• Aug 17 (originally Aug 17, the end of track shutdown) : start of PTCS recommissioning of the track

• Aug 31 (originally Aug 17, the end of track shutdown) : start of PTCS recommissioning of the track

GBT07B-011 Dunc Lorimer 3 Duncan.Lorimer@mail.wvu.edu [Toney Minter] GBT07B-012 Dunc Lorimer 3 Duncan.Lorimer@mail.wvu.edu [Toney Minter] GBT07B-017 Vlad Kondratiev 3 vlad.kondratiev@mail.wvu.edu [Toney Minter] GBT07B-006 Fernando Camilo S fernando@astro.columbia.edu [Toney Minter] GBT07B-008 Nissim Kanekar 3 nkanekar@nrao.edu [Frank Ghigo] GBT07A-060 Julia Deneva S deneva@astro.cornell.edu [Scott Ransom]

• Worked on development of 100MHz/1PPS box for Lab Spectrometer. J.D. found that the CPLD wasn't big enough to fit the code so he's moved on to the Spartan development board.

Tested subreflector this week, which revealed software problems. At the mmacro level, the actuators seemed to follow the commands properly, but the test needs to be repeated after the software problems are fixed.

Tested subreflector this week, which revealed software problems. At the macro level, the actuators seemed to follow the commands properly, but the test needs to be repeated after the software problems are fixed.

Parts for the GBT network upgrade are arriving. Looks good for completion by the end of August.

Some issues exist with the Jansky lab <-> Tour Center link and are being investigated.

• Brandon and Patrick's last day was August 9.
• 3 new Cicada memos on IBOB notes, iMPACT and event capture beta design.

• Active Surface:
  • Replaced six LVDTs and 1 motor under the surface this week.
  • Repaired "in the room" problems to fix four more disabled actuators.

• LTA upgrade -- The 1st article upgraded LTA has now been installed in the GBT Spectrometer's Quadrant 0, LTA Slot 0 with no ill effects. Several self tests were run with no errors reported. Basically, the Spectrometer is being used in its Spigot mode(s) during the on-going drift scans, so the LTAs aren't seeing much action right now.
• Transient Event Capture instrument
  • completed and documented both the alpha and beta versions of Glen's 43m Transient Event Capture instrument, 3 new Cicada memos on IBOB notes, iMPACT and event capture beta design.
  • Brandon and Patrick's last day was August 9.
• ALMA
  • Minor correspondence with CV and Data Translation regarding board delivery status. The delivery date slipped from Aug 10 to ~Aug 30 because of the delivery time of the 51 pin connectors.
  • Correspondence with Chuck regarding the bias board test set.
  • Proofread and added comments to the Band 6 ICD document.
• MCB
  • Procured parts to build five additional intelligent converters. Found that I didn't have enough bare PCBs and I'm unable to located the original fab files. We decided to possibly approach redesigning the intelligent converter with a different microcontroller and a new layout.

Complete charter for new pulsar backend development

Continue planning process for new pulsar backend

Servo Systems Status -- John and Tim

Servo Systems Status -- John and Bob

PLC Interlock chassis lab testing was completed this week. Next week, it will be installed in the servo interface cabinet and readied for testing. We will need to coordinate between this testing and need for motion of the telescope during the day. At night, the system will be put back to original configuration.

• Servo improvements
  • No activity
• Instrumentation
  • No activity

We discovered a problem with the 1st stage amplifier in one chanel in PF1. After confering with the obsrevers, Carl, Gary, John, ..., we decided that we will remove the receiver on Monday and repair the amplifier. The receiver should be back on the telescope by Aug 22-24. We also lost ~5 hours when the observers could not restart their obsreving scripts. Governor's school observing went OK, but we're definitely out of practice observing with a 350 MHz, PF transit telescope.

I've modified the commissioning plans to reflect the shift in the end of the track shutdown. Most activities have not been affected. Note that the next milestones are the installation/cooling of Q-band (now with a due date of Aug 31).

On Monday, we will restart our 1 PM commissioning meetings in the conference room. All those involved with any of the activities listed below are invited. I'll send out an agenda either late today or tomorrow.

• ()July 17 through Aug 1 : L-Band refrigerator work. Must be completed for Governor's school
• Aug 1 through Aug 31 (originally Aug 17, the end of track shutdown) : Reinstall Q-band; pump and cool.
• () Aug 6 : Install Mustang
• Aug 6 through no later than Sept 7 : Mustang tests
• By Aug 13 (Originally Aug 10) : Decision as to whether we will use this fall the one polarization configuration of Ka-band.
• () By Aug 10 (1 week before end of track shutdown) : Install S-band and X-band. The receivers will already be cold when they are installed. Due date is set by the end of the track repairs and so may slip forward or backward. Installing by Aug 10 is preferable since that will give us time for receiver checkouts during the track shutdown.
• By Aug 31 (originally Aug 17, the end of track shutdown) : receiver checkouts for () S-, () X-, and Q-band. Includes pulsar checks of new S-band filters. Two nighttime 4 hr sessions per week, the LST is to be determined.
• Aug 31 - Sept 15 (originally Aug 17 - Aug 30, the end of shutdown to 2 weeks later) : Contingency test time for any remaining S-, X-, and Q-band receiver checkouts. One nighttime 4 hr sessions per week. Dynamically scheduled.
• Aug 17 (originally Aug 17, the end of track shutdown) : start of PTCS recommissioning of the track
• No later than Sept. 3 : K-band pumped and cooled
• No later than Sept. 10 but no sooner than 1 week after K-band is cold: K-band receiver checkout. Dynamically scheduled.
• No later than Sept 7 : Mustang removed
• Sept 14 : End of PTCS recommissioning of track
• Week of Sept 17 or Sept 24 : Install Ka-band. Contingent on Aug 10 decision.
• Before Sept 24 : Ku-band removed to make room for Zpec. No need to cool Ku until it is reinstalled (Nov?). Contingent on Aug 10 decision.
• Week of Sept 24 or Oct 1: Install Zpec. Contingent on Aug 13 decision.
• Week of Sept 24 : Q-band project checkout (8 hrs)
• Sept 23 - Sept 30 : SDD software tests for Oct 3 release
• Week of Sept 24, Oct 1, and Oct 8: Ka-band/Spectrometer recommissioning. Contingent on Aug 10 decision. One 8 hr sessions per week of A-class weather (nighttime, dynamically scheduled).

• Oct 1 - Oct 13 : Zpec commissioning, A and B weather, dynamically scheduled. Contingent on Aug 10 decision.
• Oct 7 - 15 : CCB/Ka testing, A-class weather (nighttime, dynamically scheduled).
• No later than week of Oct 15 : Install C-band .
• Oct 18 : Decision as to whether to continue using the Ka-band single-pol configuration. Whether to schedule 100 hrs of Zpec observing. Whether to remove Ka and convert back to old configuration. Whether to proceed with Ka/Spec/CCB observing.
• Oct 21-Nov 2 : C-band astronomical commissioning, C-class weather
• Nov 2 : C-Band observing can start
• Nov 2 : Decision on how to proceed with traditional holography. Which receiver will we remove? When will tests start? Do we need to cut a mounting plate?
• Nov 2-15 : C-band baseline tests, C weather, and X-band baseline tests, B weather, dynamically scheduled.
• Week of Dec 3 : C-band removed, Mustang installed
• Dec 7 : Telescope at access for Mustang
• Dec 8 - week of Jan 15 : Mustang tests -- dynamically scheduled, A weather, nighttime.
• Week of Jan 21 : Mustang removed, C-band installed
• Feb 3-13: SDD software tests for Feb 13 release

The final four welds caused the adjacent areas to bow upward as much as 0.050 inch. In addition, the surface very close to the weld drew down about 0.010 inch. These can be corrected by building up the low areas with weld, and machining down the high areas. Here's what the affect on the schedule looks like; we're still trying to optimize the work.

Weld build-up of the low areas: Today through Monday or Tuesday. Machining of these areas: Sunday through Tuesday or Wednesday (night work) Alignment of unaffected areas: Last night through Sunday night Forming for grouting: today through Monday Grouting: Sunday through Tuesday or Wednesday Cure: Wednesday or Thursday Move: After cure Machining of high areas: Start Wednesday or Thursday night, take 8 nights Grouting of remaining areas: As an octant is finished and aligned. Estimated finish and release for pointing: 8/26 or 8/27.

Now, the HIGH temperatures are affecting work. Plates are storing heat, which affects the alignment effort at night. The grout moves very slowly at warmer ambient and metal temperatures, too (it starts curing quicker). This may cause these activities to take longer.

• Brandon and Patrick's last day was August 9.
• 3 new Cicada memos on IBOB notes, iMPACT and event capture beta design.

• Normal Spacecraft tracking
• Brake springs should arrive next week.
• Still working on astronomical pointing tests and plan for GPS tracking

• Pointing
  • Held a pointing meeting on Wednesday. Observing strategy is set for recommissioning the track.
  • We expect to receive a datafile from Kim today that will allow us to test the implementation of PFM5 in the new M&C code next week
• Holography
  • Not much new here, Ron G. continuing to test Linux version of the manager on the simulator. Should be ready to switch to real hardware next week.

Activities List

Activities List

Last Week =====

Observations for proposals GBT07B-012, GBT07B-035

Next Week ===== Observations scheduled for ** GBT07B-012 [F ] Dunc Lorimer Pulsar searching in the classroom using the GBT ** Scheduled as F-ixed, P-rimary, B-ackup

Contact Information for 08/23/2007 - 09/06/2007 =================================== Proposal PI Bands Email [NRAO contact]

Scheduled hours [backup] ==================== Category/Month-> August September Astronomy ~ 330 [026] 314 [376] Maintenance ~ 195 21 [068] Test & Comm ~ 219 [005] 322 [030] Un-assigned ~ 0 93

Proposal Checkouts #[hrs]* ===================== Awaiting checkout - 0[0] Active checkout - 0[0] On Hold - 0[0] Schedule - 76[3221] Completed - 491[6289] * All but completed queue applies to GBT only proposals

Current backlog of Reg & RRS proposals [hours prior to 07B*] = 1170 [2005:369(14), 2006:358(18), 2007:444(21)] Backlog includes 59 hrs of monitoring projects 182 hrs of vlbi projects Total time to discharge [hours] = 6336 Includes 274 hours++ of monitoring (not Large or Spec) after trimester 07B

1. 1. 1. 1. hours of Regular & RRS proposals
         2. hours of Large proposals
         3. hours of Track Refurbishment proposals
         4. hours of VLBI proposals

There have been intermittent alarms occurring on the 43meter Citect display which are in error. We are troubleshooting the Citect system to isolate where it is coming from. The system is otherwise functioning properly.

The debug of the Servo PLC upgrade, in the lab, is just about complete. The system will be installed on the GBT next week. Static testing will begin mid to end of next week.

• PF1 instabilities and elevated temperatures traced to a defective cryogenic amplifier.
• Removal and repair begins on Monday, August 13 with a quick as possible turn around planned. (~ 10 days)
• Defroster installed and working this week.

Development

Development

• The Ka/Zpectrometer combination testing is ongoing, offsets are five to ten times better than shown in lab tests earlier in the Spring. Stability is better by at least a factor of five.
• Maryland contingent are ready to go forth with observations.
• Cryogenic pulse tube dewars tests were successful.
• MUSTANG installed and cooling as of Thursday as scheduled.

%META:TOPICINFO{author="AmyShelton" date="1186679640" format="1.0" version="1.1"}% %META:TOPICPARENT{name="CommissioningMeetings"}%

GBT Operations & Commissioning Meeting

10 August 2007

AGENDA

• Upcoming Activities -- Carl
• Az Track, Antennae Report -- Bob
• Observing News -- Ron
• Scheduling Status -- Carl
• Microwave Electronics Status -- Steve
  • Operations
  • Development
• Digital Electronics Status -- Randy
  • Operations, Problem Summary
  • Development
  • Plans
• Servo Systems Status -- John and Tim
  • Operations, Problem Summary
  • Development
• Software Status -- Amy
  • Operational & User Support
  • Modification Requests/Tasks
• Computing -- Chris
• PTCS -- PTCS Team
• Pulsar Related -- Scott
• MIT/LL 43m Project -- Glen
• Commissioning Plans -- Ron
• Any other Business

Upcoming Activities -- Carl

Az Track, Antennae Report -- Bob

Observing News -- Ron

Scheduling Status -- Carl

Microwave Electronics Status -- Steve

Operations

Development

Digital Electronics Status -- Randy

Operations, Problem Summary

Development

Plans

Servo Systems Status -- John and Tim

Operations, Problem Summary

Development

Software Status -- Amy

We are in the final full week of the fifth development cycle of 2007 which can be viewed at PlanOfRecordC52007. We are scheduled to release on August 15. We conducted two integration tests this week on August 7 and 9. The reports are available - August 7, August 9. Release notes are in development.

Operational & User Support

• Ygor uninformed of newly mounted receivers, updated antenna_pfm database and loaded cabling file.
• Antenna Characterization needed to be restarted after temperature sensor hardware checkup.
• Helped Scott diagnose a spigot issue with cfitsio. Spigot Makefiles should use the M&C installation of cfitsio.

Modification Requests/Tasks

• MRs ready for release:
  • GetSample() Access to Samplers from Observing Scripts (ModificationRequest4C407)
  • Revise Auto-Clearing of Subreflector Commands Between Scans in Turtle (ModificationRequest2C507)
  • Ka FITS Message Angle Keyword (ModificationRequest6C507)
  • Ka FITS Message Angle Comment (ModificationRequest11C507)
  • Set GFM's Processing of Ka Data to Raw (ModificationRequest3C507)
• MRs ready for sponsor testing:
  • Implement PFM5 revised pointing/focus model (ModificationRequest1C407)
• MRs under development:
  • Modify Peak Finding Algorithm for Pointing/Focus Code (ModificationRequest4C207)
    • FrankGhigo and ToddHunter have settled on GaussianFilter as preferred method. However, since this approach changes the resultant pointing offset values, deployment of the selected approach will be postponed until after the new pointing model is implemented this summer.
  • SCCU Servo Changes (ModificationRequest1C806)
    • Although the code is working, we have found that commanded velocity spikes occur during normal observing. To date this has not been a problem since the hardware filters out the spikes. However with the hardware modifications coupled with this MR, the spikes will corrupt the intended operation of the friction compensation. John is working on modeling a different methods of deriving the velocity commands.
• MRs under CCC review:
  • Port Holography Manager to Linux (ModificationRequest1C307)
• MRs ready for sponsor signature:
  • Add DIO interface to Linux Holography Manager (ModificationRequest12C507)
• MRs being written:
  • Control of Subreflector Nodding by Astrid (ModificationRequest2C407)
    • As of Aug. 9 meeting, this MR will split into two separate MRs. Both are being written.
  • Ka Manager Changes (ModificationRequest1C507)
    • GalenWatts is working on MR.
  • Correct Labeling of Ka-band Hybrid-Switched Signals (ModificationRequest3C407)
    • Tests in the lab showed that the simulation in the IF Manager were based on outdated documentation. Ran experiments on the simulator to attempt to verify this was the problem on the telescope. Resolution is somewhat complex since the observing on the telescope was performed with two errors: wrong receiver simulation and wrong cabling file. We cannot be completely certain that we are reproducing the environment that was on the telescope. Need to set aside analysis of past problem and finish MR.
  • Create Pyrgeometer Manager (ModificationRequest2C207)
    • No progress.
  • Mustang Manager (ModificationRequest6C507)
    • This MR will be broken up into many smaller MRs. We will be working next week with Brian Mason and other project team members to scope out crate/parameter/cabling specs. We will also be working with Simon Dicker next week to scope out the housekeeping requirements.
  • Data File Stream Upgrade (ModificationRequest7C507)
    • No progress this week.
• Tabled MRs:
  • Add Two New ScanTypes: FivePoint and Circle (ModificationRequest1C706)
• Other Activities:
  • Complete Pointing Processing Description Memo - Work being performed as part of implement model 5 task above.
  • Dynamic Scheduling - Little or no effort this week.
  • Create SRS for PST Administrative Functionality - We are iterating with Carl to refine requirements.
  • Complete Documentation of Cross-Polarization Changes - Almost complete.
  • Evaluate GBT Data Handling Status & Future Options - No work this week because of release preparation.
  • Mustang Support - Mustang is here for the fit check. We checked out spider (the host computer) for use on the telescope.
  • PTCS Support - Investigating subreflector data problems found during servo debugging.

Computing -- Chris

PTCS -- PTCS Team

Pulsar Related -- Scott

MIT/LL 43m Project -- Glen

Commissioning Plans -- Ron

Any other Business