This manual describes the necessary procedures for assuring continuous lightning sferics data collection at Marshall Space Flight Center. The phase linear interferometer experiment is under evaluation as a candidate RF sensor to support the space based optical lightning mapper system

Goodman, S. J.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

NASA TECHNICAL 
MEMORANDUM 
NASA TM-82486 
PhASE LINEAR INTERFEROMETER EX PER IMENT 
MAINTENANCE AND CALI BRATI ON MANUAL 
B y  Steven J .  Goodman 
Space Sciences Laboratory 
June 1982 
NASA 
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center 
M m ~ h d  S ' a e  Flight Center, Alabuma 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19820021705 2020-03-21T08:12:12+00:00Z
T E C H N I C A L  R E P O R T  S T A N D A R D  T I T L E  P s  
/ National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
1. REPORT NO. 2. GOVERNMNT ACCESSION NO. 
NASA TM -82486 
4. T I T L E  AND S L 2 T I T L E  
Phase Linear Interferometer Experiment 
Maintenance and Calibration Manual 
7 .  AUTHOR(S) 
Steven J .  Goodman 
9 PERFORMING ORGANIZATION N 4 M t  AND ADDRESS 
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center 
Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 3581 2 
- 
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADORESS 
I Washington, D .C .  20546 
3 .  RECIPIENT'S CATALOG NO. 
5 .  REPORT DATE 
June 1982 
B.  PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE 
0 .  PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPOR r RI 
1 0 .  WORK UNIT NO. 
I 
1 1. CONTRACT OR GRANT NO. 
13 .  TYPE OF REPOR', & PERIOD COVERED 
I Technical Memorandum I 
I S .  SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 1 
I Prepared by Space Sciences Laboratory, Science and Engineering I 
16. ABSTRACT 
The Phase Linear- Interferometer Experiment (PLIE) Rlnintenance m d  Cali- 
bration Rlanual describes the necessary procedures for assuring continuous lightning 
sferics data collection at Marshall Space Flight Center. A sister station is  operating 
continuously at Southwest Research Institute. The PLIE is  being evaluated as a 
c:indidate R F  sensor to supporl the space-based optical lightning ~napper system. 
17 KEY WORDS 1 
- - -  L ( 9  SLCJS 7 f C L I S S I F .  (d this reput )  2 0 .  SECURITY CLASS 
18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT 
Unc :issified - Unlimited 
/ /' 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
........................................................ 1.0 INTRODUCTION 
....................................................... 2.0 DOCUMENTATION 
.................................... 3.0 OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR PLIE 
....................................................... 3.1 Introduction 
3.2 MSFC .............................................................. 
................................................. 3.3 Special Procedures 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
Fi gure Title 
.................................................... 1. PLIE installation 
........ 2. Rear view of equipment rack. Arrow points to  connector J1 
3. View of R A  6790JGM HF receiver. Arrow points to IF gain 
....................................................... potentiometer 
......... 4 .  View of scope. Thresh and slave IF connectors are marked 
PRECEDING PAGE BLANK NOT FILMED 
iii 
TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM 
PHASE LINEAR INTERFEROMETER EXPERIMENT 
M A  
1.0 INTRODUCTION 
NTENANCE AND CALI BRATION MANUAL 
The phase linear interferometer experiment (PLI E )  began April 3, 1982. when 
Dick Johnson (Principnl Investigator) of Southwest Research Institute (SWRI) rtnd 
Gerry Smith (SWRI) completed the instal!cttion and checkout of the  III,IE: located at 
Anderson Rond on Redstone Arseniil. 
The following dorumentation was provided to Miirshall Space Flight Center at 
thnt time: 
Ilescript ion 
1 ea. Schematics for Phase Ilinenr DE' 
1 ea. Computer Printout of Applications Software in Fortran 1V and Assembly 
1,nngutiges 
1 cil. Data General RDOS IDOS User's Haudbo(-:, 
1 ea. Data Generill 1,atlrnintz to Use Your RDOS IDOS Svstem 
1 c:~. Diltii Generill S ~ e c i  f cations of the Cabinet Mounted Components 
1 eri. D ~ t i l  General S3cifications - of Free-Standing Components 
I cil. 1)tltii Generid rcchnict~l hlanut11 6052 6053 Display Terminal (Preliminary) 
---- - 
1 ctt. Datn General Technical Manual NOVA 3 
-- 
1 ~ i i .  H & K  -Precision lnst ruction hlanutIl for Model 1477 15 M H z ,  Triggered 
Sweep D ual-T race Oscilloscope 
1 cri. Ncwport 400 AS Digital Panel Meter rvner's Mmual 
- ----- -- 
1 cir. Tlri~net z Engineering Lnbs Instruction hlrinual for Phasemeter 
1 en. Kinemetrics O l > e r t i t i n g d  ---.- - Service hlnnunl Model 468-DC Satellite 
Sync hroni zed Clock 
~ --- 
1 eri. RACAI, Technical - Manut11 for RA67901GM HF Receiver RC1 84249 
--. - --& - -.-- 
3.0 OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR PLIE 
3 . 1  Introduction 
Normal operating mode i s  24- hr  data collection. The only applications program 
running on the PLIE NOVA 3 comr.~ter i s  called "MSFC." There are a number of 
useful Real-time Disk Operating Syjtem (RDOS) commands that are used with data 
acquisition , disk initialization, and system boot st rapping which will be discussed in 
paragraph 3.3. The PLIE hardware i s  shown in  Figure 1. 
3.2 MSFC 
The software program entitled MSFC has the following legal command codes 
which are entered by typing three numeric characters, fdlowed by a carriage return.  
The commands are:  b 
101 Start up with new data disk 
102 Resume logging from shutdown 
10 3 Stop collecting data 
104 Display all data histogram 
105 Display phase linear histogram 
106 Do not display histogram. 
Command 101 should only be used to initialize a new disk when swapping in a 
full data disk for a new one. Under no other circumstances should this command be 
used. The 101 command fills the 9600 disk blocks on a given disk with the value 
"-1"  and therefore this command will destroy any and all data files. It takes about 
3 min to complete this operation. 
Command 102 is  required to activate data collection and should be used after a 
system shutdown (no disk swapping). after aborting the hlSFC program, and after a 
cessation of data collection (Command 103). The PLIE should always have Command 
102 running before the operating or maintenance personnel leave the DASHER console 
or t i e  RF Trailer (Trailer No. 79046). Command 102 searches the disk for the next 
"-1"  value and begins writing data into this disk block. This process can take up 
to 3.5 min. 
Command 103 halts data collection (log-off). This command should be used 
prior to all system shutdowns and prior to command line interpreter (CLI) commands 
(i.e. , GTOD , DEBUG, RELEASE, FPRINT , etc.) .  
Commmd 104 will display a histogram of all data (phase linear and non-phase 
linenr) on the CRT . For close-in storms the ratio of non-phase linear to phase linear 
events is at least 20 to 1. The display format is  frequency versus azimuth (in 6 
degree increments). 
Command 105 will display a histogram of the phase linear data only (in the  fre- 
quency versus azimuth format). During high flash rate situations, the 105 command 
should not be invoked because some data will be lost (i.e. , not written to the disk 
dat H file) . 
Lastly, Command 106 will erase the histogram display and clear the  CRT except 
for the flashing cursor. This command should follow the 104 o r  105 command during 
any session at the terminal and the intensity knob on the front of the terminal should 
be turned off before leaving the trailer. 
3.3 Special Procedures 
A) Remove A Filled Disk, Insert a New Disk, and Initialize 
Step Fey. In (with Carriage Return) Com ment s 
1 103 Halts data collection 
2 RELEASE DPO 
4 RELEASE DPOF 
Logically removes o disk directory (DPO) 
from the system 
Clears file use countlsets device use 
counts to zerolverifies files cleared on 
the console 
Logically removes (the master) disk 
directory DPOF from the system 
(-4fter steps 1 through 4 a R prompt will be returned and after Step 4 is  completed 
the system responds with RlASTEIi DEVICE RELEASED). 
Now switch the disk drive status switch from READY to LOAD. Wait for click 
(about 10 sec) . The platter has been disengaged and the unit can be pulled out 
away from the rack (the tabs on either side of the disk pack need to be pulled down 
to release the disk). Remove the disk by pulling up the handle and moving the lock 
on top of the disk to the left. Pull out the disk and ship to SWRI. Install a new 
disk (found on the rack behind the CRT). Do not use the blue disk. Install the  new 
data disk,  close the disk pack drawer, lock the tabs ,  and switch the status switch 
from L0.4D to R E A D Y .  When the R E A n Y  light mrnes on ,  turn the key on the  NOVA 
computer panel from the LOCK to ON position. Make sure the data toggle switches 
I), 11. 1 2 ,  14. and 15 are set. Next hit the STOP.IRESET switch (do a STOP followed 
by a RESF"). Hit the PRELOAD PROGRAM switch and turn the key from the ON to 
the IDCK position. The computer should have a FILENAME? prompt on the CRT. 
The new disk has been successfully booted. 
S 3  Key-In Comments 
- 
5 DPOF: You respond to boot query with name of 
executable system pro gram 
The computer next asks for date and day. The proper response is 
Step Key-In 
- 
Comments 
-- 
6 h:hl DD Y Y  Input date (GMT month, day ,  year) 
7 HH hlhl SS Input time (hour, minute, second in GMT) 
(NOTE: I f  the computer r ~ s p o n d s  with PARTITION I N  USE prompt, key in  CLEARIAI 
I) / V and continue. ) 
Step Key-In Comments 
- 
8 INIT DPO Initializes a directory called DPO for I/O access 
9 MSFC Gives menu for mode selection 
10 101 Choose command 101 to initialize disk with values of - 1  (this 
takes about 3 min. The computer will respond with DISK 
INITIAL1 ZATION COMPLETE). 
B) Alphanumeric Display of Data in Octal Format 
Key-In (with CR) Comments 
FPRINT / Z  FRAMES .DA Scrolls output data in octal format 
Col. 1 - word # 
Col. 2 - azimuth 
Col. 3 - elevation 
Col. 4 - day 
Col. 5 - time 
CNTRL-S halts scrolling 
CNTRL-Q m n t i ~ u e s  scrolling 
CNTRL-A aborts program 
C) Determine Remaining Disk Blocks for a Given Diak 
Step 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
Key-In (with CR) 
DEB MSFC 
"ESCAPE" J3 
(no CR) (hit the 
escape key and type 
B )  
"ESCAPE" R 
(no CR) (hit the 
escape key and type 
R) 
Comments 
debugs program MSFC 
"002401" returned - contents of register 
Lqpea i i i  "$" i i i ~ e r t s  a hroi~kpoint n? " 1" on disk 
runs the program from the beginning to the break- 
point. MSFC options returned 
resumes logging. After a while the value "7B R E .  
SCt215" i s  returned 
"021544" value returned for example; this is the 
octal value of the next available disk block. This 
says 9060 of 9600 disk blocks have been used. 
Step Key-In (W ICR) Comments 
7 ESC .D type in ESC.D. This removes the  breakpoint. 
8 ESC ,P type in ESC ,P - resumes normal operation. Computer 
responds with "DISK INITIALIZATION COMPLETE" 
D )  Restoration of System 
Follow front panel switch, STOPIRESET and PROGRAM LOAD procedures 
after Step 4 in Section A.  
S tep  
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
Key-In (with CR) 
"FILENAME :" 
FBOOTSYS 
hlM DD Y Y  
HI1 MM SS 
BOOT BOOT 
DP OF 
Y 
FBOOTSYS 
INITIF DPOF 
hlOVE/A/V DPOF 
REIJEASE DPOF 
CLEAR AID 
Release DPO 
Comments 
Install blue disk as you would n data disk and 
respond to "FILENAME:" command with FBOOTSYS 
instead of with "DPOF:" 
input month. day ,  and year (GMT) 
input hours,  minutes, and seconds (GMT) 
installs bootstrap 
type in boostrap device specifier 
clear buffer; read a page from input file. Turn 
lock key to llON1l. Hit STOPIRESET switch on com- 
puter console; hit PROGRAM LOAD switch; t u rn  key 
to  ltOFF1l. System should respond with "FILENAME : ?" 
h o t  command 
Creates System Directory 
copy all files from the current  directory to DPOF 
and verify (copies pmgranls 0x1 biue platter to fixed 
platter).  ''R" prompt says MOVE completed 
master device released 
clears all files and sets  device counts (RDOS) to 
zero 
remove blue disk and now install a data disk 
E ) Cnlibrut ion of Receivers 
(Requires HP 86408 or  ey ui valent 2.001 MHz si p a l  gerierntor . ) 
Remove cable W201 P2 from connector J 1  on back of equipment rack (see 
twrow in Fig. 2). Apply the 2.001 MHz signal to connector J l .  - se t  output level o f  
s ip t i1  gererator to -70 dB and the variable level to 0 dB. 
Set the scope on the equipment rack to 2 ms/cm horizontal sweep. Them should 
be two traces on the scope. Adjust the IF level on each RACAL HF receiver (see 
arrow in Fig. 3) for a 2-cm scope deflection. Set the scope for 2 Vicm fullscale 
deflection and route the cable on the soope panel from the slave to the threshold jack 
(see Fig. 4 ) .  Check the reference level. 
Adjust the signal generator to - 80 dB. The threshold level should drop to the 
reference level. If pulses are less than 2-cm wide, while connected to threshold jack, 
there is no problem. 
The purpose of the threshold check is to assure that data are received at - 70 
dB, but not at - 80 dB. (The threshold at SWRI will be the same as the threshold 
setting at MSFC . ) 
Return the cable to the slave receiver at the scope panel, set the signal to DC, 
0.2 V/cm, Ch B. Reconnect cable W201 P2 to connector J1. The calibration procedure 
is completed. Refer to the Technical Manual for RA67901GM HF Receiver RC1 8 4 2 4 9  
for more details. 




APPROVAL 
PHASE LINEAR INIERFEROMEIER EXPERIMENT 
MA1  NTENAN CE AND CALI BRATION MANUAL 
By Steven J .  Goodman 
The information in this report has been reviewed for technical content. Review 
of any information concerning Department of Defense or nuclear energy activities or 
programs has been made by the MSFC Security Classification Officer. This report, 
in its entirety, has been determined to be unclassified. 
D i r e c t o r ,  Space Sc iences  Laboratory 
* U S  GOVERNMEN'I  PRINTING OFFICE 1982-646071/7 REGION N O  4 


Phase linear interferometer experiment maintenance and calibration manual

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