Tech Staff Meeting Notes February 2, 2010
The top priority is always repair of down stations.
NM problem stations
ET problem 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.
Repair down stations and routine maintenance
Install hardware for AG Network
NM broadband ARRA upgrade prep
Three servers are here from Golden to host the CISN software to be installed in Memphis to process all regional data. Everyone is tired of calling it the CISN Software and the name Cheetah was not well received. The NIC decided on ANSS Quake Monitoring System (AQMS).
An account number was assigned to the new seisnets grant and paperwork submitted to get a position number on it for the open research equipment tech I position. When we have that (hopefully this week) we can submit it to WorkForum for approval. When we get approval (all hires now have to get approval from the presidents office) we can advertise.
Greg is no longer on stimulus funds. We had to rescind his contract so we can buy hardware from VLF in six months.
Chris is arranging annual safety training for himself, David, and Jim. Unfortunately none of the staff were able to attend so Chris will arrange another session.
Its likely that some of these station problems are at the nodes and can be fixed by checking the discriminators in detail.
Holly's NM list:
Of all of these stations, WYBT, MIST and MARM are the highest
priority to me.
DOWN
CHRM.EHZ
Muted Amplitude
LRAR.EHE
DWDM.EHE
TNMT.EHN
GOBM.EHN
MARM.EHE
MIST.EHE
NBNT.EHN
MSAR.EHN
WADM.EHN
WALK.EHN
Gain Channel Problem
CHRM
MORT
FLPT (doesn't gain range)
Isis Oxidation
MCAM.EHN
WYBT.EHZ
Jim noted that single component problems are non-trivial to fix. He asked if some stations could be decommissioned and the hardware resinstalled at bad stations. Mitch asked whether new hardware could be built and used to replace aging systems--the design is sound but some hardware is nearly 15 years old.
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.
Mitch ran some stats on the hypo output files and developed these priorities: When faced with a long list of stations that require attention, prioritizing is necessary and depends on many factors such as:
MKTA:
Need alternate comm path. Telecom says dsl isn't available (though we once had ISDN).
Mitch met with Bob Woodward and Bob Busby of IRIS about EarthScope. Bob Busby said he might be able to loan us some WildBlue hardware to test. Assuming we can get sufficient bandwidth without violating shared use maxima, this could be a viable option if dsl is unavailable.
LNXT:
Still need to tie generator status alarms into lnxtworm
Now that we have a phone line for the dsl, we can replace the adam6060 with the simpler style phone reset.
Mitch configured an export from nmadworm to lnxtworm over the microwave. I also added a second waveserver on lnxtworm tied to the dsl ip. Smeagol is running ew2mseed attaching to lnxtworm to grab continuous data for use with the NVT array data. Stations being archived are GLST, HICK, LEPT, LNXT, MORT, PEBM, PENM, RDGT, and WYBT. Note that I did try configuring waveserver to answer to 0.0.0.0 so that it would answer to any configured enet. That worked on solaris but not microsoft.
NMAD:
Need alternate comm path. Telecom says dsl isn't available (though we once had ISDN).
This next note is from January but Mitch left it in because its still unexplained.
Over the holiday break, Mitch had to reboot nmadworm because it was suffering from the serial mouse freakout problem. When it came back the broadbands didn't. Scream2ew was not getting data from Scream. Previously we had scream2ew configured to get udp from port 1567 with no Server configured. Mitch couldn't get this to work nor could it get it to work on the loop back. Its now getting it from the 10.156 address on port 1567. I don't know why this is changed (maybe because the ip is now "unroutable"?) but it might be more reliable and may be necessary on other machines behind the firewall.
AZTN: Upgrade PC and replace XLAK clock
CERI:
The battery on the primary generator failed and was replaced by P-plant.
The Kohler generator is back online. In addition to the linkage spring that Chris discovered, Dave found a bad conductor that fed a transformer/solenoid that regulated the intake air. Dave and Chris also installed the cover which successfully kept it free of water, snow, and ice last weekend.
Need to gather up a contact list (e.g. everyone's home phone, power companies, etc) and put it on webworm (password protected). Jim has a draft of this that so far has all the node contacts. Mitch suggested that the umdrive seisnet space might be a better place than webworm for it.
The DBB firewall installed and operating. Only specific ip's are allowed through. You need to use the route command to manually add a route. Evertying behind the firewall is the same D ip number but with 10.156.1 instead of 141.225.156. Remaining items include:
For some stations (most frequently SEAR) data feeds get dropped. Scream sits there "connecting" but never connects. The mss100 is fine. A disconnect then connect on scream fixes the problem (or rather fixes the symptom--the problem is unknown). Using reboot_mss_ew didn't help. We still have problems at SEAR even with a new mss100. While we still want to upgrade everything to year 3 hardware, Mitch will seek permission to stream at 50 sps and trigger at 200. Jim will verify that we can actually do that.
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.
CVVA is upgraded but there remains an unresolved issue with the firewall Steve is working with Merritt Reagan NGC to get them resolved.
Al is making a practice run on the strongmo trigger download for data from the 3.4 near Dyersburg on Nov 6. Mitch sent these instructions are archving triggered strongmotion data:
HDBR
Recorders 1, 6, and 7 are repaired, configured, and awaiting installation.
Al reports that of the remaining four, only two are associating.
Resets are not working well and tones are degraded. Likely cause is telemetry between the reset unit on the AZTN roof and the DAS's on the bridge. If its ice, it will self-correct. Otherwise we'll check it when we get time and a lane closure to install the 3 repaired units.
HDAR
DSL is running at Boswell and we can see the PC there (bowlworm). The VLAN problem is resolved and we can now see the dataloggers at HDAR and HDBT. I guess we have to fix the problems now and get things online.
Need to determine what import machine and wsv all these data should be on. How do we trigger?
Bad CMG5 E/W.
HDBT
Mud Island vertical array is operational. Not really, functional is a better
word until we can get it online to qc/vet data (see HDAR).
Replace two bad mss100's. (on hold for vlan comms)
Bad 100' accelerometer. (on hold for vlan comms)
Holly's ET list:
Short period stations down
CCNC
Sporadic outages
TRYN
Strong Motion Stations down
C2SC
CVVA
Broadband down
FPAL
Potentially weather (or power?) related problems that began Feb 5:
WSNC, LRVA, and CCRT.
John replace the uds2100 and it worked for about a half day. He then got Tom to swap the serial ports so that the strongmo is on port 1 and bb on port 2. Again, it worked for a few hours. Mitch recommended an airstrike but Tom nixed that due to weather. Rather than waste time trying to get these damned guralps working, we'll install the reftek and trillium asap when it gets here.
Many of the NC station problems are probably because of insufficient power. John will find out what's needed to increase solar and battery to help make it through the winter storms. The ET stations have the same issues but problems are not as evident because they are, in general, at much lower elevation (less snow).
STAR Node
BHT. Chris reports that it is time to seriously pursue another site as access is even difficult by 4-wheeler. David reports moving it will take all the fun out it, what's the worst that could happen? John said that folks at Cumberland Trail State Park said we can put the station at another spot on Black Mtn. which is just a couple of miles NE of the present location. It is accessible by a paved road. We can pursue that or I can look for something that will put it further NE to get it more equidistant between DYTN and WMTN. Right now it is awfully close to DYTN and BCRT. Mitch likes the idea of splitting the difference between DYTN and WMTN. John will dig out his old notes and starting looking around.
BRBC Node
GFM 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?
NCCU: Gordana wants to get this working. John will schedule with her to come in and try to get it back up.
James has a very nice SOH website at http://www.ceri.memphis.edu/people/jpdavis/gama/results.html.
James serviced PIGT and checked the battery (its good).
CVMS needs routine service and battery check.
CJTR is online. All GPS are stations are now on the internet. Well done James!
STLE, NMKM, and RLAP all need a charger upgrade. They are currently working (and have been for a long time) so this is not necessarily a top priority.
Both receivers were replaced at HCES. Coax for Mattioli's receiver is trashed--awaiting new cable from them.
Will install hardware Feb 9. Steve B will be in Memphis with the catchers mitt to get it going end to end into heli_ew. Assuming this goes well, the remaining installs will be scheduled for the last half of February. John will fly in for either the 3rd or 4th week in February to help with the installs and learn about the new sensors and dataloggers (these will also be used in ET).
All cables are returned and meet spec.
We are approved for the following in approximately the same order as we
hope to complete them:
ASL is sending the 13 Reftek's and 13 Trilliums. ASL ordered cables. No word on accelerometers nor additional 3 refteks.
Note that using other funds, we're also upgrading 3 additional ET stations to digital with episensor and FPAL to the same hardware as the other broadbands.
Mitch hung a chart in the war room to track our progress (we're required to make quarterly progress reports and to meet the proposed schedule).
We need to be very careful to keep AG, ARRA, and CERI hardware separate and be certain that hardware purchased by each project goes only to that project.
All replaced DM24's and CMG40T's are to go to south campus and taken off inventory. This hardware is not to be redeployed anywhere in the CERI seismic network nor FDL.
Jer-Ming's crates are here and he requested Jim's help odering short pipe vaults, cables, and batteries.
Greg's advice:
I can not find any transient voltage suppressor that i like better
for the computer room. I suggest buying the APC model PMF-4S-A. List
price is $2325. Purchasing should be able to find a distributor with
a little bit of a discount. The unit is pretty bare bones except for
a surge counter which will at least tell you if an event occurred.
The unit should be connected either directly to the output of the
transfer switch, or to a 100A breaker in the essential loads panel
next to the transfer switch. You will probably need less than $100 of
conduit and fittings to make it work. Chris should be bable to
install it, or i can come down to install it. You can go to apc.com
to look at it. look under TVSS datacenter/120/208 v 160,000 KA
rating. for pictures etc..
Done.
Our cell phones have extremely poor performance in outlying areas. They should be replaced.
Tom Brackman at NKU has a shiny new CMG6TD that he wants to install and get integrated with ANSS. He'll run scream and Steve will help him get a minimal earthworm going to export data (only need startstop, statmgr, scream2ew, and export_scnl).
What to do with the Steiner brain dump DVD's?
Mitch made a seisnet group on umdrive. Go to http://umdrive.memphis.edu/mwithers/seisnet You will need your uuid and password. There are several things on there including John's database. We can put contact info there too when its available. Only people in the seisnet group have access to this area. If you download something for update, don't forget to upload it again so that we all have the same version of the files.
There is now a ceri_seis email group that includes all the seismic networks staff.
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. Need to see what the sac files look like to make sure it isn't just a wave_viewer feature.
Chris continues to hound the supply to try to get Parker's old Suburban onto govdeals.
The pink palace display now includes a heli connection for MPHB. Need to retrieve any remaining hardare (e.g. antenna and reciever on roof).
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.
Should we have a trouble ticket system?