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Table of Contents
IVS Experiments
Setting Up
DBBC
After editing the proc file, it is necessary to set up the DBBC and Mark5B. The C:\DBBC_CONF\dbbc_config_file.txt has been edited to set the frequencies correctly for R1/R4 type experiments. For other experiments, the DBBC frequencies can be calculated either from the sky frequencies or from the original values of the VCs in the proc file. The sky frequencies are given in the skd file. To convert the VC frequency settings to DBBC frequencies you need to add 480 MHZ for the first 4, add 980.1 for dbbc05-dbbc08, add 120 for dbbc09-dbbc14 and set dbbc15 and dbbc16 to something innocuous (say, 320 MHz) as they're not being recorded. Running C:\DBBC_CONF\DBBC Control.190710.exe and answering yes to configure the system should load the frequencies correctly. One the configuration is complete, you need to set up the IF system. The commands to do this are
dbbcifa=1,agc,1
dbbcifb=4,agc,4
dbbcifc=2,agc,2
dbbcifd=2,agc,2
It appears that CoMo 3 is reporting low total power levels. It may be that there is a poor connection on one of the SMAs…The target values for the total power readings is 56000. this can be checked by the command dbbcif[abcd]. If the levels are too high or low, then adjust the attenuation on the IF box.
Mark5B
As oper@mk5hb, first check if the dimino program is running (ps -ef | grep dim). If not, start it with “dimino -m0&”. While your at the prompt, check that the ntp time is correct by running “ntpq”, and then issuing the “peers” command. The offset and delay to tac32ho should be small (less than ~5 milliseconds). If it is not, then the best thing to do is to run “fmset” on pcfsya, set the time (with “.”) and then sync the formatter (“s”, followed by “y”). Exit from fmset as soon as you have finished.
It's worthwhile making a test recording using the mark5b. To do this you can either use tstdimino on mk5hb or the fs. The instructions below are for the fs but to use them in tstdimino, omit the leading “mk5=”.
mk5=mode=ext:0x55555555:2 (For VSI recording, 1-bit sampling, 8 MHz BW)
mk5=dot? (Check that the times reported are correct, that FHG_off and syncerr_eq_0) and that the final number is less than ~5 ms)
mk5=record=on
mk5=dot? (As before, but it should say FHG_on)
mk5=record=off
mk5=scan_check? (Check the last numbers are the correct date at the start of the scan, duration, the data rate (should be 256 for this mode) and 0 at the end for no problems)
If all seems ok, delete the recording from the disk using
mk5=protect=off
mk5=reset=erase
Running the Schedule
Start the schedule with “schedule=r4447hb,#1” as usual. During the experiment, the following checks can be made.
onsource - Onsource reporting does not work reliably at the moment. Instead check the HMI controller for the current Az, El and the reported errors. The Az & El of the source at the start of the scan are listed in the printed snap file summary.
Clocks
- Run “/usr/bin/xterm -name monit2 -e /usr2/fs/bin/monit2” on pcfsya to check pcfs time.
- Check SNTP Server OK in the HMI
- Run clkoff to check formatter-GPS time offset
Rx/IF system - Run systemp12 to check system temperature. The reported values should be ~25 CAL units for S-band (only one channel has the appropriate filter and will give consistent values) and 12-13 CALs for X-band. When scaled to Kelvin, expect values of ~85-90 K.
Mark5B
- disk_pos should report three values - the current number of btyes recorded, bytes at start of previous scan and bytes at start of current scan. If not currently recording, the first and third values should agree.
- decoder time - Check time offset in the formatter with “mk5=dot?” and check that it reports a small offset as the final value, than syncerr_eq_0 and that FHG_on or FHG_off depending on whether it is currently recording or not.
- Check mode with “mk5=mode?”. The result should be “/mk5/!mode? 0 : ext : 0x55555555 : 2 : 2 ;”
Weather Conditions - wth as usual. Also log conditions as per 26m
End of experiment - The “source=stow” command does not currently work so please stow the dish using the HMI interface and the “Stow” button.
To run the status monitor, enter this command at the pcfsya prompt
/usr/bin/xterm -name monit2 -e /usr2/fs/bin/monit2
Common problems
- clkoff reading is drifting or far from the maser-GPS offset - This usually is caused by the DBBC. First, go around the back of rack 14 and move the cable from the DOTMON output of the Mark5B to the “1 PPS Mon” output of the DBBC (left hand side, sixth SMA from the top). If the same offset is seen on the counter, then the problem in in the DBBC. A temporary fix can be achieved with
pps_syncin DBBC Control but this did not reliably fix the problem on 13/10/10. Instead, try reconfiguring the DBBC withreconf- this will take ~two minutes in total and you will need to re-issue thedbbcifa=…commands, and resynch the mark5B withfmset.r at the prompt, check that the ntp time is correct by running “ntpq”, and then issuing the “peers” command. The offset and delay to tac32ho should be small (less than ~5 milliseconds). If it is not, then the best thing to do is to run “fmset” on pcfsya, set the time (with “.”) and then sync the formatter (“s”, followed by “y”). Exit from fmset as soon as you have finished.
It's worthwhile making a test recording using the mark5b. To do this you can either use tstdimino on mk5hb or the fs. The instructions below are for the fs but to use them in tstdimino, omit the leading “mk5=”.
mk5=mode=ext:0x55555555:2 (For VSI recording, 1-bit sampling, 8 MHz BW)
mk5=dot? (Check that the times reported are correct, that FHG_off and syncerr_eq_0) and that the final number is less than ~5 ms)
mk5=record=on
mk5=dot? (As before, but it should say FHG_on)
mk5=record=off
mk5=scan_check? (Check the last numbers are the correct date at the start of the scan, duration, the data rate (should be 256 for this mode) and 0 at the end for no problems)
If all seems ok, delete the recording from the disk using
mk5=protect=off
mk5=reset=erase
Running the Schedule
Start the schedule with “schedule=r4447hb,#1” as usual. During the experiment, the following checks can be made.
onsource - Onsource reporting does not work reliably at the moment. Instead check the HMI controller for the current Az, El and the reported errors. The Az & El of the source at the start of the scan are listed in the printed snap file summary.
Clocks
- Run “/usr/bin/xterm -name monit2 -e /usr2/fs/bin/monit2” on pcfsya to check pcfs time.
- Check SNTP Server OK in the HMI
- Run clkoff to check formatter-GPS time offset
Rx/IF system - Run systemp12 to check system temperature. The reported values should be ~25 CAL units for S-band (only one channel has the appropriate filter and will give consistent values) and 12-13 CALs for X-band. When scaled to Kelvin, expect values of ~85-90 K.
Mark5B
- disk_pos should report three values - the current number of btyes recorded, bytes at start of previous scan and bytes at start of current scan. If not currently recording, the first and third values should agree.
- decoder time - Check time offset in the formatter with “mk5=dot?” and check that it reports a small offset as the final value, than syncerr_eq_0 and that FHG_on or FHG_off depending on whether it is currently recording or not.
- Check mode with “mk5=mode?”. The result should be “/mk5/!mode? 0 : ext : 0x55555555 : 2 : 2 ;”
Weather Conditions - wth as usual. Also log conditions as per 26m
End of experiment - The “source=stow” command does not currently work so please stow the dish using the HMI interface and the “Stow” button.
To run the status monitor, enter this command at the pcfsya prompt
/usr/bin/xterm -name monit2 -e /usr2/fs/bin/monit2
Common problems
- clkoff reading is drifting or far from the maser-GPS offset - This usually is caused by the DBBC. First, go around the back of rack 14 and move the cable from the DOTMON output of the Mark5B to the “1 PPS Mon” output of the DBBC (left hand side, sixth SMA from the top). If the same offset is seen on the counter, then the problem in in the DBBC. A temporary fix can be achieved with
pps_syncin DBBC Control but this did not reliably fix the problem on 13/10/10. Instead, try reconfiguring the DBBC withreconf- this will take ~two minutes in total and you will need to re-issue thedbbcifa=…commands, and resynch the mark5B withfmset.
DBBC configuration
