. Let's just say that my first program was written in machine language (binary). I have hired, promoted and fired IT people based on their performance. Further, I have occasionally had private e-mail discussions with several of the project members over the years, usually on the scientific part of the project.

Sorry for all this history, but you need to know where I'm coming from before you hear the rest of this.

I recently had the most wonderful opportunity to personally visit the SETI site on the hill in Berkeley. I was given a long tour by none other than Matt Lebofsky himself. This charming gentleman is dedicated, very hard working, and -extremely- knowledgeable in his field.

Interestingly, his and the rest of the staff's frustrations are basically the same as those mentioned here, but for a slightly different reason. It is the lack of both support personnel and funding that SETI is saddled with.

I can tell you that the staff at SETI are doing the work of a department that normally would comprise at -least- 20-30 people in the corporate world. Why? FUNDING! (or lack of it).

Some of us forget that, in addition to maintaining the servers and other hardware, this tiny staff of very intelligent, highly educated, extremely motivated and truly dedicated individuals also work on everything else a functioning business does, including, but not limited to:
-programming (constantly ongoing)
-research
-funding
-accounting
-public relations

As members of a University, they also must also spend time both teaching and even fighting among the wolves for their small share of the available grants. In addition, as you may surmise, there is some prejudice against the SETI group, for reasons I think we all understand. I include this last point, even though it was not mentioned during my tour.

I will add one last thought, and then, hopefully, go back to the wall and continue watching and listening like so many of us. After that long visit with Matt and the others, I would be proud to have -any- of the SETI team on my staff, -not- in low level positions.

Thank you Matt, David, Dan, Eric, Jeff, Robert, and the several others I have not had the opportunity to meet and talk with over the years.

Now you've done it Cherokee, the guys are gonna get such swelled heads and spend the whole morning patting themselves on the back! :-) Just kidding, that's a great post and 100% true. The guys do a fantastic job.
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PROUD MEMBER OF Team Starfire World BOINC

Thank you Cherokee for confirming my suspicions about the S@H staff. I will now also retire to lurking mode.
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Uploads aren't working and access to the forums is sporadic(lots of connection reset), hopefully these can be fixed soon.
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BSG Anthem
My Facebook page

Harumph! Well said...[/b]
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I'm having trouble posting, sometimes I can, others no way. I just get a busy icon like My request has been ignored. My isp said it might be Verizon as their having circuit problems of some sort.
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BSG Anthem
My Facebook page

Hi all,

the last days are really boring. The upload does not function and if it works a lot of my Results are lost anywhere in the Net. My Computers are running all Day and Night. But there is no raise in Points. I hope Seti will soon solve this problem.
Greets Gerhard
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Gerhard1, you should see your uploads moving now. Everyone hitting the server at once slows things down but they are moving.
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PROUD MEMBER OF Team Starfire World BOINC