A radio continuum survey of the southern sky at 1420 MHz - Observations and data reduction

We describe the equipment, observational method and reduction procedure of an absolutely calibrated radio continuum survey of the South Celestial Hemisphere at a frequency of 1420 MHz. These observations cover the area 0(h) less than or equal to RA less than or equal to 24(h) for declinations less than -10 degrees. The sensitivity is about 50 mK T-B (full beam brightness) and the angular resolution (HPBW) is 35 ' .4, which matches the existing northern sky survey at the same frequency.