Using the LyrTech system.   Basic getting you started notes.

The LyrTech system consists of 1 (or more) ADC modules + a CPU module containing a standard Intel mobile processor.

1)  If needed power on

The Windows XP system starts up in the usual way.
There is no login 


2)  start up the components of the data acquisition system.

2.1)  Double click on the System icon   (starts various data acquisition system tasks)
    wait until you see the message "Completed custom startup ...." in the System terminal window.

2.2)  Double click on the RTDEXV4 icon (starts the data acquisition program)
    wait until you see the message "VHSADC Data Acquisition now all ready to start"

   The data acquisition program initalises and detects the available VHSADC modules. Check that the number of modules      found is correct. 

2.3)  Finally double click on the MIDAS icon  (starts the MIDAS GUI)
    in the Session Log window you will see the message "You are now working with experiment localhost"

 You should now be seeing ScreenA

 The MIDAS GUI controls are colour coded
  When there options the selected/enabled option is coloured Gold. The unselected/disabled option is coloured Blue. 
  For tick-boxes if choosen/selected then the box is coloured Gold and a black tick is seen.  If not choosen/unselected then the box is coloured Blue.


For normal experiment control start here

3)  Setup the Data Acquisition system
    Go to the LyrTech Base Frame 

Click on  LyrTech VHS-ADC  which starts the LyrTech VHS-ADC control window.

The ADC time and clocks are supplied by the TDRI module (a NIM module). Power must be on this crate before you run SETUP.

Click on Experiment Control  which starts the  Experiment Control (VHSADC) window.
The first time after reboot the software initialises. You will see messages at the foot of the window. Wait until these messages complete - normally this takes about 5 seconds.

 You should now be seeing ScreenE.

Ensure "Histogramming enabled" is selected if required. To enabled click on the blue checkbox. It will turn golden.

Click on the Yellow SETUP button and select the option "Setup Everything"

The Setup procedure automatically loads all ADC settings from the currently selected parameter savefile. 

Wait until you see the message "MIDAS Data Acquisition System SETUP and ready to GO" in the Session Log window.

The first time after a power on it will be necessary to synchronise the time within the ADC modules.  Click on the "FPGA Programming" button. See ScreenB. Click on the button "Generate RESYNC" and confirm the action. 
The module time is only lost by power off - not by a Windows reboot. 

Ensure "TS Transfer enabled" is selected if you wish the acquired data to be forwarded to the Linux workstation for further processing and possible write to disc. The software server(s) in the Linux workstation should be enabled.

4) Further setting up options
     You will probably need to adjust LyrTech VHS-ADC parameters. You do this via the LyrTech VHS-ADC Client window.
   
   From here you can load alternative firmware files into the VHS-ADCs.  Click on the "FPGA Programming" button.
    If you select and load a firmware file it becomes the default used in future for the automatic load during SETUP.
    See ScreenB

   From here you can adjust firmware parameters. Click on the "Firmware Setup (User)" button.
    See ScreenC

   You can saved any changes to firmware parameters. Click on the "Save Settings" and "Restore Settings" buttons.
    The file choosen here becomes the default file used by the automatic parameter restore during SETUP.
    See ScreenD

4)  Collect data

 Go to the Experiment Control window
You can now use the GO and STOP button to control data acquisition.

The green GO button starts data acquisition 
The red STOP button halts data acquisition.

It is useful to monitor the Statistics screen. Start via the Statistics button.
 The Block Index (bottom of the window)
    0 =  numbers shown are the sum of all modules
    n    numbers shown are for module n only

  See ScreenF

 Useful things to note.
  SYNC data :-  This is a count of the periodic time markers generated by the modules. The rate should be 1500 /sec for each module
  Events : - data items (including SYNC markers)
  Good Item : -  data items (excluding SYNC markers) 


5)  Viewing histograms

From the LyrTech base menu click on "Spectrum Viewer"
The Spectrum Directory Browser starts. If needed select Resource = MemSas
Select the histogram required (vhsadc#1.E1 - energy from ADC channel 1) and double click
You should now see the energy histogram for ADC1
If collecting signal traces you can also see the most recent data trace for each ADC channel.

  See ScreenG


This is the end of the Basic instructions.
There are many other windows showing Statistical information, simple data analysis functions and setup of the ADC parameters. 


Note:
 When running and collecting data the leds on the ADC module RUN and OVR should not be on permanently. 
 If OVR is on  as a solid red colour reduce the data signal input to the module.
 If RUN is on as a solid green colour then the firmware is not functioning correctly. It will probably be necessary to STOP data acquisition and reload the firmware for this module. A SETUP is then required.