Next: Setup Files
Up: Frequency Catalog
Previous: Frequency Catalog
Contents
List of Frequency File Parameters
The parameters of the frequency file tell SCHED over what frequency
range the group if usable and on which stations. Most of the parameters
are the same as parameters in the setup file since they are meant
for direct substitution once the correct frequency group has been
identified. There is no defaulting between groups of inputs -- all
parameters are reset to zero, blank, or some equivalent value.
For the VLA, IF's A and C will be assumed to apply to VLA27 while
IF's B and D will be assumed to apply to VLA1. All standard
frequency groups will have both VLA IF's on the same frequency.
Anything more complicated requires a setup file from the user.
- STATIONs
- Up to 10 stations with this setup. This will
be matched against the station name in the setup file. The name
VLBA will be a default for all VLBA stations.
- PRIOrity
- A ranking with low values prefered. This
allows preference of one setup over another if both match the
required frequencies. For example, the narrow band 50 cm receiver
would be chosen over the wide band one for narrow band observations
despite the fact that both would match the requested frequencies.
- NAME
- A name for the frequency group. It is used
in listing and error notes to help the user find the right one.
Up to 12 characters long. Any string ok.
- NOTE
- A comment about the setup that will go to
various listings. It is wise to note any limitations here that
might not be obvious to a user. Up to 80 characters.
- IFNAME
- The name of the IF for up to 8 IF
descriptions (eg. A, B, C, D). There are a larger number than there are
phsical IFs to allow description of such systems as the VLBA 50/90 cm
system where there are more than one signal in each IF.
For antennas in the EVN that have VLBA(4) DARs, the codes in use are
usually A and C (LCP and RCP). For MkIV antennas there are two IF
distributors that can one can choose to connect to either IF channel.
Each distributor is connected to a fixed subset of the BBC's, either
the odds or the evens. The normal situation has IF 1N on LCP and 2N
on RCP, but alternate channels 1A or 2A can be connected if more than
the first 7 BBC's need to be set to a single polarization.
For the DBBC, IFNAME contains two
characters. The first (A-D) gives the conditioning module to be used,
the second (1-4) deterimines which of the switchable inputs on that
conditioning module is to be selected. The signal available on each
input depends on the local station wiring, so careful catalogue
maintenance is required.
- ALTIFN
- An alternate IF name for this frequency setup.
For the Mark IV systems, the odd BBC's are attached to IF's 1N and
1A. The even BBC's are attached to 2N and 2A. Generally the
same signal is put on 1N and 2A while another (other polarization)
is put on 2N and 1A. When assigning IF names using frequency table
information, sched will pick IFNAME or ALTIFN depending
on whether the BBC is even or odd and on the first digit of the
names.
- RF1
- The low edge of the RF frequency range covered by
each IF. SCHED will try to find the group with all the channels
best centered in the IF. However, some channels will allowed to be
outside the range if necessary, as is common on the VLA.
- RF2
- The high edge of the RF frequency range covered by
each IF.
For Mark IV systems, the frequency ranges in the frequency catalog
are calculated with the constraint that the complete range can be
obtained with the station preferred patching, i.e. with consistently
using high or low output on the IF distributor. More frequency
coverage can be obtained with detailed knowledge and requires a manual
setup.
- CH1RF1
- The lowest RF frequency for channel 1. If
non-zero, channel 1 will be required to fall in the range specified by
CH1RF1 and CH1RF2. This is mainly to be sure that the
right filter is used at 2cm on the VLBA.
- CH1RF2
- The highest frequency for channel 1. See
CH1RF1
- LO1
- The FIRSTLO for each IF
channel.
- FE
- The FE (receiver
specification) for each channel. Use omit for unused channels.
- POL
- The polarization of the channel (RCP or LCP).
- SYN
- The SYNTH setting for each
of the three front end synthesizers on the VLBA.
- DUALX
- Use the wideband scheme at 4 cm on the VLBA. See
the setup parameter DUALX.
- LCP50CM
- Setting for the 50 cm filter. See setup file
parameter LCP50CM
- RCP50CM
- Setting for the 50 cm filter. See setup file
parameter RCP50CM
- CHNSTA
- Only use this IF if CHNSTA matches the
station name. This allows the same groups to be used for VLA1 and
VLA27, but to differ in the IFNAME. Options are the station name
or BOTH. This facility has been disabled and may be removed.
It has been made obsolete by the new digital patch panel at the VLA
and the effort by SCHED to determine which IF's are to be used for
the each setup depending on the specified modes in the schedule.
Modes VA, VR and VL require different IF restrictions.
The following are OBSOLETE VLA parameters that should not be used.
- VLABAND
- The VLA frequency band. See setup file parameter
VLABAND
- VLABW
- The VLA bandwidth codes.
- VLAFEAB
- The VLA first LO.
- VLAFECD
- The other VLA first LO.
- VLAIF
- The VLA gain file name.
- VLAROT
- The VLA ROT file name.
- VLASYNA
- The VLA AC F6 setting.
- VLASYNB
- The VLA BD F6 setting.
- FEFILTER
- The VLA BD F6 setting.
Next: Setup Files
Up: Frequency Catalog
Previous: Frequency Catalog
Contents
Craig Walker
2014-04-14