The AUSTRAL schedules are named A14nn where (nn = 01, 02, 03, … , 15).

Interleaved with the AUSTRAL sessions are APSG34 and R1653.

All schedule files for the period from A1401 to A1415 should already be prepared and ready to use before your shift. However, if you are starting APSG34 or R1653, you will need to make the usual schedule file preparations.

The schedule files are written such that the same source is observed at the same sidereal time every day, so the actual schedule changes are NOT at the same UT every day and do not exactly match the IVS schedule. In order to facilitate smooth transition, each schedule must be modified well before its start to accommodate automatic start of the subsequent schedule. For that, a line must be added in the end:

Below is a table summary of all schedules with start/stop times and system checks over the 15 days of AUSTRAL observing.

When you change the module, please put the VSN of the new module and your name in the corresponding column. If you need to change modules unexpectedly, please also put the VSN you use for the corresponding experiment so Imogen knows where the data is and can rearrange the module schedule to compensate.

To edit this spreadsheet, please log in to hbobserver@gmail.com and edit it through the Google Drive

Please carry out the regular two-hourly checks as normal during the observations.

• Description of checklist parameters for AuScope telescopes

It is also possible to monitor the 15m telescope at Hartebeeshoek and you may be asked to respond to problems when local staff are unavailable.

• Monitoring the Hart 15m telescope

It may also be possible to monitor the Warkworth 12m antenna. Details to follow if this becomes possible.

The last line of each schedule contains a command to start the next one (unless the next one is not an AUSTRAL experiment) so it should happen automatically. Once the new schedule has started:

• Send a start message to IVS.
• Send off the log files to IVS. Refer to the page Prepare the comments file and transfer the logs for details. Note that all modules for AUSTRAL experiments from Yarragadee and Katherine are shipped to Hobart, and all AUSTRAL data are eTransfer-ed to Curtin for correlation.

About an hour every few days at each antenna are planned for system checks and module or bank swaps. IMPORTANT! These have not been put in the schedule so if you miss a check, the schedule will continue as normal. However, you do need to interrupt the schedule to do the check. The procedure for the check is the same as for CONT14.

• System checks for AUSTRAL 15 day marathon Sep 2014

IMPORTANT! When stopping for system checks, please be ultra-paranoid to make sure recording has stopped after typing ‘halt’ and that the disks are idle. Check if the recording is running, for example, with the command

 mk5=dot?

If responce to the command contains 'FHG_on', recording is active, terminate with

 disk_record=off

and check again. 'FHG_off' indicates that recording is off.

The safest way to resume the schedule after the checks (or module swaps) is with either:

 schedule=<schedule_name>

which will execute the next schedule command that’s at least 5 min into the future, or, if you know which line of the snap file to start on (N):

 schedule=<schedule_name>,N

Suggested times for the check are listed in a table below: