Notes from Commissioning Meeting
6 September 2002

1.  Observing Program Checkout

Richard reported on the status of the programs in the GBT proposal queue:

	17 completed
	16 on the Sep/Oct schedules
	16 on the active checkout list (support scientist assigned)
	46 awaiting checkout
	11 on hold (have had initial checkout, but are awaiting a
             capability or required improvement)

We went through all the programs in the active checkout queue.  We now
have detailed setup requirements for most of these programs, including the
Spectrometer mode strings.  This information has or will be communicated
to Carl for inclusion on the web pages.  Ron is scheduling himself for
checkouts of the Yusef-Zadeh programs next week.  Other scientists should
be scheduling time for checkouts very soon.

Many of the programs require multi-IF modes.  Some of these modes have
been checked out by Rich for engineering operation.  Joe M. is working on
enhancements to AIPS++ to allow multiple spectral windows within a
Measurement Set, and should have this completed within the next week or
two.  Multi-bank operation is about 2 months away, and requires both M&C
and AIPS++ development.

One program to be checked out requires the "High Cal" mode.  There was
some debate about whether the High Cal mode can be specified by the IF
Manager.  Nicole took on the action to investigate this.

Anish will soon begin to check out some polarization projects needing
cross correlation capability.  Several of these programs appear to be
satisfied by the Spectral Processor.  One of them needs the Spectrometer
in 8 IF mode.  Anish has been in touch with Carl Heiles, who is sending
some code to be used in the analysis.

Phil emphasized that program checkout was top priority for the
commissioning scientists.  Ron stated that he would be going through the
02C programs over the next few days and moving a number of them into the
"Active Checkout" queue.


2.  Software Status

Nicole gave a summary of software status and handed out a report.  There
are currently five areas of activity:  Continuing maintenance and
Enhancements, Observers Interface, Obsrving Capabilities, Pulsar Observing
Capabilities, and PTCS.  Most of these are on schedule.  The Observers
Interface is running a little behind, and Nicole handed out a detailed
update on this project, that included a description of the objectives,
challenges, accomplishments to date, and some plans to change the approach
and strategy.

The September 25 M&C release will include
	2 Spectrometer improvements (Balancing and DMA logic)
	PF2 receiver code
	Spectral Processor FITS file update
	Changes to Active Surface control
	Button on GO to launch the new configuration system

The group has started some work and documentation for the Caltech Digital
Continuum backend.  Amy has finished reviewing the code for the Spigot
Card in advance of David Kaplan's visit.  Ray put in some signal quality
metrics into the laser rangefinder system that Kim requested.


3.  Spectrometer status

Rich reported that several new modes were added to his Spectrometer status
spreadsheet that are needed for programs in the checkout queue.  18 new
modes have had successful engineering checkout and been approved by Rick.
It was found that the birdies in some high resolution modes that were
reported last week were coming from the test fixture (=good news).  One
mode shows a jump every 16 lags, which suggests a digital problem.  There
are also some apparent hardware problems in Quadrants 2 & 3.


4.  Baseline Investigations

Rick reported that there has been no further progress in locating the
source of the standing wave in the optics that is seen in the L-band
system.  They are now looking at the problem of baseline corruptions
apparently caused by strong aircraft signals that are just at the edge of
the band, at and just below 1150 MHz.  Roger may install some filters to
try to block these signals.  When Dana returns next week, there will be
one iteration on the draft baseline report, and it will be issued.


5.  AIPS++ news

Joe was unable to attend the meeting owing to the change in meeting time.
AIPS++ was inoperable for a while on Friday because of the crash of the
etamin RAID array (it was backup by early evening Friday).


6.  Other business

Richard reported that David Nice had decided to finish his pulsar program
using the Spectral Processor and not wait for the Spectrometer timing
modes to be available.  Also, commissioning time is available on the
schedule through the end of next week.

					PRJ  // 7 September 2002