Change Spectrometer Warning Messages During Balance

1. Introduction

Currently, the Spectrometer gives a warning message when the power levels are more than 0.5 dB outside the ideal range. This is not an accurate indicator of when an observer should be concerned about her power levels, nor does it provide any information on the severity of the problem. The current warning message is generated whenever the Spectrometer Manager has done a "Prepare" (e.g. after a balance command or when it enters the "Running" state) if the power levels, as measured by the duty cycles, are at least 0.5dB from the idea values, as calculated in Rick Fisher's memo. While this is useful, a better indicator would (1) not provide any message until the Spectrometer is 1dB outside the ideal range, and (2) provide an warning message if the spectrometer is more than 2.5 dB outside its ideal range.

2. Background

This MR is part of a series of MRs aimed at creating a production Balancing API in Python. For more information regarding this effort, please refer to the BalancingMetaMR.

3. Requirements

the spectrometer balancing functionality will be moved into the balancing API. MelindaMello The messages are no longer valid since the spectrometer manager will not be "balancing". Frank, do you intend these messages to be generated byt the python Balancing API and be displayed through astrid or the python console?
The "notice" message should be changed so that it appears when the spectrometer is >=1 dB and <=2.5 off from the ideal range.
A "warning" message should appear if the spectrometer is > 2.5 dB off from the ideal range.
Regardless of the error state, the spectrometer should still be allowed to take data MelindaMello Is this the case now? If not you probably have added a lot of complexity! This breaks one of the fundamental rules of M&C. An M&C Manager will take data as long as the (overall) message severity for the Manager is at a warning level or below. Give the other requirements in this section, I think that this is requirement is overkill and could safely be removed. AmyShelton
The threshold values for these messages (e.g., 1 db and 2.5 db) will be read from a configuration file, hence any future changes to the thresholds can be easily made.

4. Design

The ScanStart balance option will be removed from the spectrometer as part of this MR.

5. Deployment Check List

A description of the changes made as a result of this MR will be included in the M&C Release Notes.
What documentation needs to change?

6. Test Plan

Critical!! ChangeControlCommittee will be reviewing these.

Don't forget to include/acquire any additional GBT test time needed outside integration/regression testing! Get your requests in early!

Important! If possible, you should conduct as many of your tests as possible in offline modes and/or with a simulator. We should constantly endeavor to minimize our use of telescope time for testing!

6.1 Internal Testing

This section covers things like unit testing, simulator testing, and any other tests required to make sure this MR is ready for sponsor/integration/regression testing.

6.2 Sponsor Testing

The Spectrometer will be set up for normal observing, balanced, and then attenuators will be manually changed to produce the error messages. Both 50 MHz and 800 MHz spectrometer modes will be used.

6.3 Integration/Regression Tests

What do the integration/regression testers need to do in order to test this MR.

Signatures

APPROVED: I acknowledge that my request is fully contained in this MR, and if the SDD delivers exactly what I specified, I will be happy.

ACCEPTED: I acknowledge that I have validated the completed code according to the acceptance tests, and I am happy with the results.

Written	- KarenONeil - 14 Sep 2005
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-- KarenONeil - 04 Aug 2005

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