Instructions for using CONTOBS

Note

After many years of faithful service VAX has become somewhat outdated and contobs should be run on debian. Check contobs-debian.txt for instructions.

Updated 040813 / tho

Updated 081219 / maturun

A Short instruction how to use contobs

open a telnet connection to blazar (telnet blazar), username is KURPITSA, ask someone the password

start contobs by writing after $ run contobs

the program asks you different settings:

AD converter 1000 / 10000mV, usually you want to choose 10000mV (remember to check from the actual AD-converter, which one is chosen, and change it if necessary)
Receiver file name: Write off37 or off22 depending on the used frequency
Then it asks if you want to change tracking tolerance etc. just press return
Enter data file name: YYMMDD.GIX
Observer name: Give your initials for ex. th
Equation of equinoxes: check pages B8-B15 from the ephemeris book (pay attention to the sign of the number!)
A/D channel (0): just press return
Slewing time (3.0): just press return
Automatic offset correction: write n

Then you enter the parameter mode, you can choose different options:

A: observation parameters 1p or 5p
B: calibration parameters
3: give new sourcename
C: execute mode

Calibration parameres: when you enter the calibration mode you can D: Define new calibration settings, P: Define new position only or C calibrate with current settings. If you want to define new calibration setting, the program first asks elevation: type 30, then Azimuth: type 0, -90 or +90. Then A/D period: type 1.0, On-time: 15.0, Total time: 180.0.
If you only want to change position (P), it asks for Elevation and Azimuth. After you have made all changes choose C, calibrate with current settings.

After you have given the sourcename (3), choose the offsets. You can use the panel offsets, or antcon offsets (they are better because they can be checked later, panel offsets can't). Open a new window and write telnet antcon 5555. Now you can change the offsets by typing azeloff=d.dddd,d.dddd.

Then move to execute mode by pressing C.

There you can start observations by pressing A
Or calibrate by pressing B

You can stop the observation by pressing 0. Write down the result, and with 5p observation remember to write down also the offset corrections.

The calibration ends itself

After that you can go back to parameter mode by pressing C.

When you want to exit contobs, press ctrl y, and then after $ write stop. It is very important to write stop after the $ sign, otherwise the information is not saved correctly.

Last modified: Fri Dec 19 16:14:12 EET 2008