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GBT Operations & Commissioning Meeting

25th February 2005

AGENDA


Az Track, Antennae Report -- Bob

SGH is processing the results of a model of a wider wear plate. We should hear from them Friday. Wear plates are in fabrication - Due next month.


Observing News -- Ron / Frank

Observing News

The last week has been extremely full with 13 observing programs, in 23 observing sessions, 17 hours of PTCS tests, 4 hours of program checkouts, and one maintenance day. Average setup time was 40 minutes which, because of the large number of sessions, amounted to about 15 hours. Lost time was 12% of the observing and test time with loses due to the weather and Spectrometer topping the list again this week. The significant lost time came from:

Snow: 10 hrs Spectrometer hardware: 3.5 hrs Winds: 2.9 hrs GFM: 1.75 hrs All Others: 0.6 hrs

In other news, the March support schedule is now out. Next week's support will be a bit lighter. Observers seem to be happy with the performance of the Q-band system, although I think many have been caught off guard by the rapid variability of Tsys even when opacities are low.

We again met for our biweekly session on "Observing Issues". Since these meetings will be happening regularly, and Karen is placing the results onto the web, I won't report on these meetings unless there was a newsworthy item that we discussed.

-- RJM


Scheduling Status -- Carl

Last Week
=========

Observations for proposals
   GM059     , GBT05A-042, GBT05A-010, 
   GBT04A-001, GBT04A-035, GBT05A-003, 
   GBT05A-004, GB053     , GBT02A-069, 
   GBT04C-037, GBT04A-018, GBT04C-028, 
   GBT04C-006, GBT03B-018

Completed proposals
   GBT04C-037, GBT04C-006, GBT03B-018

Next Week
=========
Observations scheduled for **
  GBT05A-041 [  B] Paul Demorest
       Precision Timing of Binary and Millisecond Pulsars
  GBT05A-042 [  B] Andrew Baker
       HI Observations of Isolated Ellipticals           
  GBT05A-010 [F B] Tim Robishaw
       Constraining the Magnetic Field in the Taurus     
       Molecular Cloud                                   
  GBT04A-001 [ P ] Paul Vanden Bout
       Q-Band CO Observations                            
  BU030      [F  ] Jim Ulvestad
        A Search for Young Supernovae in Super Star      
       Clusters                                          
  GBT05A-004 [F B] Dain Kavars
       OH Observations of HI Self-Absorption Clouds      
  GBT05A-038 [  B] Dan Stinebring
       Pulsar Scintillation Arc Time Variations          
  GB053      [F  ] Norbert Bartel
       The expansion, structure, and distance of SN 1979C
  GBT04A-018 [ P ] Tim Robishaw
       CCS: The Molecular Magnetometer of Choice         
  GBT03C-028 [ P ] Fabian Walter
       The Molecular Gas Content in z>6 Quasars: Probing 
       the End of Cosmic Reionization                    
** Scheduled as F-ixed, P-rimary, B-ackup

Contact Information for 03/10/2005 - 03/24/2005
=======================================
Proposal   PI                 Bands Email [NRAO contact]    
---------- ------------------ ----- --------------------
GBT05A-041 Paul Demorest      L8    demorest@astron.berkeley.edu [Scott Ransom]
GBT05A-020 Yancy Shirley      KQ    yshirley@nrao.edu [Glen Langston]
GBT05A-031 Jean-Luc Margot    X     jlm@astro.cornell.edu [Frank Ghigo]
GBT05A-032 Thomas Greve       K     tgreve@submm.caltech.edu [Karen O'Neil]
GBT05A-033 Ingrid Stairs      L     istairs@astro.ubc.ca [Scott Ransom]
GBT05A-012 Larry Morgan       K     L.K.Morgan@star.kent.ac.uk [Ron Maddalena]
GBT04B-011 Barney Rickett     SC    rickett@ece.ucsd.edu [Toney Minter]
GBT01A-020 Mike Hollis        Q     jan.m.hollis@gsfc.nasa.gov [Ron Maddalena]
GBT02A-035 Min Yun            KU    myun@astro.umass.edu [Frank Ghigo]
GBT05A-038 Dan Stinebring     8L    dan.stinebring@oberlin.edu [Toney Minter]
GBT04B-026 Michael Kramer     L8    mkramer@jb.man.ac.uk [Karen O'Neil]
GBT05A-018 Laura Hainline     B     ljh@astro.caltech.edu [Frank Ghigo]
GBT04B-029 Ingrid Stairs      L     istairs@astro.ubc.ca [Karen O'Neil]
GBT04C-028 Claire Chandler    K     cchandle@aoc.nrao.edu [Toney Minter]
GBT03C-028 Fabian Walter      Q     walter@mpia.de [Glen Langston]

Scheduled hours [backup]
========================
Category/Month-> February  March     April     May       
    Astronomy ~  440 [045] 431 [219] 436 [191] 440 [196] 
  Maintenance ~   67         9 [143]  30 [111]   0 [136] 
  Test & Comm ~  164 [009] 276 [065] 202 [036] 215 [048] 
  Un-assigned ~    1        29        53        89       

Proposal Checkouts
==================
Awaiting checkout - 0
  Active checkout - 12
          On Hold - 8
         Schedule - 51
        Completed - 291


Current backlog [hours prior to 05A*] = 885
Total time to discharge [hours] = 2470
* Includes projects that are on hold for trimester 05A

                                                                     -- RCB


Microwave Electronics Status -- Roger

Operational issues: Low gain was found in the IF 3 channel, confirming observer reports. Steve is working to isolate the cause, as well as a stability issue in the IF 8 channel which came to light after the ODM was put back in service (IF 8 is not released for use).

The synthesizer that failed in the LO1B slot a few weeks ago was successfully repaired in-house. The problem was in a 10dB step attenuator which is used to coarsely set the output level. Rubber o-rings used as mechanical dampers had deteriorated and gummed up the switch mechanism. After we were able to find the proper size replacement o-rings, Jonah was able to install them and restore operation.

Ka Receiver - Progress is being made on design of waveguide-to-coax adapters that will become part of the integrated LO distribution assembly.

3mm Receiver - Wiring of the cardcage and assembly of PCBs continue. Progress is being made on the adhesion of matching layers to the quartz window blanks. Learning the art of flame-treating polyethylene seems to be the key.

R. Norrod 2/24/2005


Digital Electronics Status -- Rich


Software Status -- Nicole

Single Dish Development IPT #116 - Friday, February 25, 2005

Today ends Week 2 out of 7 in the second development cycle of 2005. The new Plan of Record is available from the wiki at PlanOfRecordC22005. The next period of software releases, including M&Cv5.2, will occur on or around March 31, 2005.

Though this is still the start of the new cycle, some tasks have already been accomplished. GFM's process for listening to incoming scans has been significantly improved, and log file generation is no longer corrupted by having text purposefully or accidentally highlighted in the log window. 9 out of 13 SDFITS known issues were coded this week, and support is being provided to Tim Robishaw to ensure that SDFITS changes to support his data reduction in GBTIDL will be supported (he uses cross-correlation modes with the spectral processor).

An MR for adding a means for the config_tool to route directly from the Ka band receiver to the DCR was also written and is awaiting signature. Specifications were prepared for a machine to replace vortex, and the order is being put in with Gareth tomorrow, as it will be paid for with digital infrastructure funds.

Operational support over the past week has included:

* GFM was not receiving scan data when launched inside of Astrid. The dialog that prompted you to go online/offline upon startup of Astrid was removed to resolve the problem. Astrid users must go to File->Work Online under the data display tab to receive incoming data.

* An update to the CLASS file generator was made since mapping offsets were incorrect. Visiting observer is now performing sponsor testing.

--NMR


Project Planning Status -- John

 February 22, 2005
                       Planning Meeting Minutes
                       Rm 137 10:45 A.M.

0) Observer comments & operator log items resulting in lost time: 
    Observer's comments received from:
      John Hibbard  GBT05A-034
        Summary:
        Successful observations.  Plagued by Spectrometer problems
        Spectral Processer usage is obtuse.
           Nicole will talk to John to see where the spectral
           processor is difficult.

      Alet de Witt   GBT 05A-021
        Summary:
        Successful observations.  Plagued by Spectrometer problems.

              Both observers were bothered by the lag steps in the LTA
              boards.  This problem is being actively worked.

    Operator's log comments
      Significant failures the past week stemmed from: 

    Computing:
      Ron mentioned that in the past few weeks there have been
      problems with thallassa.  John will mention it to Chris and
      Chris can get the details from Ron or Joe Brandt.

    Software:
      Spectrometer, PF1 Manager, GFM, IARDS, LO1/ config tool, AIPS++,
      Spectral Processor hangs
        The PF1 Manager problem has been fixed by porting the system
        to Linux.  The GFM problem was also resolved and patched in.
        The AIPS++ problem is under investigation.  The spectrometer
        and Spectral Processor problems are known.

    Electronics:
      Spectrometer, OD3, Weather 3 spurious wind speed readings,
        John suggested that the Weather 3 readings be ignored for
        purposes of operating the telescope.  Bob Anderson agreed, and
        will inform the rest of Operations to ignore Weather 3.  Ron
        reports that OD#3 worked for him after the earlier problem
        report.  It may be that a filter is bad.  Rich is still
        slaving away on the Spectrometer LTA boards, and making some
        headway.

    Telescope/Servo:
      Wind, bad Q band weather, PF focus readout
         Weadon will be asked to replace the PF Focus transducer next
         week when he returns from vacation, if we get a maintenance
         day.

    Other: 
 
     
    Other Problems from Observing Reports: 
      Karen O'Neil: unsupported sane spectrometer mode
      Frank Ghigo: GO slewto bug
      Glen reported some other config tool problems, which were solved
      by Melinda.
      Ron reported that a couple more config problems existed last
      week which I failed to find in my emails.
  
1) Resource calendar schedule conflicts and discussions
    None.  Thursday *may* not be a maintenance day, pending decisions
    from Richard on Q band testing.
      Items of maintenance for this week include timing center power
      supply, OD#3 tests, track shimming, and spectrometer repair.

2) Observing Schedule discussions
      General Test Time allocations need to be made.  Q band tests
      will take all good weather, so we need to meet later this week
      and figure out what to do in non-Q band weather.

3) GBT development planning
   CCC activity
     No activity last week on the CCC.

4) AOB
    None

Any other Business

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