GBT SETUP CHECKLIST

Being a compendium of advice for setting up the systems for observing, and links to useful documents.
(Last Modified Jan 2005)

Before Observing:

  1. Prepare configuration scripts.

  2. Prepare GO tables, and select calibrators.

  3. Check weather predictions.

Setting up for observing

  1. Talk to the telescope operator; Ask him to put you in the gateway.

  2. Start GO_LITE and enter user name, procedure, obs type and switching.
  3. Start the Cleo Status screen and backend screens.
  4. Run the configuration tool.
  5. If doing pointing, start GFM.
  6. For monitoring of spectral scans, start iards or spectrometer display.
  7. Move to the first source.

  8. Set Power Levels

  9. Start Observations.

Useful Utilities

Reducing your Data



1. Prepare Configuration Scripts

The user may select a configuration case from the example web page, copy it into a file in his home directory, then edit it. To check for errors in the script, it may be run in simulation mode by putting a zero argument in the "g.setup" command as follows:
g.setup(0)

Then run the following on a Linux workstation:

source /home/gbt/gbt.bash ( or .../gbt.csh )
config_tool < configfile

Don't forget to take the zero out of the g.setup() command before trying to run it to actually configure the telescope !!

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2. Prepare GO Tables

 The GO table is the principal way of specifying a list of
   sources and coordinates to be observed.

   Examples of tables can be found in the directory: /home/astro-util/users

   For example, it may be instructive to look at the tables:
	example.obs 
	pulsar.obs 
 	calibrators.obs 
See the GBT Observing Tables document for an introduction to GO tables.

You may run GO in simulator mode to check your tables prior to observing:

  • source /home/gbt/gbt.csh (or .../gbt.bash)
  • setenv GBT_SIMULATOR T (or "export GBT_SIMULATOR=T" for bash shell)
  • GO_LITE

    (Remember to unset the simulator mode before real observing!!)

    2.5: Calibrators

  • A catalog of ~6800 sources good for pointing and focus may be searched by running the program "calfind" in /home/astro-util/pointing/
    See the web page PointingFocusCatalog for more information.

  • The standard flux density calibrators are given in GO Table format in /home/astro-util/tables/calibrators.obs
    These calibrators are listed in the Astronomical Almanac. Its a good idea to look them up in the almanac to find their angular size and flux density at the desired frequency before deciding which ones to use.

  • The VLA calibrator list is another good reference.

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    3. Weather Predictions

    If you are observing at high frequencies you will be scheduled for two sessions of which you will have to pick one. To help decide, you may consult the
    GBT weather page
    and also the 60-hour predictions of opacity

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    Talk to the telescope operator

    Tell him or her what receiver and backend you are using, and the general plan of observing.

    The operator will put you in the gateway which allows you to control the telescope systems. He will normally enable dynamic corrections for all except prime focus observing (where they are not necessary), and will enable the active surface for observing at 8 GHz or higher.

  • Check that your project code is set.
  • Ask for the scan number to be set to whatever number you want to start with.

    GBT Observing Interface (GO)

    GO should be run on a Linux workstation.
    
    Type in any terminal or xterm window:
    
    $ source /home/gbt/gbt.bash (if using bash shell)
      or
    % source /home/gbt/gbt.csh (if using c-chell)
    
    $ GO_LITE
    
    In the GO GUI, upper left corner, enter your name; check the project ID.
    
    Select the observation type and switching mode.
    Select the observing procedure (e.g. Track, Peak, OnOff, etc).
    Other things will be automatically filled in when you run the
    configuration tool.
    
    If you have a GO table, click the "GO Tables" button near the bottom
    and, in the window that comes up, type the full path to your 
    GO Table at the top, then click the LOAD button.
    
    In the middle right side, set "Primary Mode" to the type of coordinates
    you are using (e.g., "J2000", or "B1950").
    Set the "Offset Mode" to the same as primary mode if you are doing
    position switching.  If doing pointing checks, set Offset Mode to "Encoder".
    
    The lower right area will be used when you start observing.  
    This is where you enter scan parameters such as 
    scan rates, lengths, offsets, scan duration, and number of repeats.
    
    If doing pointing checks, set the "Real Time Display" to GFM.
    Otherwise, set "Real Time Display" to IARDS.
    
    

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    CLEO (Control Library for Engineers and Operators)

    It is most convenient to use the "Cleo container".
    On any Linux machine, type:
    
       cleo cleocontainer
    
    After the cleo container appears, select "Status" from the Launch menu.
    Resize the container to show the whole status display.
    
    Start the cleo screen for whatever backend you are using,
    for example DCR, Spectrometer, or SpectralProcessor.
    You will need these for balancing.
    
    If you are using a prime focus receiver, start the cleo screen for
    either PF1 or PF2.
    
    
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    Run the Configuration Tool

    On a Linux workstation, type:
      $ source /home/gbt/gbt.csh  (or  .../gbt.bash if using the bash shell)
    
    If your configuration file is named "configfile.py"
    then run the config tool by typing:
    
      $ config_tool < configfile.py
    
    Alternately, one may type:
    
      $ config_tool 
         -- and then, at the python prompt:
    
      >>> from configfile import *
    
        -- The latter method leaves you in a python shell, from which 
         you may type additional commands.
    	See the  Config Tool Usage  page for further information.
    
    
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    Starting GFM

    On any Linux machine, type:
      $ gfm
    
    After the gfm window comes up, select "work online" from the "File" menu.
     -- in the resulting dialog box, click the check box and click "OK"
    
    {remember to set the "real-time display" button in the
      GO screen to "GFM"}
    
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    IARDS (Interim Automated Reduction and Display System)

    IARDS should be run on a Linux machine.  Use one of the fast 
    data reduction machines.  
    The computers "asgard" or  "thalassa" are available public machines.  
    Faster machines are available via a booking system, for example, "euler" is a good fast data reduction machine.
    These machines are allocated via a  booking system.
    Use one of these fast data reduction machines for aips++, iards, 
    or dish.
    

    Also use your scratch directory for data reduction with iards or dish:
    cd /home/scratch/[yourloginname] To Start IARDS: % ssh thales % cd /home/scratch/yourloginname % iards (or IARDS) {remember to set the RTD (real-time display) button in the GO screen to "Iards", if you want to use IARDS !}

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    Set Power Levels

    A. If using a prime focus receiver:
      - Go to the Cleo screen for the prime focus receiver.
      - Change the attenuators (towards the upper right)
    	until the IF power reads about 2 volts.
    
    B. Click the "IF Balance" button on the main GO screen 
    	to adjust the IF power.
    
    C. Balance the back end:
    	If ACS Spectrometer:
    	 -- go to the Spectrometer CLEO screen.
    	 -- click the "Locked" button to unlock the screen.
    	 -- click the "not balance" button to change it to say "balance"
    	 -- click the "Prepare" button.
    	 -- look at the duty cycles (0.8 for 3-level and 1.3 for 9-level)
    	 -- if balance is ok, click the "balance" button to 
    		change it back to "not balance"
    
    	If Spectral processor:
    	 -- go to the Spectral Processor CLEO screen.
    	 -- click the "Locked" button to unlock the screen.
    	 -- click the "not balance" button to change it to say "balance"
    	 -- click the "Prepare" button.
    	 -- the "Total Power" samplers should be within 2 db or so 
    		of the "A/D Input Lvl".
    	 -- if balance is ok, click the "balance" button to 
    		change it back to "not balance"
    
    	Alternately, if when you ran the config_tool, you stayed in 
    	the python shell, type at the python prompt:
    	 >>> balance()    (balances both IF Rack and Spectrometer)
    

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    GBT Status ascii display

    Typing "gbtstatus" in any xterm running on a Green Bank workstation will bring up a status display. This is convenient since it does not hog the computer resources as much as the CLEO status screen. It can be configured by the user if you do not like the default appearance. Refer to:
    http://wikio.nrao.edu/bin/view/GB/Software/GbtStatusDisplay


    CLEO Scheduler and Skyview

    Typing: "cleo scheduler" will bring up the CLEO Scheduler and Skyview screen. This can be used to create an observing schedule, but is perhaps more often used to display a catalog of objects on a plot of the sky with the current GBT position.

    To show the position of the GBT in real time, click the "Real Time" button.

    To load a catalog, click the "Catalog" button and navigate to where there is a catalog.

    Useful catalogs :
    Flux Calibrators: /home/astro-util/tables/calibrators.dat
    NVSS pointing cals for xband : /home/astro-util/pointing/xband.dat


    The
    GBT is a facility of the National Science Foundation


    Last modified: Jan 21, 2005