Tech Staff Meeting Notes October 18, 2011
The top priority is always repair of down stations.
NM problem stations
ET problem stations
Note: John has two L4's that may have a different response than the others. We need to find out what that difference is. If its significant, then we can't mix them in with the others arbitrarily. Rather if we want to put those sensors into service, then a station should be converted and kept that way. We want to minimize the number of times the response of a given set of channels changes.
NetOpsVI is focused on field ops. It will be in Berkeley, CA and is tentatively scheduled for March 27-28, 2012.
CERI Holiday party is December 16, 2-4pm.
There are several stations that have a problem with arbitrarily hanging.
GTTN/CPRT. These are two refteks behind a single router. They use udp to transmit data. The router opens a port when a broadcast is initiated by the reftek. The rtpd on achilles acknowledges back to the reftek on that port. When the refteks creates a new connection for whatever reason, sometimes the router port used by the router isn't the same as what the reftek or rtpd thinks it is. Steve will look into the possibility of an industrial, solid state pc to run rtpd as the Seymour VFD so that the long haul traffic is tcp instead of udp.
GNAR. We don't know why this one keeps hanging. Jim and Steve will work together to see if a better router helps.
RDST and MCAR are also prone to hang. They're now on gcf2ew along with a script that forces a kill and restart when necessary.
There are nine remaining stations for service in 2011. Jim provided this handy list
EDIT, NNAR & CHNM: NNAR and CHNM repeat through EDIT and the received signal is very bad due to trees. NNAR and CHRM are very noisy and fade out quite a bit. EDIT is now located in the Chicksaw National Wildlife Preserve so cutting trees is not an option. There isn't a clear path to a repeater on the Edith forest tower either. Need a new plan (maybe go directly to the node?).
WALK: Chris and Manning were unable to reach WALK up in the KY bend. Mr Lynn indicated that the station was completely underwater but it is still up? (yes still up).
Reinstall the rest of HDBT when internet connectivity is established (either the connection to Boswell becomes live, or we bail and move the Boswell dsl to Mud Island).
Dynamic NMDown list
Down
PWLA/EBZ dropping out
DLAR.EHZ
HCAR.EHE
TUMT.HNN ?
NNAR - sporadic - tree interference (also effects CHNM)
PLAR - to be moved
MATM
NHIN.EHN
LRAR.EHE
TMAR.EHE - drifting
CTCT -drifting
Unk. Problem
POBM/PPLM - see image
HDAR
NHIN.EHE
Isis Oxidation
GLST.EHE
BACM.EHE
Muted Amplitude
DWDM.EHE
WADM.EHN
MCAM.EHZ
BLAR.EHN
Gain Channel Problems
CHRM
MORT
CATM - gain ranging on tiny events
DBB
Dave and Steve acquired a dozen used aironets so this problem is postponed.
MKTA
LNXT:
Chris got a quote for the service contract for the generator. It raised some questions and he'll get more detail on what it actually includes so we can decide whether to purchase it.
NMAD:
Internet service and nmad is working. Still need to set up second wavesever and export to CERI.
G and D and the local EMA installed a 25kW generator to power that side of the building. If there's room power-wise would they let us power the rack from it too? We could share the maintenance of the generator. We'd also have to install a transfer switch.
Lease renewal is in the UM bureaucracy.
AZTN: Replaced XLAK clock. Still doesn't work. The new clock tested successfully in the shop. Bad antenna?
CERI:
Twisted pair from Richardson is extremely noisy causing problems with the analog backbone. Richardson is also on the UM 5-year capital improvement plan to be replaced. We got a tour of Wilder and its doable. We need to see if we can get a path to CERI so we know whether we just need to move what's on Richardson now, or whether we need to turn Wilder into an entirely new node (i.e. new mudworm). Then we can get Planning to help us with a design and then we can get permission.
Ownership, Operation, and Maintenance of the four Charleston, SC stations (C1SC, C2SC, ADSC, and TRSC) will be turned over the Univ. of SC at Columbia. Initial December 8-9 went well. John contacted site owner and IT people for firewall and permissions. He requested CERI access be continued for a tbd transition period. Mitch will work with Phillip to get data flow redirected to Columbia. Then those feeds will get added to the CO network export to CERI. The stations will keep the same name but the network code will change (from NM to CO).
RDST, CBHT, and MCAR are coming in via gcf2ew on anssworm. CBHT occassionally loses its connection but is overall, ok. MCAR loses its connection about twice as much so while its mostly functional, it should be better. At RDST, a datapacket sneaks through a couple times per day. So, there must be hardware problems. RDST should be fixed or removed (though if there is a hardware problem, it can't be redeployed).
Year3 upgrades
| station | yr3 hardware | router | mss100 | firmware | plug | comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RDST | Y | Y | N | ? | ? | Al has determined that other RDST IP's are trying to access our router, and Steve will look at routers external connection and security settings |
| MCAR | Y | Y | Y | ? | ? | upgrade not documented |
| CUET | Y | Y | Y | ? | N | upgrade not documented |
| MKAR | Y | Y | Y | ? | N | comment |
| CBHT | Y | N | Y | ? | ? | Steve torequest our 192 IP be put on a private VLAN |
| COLT | Y | Y | Y | ? | Y | none |
| GILT | Y | Y | Y | 3.81 | Y | none |
| NAIT | N | N | N | ? | ? | still not on internet |
| NMEM | N | N | N | ? | ? | none |
| TUMT | N | N | N | ? | ? | none |
Replace foam rubber plugs at all year 1 stations (need to notch it to accomodate the GPS pods): ASAR, CBHT, CUET, CVTN, HDBT, LNXT, MCAR, NAIT, SFTN & TUMT.
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. Mitch will contact DMME.
We need a single document (access database excel spreadsheet) to document information on all freefield strongmotion stations to include contact(s), current IP's(eternal/external), what ports are allowed in from what IP's here at CERI, telnet yes or no, trigger levels etc. etc.
HDBR
Granites are on order.
HDAR
Bad CMG5 E/W.
Not getting broadband feed.
On hold for Boswell comm.
HDBT
Replace two bad mss100's.
Bad 100' accelerometer.
On hold for Boswell comm.
Dynamic ETDown list
Down
TRYN
WSNC- bad L4
Misc Problems
see attached images
RBNC.EHE
VHTN.EHN
DYTN.EHE
ETT.EHE
Strong Motion problems
CSTN - still gappy
CVVA- internet connection
Only the DYTN upgrade remains.
See map.
DYTN was deeded to the State Forest service with a conservation easement.
There is a committee that oversees these easements that meets only
once per year. John thinks it meets in the fall and is finding out
for sure. He'll also look for an alternative site as a plan B.
STAR Node
BHT move. Latest update from John:
- We had planned on moving BHT from it's present location because access has gotten so bad.
- I have been working on getting a permission to move it about 3 miles to the E NE to Black Mtn. There is some issue with the permission, but my contact with the Cumberland Trail State Park says he believes we can work it out.
- If this station is ever upgraded to a RefTek, it is doubtful we would be able to make the 45 mile radio shot from Black Mtn. to Starr Mtn. so we would have to find a new place to transmit to. It will not repeat through any other station, because it is either blocked by mountains or too long a shot.
- Previously, we had discussed trying to find another site to relocate BHT to in order to center it between WMTN and DYTN.
- I found a site in the Catoosa Wildlife Area called Pilot Knob Mtn, (36 deg. 322'N, 84 deg. 45'W). It is about 18 miles NE of BHT. It is at an old fire tower site and apparently there is still a good road up to it.
- I have also found a couple of potential sites to transmit to where we could get internet.
So, before I proceed any further, we need to decide if a replacement station for BHT should get a RefTek and if so, do we want to put the station at Black Mtn. or at another site.
BRBC Node
Power upgrades: RBNC, and TRYN.
TRYN: Hardware is removed from the tower and will be reinstalled when the new one is complete.
MTTN Node
Greentop is getting a new tower. When?
STLE landowner has asked
that we move eq. cabinet and protect antenna monument with steel barricade.
The VLF power supplies were installed CJTR and PIGT. Still needed
at NMKM and RLAP.
These stations still need to be steinerized: CVMS, MACC, HCES, MAIR, NWCC.
MAIR is now connected directly to the Water District internet. We can
recover the wireless hardware.
Granites are in house. Gave one to Greg to prototype along with the mounting hardware for all.
Dave got a second Lacie drive.
Chris will repair/replace the abused CMG6 cables.
What equipment in the FDL is no longer needed. Mitch will call a meeting of FDL users to discuss culling the equipment. Also, the check out/in process is largely ignored--what system could be implemented that people will actually use.
The netquakes at Olivers house will be redeployed at CERI so we can learn how to install and operate them.
The seisnet group on umdrive is at http://umdrive.memphis.edu/mwithers/seisnet You will need your uuid and password.
The pink palace display now includes a heli connection for MPHB. Need to retrieve any remaining hardare (e.g. antenna and reciever on roof).
