EVLA/VLBA/GBT Resources

NRAO Interactive Services Modification Request 1 S2 2012

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1. Introduction

Any changes to the telescope specific resources

2. Background

3. Requirements

EVLA

Under Back End, all items currently there should be replaced with 4 new ones:

1. General Observing
2. Shared Risk Observing
3. Resident Shared Risk Observing
4. EVLA Commissioning Staff Observing

Each of these have a different action when selected:

1. General Observing --- when this option is selected, a small pop-up should appear; the pop-up should allow two choices: a) Continuum observations and b) Spectroscopic observations. They are mutually exclusive. Both of these choices bring up some instructions and require the upload of a png screen shot of the output of another tool (independent of the PST). This screen shot should be saved as part of the PST cover sheet. For Continuum observations one screen-shot need be uploaded. For Spectroscopic observations, the same (independent) tool will be used and one png screen-shot will be uploaded (as for Continuum observations). For both Continuum and Spectroscopic observations, there should be the ability to delete or at least replace these png files, in case of user error. In addition, for Spectroscopic observations, a comma-separated list of rest frequencies needs to be captured, and saved to the cover sheet. (this could be a simple text box). These upload(s) and the list of rest frequencies for Spectroscopy should be part of the proposal (or possibly Resource) validation step.
2. Shared Risk Observing --- when this option is selected, instructions should be displayed. A separate (independent of the PST) tool will be used (this tool is similar to the Resource Catalog Tool - RCT - in the Observation Preparation Tool - OPT). When the RCT is finalized, a catalog ID, a resource Name, and a resource ID should be entered by the user from the RCT into the PST. So the PST needs labeled entry boxes for these three parameters. As above, this information (the catalog ID, resource Name, and resource ID) should be saved as part of the PST cover sheet, and this information should be required for proposal or Resource validation.
3. Resident Shared Risk Observing (called "WIDAR RSRO") --- when this option is selected, a text box should be displayed in which the proposer can write a brief description of what resources they plan to use (some instructions will also be needed).
4. EVLA Commissioning Staff Observing (called "WIDAR ECSO")--- except for the name, this should be just like Resident Shared Risk Observing.

VLBA

Directly under Observing Parameters, we need a drop-down menu (rather than the checkbox for Wideband Observing System). There are 3 entries in the drop-down menu:

1. Legacy System:The legacy system is essentially what is currently the default for Observing Parameters. The default Observing parameters for this system should be (all parameters changeable by the user except for the Agg. Bit Rate).
   • Bandwidth: 16 MHz
   • Baseband Channels: 8
   • Sample Rate should be calculated from the Bandwidth (2*Bandwidth)
   • Bits/Sample: 2. If this is changed by the user to 1, a warning pop-up should be brought up - text should be "1-bit/sample must be strongly justified in the proposal text".
   • Polarization: Dual
   • Agg. Bit Rate should be calculated: Bits/Sample * Sample Rate * Baseband Channels. (Not changeable by the user.) 1024 Mbits/s is not an option on the VLBA. If 1024 comes up in calculation, a warning pop-up should be set, and 1024 not allowed.
2. PFB System:The entries should be (all parameters unchangeable by the user except polarization).
   • Bandwidth: 32 MHz
   • Baseband Channels: 16
   • Sample Rate should be calculated from the Bandwidth (2*Bandwidth). In this case, 64 Msamples/s.
   • Bits/Sample: 2
   • Polarization: Dual (default). This could be changed to RCP or LCP if desired by the user.
   • Agg. Bit Rate should be calculated: Bits/Sample * Sample Rate * Baseband Channels.
3. DDC System: The possible entries should be:
   • Bandwidth: 128, 64, 32 (default 128). User changeable.
   • Baseband Channels: 1, 2, 4 (default 4 ?). User changeable.
   • Sample rate should be calculated from the Bandwidth (2*Bandwidth). Not changeable by the user.
   • Bits/Sample: 2, unchangeable by the user.
   • Polarization: Dual (default). User changeable to RCP or LCP if desired by the user.
   • Agg. Bit Rate should be calculated: Bits/Sample * Sample Rate * Baseband Channels. (Not changeable by the user.)

Stations:

1. VLA-Y27 should now be selectable (or unselectable).
2. There are some connections that need to be made among HSA stations and the Observing systems:
   • When the HSA (or any of the stations under the HSA) are selected, an information pop-up should come up (text info to be written)
   • When the Legacy observing mode is selected, the VLBA, Gb, Eb, and Ar may be selected (VLA-Y27 may not be)
   • When the PFB observing mode is selected, the VLBA and Gb only may be selected. No other HSA stations may be selected
   • When the DDC observing mode is selected, the VLBA, Gb, and VLA-Y27 may be selected. No other HSA stations may be selected.

Correlator Parameters:

1. If Full Polarization or Pulsar Gate are not selected, on the cover page either have a blank checkbox, or remove the name (my preference is to not have the name appear).
2. The default number for Spectral Points/BBC should be calculated and should be 2 times the bandwidth (in MHz) given under observing system. This should be done for bandwidths greater than or equal to 8 MHz. For example, if the bandwidth is 32 MHz, then the default for Spectral Points/BBC should be 64. For bandwidths below 8 MHz, the default can be set to 256.
3. For Correlator Passes and No. of Fields, zero should not be allowed.
4. We need to add, under correlator parameters, another field. It is just a checkbox, as Full Polarization or Pulsar Gate, and the label is "Conversion to Mark4". As for #1, if this is checked, it should appear on the cover page; if it is not checked, then it should either have a blank checkbox, or should not appear.

GBT

1. "Ku-band Shared Risk (12-18 GHz)" should be changed back to "Ku-band (12-15.4 GHz)". The allowed frequency range is 12 to 15.4 GHz.
2. New Receiver: "Ku-wideband Shared Risk (11-18 GHz)". The allowed frequency range is 11 to 18 GHz. Default rest frequency is 14.5 GHz. Number of spectral windows is:
   • Guppi - 1 spectral window
   • Spectrometer (800 and 200 MHz modes) - 1 or 2 spectral windows
   • Spectrometer (50 and 12.5 MHz modes) - 1, 2 or 4 spectral windows
   • Spectral Processor - 1 or 2 spectral windows
   • DCR - 1 spectral window
   • VEGAS - 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 spectral windows
   • Radar - 1 spectral window
3. "Ku-band (12-15.4 GHz)" and "Ku-wideband Shared Risk (11-18 GHz)" receivers cannot be in the same session.

4. Design

Technical lead should provide a brief description of how this will be implemented in the code.

5. Deployment Checklist

Documentation? Systems/hardware/networking things needed for deployment?

6. Test Plan

6.1 Internal Testing

6.2 Sponsor Testing

6.3 Integration/Regression Tests

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Signatures

APPROVED: I acknowledge that my request is fully contained in this MR, and if the Open Sky (or other NIS or PST developers) deliver 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	- - - - -
Checked	- - - - -
Approved by Scientific Sponsor	- - - - -
Accepted/Delivered by Sponsor	- - - - -

Symbols:

• Use %X% if MR is not complete (will display )
• Use %Y% if MR iscomplete (will display )

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Discussion Area

-- DanaBalser - 2012-03-26