What do I do if I see a signal?

Let the servers verify the candidate. If it contains anything of interest, the developers will be in contact with you.

Awesome. Are the frequencies on my screen saver unique to me or are there others seeing the same thing that I am? If a signal is detected will it be recorded somewhere?
-Thanks, Terry

Since each work unit is initially sent to 4 pc's, theoretically 3 other persons could be seeing the same screensaver as you.

Ocassionally, of course a pc errors out the wu and it is sent to some more, etc. and of course some people run an optimised application, for faster crunching, without the screensaver.

The analysis is evetually assimilated into the Master Science Database, which is where any signals recorded will be stored.

The staff is working on further plans which will include a








Near Time Persistency Checker showing promising candidates.

For the time being however you can take a look at the Science Status page, although it is still under construction.

Awesome. Are the frequencies on my screen saver unique to me or are there others seeing the same thing that I am? If a signal is detected will it be recorded somewhere?
-Thanks, Terry

Since each work unit is initially sent to 4 pc's, theoretically 3 other persons could be seeing the same screensaver as you.

Ocassionally, of course a pc errors out the wu and it is sent to some more, etc. and of course some people run an optimised application, for faster crunching, without the screensaver.

The analysis is evetually assimilated into the Master Science Database, which is where any signals recorded will be stored.

The staff is working on further plans which will include a Near Time Persistency Checker showing promising candidates.

For the time being however you can take a look at the Science Status page, although it is still under construction.

As I am looking at the screen saver, I was wondering what a possible signal would look like and has there ever been one that was investigated...and obviously turn out to be explainable.
-Terry

Here is link to the WOW signal and what it would look like on SETI@Home.

The graphics on the page are actually video files.

And here is some more information about the analysis and it's visual representation....SETI@Home Glossary.

As I am looking at the screen saver, I was wondering what a possible signal would look like and has there ever been one that was investigated...and obviously turn out to be explainable.
-Terry

Here is link to the WOW signal and what it would look like on SETI@Home.

The graphics on the page are actually video files.

And here is some more information about the analysis and it's visual representation....SETI@Home Glossary.

Adding to AB's explanation, real time is a relative notion if you are looking for an alien signal. Seti looks at signals with a minimum of 200 light years away. That means that any signal now found is at least 200 years old.

So I don't think it matters much if that work unit was recorded in 1999 or 2006. ;-)

Very True.
I just thought the screen saver might show the co-ordinates the telescope is pointing at present.
Thank you.
Terry

Adding to AB's explanation, real time is a relative notion if you are looking for an alien signal. Seti looks at signals with a minimum of 200 light years away. That means that any signal now found is at least 200 years old.

So I don't think it matters much if that work unit was recorded in 1999 or 2006. ;-)

Well, the screen saver should kick in if you set told BOINC's installer to use BOINC as the default screen saver.

If you didn't, right click anywhere on a free place on your Windows desktop, properties, screen saver, choose BOINC. Prss Settings and set it up to start after 3 minutes. Click OK.

Now while BOINC is running do not touch your mouse or keyboard. Wait for those 3 minutes. If all is well your screen saver should kick in, showing the Seti screen saver twirling around on your screen.

The screen saver is built in in the Setiathome science application. You do not have to download it separately.

Another part of BOINC is the BOINC screen saver (BOINC.scr). This is the one you have to set under your options for screen saver in Windows. BOINC will then show the screen saver of the project you run at that time. If said project has a screen saver, that is. Not all do.

But Seti does and its code is built in in its application.

The screen saver is built in in the Setiathome science application. You do not have to download it separately.

Another part of BOINC is the BOINC screen saver (BOINC.scr). This is the one you have to set under your options for screen saver in Windows. BOINC will then show the screen saver of the project you run at that time. If said project has a screen saver, that is. Not all do.

But Seti does and its code is built in in its application.