GBT Operations & Commissioning Meeting 11 February 2005 AGENDA 1. Az Track, Antennae Report -- Bob 2. Observing News -- Ron 3. Scheduling Status -- Carl 4. Microwave Electronics Status -- Roger 5. Digital Electronics Status -- Rich 6. Software Status -- Nicole 7. Project Planning Status -- Richard / John 8. Any other Business REPORTS 1. Az Track, Antennae Report No significant milestones with the track this week. SGH is working on the analysis of a wider wear plate. Art is on vacation, and Dennis and Bob are working with Jeff Cromer on detailing for new baseplate and wear plate drawings for bid purposes. -- RAA 2. Observing News We serviced twelve observing projects, one of which was a VLB experiment, in fifteen observing sessions, -- a moderately busy week. About 25 hours were spent on maintenance, 20.5 hours on software tests, and 13 hours on PTCS tests, leaving 110 hours for observations. Average setup time was the usual 40 minutes. Major causes of lost time were almost exclusively hardware, the most significant being problems with an LTA card in the Spectrometer. Since the actual impact of the Spectrometer's problems on observing is not well recorded in the operators logs at this time, I cannot come up with accurate percentages of lost time. Lost time is probably about 15%. The significant problems were: Spectrometer: 7 hrs (my best guess) Winds: 3.8 hrs BCPM Hardware or Software: 1.7 hrs LO1 Hardware 0.9 hrs Setup: 0.5 hrs Network/Computing (Titania): 0.4 hrs Antenna SafeHold/Servo Hardware or Software: 0.4 hrs A problem with the ScanLog FITS file was repaired after the fact and the data for the affected project can now be reduced. In other news, the support scientist have started a new program to better our support efforts. We'll be creating forums (meetings, web pages, ...) where we can better document the system, discuss best practices and workarounds, etc. Karen is the lead person in these endeavors. Next week will be busier than normal for us. -- RJM 3. Scheduling Status Last Week ========= Observations for proposals GBT05A-042, GBT05A-021, GBT04C-041, GBT05A-045, GBT05A-034, GBT04C-012, GBT05A-016, GBT04B-026, BB202 , GBT04C-037, GBT04C-028, GBT04B-029, GBT04C-006, GBT01A-005 Completed proposals GBT05A-021, GBT05A-034 Next Week ========= Observations scheduled for ** GBT05A-041 [ B] Paul Demorest Precision Timing of Binary and Millisecond Pulsars GBT05A-042 [F ] Andrew Baker HI Observations of Isolated Ellipticals GBT05A-011 [F ] Scott Ransom Timing of the Binary and Millisecond Pulsars in Terzan5 GBT05A-045 [ B] Suparna Roychowdhury A search for HI 21-cm line emission towards cooling flow clusters with 12CO line emission GBT05A-012 [ P ] Larry Morgan Ammonia Observations of Bright Rimmed Clouds GBT04A-001 [ P ] Paul Vanden Bout Q-Band CO Observations GBT05A-002 [ B] Vincent Fish A Search for Interstellar OD in Massive Star-Forming Regions GBT04B-011 [ B] Barney Rickett Scintillation studies of the J0737-3039 binary system GBT05A-003 [F ] Bruce Campbell Radar Mapping of the Moon at 70-cm Wavelength Using Arecibo and the GBT GBT04C-037 [FP ] Yancy Shirley GBT & VLA Ammonia Thermometry Towards Low-mass Star-forming Cores GBT04C-049 [ B] Yuri Kovalev, Jr. GBT Broad-Band Spectrometric Measurements of Large Faraday Rotations in AGN GBT04C-006 [ P ] Paul Vanden Bout Q-Band Search for High Redshift Carbon Monoxide Line Emission GBT01A-005 [ P ] Barry Turner A High-resolution Spectral Survey Of Tmc-1 At Q-band GBT03B-018 [ P ] Yancy Shirley Probing Hydrocarbon Chemistry with C4H and C4D towards IRAS 16293-2422 BD103 [F ] Jean-Francois Desmurs High dynamic range map of SiO maser emission in IRC+10011 ** Scheduled as F-ixed, P-rimary, B-ackup Contact Information for 02/24/2005 - 03/10/2005 ======================================= Proposal PI Bands Email [NRAO contact] ---------- ------------------ ----- -------------------- GBT05A-041 Paul Demorest L8 demorest@astron.berkeley.edu [Scott Ransom] GBT05A-010 Tim Robishaw L robishaw@astro.berkeley.edu [Toney Minter] GBT04C-041 Jim Braatz K jbraatz@nrao.edu [Jim Braatz] GBT05A-011 Scott Ransom S sransom@nrao.edu [Scott Ransom] BU030 Jim Ulvestad C julvesta@nrao.edu [] GBT04A-001 Paul Vanden Bout Q pvandenb@nrao.edu [Ron Maddalena] GBT05A-004 Dain Kavars L dkavars@astro.umn.edu [Toney Minter] GBT02A-035 Min Yun KU myun@astro.umass.edu [Frank Ghigo] GBT05A-038 Dan Stinebring 8L dan.stinebring@oberlin.edu [Toney Minter] GB053 Norbert Bartel L bartel@yorku.ca [] GD018 Jeremy Darling L darling@ociw.edu [] GBT04A-018 Tim Robishaw X robishaw@astro.berkeley.edu [Toney Minter] GD017 Phil Diamond L pdiamond@jb.man.ac.uk [] GBT03C-028 Fabian Walter Q walter@mpia.de [Glen Langston] Scheduled hours [backup] ======================== Category/Month-> February March April May Astronomy ~ 431 [150] 415 [198] 436 [191] 440 [196] Maintenance ~ 34 [067] 13 [143] 30 [111] 0 [136] Test & Comm ~ 196 [051] 262 [063] 202 [036] 215 [048] Un-assigned ~ 11 55 53 89 Proposal Checkouts ================== Awaiting checkout - 0 Active checkout - 14 On Hold - 8 Schedule - 55 Completed - 284 Current backlog [hours prior to 05A*] = 952 Total time to discharge [hours] = 2655 * Includes projects that are on hold for trimester 05A -- RCB 4. Microwave Electronics Status Operational issues: No new operational issues this week. Ka Receiver - Galen is testing and tuning the prototype microstip-WR19 adapter, evaluating MMIC amplifiers, and making measurements on the receiver to get info needed for design of the continuum detectors. Assembly of detector video amplifier boards has been finished and functional testing is about half done. 3mm Receiver - Wiring of the cardcage has started. Mike is working on the details of waveguide plumbing in the dewar, and the wiring plans. IF System - The five latest 1-8 GHz amps have been completed and are being tested. A ODM with upgraded amps is getting final tests, and probably will go into the system next week. R. Norrod 2/10/2005 5. Digital Electronics Status Digital Electronics Status 16 December 2004 - 13 January 2005 *****Operations, Problem summary***** No significant problems to report this week. *****Development***** *LTA replacement: box up and send the components for the LTA board to the manufacturer. *Cross-Correlation Test Fixture: Chassis drawing have been submitted to the shop The first cross-correlation-and-output module is being assembled into its enclosure. It should be ready for testing next week. *****Plans***** Continue LTA replacement and Cross-Correlation Text Fixture development. -- Rich 6. Software Status Single Dish Development IPT #114 - Friday, February 11, 2005 Today ends week 5 in C1, the first development cycle of 2005. The Plan of Record is available from the wiki at Software.PlanOfRecordC12005. Integration testing begins in earnest next week in preparation for a release of M&Cv5.1 on February 16, 2005. A new version of GFM will also be released around that time (specific date TBD) and a slightly updated Turtle. This week has been entirely focused on integration testing, sponsor testing, and iterating on recommended changes in preparation for regression tests this weekend. Testing has revealed some slowness with the IF Rack, which is being looked into, and several problems with the newest GO additions which are proving elusive. Many minor issues have been uncovered and are being resolved as intended. The IDL team has been singularly focused on a visit from Tom Bania this Friday, where they will present a basic tour of the GBTIDL prototype, illustrate how externally written code can be easily retrofitted to the framework provided, and running through data reduction of some of Tom's old data. Operational support over the past week has included: * Mark/Melinda responded to Glen's problem on Tuesday, described as follows: "If one attempts to use the default Spectrometer configuration (A1) immediately after and only after the Spectrometer has just been restarted, it will fail to generate scan log entries, and therefore the Spectrometer entries will be missing from the scan log FITS file." A fix for this is going into M&Cv5.1 next week. Note that this bug has been in the software since it was originally written, and was only uncovered this week. --NMR 7. Project Planning Status February 07, 2005 Planning Meeting Agenda Rm 137 10:45 A.M. [0] Observer comments & operator log items resulting in lost time: Observer's comments received from: Ji-hyun Kang, 04c-019 Success : We could make maps of enough area for each source. and We detected a expanding shell from forbidden-velocity wing area. Prob : When antenna trajectory error occures, it is confusing which line (in the map) should be taken for the following line. Answer was the line that is showen in GO interface. ** Known problem under investigation. Prob : I think that using two backends in a time is not recommendable. At first, we used Spectro Processor and DCR as backends.It makes some trouble for set up so that it took more than one hour to set up all configurations (we tried this five time). For one backend setup (spectrometer only) in session 6 and 7, the setup time was less than 30 min. ** We agreed that unless there are compelling scientific reasons, (and apart from pulsars) dual-backend use should be avoided, and observers should not be encouraged to try this. This should be addressed at the "best practices" sessions, Frank will be asked to follow up on what is possible/useful and specify requirements. Operator's log comments Significant failures the past week stemmed from: Computing: Titania locked up ** Chris will be asked to keep an eye on this. Software: GO problems, glishd problems, strange system/setup failure (#47963), Rates commanded for y1-y3, ** Causes unknown. Electronics: Spectrometer problems ** We speculated these may have been exacerbated by the equipment room overheating. Karen is already planning to see whether there is a correlation. Telescope/Servo: AZ Transducer Fault (transient) ** This is believed to be a real transient electronics problem. Tim Weadon is investigating. This refers to the main encoder. Other: Other Problems from Observing Reports: Langston: Spectrometer birdie, setup problems Ghigo: IF manager/LO1 Manager config file reading ** RJM wondered whether the Spectrometer birdie might also be a side-effect of overheating. John to ask someone to follow up on this (Rich has already investigated). Nicole will follow up on IF Manager/LO1 Manager config issues (apparently the required incantations had to be done twice). [1] Resource calendar schedule conflicts and discussions None. [2] Observing Schedule discussions Some time is available for "general tests" later in the month. We discussed remote observing again; we agreed that the plans/policies we have in place are correct, and we need to proceed to implement them. [3] GBT development planning Planning meeting this week CCC summary will be provided next week. [4] AOB Q-band observing going well, RJM notes that, entirely as expected, careful pointing checks are more critical at Q-band. Nicole requests the converter cable for the VxWorks to Linux migration process be reviewed for physical integrity. Phil wondered whether the new linux computer names (earth, wind and fire) might be changed to something not quite so ambiguous. Full Text of Observers' reports: Date submitted Feb 5, 2005 08:38 AM Observer or Visitor Ji-hyun Kang Reason for visit Observing and data processing Proposal codes 04c-019 Observing, visiting dates 2005/1/18-2005/2/1 Receivers used L(1.15-1.73 GHz); S(1.73-2.6 GHz) Back ends used Spectrometer; Spectral Processor; Digital Continuum Receiver Overall success of observations Moderately successful Observations will result in a journal paper Yes Description of success and problems Success : We could make maps of enough area for each source. and We detected a expanding shell from forbidden-velocity wing area. Prob : When antenna trajectory error occures, it is confusing which line (in the map) should be taken for the following line. Answer was the line that is showen in GO interface. Prob : I think that using two backends in a time is not recommendable. At first, we used Spectro Processor and DCR as backends.It makes some trouble for set up so that it took more than one hour to set up all configurations (we tried this five time). For one backend setup (spectrometer only) in session 6 and 7, the setup time was less than 30 min. Software configuration file includes overapped parameters with GO table. It is quite confusing. Services (a) observing : support system was very good. wonderful. (b) rooming needs : good. adequate. (c) food, cafeteria, housekeeping : good. -- RMP 8. Any other Business