10. Introduction

Ritorno
                all'elenco

10.1 Control Panels

From the observer's point of view the control panels serve ONLY for antenna status monitoring.

These panels are used by the Observatory staff for maintenance and include a set of functions that will not be described in this manual, as they are not considered useful for the astronomers.

Therefore we strongly recommend the observer to use ONLY the commands described in the following sections.

10.1.1 SCU (Subreflector Control Unit)

This is the only panel that must always be open during all the observations (it can be reduced to an icon to avoid interference with the other data windows).

Fig. 10.2 : SCU Panel

The information supplied is related to the kinematics of the sub-reflector and of the primary focus receivers. Referring to fig. 10.2, from the top :

- Which focus is in use (top button selected)

 

- Which receiver is placed in focus (see the labels index in the Chap. 4.1)

 

- Refresh time : time that passes between two consecutive data displays.

 

- Sevosystems status (travel, in mm, along the axes X, Y, Z1, Z2, Z3 for the Cassegrain focus observations; Y, Z for the primary focus observations)

 

- Remote address : Field System address

In normal conditions the "Ready" and "Remote" lights must be lit on and GREEN.

EXIT : this button closes the panel ad stops all the servosystems connected with the sub-reflector, therefore it must not be clicked !

10.1.2 ANTM5 (Antenna Monitoring)

In normal tracking conditions the four indicators must be lit GREEN (see fig. 10.3).

Only during a source change the "Tracking" indicator becomes "Slewing" and YELLOW.

 

Fig. 10.3 : ANTM5 Panel

The supplied information is the following :

- Comm, act : antenna position, commanded and real, in alt-azimuth and equatorial coordinates

 

- Total sky error : pointing error (modulus)

 

- Source : source parameters (name, RA, DEC, epoch)

 

- Offset : coordinates of the possible OFF commanded position

 

- Rate : possible proper motion of the source (it is not possible to insert the orbital parameters of sources such as asteroids, comets, etc...)

 

 

10.1.3 ACU TCL (Antenna Control Unit)

This program can run on every operating system equipped with a TCL/TK interpreter.

 

 

Fig. 10.4 : ACU TCL Panel

   Azimuth

 

- Coordinate in degree, from North

- General check boxes (YELLOW = problem, RED = serious problem)

- Unstow (GREEN = normal condition, WHITE = antenna in "stow position")

- Antenna condition : Ptrack (GREEN), Stand-by (WHITE), Stop (RED)

   Elevation

 

As above.

   Drive cabinet

 

- Azimuth rotation : CW (clockwise) or CCW (counterclockwise), always BLUE

 

The "Power on" and "Remote" buttons must be always GREEN.

 

QUIT : closes the panel

10.1.4 SXKL

The window of this panel is usually closed.

Fig. 10.5 : SXKL Panel

It supplies mainly the name of the primary focus receiver in use and the receiver noise temperature (Cryog K).

 

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