5.3 Wish List
This is a list of desired program changes, fixes or enhancements. Note that the list is not all that well
maintained, so some items may have been addressed, but not taken out here.
-
Search
through
this
file
for
incomplete
items,
generally
flagged
with
a
line
of
asterisks.
Before
March
2015
RCW.
-
Allow
VLAONLY
schedules?
Maybe
these
don’t
differ
from
any
other
single
station
schedules
any
more.
Before
March
2015
RCW.
-
Modify
choice
of
unset
synthesizer
frequency
for
the
new
synthesizers.
It
should
be
easier
without
the
setting
constraints
of
the
old
ones.
Before
March
2015
RCW.
-
Revisit
the
whole
issue
of
scan
and
recording
start
times.
Take
into
account
any
delays
in
start
of
correlation.
Also
revisit
schtim.f
for
tape
stoppages,
readbacks
etc.
The
meaning
of
scan
times
is
now
rather
different
from
in
the
tape
days
and
SCHEDs
bookkeeping
is
no
longer
well
matched.
But
the
new
scheme
may
not
match
what
non-VLBA
stations
are
doing.
Before
March
2015
RCW.
-
Remeasure
VLBA
slew
rates.
Current
ones
probably
too
low.
I
measured
them
right
after
discovering
that
they
were
below
the
VLBA
specs.
But
engineering
did
some
readjustments
that
are
not
reflected
in
the
current
catalog
values.
Before
March
2015
RCW.
-
Update
the
station
code
list.
Before
March
2015
RCW.
-
Update
all
examples
for
no
Mark5A
at
VLBA.
Mostly
done.
Before
March
2015
RCW.
-
Warn
that
even
MHz
frequency
settings
are
poor
for
pulse
cal
because
of
aliasing.
Most
observations
are
doing
it
now
because
of
PFB
the
restrictions,
even
though
it
is
not
necessary
with
the
DDC.
Before
March
2015
RCW.
-
Put
more
in
the
summary
file
about
multiple
field
centers
-
like
for
each
set,
add
number
of
fields
and
field
of
view
needed.
Before
March
2015
RCW.
-
Protect
2cm
and
3mm
better
against
inappropriate
ch1
for
filter
in
the
IF
converter.
Before
March
2015
RCW.
-
Allow
more
then
12
characters
for
setup
name
in
.sum
scan
summary.
Before
March
2015
RCW.
-
Protect
against
excessively
long
lineset
names.
Before
March
2015
RCW.
-
Need
new
constraints
for
VLA
on
channels
per
IF.
Before
March
2015
RCW.
-
Let
the
user
know
when
sideband
inversion
is
to
be
used
in
correlation.
Before
March
2015
RCW.
-
Revisit
the
suite
of
examples
-
it
has
grown
organically
and
lacks
coherence
now.
The
number
could
be
reduced.
Many
were
added
to
demonstrate
one
new
feature.
Those
could
be
combined.
Before
March
2015
RCW.
-
Add
Calibrator
selection.
Before
Mar
2014
RCW.
-
Add
a
SUNAVOID
parameter
sort
of
like
DODOWN
that
avoids
pointing
and
antenna
too
close
to
the
Sun.
Request
for
the
CMVA
from
Krischbaum
Mar.
22,
2011.
Note
added
Feb
6,
2014.
The
Sun
distance
is
taken
into
account
in
the
selection
of
sources
for
geodetic
segments.
See
GEOCHK.
-
Somehow
provide
for
different
VLA
positions
for
single
dish
and
phased
array
in
the
VEX
file
when
mixing
the
two.
Dec.
8,
2009
RCW.
-
Deal
with
VEX
source
positions
when
using
satellite
position
calls
for
every
scan/station.
RCW
July
22,
2009
-
Warn
about
PCCOR
not
able
to
run
when
only
1
tone
per
band.
RCW
Jan
13,
2009.
Requested
by
Kogan.
-
Have
plot
option
to
distinguish
sources
in
XY
plots
by
color.
RCW
Sept.
11,
2008.
-
Add
aperture
array
axis
type
and
whatever
is
needed
to
support
it
to
the
station
catalog.
July
1,
2008
email
request
from
James
Anderson.
-
Make
sure
leap
seconds
are
updated.
For
SLALIB,
update
dat.f.
(That
takes
care
of
planets
too).
For
the
satellite
tracking,
update
the
kerfile
(naifnnnn.tls)
in
the
ephemeris
area
($PLANET_DATA).
Keep
this
entry
in
the
Wish
List
permanently.
Apr
8,
2008
RCW
-
Put
information
about
frequency
agility
into
SCHED.
Dec
06
EVN
TOG.
-
Make
EVLA
apply
to
the
FE
settings.
Or
better
yet,
somehow
describe
the
EVLA
frequency
setup.
Sept.
27,
2007.
RCW.
-
Check
for
broken
links
in
external
references.
There
are
some
as
of
Sep.
19,
2007.
RCW
-
Warn
if
DOPPLER
is
not
used
when
it
looks
like
it
should
be.
From
Leonia
(as
contact)
Aug
1,
2007.
RCW.
-
Try
to
name
runlog
after
the
observation.
Maybe
a
rename.
It
is
opened
before
the
input
is
read
so
the
code
is
not
yet
known.
but
could
it
be
renamed
later
-
or
a
new
file
opened
and
the
contents
copied
over.
From
Amy.
25
Jan
2007.
RCW.
-
Improve
optimization
when
switching
bands.
emails
from
Greg
Taylor
and
Steven
Tremblay,
early
October
2006.
-
Write
to
screen
the
typing
instructions
in
config
mode.
Now
uses
WRTMSG
and
only
goes
to
runlog.
Nov
29,
2006.
-
Improve
specification
of
multiple
pass
processing.
And
force
specification
when
it
is
clear
that
multiple
pass
will
be
needed.
Analysts
May
4,
2006.
See
email
from
lfoley
for
details.
-
Put
the
grab
time
stuff
in
for
Walter.
See
$SCHED/vlbagrab.txt
-
Need
new
OBSTYPE
or
get
rid
of
OBSTYPE.
Old
note
Jan
26,
2006.
As
of
Oct
2008,
I’ve
forgotten
the
reason
for
this
so
I
don’t
know
what
should
be
added.
-
Source
dependent
elevation
limits
for
configuration
studies.
Request
by
Pat
Crane.
Aug
2.
2004
RCW
-
Put
an
Az/El
raster
option
in
Sched.
From
note
Jul
2004
RCW
-
Take
into
account
GBT
band
change
time.
From
note
Jul
2004
RCW
Discussed
at
Jodrell
in
Nov
2004.
This
will
probably
take
a
matrix
input
for
each
agile
station.
-
Get
FIFMIN
and
MAX
for
user
setups
VLA
and
VLBA.
From
note,
Jul
2004
RCW.
This
has
to
do
with
sensing
when
you
get
outside
the
IF.
-
Do
more
for
VLBA4
DAR;
Add
SiO
to
VLA
freq.dat;
Turn
off
pcal
at
VLA.
From
note,
Jul
2004
RCW
-
High
resolution
RD
plots
of
Mars
vs
orbiters
affected
by
diurnal
parallax.
Also
planet
not
plotted
if
start
point
not
on
field.
From
note,
Jul
2004
RCW.
-
Calculate
range
of
acceptable
dates
based
on
solar
distance
for
dynamically
scheduled
projects.
From
Mat
Lister
6/17/2004.
-
If
PCALs
are
turned
off,
then
back
on,
warn
that
they
do
not
return
to
the
same
phase.
24
Nov
2003
RCW.
-
The
VLA
has
a
filter
in
front
of
P
band
that
cuts
it
off
at
305
and
335
MHz.
SCHED
is
not
aware
of
it.
Fix
that.
24
Sep
2003
RCW.
(consult
Ken
Sowinski)
Maybe
don’t
use
the
”front
end
filter
at
all
since
this
other
filter
is
earlier
and
is
only
30
MHz.
-
Plotting:
For
beam,
get
beam
size
and
some
sidelobe
statistics.
21
Feb
2002
RCW.
-
Allow
control
of
peakup
channel
when
using
autopeak.
21nov2001
-
Deal
with
DSN
patching
scheme.
Also
Mark
IV
geodetic
patching.
15
Oct
2001
RCW.
-
The
various
DAR
types
need
better
documentation.
19sep2001
RCW.
For
example,
VLBAG
is
not
documented.
-
Have
some
scheme
to
test
for
allowed
band
switching
at
antennas
that
have
partial
capabilities.
This
is
coming
on
the
EVN.
Also
deal
with
availability
of
more
than
one
receiver
at
a
band.
21
June
2001
RCW.
-
When
two
aliases
are
used
for
the
same
source
in
a
schedule,
there
are
some
oddities.
A
.vex
file
ends
up
with
two
source
sections,
of
which
one
is
empty.
The
plotting
acts
like
there
are
two
sources,
but
all
the
plotted
info
is
under
one
of
them.
4
Apr
2001.
RCW.
-
Model
frequency
change
times
now
that
more
antennas
are
getting
multiple
band
capability.
For
example,
on
GBT
it
is
time
to
point
to
zenith,
1
minute
to
rotate,
and
point
again
-
up
to
9
minutes.
Switching
from
Gregorian
to
prime
focus
is
about
5
minutes.
So
far
SCHED assumes
either
that
it
happens
so
fast
that
is
doesn’t
really
matter
(VLBA)
or
so
slow
that
it
is
not
done
during
an
observation
(manual
box
change).
8Dec2000
RCW
-
Check
reasonableness
of
requested
correlator
average
time
for
Socorro
correlator.
Tavg=speedup*.131072*n.
-
Calculate
data
rates
with
mixed
integration
times.
Will
need
stations
specified.
13dec99
RCW.
-
Make
a
USUBA
input
file
if
there
is
any
subarraying.
16nov99
RCW.
-
Add
an
optimizing
mode
for
startup
pointing
that
cycles
through
the
frequencies
as
fast
as
possible.
Perhaps
takes
highest
elevation
source
for
each
setup
as
it
cycles
through
setups.
8Jun98
RCW.
-
Add
LEVEL
to
scan
parameters.
27may98
RCW
and
Bryan
Butler.
It
is
already
a
setup
parameter.
-
Warn
of
times
of
low
fringe
rate
when
the
pulse
cal
tones
might
correlate.
15apr98
RCW.
-
Warn
about
CALCODE=G
meaning
the
pulsar
gate
will
be
used.
From
paper
note
8apr98
RCW
-
Add
PCAL
tone
frequency
check.
Early97
-
Networks:
For
stations
that
don’t
have
pulse
cal
injectors
(eg
VLA),
use
pulse
cal
detectors
to
get
state
counts.
23jan98.
-
Networks:
Add
checks
related
to
special
requirements
at
many
stations.
An
example
is
the
need
for
time
for
peaking
scans
at
GB.
-
MarkIV:
Calcodes
and
Qualifiers
need
to
get
to
correlator
either
directly
or
through
all
station
logs.
The
field
system
stations
don’t
do
it
now.
They
probably
should.
Nov97.
-
VLA:
Have
a
better
model
of
slew
times.
Probably
need
to
account
for
actions
happening
on
10s
LST
boundaries.
Also
know
setup
times.
Might
be
needed
for
phase
referencing.
8may98.
RCW.
-
VLA:
Some
sort
of
DWELL
time
scheduling
for
VLA
phasing
is
needed.
Basically,
deal
with
slew
times
to
calibrators.
Early97.
-
VLA:
Support
fast
switching.
Early97
-
VLA:
Need
horzontal
parallax
for
PM
card.
Can
get
from
distance.
Early97
-
VLA:
Add
all
other
VLA
cards
for
fully
capable
VLA
scheduling.
-
VLA:
Cannot
use
frequency
catalog
for
VLA
only
observations.
Can
this
be
changed?
3Jul97
RCW.