Tech Staff Meeting Notes May 11, 2009

The top priority is always repair of down stations.

The task list updated February 6, 2009 needs to be updated again. Note that everyone is still needed to work on essentially all tasks. There is however, a single person who is primarily responsible for each one. Mitch of course, is ultimately responsible for everything.


Priorities

Ft Payne station
CVVA trigger upgrades
SM sample rate fix
Generator spill containment basin
Annual routine station service


News & Highlights

The Fiscal Fish Fry will be June 26 (pending approval from Chuck). Mitch will make the announcement shortly. Mac is in charge. Jenny will collect the "donations."

Jim, John, and Chris attended NetOpsIII in Menlo Park May 4-5. Jim had three take away messages: 1. could benefit from a web-based trouble ticket software system; 2. we could do more with SNW; 3. we need some kind of AutoCAD like engineering grade drawing tool. Mitch will collect ppt's and put them on the web and will post the updated participant list. Mitch will also be distributing the report to participants for comment within a week (or two).

We need to do a better job tracking our inventory and not just for response purposes. We need to better accomodate the annual inventory needs of both the UoM and USGS for hardware in our custody. There will be an Inventory Task Force (the ITF) charged with developing and maintaining a system that meets the needs (and policies) of the UoM and the USGS. It shall include model nubmers, property tag numbers (both UoM and USGS), serial numbers, location, custodian, etc. The task for will meet quarterly and conduct the inventory at least annually. Members of the task force are Jenny Spikes, Al Sedaghat, Jim Bollwerk, and Deshone Marshall.


NMSZ

Short Period & Broadbands

Holly's list:

Down or unusable
CHNM-sporadic
NNAR-sporadic
TNMT.EHN
GOBM.EHN
CTCT.EHE
LRAR.EHE
CHRM

Isis Oxidation problem
SJBM.EHN

Gain Channel problem
MORT.EHG
CHRM.EHG

PWLA There is still significant telemetry interference that seems to be greatest during the work day.

Several of the stations can get improved telemetry by transmitting directly to the node. The original configuration changed enough so that there is room in the band. Jim will investigate.

NODE Tasks

MKTA: ISIS telemetry upgrade is done, need working backup AC unit in the doghouse, finished last year's ISIS routine service.

LNXT: Replaced XLAK clock. Still need to tie generator status alarms into lnxtworm

NMAD: Repair barbed wire fence damaged by falling ice

AZTN: Upgrade PC and replace XLAK clock

Steve is still working with telecom to order dsl for the three NMSZ nodes and the new Boswell node. There are a couple snags. They said it isn't available at lnxt though we did have ISDN there at one time (the are similar protocols though ISDN can go a little farther than dsl).

Need to gather up a contact list (e.g. everyone's home phone, power companies, etc) and put it on webworm (password protected).

ANSS SM

CVTN optical isolation. Need to upgrade to year 3 hardware.

RDST needs upgrade to year 3 hardware with router.

NAIT: Couldn't get the NWS cable modem to cooperate at NAIT (firewall?). Dean was going to ask Comcast about it and maybe get a new modem. Steve will follow up.

Need to complete firmware upgrade on ASAR, SEAR, GILT, and CVVA.

Now that CMG5 triggers actually contain data, we need to tune the trigger level. Mitch sent explanatory info and guidelines to Al and Steve to tune.

SLU had trouble getting triggers from th 10sps datastream. They are having success creating 200sps triggers off the 100sps channel without excessive triggers (though I wonder what their levels are). The two newer CMG5TD's we got from ASL also don't trigger well off the 10sps datastream. Jim will investigate the feasibility of switching to the 100sps tap as the trigger source for the 200sps upgrade. Then Al will retune as above.

Most of the strong motion stations can run at 100 sps without any modifications. We will install a router on the few that have problems (RDST will be the test case).

HDBR
Remove and repair recorders 1 and 6, Repair or remove and repair recorder 2. The recorder disks should be reformatted as a routine maintenance task next time access is available. The constant read/write to the fat file systems lead to fragmentation. Don't ya just love dos? Wireless link to # 5 is unstable. Wireless link to #7 has been down for several weeks, not sure of recorder status. Verify if recorders will work with windowsXP while we have several here at CERI.
We will have lane closures and access to a snooper truck in a couple weeks. Steve thinks its just the flash disks that need to be reformatted or replaced.

HDAR
The hole was wet. Its being closed and a new hole opened.

We have the digitizer panel & one of the borehole instruments from VLF. Chris has the PVC enclosure, cabinet & vault ready to install. TDOT will allow CERI to install an earthworm PC at the Boswell TMC. CERI will need DSL service at the TMC. This eliminates an additional wireless link from Boswell to Richardson.

HDBT
Mud Island vertical array is operational. Not really, functional is a better word until we can get it online to qc/vet data.


ETSZ

Next trip scheduled for June 1. Chris will ship John a CMG6 for the Ft Payne noise study prior to then so we can leave it in for two weeks and pull it during Chris' visit.

STAR Node

RCGA charging circuitry at is old and primitive and in need of an upgrade.

CCRT - Needs a rebuild after a bad lightning strike.

GMG - Need battery box solar reg mounting plate and need to fuse the battery.

BRBC Node

GFM - Fixed the bad channel but still needs some work to repair storm damage. The NC state park service is purchasing GFM. We already have a couple permissions from them and John initiated the paperwork for the GFM permission.

TRYN: the forest service wants to remove the tower. There will be a new 180' tower and we have permission to be on it. We also have permission to be in the building (rack mount only). Can we convert this station to AC?

SWET: This is on hold pending ARRA projects. We need a plan for adding a strong motion instrument; a cmg5 will fit in the vault. AC power will be expensive and difficult. We need to nail down the hardware so we can figure out how much solar we need. Should we switch to ethernet radios (currently have serial) and have a dual-port terminal server? Should we use the intuicom radios they use at UUSS? Can there be simplification and hardening of the current path through the bell tower? Can we move the PC in Bran's office to someplace more secure and inaccessible?

CPCT: The aluminum enclosure with the GPS breakout board at CPCT is corroded, fragile, and needs replaced. Need to re-work lighting and pest chaser. John has a pest chaser and will use some landscape or pool hardware for the lighting. A new breakout and transient suppression enclosure is ready. Will CPCT also get a strong motion upgrade? Needs a locking tower box.

John found a good host for a Ft Payne broadband. There is AC (or rather the host is willing to run power). The ISP is also willing to provide free bandwidth though this may not last long. There is a second possibility where we could telemeter to Jacksonville State (jsu.edu).

GPS

Camp Robinson is back online.

Need a routine PM visit to all stations.

The next Davis brain dump needs to be scheduled.

FDL

Need to do a CMG6TD huddle test.


MISCELLANEOUS

What to do with the Steiner brain dump DVD's?

Mitch will put John's database in seisadm on smeagol and locally at CERI we can connect via gaia. Al with get with Deshone to find out how we can use vpn or something to connect remotely (needs this for both John's access, and for field crews).

Steve and Al are setting up a feed of Oklahoma data to be forwarded to the NEIC. The scream2scream connection didn't seem to be all that stable and OKGS could use a better way to archive events before they leave the buffer. Steve will help them get ew going and then we'll use the ew export. We need to make sure to add relevant channels to the NEIC export when available and contact Dan McManus dmcmanus) at USGS Golden when they're going.

Rotational sensor is feeding an earthworm but still has IRIG crosstalk problem to fix. Its fine on an Oscope hooked to the output of the mux and looks fine in LabView. Its bad when viewed with wave_viewer.

Apparently the person on campus retired, who handles selling vehicles. Mac is looking into how to do this ourselves. And he needs to QUIT STALLING AND GET THIS DONE PRONTO!! (we look like a used car lot).

Pink Palace is working with Gary and Michelle on a new perc-like display area. We'll pull the receiver etc, when they start pulling out the old display (or sometime earlier if an opportunity arises).

(Old note from January) Mitch briefly reviewed the desired 106x6 network of desirable TA stations to adopt. These are the 106 TA stations within the ANSS RSN footprint for the NSMZ and WVSZ and the ETSZ and CSZ. The "by 6" implies three components for broadband and three of strongmotion. Considerable funds must be secured for the capitalization costs and for the long term operation and maintenance.


CERI

3890 Power Chris is going to make a diagram for 3890. Good luck son.

3876 Power Chris is going to make a diagram for 3876. Good luck son.