This schedule was drawn up in consultation the MERLIN TAG and the scientific staff at Jodrell Bank, and takes account of our perceptions of the scientific needs of users and the scientific strengths of MERLIN. We would be grateful for your views on this schedule, and any other suggestions you may have. . Please show it to others in your department who may be interested. It is planned to issue a 1-year forward look like this with every PATT call for proposals. In this way it should be easier to plan MERLIN measurements for PhD projects.
The PROVISIONAL schedule is as follows:
| Semester | Dates | Frequency Band | Proposal Deadline |
| 05A | February 05 - June 05 | 1.4-1.7GHz | 15 September 04 |
| 05B | October 05 - January 06 | 22GHz / 5GHz (& 6-7GHz) / 1.4-1.7GHz | 15 March 05 |
| 06A | February 06 - June 06 | 22GHz / 5GHz (& 6-7GHz) / 1.4-1.7GHz | 15 September 05 |
| 06B | October 06 - January 07 | 22GHz / 5GHz (& 6-7GHz) / 1.4-1.7GHz | 15 March 06 |
| 07A | February 07 - June 07 | 22GHz / 5GHz (& 6-7GHz) / 1.4-1.7GHz | 15 September 06 |
| 07B | October 07 - January 08 | 22GHz / 5GHz (& 6-7GHz) / 1.4-1.7GHz | 15 March 07 |
| 08A | February 08 - June 08 | 22GHz / 5GHz (& 6-7GHz) / 1.4-1.7GHz | 31 October 07 |
| 08B | October 08 - January 09 | 22GHz / 5GHz (& 6-7GHz) / 1.4-1.7GHz | 30 April 08 |
| 09A | February 09 - June 09 | 5GHz (& 6-7GHz) / 1.4-1.7GHz | 30 September 08 |
Please note that during Semester 09A MERLIN operations will continue at a reduced level as e-MERLIN is commissioned. Observations will be on a 'best efforts' basis and the MERLIN operations team will make every effort to obtain data for highly-rated proposals. Not all MERLIN antennas may be available during Semester 09A and observations may have to be restricted to a sub-set of telescopes
Frequency flexibility between L, C-Band operations should be available. This will permit frequency band changes between complete observing runs. Full frequency flexibility, allowing band changes every few minutes will be available for full e-MERLIN operations.
Blocks of e-MERLIN commissioning time will be scheduled in addition to approved user time.
There are no current plans for sessions at 151 and 408MHz. These frequencies can be made available with one year's notice. Because of ionospheric limitations 151-MHz is a useful MERLIN frequency only near sunspot minimum.
