====== 7 Beam Backend  ======

The 7 Beam backend related information is described in this page.

Open VNC session to 134.104.70.21:2 pass: FFTS@effbg

==== Enable pulsar 300 MHz mode in MultiFiba ====

On Desktop 3 in terminal blah run: 

python multiFIBA.py s99161Z

This will re-set all attenuation levels but Ewan's auto level script should sort them out.

==== Check ADC level setting ====

  - In the VNC session above, choose workspace 1 ( to load spectrometer firmware and monitor ADC level setting). Load spectrometer firmware (press uparrow to check history, and run startAFFTS-300MHz). 
  - Cycle through the beams in the GUI (note: number displayed in the AFFTS field is offset by 1. ie 1 is beam 0, 2 is beam 1, etc..) and check ADC levels. The histogram displayed here should show a nice gaussian shape and bandpass should be visible.
  - If you are happy with ADC levels, go back to the window where you started startAFFTS-300MHz and hit Ctrl-C to exit. 
==== Load pulsar filter bank Firmware ====

  - Go to  workspace 2 and change directory to /home/EFFTS/AFFTS/psrfbloader. 
  - Load firmware by running, 
    
       .
            ./LoadCore -configFile CARD-00.cfg
            ./LoadCore -configFile CARD-11.cfg
            ./LoadCore -configFile CARD-22.cfg
            ./LoadCore -configFile CARD-33.cfg
            ./LoadCore -configFile CARD-44.cfg
            ./LoadCore -configFile CARD-55.cfg
            ./LoadCore -configFile CARD-66.cfg
  
  
NOTES:
  - The above loads 300-MHz cores, and assumes ADC0 is connected to psrfb0, ADC1 to psrfb1 and so on.
  - If you want to connect ADC4 to psrfb3, then use CARD-43.cfg, and switch the ethernet cables.

==== Start up the acquisition software ====

  - Go to workspace 3
  - Click on tab "psrfb4"
  - ssh pulsar@psrfb4 ( Use the standard password). Change directory to /home/pulsar/soft
  - run "./pffts -rb 4 -fc 1 -lc 512 -dp /data1/dump " 
  - run "touch /tmp/PFFTS_RECORD" to enable recording on psrfb4. (you do it only once at start up, ie when you load the firmware).
  - run "mv /tmp/PFFTS_RECORD /tmp/_PFFTS_RECORD" to disable recording. (do this when you ready to leave to Bonn).

Note 1: You might want to switch disks for the following observation. This, for example, will allow you to copy the just completed observation, while the next is in progress. Using the "-dp" option above, the data path can be changed. Hit Ctrl-C in the pffts window, and specify  "-dp /data2/dump"  if you going to copy from  /data1/dump and vice versa.

Note 2: You can run filterbankPFFTS followed by KJ's "421" code to reduce file size, but only on data on the disk that is NOT recording. 

==== Start observation ====

  - Observe test pulsar/source using the OBSE interface.
  - use your own catalog (check with operator) or EPOS system for a known pulsar.
  - From now on data-taking is auto-magic.

==== IMPORTANT!! ====
 

    - Check switch S14/S15 ---> This turns on 50 MHz filter in the front end
    - If you do want to switch off S14/S15: in OBSE> frqrx 1.36 f 
  

==== Old Notes ====

The notes made for the recent obervations (2/3rd Week of May 2010) are found [[pulsarinstruments:7beam:notes| here]]