From the Vertex room, the radio signal, now between 500 - 1000 MHz, travels along cables from the antenna to the site building where the Data Acquisition system resides.

Commands from the station computer also travel on these cables, as does monitor data from the antenna.

Monitor data are digital representations of analog data about the "health" of the antenna, such as the receiver system temperatures, the status of the cryogenic compressors (that provide liquid helium to the Dewars), the position of the subreflector in focus and rotation, where the antenna is pointing, currents on the drive motors, wind speed from anemometers located on the dish, etc.

The Array operator uses the monitor data from all the VLBA antennas to gather an view on the overall well-being of the instrument.