GB . Observing . CommissioningMeeting07Oct26

GBT Operations & Commissioning Meeting

We supported 20 projects in 30 observing session, including 3 VLB runs. The telescope was also scheduled for 8.5 hrs of maintenance, 7 hrs of C-band tests, 5 hrs of PTCS tests, and 2 hrs of LTA DC offsets in the spectrometer and Ka-band nodding tests. Lost time was 5.5 hrs (3.5%).

Active Surface 'noise' : 1.7 hrs (2 instances)
CCB configuration legacy script : 1.5 hrs
Cable to 'Wind' : 0.8 hrs
VLBA Computer/station problems : 0.6 hrs (2 instances)
GFM Interactive 'bug' : 0.6 hrs (2 instances)
VLB Schedule : 0.2 hrs
Astrid lockup : 0.1 hrs

Items to note:

The noise from the active surface is said to be the same noise it has always made.
Because we were observing a VLB session during heavy rain, the pointing was failing and the operators wanted to use the interactive acceptance of pointing solutions. Astrid had problems with this feature and the scheduling blocks would hang. The scheduling blocks then needed to be edited before they could be resubmitted. Are there ways to make this work more smoothly on both the Astrid and VLB side?

Commissioning Plans -- Ron

On Sunday, Toney performed some tests of the config-tool changes for C-Band. On Wed., Dana started C-band commissioning. Andy Harris has a draft memo on their Zpec commissioning. I sent a prototype vector Tcal algorithm for Ka-band subreflector nodding to DJ, Bob G., Toney, and Jim for their comments. C-band commissioning continues through next week, followed by Roger's C- and X-band baseline tests.

BTW... I've shortened the following list by dropping all items from before Oct. 1. As a reminder, on the commissioning schedule there's a Nov 2 deadline for some decisions concerning traditional holography.

Carl and I are requesting that everyone must submit all requests for telescope time for the 8A trimester by mid Nov. Requests should be entered at http://wiki.gb.nrao.edu/bin/view/Observing/Planning08A

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

GBT Telescope Operations -- Bob

Routine operations and maintenance.

Mechanical Division Operations -- Dennis

Microwave Electronics Operations -- Steve

Ku band testing completed. This receiver will be stored warm in the Lab.

Digital Electronics Operations -- Randy

Some individuals in OPS reported hearing a "horrible noise" coming from the Active Surface. Subsequent investigations verified that this was just the normal noise made by the actuators and that, most likely, just had not been noticed before.
One LVDT module was repaired to clear a patch of 16 disabled actuators.

RFI Group Operations -- Carla

Software Operations -- Amy

Operational Support:
- Antenna/Active surface - Debugging and analysis of new weird 'air-brakes' sound on the GBT
- Answering Business Office System helpdesk tickets
- PrePoint retrieving incorrect TCals for some scans
C7 Plan of Record - PlanOfRecordC72007
Software effort metrics for C6 available - MetricsC62007

Computing Operations -- Chris

/home/sdfits disc upgraded to 230Gb from 65Gb

Business Services -- Mike

43m Operations -- Glen

Normal Space Object tracking
Real Time Trajectory tests were successful.
- Some more improvements will be tested on the weekend.
- Tests with MIT/LL next Wednesday at 9:00 AM.
43m planning meeting yields some items to work into the next cycle planning.

Project and Development Work

Dynamic Scheduling -- Karen

Accomplishments:
- Software:
  - We have installed the infrastructure for unit testing including an integration directory to be used with nightly test runs.
  - We have a class design for scoring (Project Note 5) and aim to have the core completed by November 6.
- Science:
  - Project note 5 has been updated to include 48 hour look ahead and MUSTANG observing
  - Larry has a preliminary document for astronomers on the weather conditions
- Project management
  - Review of plans for GB staff to take place in early Dec
  - Review of DSS for CV staff mid-Dec
  - Carl wrote document for PST on reports, etc. he needs for proposal processing
Upcoming events
- Software: Will continue work on class design;
- Science: Larry will work on revisions of his memo; Begin work on clarifying Ron's weather info; Clarify weather terms from memo 5.2

MUSTANG -- Brian

PTCS program -- PTCS Team

Servo Systems
- Working on Acceleration feedforward coefficient determination.
Pointing
- Expect to receive Matlab scripts from Kim on Monday which will allow GB staff to begin the process of learning how to independently reproduce the PFM5 pointing model
Holography
Instrumentation

CICADA program -- CICADA Team

Planning for GUPPi workshop mostly completed. About 18 people expected from CV, GB, WVU, Caltech, and Berkeley. Agenda is on the Web pages for those who are interested.
Successfully concatenated the eight 8-bit ADC samples into two 32-bit data streams and transmit them across two XAUIs, between two iBOBs. We were able to stop the ADC clock and read the same register values on both iBOBs, indicating that the received data stream matches the stream that was transmitted.
Fixed development workstation #2. Patched the EDK up to the same level as the "echo" EDK.

Ka-band Rx / Zpectrometer -- Galen

K-band Focal Plane Array -- Steve

A K band FPA data analysis and scientific workshop is planned for November 26-28
A noise calibration memo is posted on the wiki for discussion.
A teleconference is sheduled for Monday October, 29 at 11:00 AM.

Other Project Notes

Any other Business

Office Space

We had a discussion of office space yesterday. The proposed solution includes combining the "Fred Lo" visitor office with Connie Williams's office, and using the upstairs terminal room and conference room as office space (moving these in to the basement). There will need to be some moves, as follows:

Todd Hunter moves in with Dana Balser.
Galen Watts moves to Todd's current office
Kevin Sexton and Peter Whiteis share Galen's current office
The Junior Sysadmin moves in to the current upstairs terminal room
The Project Manager has the current sysadmin room (Pam Ford's old office)
Lihong Yao moves in to the current upstairs conference room (GB241)
New Software Engineer moves in to the current upstairs conference room
Conference room moves to the basement

This should keep us going for a while....

Return WVU day

A number of us will be visiting WVU on Tuesday November 13th for "return WVU day".

Potential NSF visit

We may have a visit from our NSF Program Officers on November 14/15th. Please be prepared to be on your best behavior.

-- RichardPrestage - 11 Oct 2007

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