[vsnet-grb 96] HETE Fully-Automated GCN Notices

[vxw@capella.gsfc.nasa.gov (Bacodine)]

TO:  All GCN Sites
RE:  HETE Fully-Automated GCN Notices
DT:  31 May 01

During the past two weeks, the final testing of HETE-GCN rapid data 
interfaces was successfully completed.  Beginning today, HETE 
localization releases are fully automatic.  HETE Notices will now be 
promptly distributed through the GCN system.  The HETE positions
are calculated on-board, down-linked through the 12 Secondary ground
stations, forwarded to the HETE Ops computer at MIT, and then forwarded
to GCN for distribution to those GCN sites that have elected to receive
the GCN/HETE Notices (Alert, Update, Final, and/or GroundAnalysis subtypes).
This is the full automated process; there are no humans in the loop,
i.e. the minimum possible delay time.  The time delays range
from 10 sec to 30 sec for the Alert and Update Notices (Updates are
the first notice subtype that has position information.)

A detailed description of the HETE Notices is contained in:
http://gcn.gsfc.nasa.gov/gcn/hete.html
and for the socket sites, the packets are defined in:
http://gcn.gsfc.nasa.gov/gcn/sock_pkt_def_doc.html

It should be stressed that because this is the fully automated, 
"hands off" processing procedure, there will inevitably be non-GRB 
triggers included in those sent to the ground and distributed.
In fact, during the June-July period, when the Galactic Bulge region
is passing through the HETE field-of-view, the majority of the triggers 
will be non-GRBs.  While this is probably not a problem for the 
automated instrument GCN sites, those sites that involve human effort 
and/or consumables must understand that many of the HETE Notices will 
be non-GRBs (eg x-ray bursters, soft gamma repeaters, flaring 
galactic sources, etc).

In general, there will also be follow-up GCN Circulars disseminated 
for HETE burst events which prove to be confirmed GRBs.  These 
follow-up Circulars will be based on detailed telemetry data which 
becomes available on the ground 1-2 orbits after the burst, so such 
HETE Circulars will lag the HETE Notices by a few hours.

All those sites who have requested the HETE Notices to be enabled 
need do nothing.  They will receive them.  If sites wish to change 
their configuration (see yours below), then please send a request.

Scott Barthelmy                      NASA-GSFC, Code 661, Greenbelt, MD   20771
PHONE:  301-286-3106                 (work)
FAX:    301-286-1684                 (1st choice,  -1682 2nd choice)
EMAIL:  scott@lheamail.gsfc.nasa.gov
PAGER:  3016472666@alphapage.airtouch.com  (by email, ~200 characters/message)
WEB:    http://gcn.gsfc.nasa.gov/gcn


Site_name: VSNET
Lon,Lat=  135.75   35.00
Distribution_method: EMAIL  
Address: vsnet-grb@kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp   
Filter:  ALL
Error_limit=   360.100 [deg, diameter]
Delta_T_limit= 999.900 [hr]
BATSE_Intensity_threshold= -1 [cnts],  but no longer meaningful
BATSE_Trigger_ID_filter:   Disabled,  but no longer meaningful
Sources & Notice Types/Subtypes:
    BATSE-Original:      Disabled, but no longer available
    BATSE-Final:         Disabled, but no longer available
    BATSE-MAXBC:         Disabled, but no longer available
    BATSE-Locburst:      Disabled, but no longer available
    BATSE-Lightcurve:    Disabled, but no longer available
    COMPTEL_nosaw:       Disabled, but no longer available
    COMPTEL_saw:         Disabled, but no longer available
    RXTE-PCA_Alert_wont: Disabled
    RXTE-PCA_Alert_will: Disabled
    RXTE-PCA_nosaw:      Disabled
    RXTE-PCA_saw:        Disabled
    RXTE-ASM:            Disabled
    IPN_POS:             Disabled
    SAX-WFC_saw:         Disabled
    SAX-NFI_saw:         Disabled
    ALEXIS:              Disabled
    RXTE-ASM_TRANS:      Disabled
    HETE_ALERT:          Enabled
    HETE_UPDATE:         Enabled
    HETE_FINAL:          Enabled
    HETE_GND_ANA:        Enabled
    HETE_Test_notices:   Disabled
    Test_type2_notices:  Disabled


Please note that the format has changed slightly.
The Test_notices has moved to the end of the list, and
that the token has changed to Test_type2_notices.
And that the HETE_Test_notices field has been added.

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