Check SB Setup and Duration

While creating an SB, it is important to keep in mind the allocated time in the PB you are working in. While we do allow observers to submit over the allocated time per PB, i.e., multiple SBs for multiple sources or multiple SBs to cover a wide range of LST start ranges to help improve chances of observing. The sum of the SBs or a single SB must not exceed the allocated time of a PB. For example, if a PB is allocated 4 hours, the observer may submit a 4 hour SB, a 2 hour SB with a count of 2, 2x 2 hour SBs, many SBs of varying lengths, many linked SBs (i.e., only observe one of the 2 or 3 SBs, etc.), or any combination of those options. Just be sure the sum of SBs you wish to be observed do not exceed the allocated time. For details on how to link SBs, refer to the Linking SBs section of this manual.

Reports Tab

The Reports tab (Figure 4.9) should be accessed regularly to double check the layout of the SB. This tab provides a table view of all (re)sources imported into the scans, including an instrument configuration summary, time on source summary, and a summary report of the SB. At the bottom of this tab, in the interface feedback strip, warnings and errors will appear if there are issues with the SB, i.e., antenna shadowing (if in D or C-configuration), EL limit warnings (if the EL is > 80d or < 8d (unless otherwise manually set)), if the LST start range overlaps with sunrise or sunset (if they have been selected), etc.. Below Figure 4.9 is a table explaining the top portion of the Reports tab.

Instrument Configuration Summary

All resources imported into scans within an SB will be displayed in the Instrument Configuration Summary. This table can reveal if the correct or incorrect resources have been imported. Figure 4.10 is an example of the resources used in the demo SB seen in Figure 4.9. To reveal the subbands within the basebands, click on Show All Subbands. To minimize the view, click on Hide All Subbands or hide individual basebands. If a resource is set up to utilize the Doppler settings, it is advised to double check the OPT's calculation of the line's center frequency using Dopset. Refer to the Instrument Validation section of the Observing Guide for more details on how to verify a spectral line setup.

Figure 4.10: Example of an Instrument Configuration Summary table (click image to enlarge).

Time On Source Summary

The Time On Source Summary lists all sources used in the scans with their assigned resource, scan name, modifiers (i.e., scan intent(s)), coordinates in RA and Dec, Doppler Velocity used in the assigned resource, Doppler Line frequency of the assigned resource, min and max hour angle (HA), min and max parallactic angle (PA), and total time on source. This table is helpful in determining how much time on source a science target or calibrator with a given resource has for a specific LST start (set in the assumed LST start field in the top portion of the Reports tab). Note, as the assumed LST start time is changed, the time on source for each source will change. This is due to the change in the antenna slew time between sources due to the change in the sources positions relative to each other on the sky.

Figure 4.11: Example of a Time On Source Summary table.

Summary Report

The Summary Report (Figure 4.12) is the most valuable for checking the overall setup of an SB. This is a table view of the scan listing created in the left-hand column. If scan loops have been utilized, be sure to click on the plus icon at the top left of the Summary Report table to expand all loops (including loops within loops). It is important to step through the LST start range (defined by the observer in the Information tab) by entering different assumed LST start times at the top of the Reports tab. This will help determine whether each observing scan (not including setup scan(s)) have the appropriate time on source (after slewing) for the entire LST start range assigned in the Information tab. The AZ and EL should also be carefully checked to avoid antenna wrap issues and EL limits. If an observing scan does not have enough time on source (after slewing), that scan will be highlighted in red. It is ok if setup scans do not have time on source (they will not appear in red). The setup scans (for setting the attenuator and requantizer gain levels) do not require the antennas to be on source.

OPT 1.31 User Interface Update

New for 1.31 is the addition of the scan mode, e.g., standard observation (STD), interferometric pointing (IP), to the scan number in the first column of the Summary Report table. This matches the scan mode listing found in the tree structure in the left hand column of the OPT which has scan mode labels, e.g., STD, IP, etc. (Figure 4.12)

Figure 4.12: Example of a Summary Report. (Click to enlarge.)