Problem Solving the Spigot

Last modified: Thursday, 01-Jul-2004 09:19:09 EDT

Problem Solving the Spigot

Problem Possible Solution Why did this happen?
get_simple_data does not wait for the "startSpigot" command Try typing "stopSpigot" a couple of time on earth, and then try again. This happens because occasionally the stopSpigot simply isn't caught by the spectrometer. Sometimes this is because you typed the stopSpigot command too early (the spigot was still taking data). But the problem also occurs even when you do everything correctly.
Spectra does not look like a bandpass Try going back to step B, with the "set_manager_on('Spectrometer')" command. Turn on the spectrometer manager and re-issue all the set-up commands. This happens when the spectrometer gets confused about its state. This occurs most often if you've forgotten to turn the spectrometer managet off before issuing the "loadXilinx" command. But again it occasionally (rarely!) happens without any error on the observers part.
"Tick Error" appears when running the get_simple_data routine, and data taking stops Make sure you are on one of the raid disks before running the get_simple_data routine (e.g. either a /dataX disk on spigot2 or /raidX disk on spigot) The spigot takes data too quickly to write across the network, and so you must be on a local disk for all data taking
"Tick Error" appears when running the get_simple_data routine, data taking stops, and I am on a raid disk Try again. If this persists, call your support person. You've encountered a problem.....
prepfold program crashes for no apparent reason You may have a blank line in your .par file. Edit the file and remove all blank lines prepfold doesn't like blank lines
Bandpass and rawlags look great, but the pulsar doesn't appear after folding the data You've got the wrong sideband flip in your header files. Take a look at the tables (available at http://www.gb.nrao.edu/GBT/spectrometer/spigot_card/blackbelt.shtml) to see what the header should read, and use "pyhead.py" to change them accordingly In order to fold the pulsar data correctly, you need to know wether the lowest channel is the highest or lowest frequency.

Problem	Possible Solution	Why did this happen?
get_simple_data does not wait for the "startSpigot" command	Try typing "stopSpigot" a couple of time on earth, and then try again.	This happens because occasionally the stopSpigot simply isn't caught by the spectrometer. Sometimes this is because you typed the stopSpigot command too early (the spigot was still taking data). But the problem also occurs even when you do everything correctly.
Spectra does not look like a bandpass	Try going back to step B, with the "set_manager_on('Spectrometer')" command. Turn on the spectrometer manager and re-issue all the set-up commands.	This happens when the spectrometer gets confused about its state. This occurs most often if you've forgotten to turn the spectrometer managet off before issuing the "loadXilinx" command. But again it occasionally (rarely!) happens without any error on the observers part.
"Tick Error" appears when running the get_simple_data routine, and data taking stops	Make sure you are on one of the raid disks before running the get_simple_data routine (e.g. either a /dataX disk on spigot2 or /raidX disk on spigot)	The spigot takes data too quickly to write across the network, and so you must be on a local disk for all data taking
"Tick Error" appears when running the get_simple_data routine, data taking stops, and I am on a raid disk	Try again. If this persists, call your support person.	You've encountered a problem.....
prepfold program crashes for no apparent reason	You may have a blank line in your .par file. Edit the file and remove all blank lines	prepfold doesn't like blank lines
Bandpass and rawlags look great, but the pulsar doesn't appear after folding the data	You've got the wrong sideband flip in your header files. Take a look at the tables (available at http://www.gb.nrao.edu/GBT/spectrometer/spigot_card/blackbelt.shtml) to see what the header should read, and use "pyhead.py" to change them accordingly	In order to fold the pulsar data correctly, you need to know wether the lowest channel is the highest or lowest frequency.