[evlatests] Alerts for T304 TPD levels

[Gene Cole]

I for one [and I speak for the array operators as well] am all ears for 
ideas to better handle this.  We understand the alerts are needed, but 
implementing this needs to be accompanied by the software "re-ALC" 
command discussed in ~February.  As Dave M. pointed out to me, its by 
far too tedious to have to re-ALC multiple IFs on multiple antennas 
using the device browser every time power levels are out of range.

Chuck Kutz wrote:
> Somehow we are going to have to come to grips with working in a contiguous
> RF environment. 
> 
> This solution has the possibility of generating a lot of write ups that
> someone will have to spend time on. 
> The system as currently implemented, is "fooled" by spurious RF signals that
> affect the level set which is based upon the total energy observed in a 1GHz
> wide RF environment. 
> 
> There may be other ways to handle this. I have a couple of ideas. Anyone
> interested?
> 
> 
> Chuck
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: evlatests-bounces at nrao.edu [mailto:evlatests-bounces at nrao.edu] On
> Behalf Of Keith Morris
> Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2011 8:12 AM
> To: Steven Durand
> Cc: evlatests at aoc.nrao.edu
> Subject: Re: [evlatests] Alerts for T304 TPD levels
> 
> There is certainly the possibility of false alarm, but the cost of such 
> an alarm is quite low.  The TPD monitor point message field reports the 
> ALC status-- target reached, attenuator out of range, etc.  The alert 
> would inform the operator that such a situation exists; there may or may 
> not be any action the operator can take.  But in the cases where the 
> attenuators failed to set up properly, the benefit of having a second 
> chance of dialing in proper levels may outweigh the inconvenience of 
> false alarms.
> 
> 
> 
> Steven Durand wrote:
>> Is there the possibility of many false alarms.  The x-band 
>> receivers still have very low output.  Also at the edges of each 
>> band some of the receivers have low output that can not be 
>> adjusted to the proper level.
>>
>>
>>
>> Rob Long wrote:
>>> I discovered several T304 attenuators set incorrectly (again) this 
>>> morning. I wonder if we should setup alert levels on the TPD monitor 
>>> points in order to warn operators of a potential ALC problem. If the 
>>> operators knew of the problem, they might have been able to take 
>>> corrective action.
>>>
>>> I spoke with Dave who informed me that they didn't even realize the 
>>> attenuators were set incorrectly because they saw no fringe problems. 
>>> This email is effectively a channel to open communication concerning 
>>> ideas/solutions to this problem!
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Rob Long
>>>
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>