What an SB should look like

  • SB length goal is 4 hours.

  • All scans should be divisible by 0.45s (the dump time); easy/nice way to ensure this is with scans that are divisible by 9 seconds.

  • Avoid elevations < 30d for the OTF scans (if possible), < 20d for calibrator scans, and > 80d for all scans.

  • An initial long slew with “X band dummy” resource to get close to on-source before the setup. Length: 6m32.85s

  • Setup scan to set attenuators. Length: 1m3s

  • Setup scan to set re-quantizers. Length: 30.15s

  • Flux/bandpass intent scan on flux calibrator. Length: 3m

  • Slew to gain calibrator; goal is on-source time of at least 30 seconds. Gain calibrator also serves as pol leakage calibrator.

  • OTF scan + gain calibrator loops:

    • A “ready” scan at start position of a scan; on-source time of > 0s but as short as possible.

    • OTF scans currently require 7s of extra time in order to settle, then start moving.

    • Return to phase calibrator after 15–20 minutes. Length: 90s (including slew time) should be sufficient