The Next Generation of Sub- Millimeter Receiver Control Steward Observatory Symposium Feb 26-27, 2008 Steward Observatory Symposium Feb 26-27, 2008 Thomas Folkers David Forbes Arizona Radio Observatory

Why Remote Receiver Control? ◊Allows: Remote Tuning Remote Diagnosis & Debugging Consistency in Training and Operation Faster Frequency Changes and Setup ◊Allows: Remote Tuning Remote Diagnosis & Debugging Consistency in Training and Operation Faster Frequency Changes and Setup

Receiver Control Design History ◊Designed in 1989 by NRAO for the 12 Meter VxWorks VME Computer ($10,000) ◊DOS Based Interface One User Interface Session Supported Card Cage Interface to Hardware Updated to SunOS/X11 Interface in 1992 ◊Design Revision in 2004 for JT System Embedded Computer ($1,000) ◊PC104 I/O Cards (2 x $400) Linux RH90 ◊Unlimited Number on User Interfaces Supported Used Same Card Cage I/O Design GTK User Interface ◊Designed in 1989 by NRAO for the 12 Meter VxWorks VME Computer ($10,000) ◊DOS Based Interface One User Interface Session Supported Card Cage Interface to Hardware Updated to SunOS/X11 Interface in 1992 ◊Design Revision in 2004 for JT System Embedded Computer ($1,000) ◊PC104 I/O Cards (2 x $400) Linux RH90 ◊Unlimited Number on User Interfaces Supported Used Same Card Cage I/O Design GTK User Interface

NRAO Designed Receiver Control

NRAO Design Receiver Control VxWorks VME Computer

NRAO Design Receiver Control Card Cage

NRAO Design Receiver Control Card Cage Computer Connections

NRAO Design Receiver Control Card Cage Hardware Connections

“JT” Design Receiver Control

“JT” Control Design ◊Based on the NRAO Design Separate Computer and Card Cage ◊Used Complete Linux Embedded System PC104 I/O Cards ◊Active File System Powering Off Caused Problems ◊11 Processes Running in System ◊Required UPS Backup System ◊X11 User Interface can run on any Local host ◊Based on the NRAO Design Separate Computer and Card Cage ◊Used Complete Linux Embedded System PC104 I/O Cards ◊Active File System Powering Off Caused Problems ◊11 Processes Running in System ◊Required UPS Backup System ◊X11 User Interface can run on any Local host

“JT” Receiver Design Embedded Linux Computer

“JT” Receiver Design Connections

“JT” 230 GHz Installation

Latest Receiver Control Design

New Integrated Design ◊Custom Embedded Controller Cards ◊No Active File-System ◊Only 2 Processes on Host Computer Serial Comm Task Interface Daemon ◊Share a Common Global Memory ◊Standardized Design Used in the 345 & Future 650 and 950 GHz Systems. Plans to retrofit 230 GHz “JT” system ◊Custom Embedded Controller Cards ◊No Active File-System ◊Only 2 Processes on Host Computer Serial Comm Task Interface Daemon ◊Share a Common Global Memory ◊Standardized Design Used in the 345 & Future 650 and 950 GHz Systems. Plans to retrofit 230 GHz “JT” system

Fully Integrated Card Cage System (345 GHz System Front View)

Fully Integrated Card Cage System (Block Diagram)

Fully Integrated Card Cage System (Analog - Digital I/O Card)

Fully Integrated Card Cage System (Serial Card)

Fully Integrated Card Cage System (Rear View)

User Tuning Interface GUI

For Further Information: ◊ARO Web Site: ◊ARO Web Site: