• About the AuScope VLBI Project
• Operator training documentation (PDF). Includes project background, info on scheduling and rosters, overview of the telescopes and related hardware.
• Acronym dictionary

These are notes on IVS observations from ops2, the six-monitor PC in the AuScope VLBI Operations room in Hobart.

If you are unfamiliar with the computers and software used at the sites and in the control room, please read this before continuing:

• Introductory notes on computers and software

Below is a step-by-step procedure for making IVS observations on the 12m telescopes. The current version of e-RemoteCtrl has a built-in checklist which can now be used during the setup procedure. So the first task is to start the Observing and monitoring software at each site, then e-RemoteCtrl.

Check that the software on the timing PCs is running:

• Software on the timing PC

• Starting the PC Field System Software

• Start the System Monitor

• Start e-Remote Ctrl
• Open a new PCFS log file
• Next, set up the log monitor to provide warnings and alarms
• Now start the Checklist

The checklist should now be visible. The items in the list are described below and can be ticked off as you go

• Preparing the schedule and procedure files
• On occasions, the Hobart data are written to disk between scans for e-transfer to Tsukuba for ultra-rapid EOP observations. Some additional changes to the schedule files are required in this case:
  • Additional schedule preparation for Hb ultra-rapid EOP experiments
  • Additional tasks prior to starting Ultra-rapid EOP observations

• Configuring the RF and IF signal paths

• Hydrogen Maser check

The Digital Base-Band Converter (DBBC) takes the IF signals from the telescope and digitises them for the Mark5 recorder. The DBBC needs to be properly configured prior to an observation:

• Configuring the DBBC

Next the Mark5 recorder needs to be prepared for the observations.

• Mark5B recorder setup

• Checking clock offsets and delays

• Making a test recording

• Tsys measurement check

• Antenna checks

• Weather conditions

• Fringe checking procedure

• Sending a station ready email to IVS

• Start Skype and begin a chat session with all participating sites plus the on-call person

• Starting and monitoring the observations

At the end of an observation:

• Finishing up
• Following on with another experiment
• Processing logs and shipping data

• eVLBI

• Schedule file preparation
• Observing
• Correlation

Gmail accounts have been set up for registration with skype and other services. The usual Observer password applies.

gmail: keobserver@gmail.com

Skype: keobserver

gmail: ygobserver@gmail.com

skype: ygobserver

gmail: hbobserver@gmail.com

skype: hbobserver