[evla-sw-discuss] inconsistent correlator configurations

[Sonja Vrcic]

Ken,
It seems to me that what you propose is the best way to handle 
inconsistencies in the antenna configuration.

In the case that inconsistent antenna configurations  must be supported, 
the correlator could be explicitly instructed (via command or 
parameter)  to accept inconsistent subarray configuration, however, some 
baselines / products  may be  lost due to restrictions imposed by the 
correlator architecture.   An off-line tool could be used to find the 
optimal arrangement of baselines/subbands for such subarrays. 

Sonja



Ken Sowinski wrote:

> While I was in Penticton Sonja and I discussed how to treat some
> inconsistencies in configuration requests.  I repeat what we decided
> to give anyone who cares a chance to disagree.
>
> The issue is how the correlator should respond when antennas which
> are declared as belonging to a single subarray request different
> baseband, subband, or correlation parameters.  We agreed that such a
> request would be an error.  Such an inconsistent collection of antenna
> configurations would be rejected in toto for all the antennas which
> are determined to belong to that subarray.  The current VLA monitor
> and control system and correlator explicitly forbids such a request
> and I see no need to support it in the future.
>
> The only exception granted is for antennas which may not have a full
> complement of hardware (or VLBA antennas) and are allowed to present
> only a subset of the BW presented to the correlator by full EVLA
> antennas.  In this case only a fraction of the basebands and subbands
> will produce useful correlated data.  The responsibility for marking
> the invalid data lies outside of the correlator system; the correlator
> will require consistent configurations, even for the basebands and
> subbands for which signals may not be present.  Sonja, the last
> sentence was not strictly part of our agreement; are you happy with
> it?
>
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-- 
Sonja Vrcic

National Research Council
Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics
Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory,
Penticton, BC, Canada
Tel:(250)490-4309/(250)493-2277ext.309
Sonja.Vrcic at nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
http://www.drao-ofr.hia-iha.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/

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