Will this work on my _____ (Commodore 64, TRS-80, Cray, etc.)?? :-)

• Your computer must be able to display Xwindows. This has been successfully tested on: Sun/Solaris workstations, Linux, Windows 95, Macs running MacX, SGI/IRIX, and DEC Alpha OSF1.

How do I display the remote observation windows on my PC or Mac?

• You need an X-windows interface. MicroImages, Inc. offers ones for both Windows (95, 98, NT 3.51, NT 4.0) and Mac (68k series, PowerPC). The Mac version is still free, but the Windows version is now V2.0, which costs $25. Want more choices? Here are some, links and prices accurate as of Aug 1999:
  • Omni-X for Windows NT/95/98 ($135)
  • X OnNet for Windows NT/95/98/3.1x ($?)
  • X-Win32 for Windows 95/98/NT ($many different pricings)
  • X-WinPro for Windows 95/98/NT ($99)
  • Mac OS X Server ($499/$249 for education/government)
  • MacX ($150)

Can I resize the window displayed through MacX?

• Yes - try setting Set_Window_Style in the Window menu to 'Growable'.

I can't see the whole lightcurve window in MacX.

• If you are using a display resolution of 640 x 480 dpi, only half of a PCA lightcurve display can be seen. If you are using a 17-inch or larger monitor, you can set a larger resolution size in "Monitor & Sound" in the Control Panel before starting MacX. A resolution of 1024 x 768 will display most of the PCA lightcurve window, and 1280 x 1024 or 1600 x 1200 will enable the entire lightcurve window to be seen.

How can I be sure that this will work on my system? Can I test it beforehand?

• Yes! You can start displays using our test form. These displays require no access key, and will never show any data, but otherwise function normally. Test away.

Can I start more than one display?

• Yes, you can have several displays, in any combination. Just make your selections and select "start display" as many times as you want.

Can my Co-I at another institution watch our data at the same time I do?

• Yes - because multiple displays are allowed, anyone who has your access key can run displays on their computer.

I've lost my access key. Can you resend it?

• If you are the PI listed on the proposal, you can get it yourself using this form. You tell it your proposal number, it gets your email address from our database, and emails you the access key.
• If you are not the PI, you can ask the PI to forward the email with the access key in it to you (either the original schedule listing with the access key in the text, or using the above form), or if time is running short, you can call the RXTE SOF at (301) 286-6032. We will verify that you are listed on the proposal as a Co-I, and tell you the access key.

My displays started, but I'm not seeing any data!

There are several possible reasons:
• If you started your display before the start of the slew to your target, the display will not show any data until that time.
• If you started your display during a time when RXTE does not have TDRSS contact, you will not see data until the beginning of the next contact. (Data is not lost during this time, it is buffered.)
• If you started your display during an SAA pass, you will not see data until RXTE is out of the SAA. The PCA does not collect science data during the SAA.
• You might want to start our Remote Monitor in another window, and keep it up during your observation. It refreshes itself every minute, and summarizes the current predicted observing state (in SAA, in TDRSS contact, etc.), so you can tell at a glance if you should be seeing data.

Can I watch public-owned TOO's?

• Yes, any proposal that starts with #04, #07, or #08 (eg 40401, 40810, etc) is public-owned and can be watched through this interface using the access key 'publictoo'.

I'm not quite sure how to read these ascii dumps - how does the time in the header map to the bins?

• See this page.