PHOENIX GEOPHYSICS

Data Processing
User Guide
Version 3.0 July 2005

• SSMT2000
• NPIPlot
• MTEditor
• Synchro Time Series View
 PHOENIX GEOPHYSICS

Data Processing
User Guide
Version 3.0 July 2005

• SSMT2000
• NPIPlot
• MTEditor
• Synchro Time Series View
Printed in Canada on water resistant Xerox® Laser Never-Tear
paper.

This User Guide was created in Adobe FrameMaker 7.0.

Writing and Production: Stuart Rogers.

Copyright 2005 Phoenix Geophysics Limited.

All rights reserved. No part of this Guide may be reproduced or

transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or information storage and
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Address requests for permission to:

Phoenix Geophysics Limited, 3781 Victoria Park Avenue, Unit 3,

Toronto, ON Canada M1W 3K5, or mail@phoenix-geophysics.com.

Information in this document is subject to change without notice.

SSMT2000 and the Phoenix logo are trademarks of Phoenix

Geophysics Limited. SyncTSV is a trademark of Anton Kocherov.
CompactFlash is a trademark of SanDisk Corporation. Windows and
Excel are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
About this guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Synchro Time Series View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Intended audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
How to get further information and
About the software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
SSMT2000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
MT-Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Chapter 2: Data Processing with SSMT2000 . . . . . . . . . . 5

Data processing overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Verifying site parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Understanding the Site Parameter (TBL) file . . . . . . . . .17
Exploring SSMT2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Editing site parameters with the Multi-table Editor . . . . .18
Starting SSMT2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Verifying acquisition times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
The main window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Creating Fourier transforms . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Transferring data to your PC . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Creating folders for your data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 PFT File Naming Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Copying the files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Reprocessing the Fourier transforms . . . . .28
Renaming the files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

i i
ii ii
Batch processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Correcting layout errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Editing saved robust parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Starting layout error correction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Understanding the magnetotelluric Correcting magnetic component connection errors. . . . .52
processing parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Correcting telluric component errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Robust processing parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Revising layout corrections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Crosspower parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Creating reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Understanding Fourier Transform The Site Parameters report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 The Time Ranges report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Input Data Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 The Saturated Records report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Output Data Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 The Custom Parameters report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Bands (Levels). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Modifying the Custom Parameters report . . . . . . . . . . .61
Processing Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Opening reports in a spreadsheet program . . . . . . . . . .62

Examining calibration files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Processing white noise and parallel

Changing the vertical scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 noise test data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Printing calibration curves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Processing orthogonal white noise data . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Viewing calibration data numerically. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Processing parallel noise data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Editing site parameters—advanced . . . . . . 47
Chapter 3: Viewing Noise Test Results with NPIPlot . . 69
Starting NPIPlot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Printing noise test plots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Viewing test results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Evaluating noise test plots . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
Modifying the plot appearance . . . . . . . . . . 72 Viewing and exporting channel data . . . . .73

Chapter 4: Editing Processed Data with MT-Editor . . . . 75

MT-Editor overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Viewing the Starting data and Resulting
data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
Exploring MT-Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Opening the windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
Starting MT-Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Choosing parameters and components to view . . . . . . .91
The main window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Customizing the windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
The menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Changing graph properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
The Toolbars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Opening and customizing the Editing
Setting up export options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Starting an editing session . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Changing graph properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Specifying frequencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Continuing from a previous session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Editing the crosspowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Opening files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Viewing the data mask . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99

iii iii
iv iv
Viewing polar diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Saving your work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Customizing the polar diagrams window . . . . . . . . . . 101
Exporting in EDI format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Chapter 5: Viewing Time Series Data with

Synchro Time Series View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Exploring Synchro Time Series View. . . . 106 Viewing power spectra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Understanding the main window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Modifying the spectra view . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Viewing time series channels . . . . . . . . . . 108
Opening time series files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Viewing coherencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
Specifying start and end times. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Printing time series, spectra, and
Troubleshooting time series files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
coherency plots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
Modifying the time series view . . . . . . . . . 113

Appendix A: Data processing flowchart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

Appendix B: Installing software and setting up your PC . . . . . . . . . . 127
System requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Registering MT-Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
Installing the software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Organizing your files . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136
Storing raw data files . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137
Configuring the parallel port . . . . . . . . . . . 130 Storing calibration files . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
Troubleshooting parallel port communications . . . . . . 133 Storing output (plot) files . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
Updating the software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 Formatting a CompactFlash card . . . . . . . .139

Appendix C: Frequency tables for SSMT2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

50Hz LF, MTU-A, AMTC-30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 60Hz LF, MTU-A, AMTC-30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160
50Hz LF, MTU-A, MTC-50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 60Hz LF, MTU-A, MTC-50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164
50Hz LF, MTU, AMTC-30 (V5-comp.) . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 60Hz LF, MTU, AMTC-30 (V5-comp.) . . . . . . . . . . . . .168
50Hz LF, MTU, MTC-50 (V5-comp.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 60Hz LF, MTU, MTC-50 (V5-comp.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .170
50Hz LF, MTU, MTC-50 (V5-2000) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156 60Hz LF, MTU, MTC-50 (V5-2000) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174

Appendix D: System 2000 MTU Family Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . 179

General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 A/MTU sampling rates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180
Channels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 Filtering and noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181
Sampling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 Clocking and synchronization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181

v v
vi vi
Calibration . ... ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 Time series file naming and content . . . . . . . . . . . . . .184
Power . . . . . ... ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Time series file format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185
Scheduling . ... ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Time series tag format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .186
Data storage and transfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Summary of tag byte assignments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .187
External connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Status codes (Tag Byte 14). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188
Ground . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Telluric inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 Sample rate units (Tag Byte 20) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188
Parallel port. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Auxiliary connector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Related products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189
Battery connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 MTU-TXC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189
GPS antenna connector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 MTU-2ESD, MTU-5ESD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189
MTU-2ES, MTU-5S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189
Mechanical and environmental . . . . . . . . . 183 MTU-5LR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190
MTU-AI family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190
File types and logical record formats . . . 184
Calibration file naming and content . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Chapter
This chapter provides an introduction to the suite of
Phoenix Geophysics MT and AMT data-processing
software and tells you about:
• this guide and its intended audience.
• how to get further information and support.

Introduction

1 Chapter 1 1
2 Chapter 1 About this guide 2

About this guide •

•
SSMT2000
NPIPlot
This document is a guide to the software used for • MT-Editor
processing, viewing, and editing time series data • Synchro Time Series View
acquired by System 2000 and System 2000.net MT and
AMT receivers manufactured by Phoenix Geophysics
Ltd. Separate chapters cover the different software SSMT2000
programs, and appendices provide software installation
instructions, tables of frequencies, and system This program takes as input raw time series files,
specifications, including a description of file types and calibration files, and site parameter files. In an
intermediate step, it produces Fourier coefficients,
record formats.
which are then reprocessed with data from reference
sites, using robust routines. The output is MT Plot files
containing multiple crosspowers for each of the
Intended audience frequencies analysed.

This Guide is intended for use by geophysicists and

technicians familiar with electromagnetic techniques. NPIPlot
This program allows you to view and print parallel noise
test results that have been processed by SSMT2000.
About the software
Four programs are discussed in this book:
MT-Editor Installation
This program takes as input the MT Plot files created by See Appendix B on page 131 for complete installation
SSMT2000 and displays the resistivity and phase and set-up instructions.
curves as well as the individual crosspowers that are
used to calculate each point on the curves.
Crosspowers that were affected by noise can be
automatically or manually excluded from the
calculations. The program also allows you to display a
variety of parameters of the plot files such as tipper
magnitude, coherency between channels, and strike
direction. The output is industry-standard EDI files
suitable for use with geophysical interpretation
software such as WinGLink™.

Synchro Time Series View

This program takes as input raw time series files and
displays them in graphical format. It can also compute
power spectra densities and coherency between
channels and display these characteristics in graphical
format.

3 Chapter 1 About the software 3

4 Chapter 1 How to get further information and support 4

How to get further Telephone: +1 (416) 491-7340

Fax: +1 (416) 491-7378
information and support e-mail: mail@phoenix-geophysics.com
www.phoenix-geophysics.com
Contact us at:
Phoenix Geophysics Limited Registered customers will be able to access on-line
3781 Victoria Park Avenue, Unit 3 support including FAQs and individual issue-tracking
Toronto, ON when the renovated Phoenix Web site is launched in
Canada M1W 3K5 mid-to-late 2005.
5 Chapter 1 How to get further information and support 5
6 Chapter 1 How to get further information and support 6
Chapter
This chapter explains how to process the raw data
acquired by the MTU⁄MTU-A into a format suitable for
geophysical interpretation. Instructions are provided
for:
• transferring files to your PC.
• verifying parameters.
• creating Fourier transforms.
• reprocessing the Fourier transforms into crosspowers
using robust routines.
Reference sections at the end of the chapter explain
some of the processing parameters in greater detail.

Data Processing with SSMT2000

7 Chapter 2 7
8 Chapter 2 Data processing overview 8

Data processing overview 6. Edit the resulting crosspowers one frequency at a

time to verify the viability of the sounding and to
Before processing data for the first time, you must reduce or eliminate low quality data.
install the Phoenix processing software on your 7. Translate the edited crosspowers into industry-
computer and prepare your file system and PC desktop. standard EDI format for use by interpretation
See “Installing the software” on page 132 for complete software.
instructions.
You will use the SSMT2000 program to complete steps
When you process data after each day’s acquisition(s), 1 through 5 and the MT EDIT program to complete
you will follow this general sequence of steps: steps 6 and 7.
1. Transfer the files from the MTU⁄MTU-A’s
CompactFlash™ card to your PC hard drive.
2. Verify and edit the parameters saved in the Site
Parameters Table (.TBL) file of each site.
3. Archive the raw data and Site Parameters files
(original and edited) on CD-R, DVD, or other
storage medium.
4. Create Fourier coefficients from the raw data.
5. Reprocess the Fourier coefficients using a robust
reprocessing program and possibly data from one
or more reference sites.
 Menu bar
Toolbar

Folder Selector Panes

File Selector Panes

The SSMT2000 main window.

9 Chapter 2 Data processing overview 9

10 Chapter 2 Exploring SSMT2000 10

Exploring SSMT2000
This section describes the basics of the SSMT2000
program: Below them is the Toolbar:
• Starting the program.
• Understanding the main window, the toolbar, and the
menus.
The Menus and the Toolbar both allow you to perform
the most common tasks. Their contents are organized
Starting SSMT2000 from left to right in the order in which tasks are
Start SSMT2000 as you would any other Windows normally performed. The Menus include some
program: either double click a desktop shortcut, or advanced tasks that are not available from the Toolbar.
launch the program from the Start menu.
A series of Folder Selector panes appears below the
Toolbar:
The main window
When you launch the SSMT2000 program, the main
application window appears (see the illustration on
page 9).

Across the top of the main window are the Menus:

These panes make it easy to quickly select the folders
containing the files (Site Parameters, Calibrations,
Transferring data to your PC
Fourier Parameters, etc.) you want to work with. An MTU⁄MTU-A instrument stores its Site Parameter
(TBL) file and data files on a CompactFlash card. At the
Note When SSMT2000 is closed normally, it will save the end of each sounding, these files must be transferred
folder choices you have made. However, if Windows™ to your PC for processing, and should also be archived
crashes before you close SSMT2000, these settings
will be lost. To avoid losing your settings, choose Save
onto CD-R, DVD, or other high-capacity storage
Folder Setup from the File menu any time after you medium.
select folders.
Note In all cases, limit folder and file names to eight
Finally, across the bottom of the main window is a characters, and file extensions to three
characters. Do not use spaces in path names, file
series of File Selector panes: names, or extensions.
Some language versions of Microsoft Windows
(Russian, for example) will cause problems if file
names consist only of digits. Ensure that the first
character of a file name is an alphabetic character, not
a digit.

Creating folders for your data

The File Selector panes display the contents of the
If you have set up your PC as described in Appendix B
folders that are selected in the Folder Selector panes.
on page 131, you have created a folder called TAG-Tser,
where TAG represents a three-letter code identifying

11 Chapter 2 Transferring data to your PC 11

12 Chapter 2 Transferring data to your PC 12
the survey project. Inside this folder, you will create • “TBL” identifies a Site Parameter file.
another folder for each day of acquisition, and store the • “TS?” identifies a time series data file (TSH, TSL, or
raw data files in it. This daily folder should be named in TS2 to TS5, depending on instrument firmware).
the format yyyy-Hdd where:
• “yyyy” represents the year.
• “H” represents the month in hexadecimal.
• “dd” represents the day of the month in decimal.

For example, data acquired on November 02, 2001,

should be stored in a folder named 2001-B02
(November, the eleventh month, is represented by B in
hexadecimal) as shown in the illustration.

The raw data file names are based on the serial number
of the instrument and the date of the sounding. The
format is ssssHdda, with extensions TBL or TS?, where:
• “ssss” represents the serial number of the A/MTU. To create folders for your data files:
• “H” represents the month in hexadecimal. 1. If you have already created a main (TAG-Tser)
• “dd” represents the day of the month in decimal. folder for your survey, select it from the Site
• “a” represents an alpha character denoting the order Parameters (TBL) list in the main window:
of repeated soundings at a single site.
 If you have not created the main folder, select C:\.

2. On the Toolbar, click , or choose Copy Files

from the File menu.
The Copy Files dialog box appears. By default, Site
parameters and data (TBL, TSn) is already selected, and the
Copy to: folder is the one you selected in the main window.

13 Chapter 2 Transferring data to your PC 13

14 Chapter 2 Transferring data to your PC 14
3. If you have already created a main (TAG-Tser) The New Folder dialog box appears.
folder for your survey, skip to step 8. If you need to
create that folder, continue to step 4.
4. In the Copy to: list at the bottom of the dialog box,
select the drive on which you want to store your
files.

7. Type the name for your main survey folder and click
OK.
8. In the folder list at the bottom of the dialog box,
5. In the folder list at the bottom of the dialog box, double click the main survey folder to open it.
double click the root directory (C:\).

6. Click .

9. Click .
10. Type the name for the folder you want to contain
the new day’s data, in the format yyyy-Hdd (as
explained on page 12).
11. Click OK.
12. In the folder list at the bottom of the dialog box,
double click the new daily folder to open it. 3. In the folder list that appears below the drive
selection, double click the DATA folder to open it.
Copying the files The Site Parameter (TBL) file on the CompactFlash card is listed
in the next pane of the dialog box.
Once the folder structure is set up on your PC, you can
copy each day’s data from the CompactFlash cards.

To copy the data files:

1. With the Copy Files dialog box still open, insert the
first CompactFlash card into your card reader.
2. From the Look in: list in the middle of the dialog
box, select the drive containing the CompactFlash
card.
4. Click the Site Parameter (TBL) file to select it.

5. Click .

15 Chapter 2 Transferring data to your PC 15

16 Chapter 2 Transferring data to your PC 16
Although only the Site Parameter (TBL) file was selected, 9. Repeat steps 4 through 8 until you have copied all
SSMT2000 copies all the associated time series files as well as
the day’s data, then close the Copy Files dialog
the Site Parameter file.
box.
In the main window, SSMT2000 automatically opens the daily
data folder and displays a list of the Site Parameter files that
have been copied.

6. Click OK.
7. To copy data from additional sites, replace the
CompactFlash card with one from another site.
8. Right-click anywhere within the Look in: folder
listings and click Refresh from the popup menu.

The Site Parameter (TBL) file on the new CompactFlash card is

listed.
Warning! Do not erase the data files from the
sites. Phoenix recommends using the pattern
CompactFlash cards until you are sure the files TAG-nnna, where:
! were copied without error to your hard drive. If • “TAG” represents the three-letter code identifying the
you can successfully create Fourier transforms survey project.
and have archived the data to CD-R, it is usually
safe to erase the CompactFlash cards. • “nnn” represents the numeric designation of the
individual site.
• “a” represents an alpha character denoting the order
Renaming the files of repeated soundings at a single site.

If you choose a different naming convention, bear in

Once the time series and Site Parameter files are
mind the limits described in the Note on page 11.
copied to your PC, you may want to rename them. The
default assigned by the MTU⁄MTU-A is based on the SSMT2000 includes a utility that makes it easy to
instrument serial number and date, but each quickly rename many files.
instrument will be used many times in a typical survey,
making it difficult to relate a raw data file to its site. To rename the data files:
1. If any files are selected in the Site Parameters File
Note This procedure is optional. The names of the output
files will be created automatically from the Site Name Selector pane, click .
fields in the Site Parameter files. Rename the raw data
2. From the File menu, choose Rename Files.
files only if you want to maintain the naming
convention throughout all your files.

If you decide to rename the files, the names will be

more meaningful if you base them on a code for the

17 Chapter 2 Transferring data to your PC 17

18 Chapter 2 Transferring data to your PC 18
The Rename Files dialog box appears.

4. Click .
The New Name dialog box appears for the first site selected.

5. Consulting the field crew’s Layout Sheet, type the

new name in the format TAG-nnna as described on
3. Select one or more Site Parameter files. (To select page 12, and click OK.
multiple files, hold down the SHIFT or CTRL key
while clicking.) SSMT2000 renames all files associated with this Site Parameter
file, keeping their extensions unchanged.
6. If you selected multiple Site Parameter files, values must be added manually before processing can
SSMT2000 will ask for the new name of the next file proceed. Normally, the crew will have written the
in the list. Type the new name and click OK, values on the Layout Sheet for the site.
repeating until all files have been renamed.
The Site Parameter file is a binary file, and cannot be
7. Click to return to the main window. viewed or edited with a text editor. To edit the contents
of the Site Parameter file, you will use SSMT2000’s
built-in Multi-table Editor. (To only view the contents of
the Site Parameter file, you can use the View TBL
Verifying site parameters button on the Toolbar to create a text file and then read
Before processing the data files, you need to ensure that file with a simple text editor.)
that the site parameters associated with the data are
complete and correct. This section describes how. To select Site Parameter files:
• In the File Selector panes, select individual Site
Parameter files by clicking the check box next to the
Understanding the Site Parameter file name:
(TBL) file
The Site Parameter (TBL) file is a record of all the
parameters associated with a site’s time series files.
However, depending on the firmware of the MTU⁄MTU-A
and the set-up method used, some parameter values
may not have been recorded automatically. These

19 Chapter 2 Verifying site parameters 19

20 Chapter 2 Verifying site parameters 20

• To select all the files, click . Editing site parameters with the
• To clear all the selections, click . Multi-table Editor
SSMT2000 provides an editor that allows you to make
To only review the Site Parameter file(s): changes to several Site Parameter files at once. You
can launch the editor from the Toolbar or by choosing
1. On the Toolbar, click , or choose View Site
Edit Site Parameters (TBL) from the Edit menu.
Parameters (TBL) from the Report menu.
When you first save a Site Parameter file with the
A new file with the same name but with the extension .TXT is
created in the folder containing the Site Parameter file. Each new Multi-table Editor, SSMT2000 makes a backup copy of
.TXT file opens in Notepad. the original file, with the extension TBO. Subsequent
saves will not affect the backup file; it remains a copy
2. Review the contents of the text file. (Although you
of the original file.
can edit this file, the changes will have no effect on
processing, since SSMT2000 does not use the file in Note Do not erase TBO files! If errors are made in the
any way.) editing process and you need to start over, delete the
incorrect TBL file. To restore the original Site
Note Units in the text file may differ from those shown in Parameter file, use the Windows File Rename
the Multi-table Editor (volts vs. mvolts, for example). command to change the TBO file extension back to
TBL.

3. When you have finished reviewing the parameters,

When you launch the editor, the Multi-table Editor
close the Notepad window.
window appears:
 Parameter names Parameter values

Toggle Fields button

Scroll bar

21 Chapter 2 Verifying site parameters 21

22 Chapter 2 Verifying site parameters 22
Although you can select any number of Site Parameter instrument type, channel configurations, gain
files, only three can be seen at a time in the editor. If
you selected more than three files, use the scroll bar at settings, and acquisition times. Click a
the bottom of the editor to move among them. second time to return to the main editing window.
3. Edit each Site Parameter file for completeness and
Any of the parameter values that do not appear correctness, using the field crew’s Layout Sheets to
dimmed can be edited. Use the standard Windows find the necessary information.
actions and shortcuts to make your changes:
4. Pay particular attention to the Site Name, since
• press TAB or SHIFT+TAB to move from field to field.
this will be used to name the output (Plot) files.
• double click to select a single word.
• drag the mouse pointer to select multiple words. The Site Name should be in the format SSS-Hdda,
• type a new value to replace a selected value. where
• press CTRL+C to copy a selected value. • “SSS” represents the 3-character site name.
• press CTRL+V to paste a copied value. • “H” represents the month in hexadecimal.
• “dd” represents the day of the month in decimal.
To edit the Site Parameter files:
• “a” is an alphanumeric character incremented to
1. On the Toolbar, click , or choose Edit Site differentiate multiple output files created by the
Parameters (TBL) from the Edit menu. robust processing routines.

The Multi-table Editing window appears. Note If the Site Name field is left blank, SSMT2000 will use
the File Name as entered with WinHost in the
STARTUP.TBL file, or as created by the MTU⁄MTU-A
2. If desired, click at any time to view more
firmware (using instrument serial number and date).
(non-editable) parameters, such as the MTU⁄MTU-A
5. Pay particular attention to the values for North (If you’re not sure whether a site used a
Reference, Declination, Ex Azimuth and Hx 2-component or 5-component MTU⁄MTU-A, click
Azimuth.
and examine the Channel Config value.)
Tip The North Reference value is determined by the 7. Edit the values for E-line lengths in meters
STARTUP.TBL file used by the MTU⁄MTU-A. If the (Ex [N-S] (m) and Ey [E-W] (m)).
Reference is Magnetic North, then SSMT2000 will add
the Declination to the Ex and Hx Azimuths before 8. Edit the values for E-line electrical measurements
processing. However, if the field crew mistakenly aligned (Ex and Ey kOhms, AC mV and DC mV).
the site using a True North Reference, then they have
already accounted for Declination in the value they Note SSMT2000 by default shows a copy of the E-line
recorded. To compensate for this error, subtract the electrical values measured by the MTU⁄MTU-A. You can
Declination from the Ex and Hx azimuth values recorded safely overwrite the values shown because the
by the crew. MTU⁄MTU-A stores the original values in another
On the other hand, if the MTU⁄MTU-A STARTUP file (hidden) group of parameters. To see the original
specified True North Reference, then SSMT2000 will values, follow the instructions on page 20 to review
ignore the Declination value. If the field crew mistakenly the contents of the Site Parameter file, and examine
aligned the site using a Magnetic North Reference, you the parameters EXAC, EXDC, EYAC, and EYDC. (Your
must manually add the Declination to the Ex and Hx edited values are in the parameters DXAC, DXDC,
Azimuths. DYAC, and DYDC.)

6. Ensure that the Hx, Hy, and Hz serial#s (of a 9. When you have finished editing the Site
magnetic site) are correct. Delete sensor serial
Parameters, click and close the Multi-table
numbers from non-magnetic sites.
editor.

23 Chapter 2 Verifying site parameters 23

24 Chapter 2 Verifying site parameters 24
10. Using your archiving or CD-writing software, To review data acquisition time spans:
archive the daily data folder and the related 1. In the main window, select the Site Parameter files
calibration folder on a CD-R or other removable whose times you want to view.
storage medium.

Tip Do not skip the archiving step! The tasks described in

this chapter must often be done at the end of the day,
when the crew is tired and mistakes are easily made. A
few minutes spent here can save an entire day’s work if
operator or PC errors occur later on.

Verifying acquisition times 2. On the Toolbar, click , or choose View Time

Ranges from the Report menu.
Typically, you will combine data from one or two survey
sites with data from a remote reference site in the
robust processing stage, in order to reduce the effects
of noise. However, only data acquired over the same
time span can be combined.

SSMT2000 makes it easy to review the time spans over

which data were acquired.
 The Time Series Ranges dialog box appears. The shaded areas
indicate the time spans during which data were acquired. Creating Fourier transforms
The next stage in data processing is to produce Fourier
transforms from the raw time series data. All sites that
are to be processed together must use identical
frequency parameters. These parameters are saved in
Fourier Transform Parameter (PFT) files, which can be
edited if necessary.

As you process data from various surveys, you will

build up a library of Fourier Transform Parameter files.
At that point you can simply choose an existing file
3. Ensure that the shaded areas overlap sufficiently
rather than creating a new one.
for good data processing. (If they don’t, you’ll need
to choose different sites or acquire more data.) The Fourier Transform Parameter file names are
4. If you have a printer connected to your PC, you can determined by the parameters saved in the file.
Table 2-1 explains the file naming convention.
print the time ranges by clicking .
Table 2-1: PFT File Naming Convention
5. When you are finished reviewing the time ranges,
close the dialog box. Character Possible
Meaning
Position Values
1 M, W, P, N Input data type (Measured
field, White noise, Parallel
noise, parallel white Noise)

25 Chapter 2 Creating Fourier transforms 25

26 Chapter 2 Creating Fourier transforms 26
Table 2-1: PFT File Naming Convention 2. In the main window, select one or more of the Site
Parameter files. (All the sites must have recorded
Character Possible
Meaning the same type of data—AMT cannot be combined
Position Values
with MT at this stage).
2 M, A, U Instrument used (MTU, MTU-A,
Unified, i.e., 15Hz sampling) If a suitable Fourier Transform Parameter file exists in the Fourier
Parameters folder, SSMT2000 will select that file from the drop-
3 3, 5 Sensor type: MTC-30 or MTC-50
down list. In the following example, the file A35BN4D.PFT has
4 5, 6 Line Frequency (50Hz or 60Hz) been selected:

5 A, B, D MTU⁄MTU-A firmware version

6 N, E, 2–7 Frequency Bands to process
(Normal, Extended, or
only band 2–7)
7 2, 4 Frequencies per octave
8 D, H, T Time Range to process
(Default, Hourly, or Time Range
specified)

To prepare the Fourier Transform Parameter file:

3. To review the selected parameter file, or to create a
1. If the title bar of the program does not display the
type of processing you want (Robust Processing or new file, click on the Toolbar, or choose Edit
Parallel Noise Processing), then open the Process TS to FT Parameters (PFT) from the Edit menu.
menu and click the correct processing type.
The Edit Parameters, Time Series to Fourier Transforms
dialog box appears (see the illustration on page 27). Below the
 title bar, the dialog box displays the type of data, software
version, line frequency filter, and sensor type recorded in the
Site Parameter files.

4. For normal processing, none of the settings needs

to be changed.

Note It is possible, at the editing and plotting stage, to

combine data from MTUs with data from MTU-As. If
you want identical frequencies in the overlapping
range, set the Output Data Format to two frequencies
per octave for all sites.

For orthogonal white noise processing, set the

Input Data Type to White noise test. (For more
information on processing test data, see
“Processing white noise and parallel noise test data”
on page 65.)

For advanced processing requirements, see “Under-

standing Fourier Transform parameters” on
page 41.
5. Save the file and close the dialog box.

27 Chapter 2 Creating Fourier transforms 27

28 Chapter 2 Creating Fourier transforms 28
To produce the Fourier transforms:
1. Select the Site Parameter files that you want to
work with.

2. On the Toolbar, click , or choose Create The results are saved in files with the same name as
Fourier Coefficients (TS to FT) from the the Site Parameter file, but with an extension of FCn,
Process menu. where n is the frequency band.

SSMT2000 opens a new window and applies Fourier coefficients

to the data from each selected Site. The windows close
automatically approximately 10s after processing ends:

These files are listed in the lower left pane of the main
window whenever the associated Site Parameter file is
selected. Click the + or – sign to expand or contract the Ranges chart on page 34 for the three-character
list. extension corresponding to each combination of
instrument and sensor type.
Tip If the Fourier transforms are created without error and
you have archived your raw data on CD-R, it is usually If reprocessing is carried out multiple times on the
safe to erase the CompactFlash cards at this time. same data, the middle character of the output file
extensions will change to a digit, incremented with
each repetition.

Reprocessing the Fourier This stage of processing also allows you to apply a
variety of robust routines that can substantially reduce
transforms the effect of noise present in the data files.

The final calculations applied by SSMT2000 reprocess As with the previous operations, it is first necessary to
the Discrete Fourier Transforms (DFTs) into set up the parameters for this stage of processing.
crosspowers. The crosspowers are stored in Plot files
that can be displayed graphically and edited using the Note Robust Parameter (PRM) files are unique to each site.
MTEditor program. This program can also convert They cannot be copied to other folders and used to
process other data.
crosspowers to industry-standard EDI format for use
with geophysical interpretation software. (For more
information, see Chapter 4 on page 79.) To edit the reprocessing parameters:
1. If the title bar of the program displays SSMT 2000:
The Plot File names are created automatically from the
Parallel Noise Processing, then open the Process
Site Name parameter, with an extension determined
menu and click Robust Processing.
by the frequency range. See the MTU Frequency

29 Chapter 2 Reprocessing the Fourier transforms 29

30 Chapter 2 Reprocessing the Fourier transforms 30

2. On the Toolbar, click or choose Edit Robust

Parameters (PRM) from the Edit menu.
The Magnetotelluric Processing Setup dialog box appears:
31 Chapter 2 Reprocessing the Fourier transforms 31
32 Chapter 2 Reprocessing the Fourier transforms 32
3. Select the type of reference channels to be used. and take Remote E or H channels from a distant
Local E or H channels are taken from the site to be reference site. You can select the 5-component site
processed; Remote E or H channels are taken from repeatedly from the drop-down lists, or select
another site. Same as Ex and Ey and Same as Hx and Hy.

If you are processing a 2-component site, you will

usually take the E channels from that site, the H
channels from a nearby 3- or 5-component site,
and Remote E or H channels from a distant
reference site.
The message box in the Select Site(s) for Channels area
confirms the number of different sites and channels selected.
4. Select the site(s) from which you want to take
channels. The drop-down lists display the files
contained in the Site Parameters folder that was 5. Select the folder in which to store the output (Plot)
selected in the main window. files.

Either locate an existing folder by clicking or

If you are processing a 5-component site, you will type the full path and folder name in the text box.
usually take all the E and H channels from that site, Phoenix recommends using folder names such as
 “RmH-SITE” (meaning Remote H SITE) or “MTH- If you do not want to process all applicable
SITE” (meaning a Type 4 frequency range—see the frequencies, select a subset. Click to see a
chart on page 34) to reflect the type of data and chart of the available frequency ranges:
reprocessing.

Note You can type a name for a folder that does not yet
exist on your hard drive—SSMT2000 will create the
folder during processing. (The folder that is to contain
the new folder must already exist, however.
SSMT2000 cannot create nested folders.)

6. In the same manner, select the folder in which to

store the temporary files that SSMT2000 creates
during processing.

Note The temporary files may grow to 500MB in size.

Ensure that you have sufficient free disk space to
accommodate these files.

7. Select the frequencies to be processed.

33 Chapter 2 Reprocessing the Fourier transforms 33

34 Chapter 2 Reprocessing the Fourier transforms 34
(above the coloured bar) and the number of the
range (in braces {}, below the coloured bar). Close
the chart and select the number of the range you
want to use. See “Frequency tables for SSMT2000”
on page 145 for the effect of each choice.
8. If desired, modify the Robust Processing param-
eters. See “Robust processing parameters” on
page 38 for an explanation of the parameters and
their effects.

Chart of frequency ranges applicable to each instrument type. 9. If desired, modify the Crosspower Parameters. See
“Crosspower parameters” on page 40 for an expla-
In the chart, find the column for your instrument nation of the parameters and their effects.
and sensor type. Note the name of the range
 SSMT2000 saves the PRM file to disk, and lists the file in the
Parameters Files Loaded list.

• Select the number of crosspowers to be

calculated, from 1 to 100.
• Select the weighting factor (No weight, Rho
variance, or Ordinary coherency).
• Select the weight cutoff value, from 0.01 to 0.99. 11. Click to return to the main window.
10. When you have finished editing the parameters,
save them in a file. SSMT2000 suggests a file name To reprocess the Fourier transforms:
based on the site selected for Ex and Ey channels; 1. In the lower right pane of the main window, select
however, you can type any file name you want (but the Robust Parameters file that you just prepared.
see the restrictions in the Note on page 11).
2. On the Toolbar, click , or choose Process from
the Process menu.
SSMT2000 opens a full-screen DOS window and reprocesses the
Fourier transforms. This can take several minutes, depending on
file sizes. The window closes automatically when reprocessing is
Click to save the settings. finished.

35 Chapter 2 Reprocessing the Fourier transforms 35

36 Chapter 2 Batch processing 36

Batch processing To save the batch job:

Since data processing is time-consuming, SSMT2000 1. On the Toolbar, click .

includes a provision for unattended processing of
The JOB File Creation dialog box appears.
multiple sites.

To prepare for batch processing:

1. In the main window, select the Site Parameter files
that you want to work with.
2. Edit the files as explained on page 22.
3. Ensure that a valid Fourier Transform Parameter
(PFT) file exists, as explained on page 26.
2. Type a name for the file and click OK.
4. Create and save a Robust Parameter (PRM) file for
each site as explained on page 29. Note that you do SSMT2000 adds the extension JOB to the file name if necessary
not need to close the Magnetotelluric Processing and saves the file.

Setup dialog box after saving a site’s processing You can run the batch job immediately, or load and run
parameters. Simply repeat steps 3 through 10 on it at any later time.
page 32 for each additional site.
5. In the main window, ensure that all Robust To load and run a saved batch job:
Parameter files you want to include in the batch are
selected. 1. On the Toolbar, click , or choose Load Saved
Batch Job from the Jobs menu.
 The Load Batch Job dialog box appears. Editing saved robust parameters
When you have saved the processing parameters for a
number of sites, the files will be listed in the Robust
Parameters list in the main window:

You can review or change the contents of these files at

any time.

To review or edit saved robust reprocessing

2. Select the batch job you want to run from the list of parameters:
saved JOB files.
1. On the Toolbar, click or choose Edit Robust
3. Click . Parameters (PRM) from the Edit menu.

4. On the Toolbar, click . The Magnetotelluric Processing Setup dialog box appears.

SSMT2000 calculates Fourier transforms for each Site in the JOB 2. From the Parameters Files Loaded list, click on
file, then reprocesses the data into Plot files. the name of the file you want to review (it doesn’t
matter if the check boxes are selected or cleared—it

37 Chapter 2 Batch processing 37

38 Chapter 2 Understanding the magnetotelluric processing parameters 38
is the coloured highlight that determines which file
will be reviewed).
Understanding the
magnetotelluric processing
parameters
This section explains the meaning and possible values
of the processing parameters in the Magnetotelluric
Processing Setup dialog box. The default values should
produce satisfactory results in most cases; however,
experimentation may improve results in noisy areas.
The Magnetotelluric Processing Setup dialog box is updated to
show the parameters saved in the selected file.

3. If you want, change the parameter values and click

Robust processing parameters
. Two schemes of initial processing that attempt to filter
out noise-affected data are controlled by the robust
4. Click to return to the main window. processing parameters: Coherency and Rho variance.
This process reduces the size of the error bars and
smooths the curves in plots of apparent resistivity.

“Coherency” refers to eight processing schemes that

compare survey site data with reference site data, and
process only data that are coherent. Cultural noise that
is present at the survey site but not at the reference
site is therefore reduced (but see the Note on 7 to use the combined factors of the Multiple
page 40). Coherency of Hx with the total Remote Magnetic
field and the Multiple Coherency of Hy with the total
“Rho variance” (Resistivity variance) refers to a second
Remote Magnetic field: M(Hx, R) * M(Hy, R).
stage of coherency processing that compares the
telluric and magnetic results from the first stage, and 8 to use the combined factors of the Partial
selects data where these results are coherent (again, Coherency of Hx with the total Remote Magnetic
see the Note on page 40). field and the Partial Coherency of Hy with the total
Remote Magnetic field: P(Hx, R) * P(Hy, R).
Coherency type. This parameter defines which of the
eight coherency processing schemes will be used. Enter A discussion of Multiple and Partial Coherency is
a value of: beyond the scope of this guide. Consult a text on
1 to combine Type 2 with Type 3. statistical methods for a fuller understanding of these
terms.
2 to use the Multiple Coherency of Ex with the total
magnetic field: M(Ex, H). Move to next frequency if coherency (or variance)
reaches set value. Even with powerful computers, data
3 to use the Multiple Coherency of Ey with the total
processing can be time-consuming. These two
magnetic field: M(Ey, H).
parameters define the minimum level of coherency or
4 to combine Type 5 with Type 6. variance that must be found for the routine to stop
5 to use the Partial Coherency of Ex with the total processing. Once this minimum level has been found,
magnetic field: P(Ex, H). the program can save time by moving on to the next
6 to use the Partial Coherency of Ey with the total frequency. Enter a value between 0 and 1.0, where 0
magnetic field: P(Ey, H). means no coherency and 1.0 means complete
coherency.

39 Chapter 2 Understanding the magnetotelluric processing parameters 39

40 Chapter 2 Understanding the magnetotelluric processing parameters 40
Typical effective values would range from 0.95 for data Weight type (Rho variance, Ordinary coherency). This
with much noise to 0.80 for data with little noise. parameter selects the robust processing scheme used
to weight the results of the initial processing described
Maximum fraction of estimates to reject. These two
on page 38. Rho variance, the default, gives more
parameters define what fraction of the data can be
weight to data points with smaller error bars. Ordinary
discarded in each attempt to reach the minimum level
coherency gives more weight to data points with good
of coherency or variance. Enter a value between 0 and
coherency between E and H channels. No weight uses
1.0, where 0 means no crosspowers are rejected and
a factor of 1 for all data points and is useful when noise
1.0 means all crosspowers can be rejected. Typical
is coherent (see the Note below). Experimentation is
effective values would range from 0.75 for data with
the only way to arrive at the best choice for particular
much noise to 0.25 for data with little noise.
survey or site conditions.

Note The same sources of cultural noise may affect both

Crosspower parameters survey and reference sites, and the noise in the data
Maximum crosspowers. This is the number of equal- will therefore be coherent. If this is known or
suspected to be the case, coherency processing should
sized segments (maximum 100) into which the time be disabled so that the noise is not selected for
series is divided when calculating data points for each processing.
frequency. These data points will be averaged or
“stacked” to produce each point on the resistivity and Weight cutoff value. This parameter affects a step
phase curves. If the curves contain large error bars, or function in the weighting scheme. If the weight factor
are difficult to smooth when editing, it may be helpful assigned to a crosspower is less than the weight cutoff
to increase the number of crosspowers and reprocess value, that weight factor is reduced to zero.
the data.
Advanced crosspower parameters. On occasion, a
survey site will have been laid out in very close
Understanding Fourier
alignment to the strike direction, and it is difficult to Transform parameters
interpret the results. In this case it is often useful to
For normal processing, the default values in the Edit
mathematically rotate the impedance matrix [Z]
Parameters, Time Series to Fourier Transforms
relative to True North. Enter the desired azimuth in
dialog box are correct. This section explains the
degrees.
meaning of the parameters and how to change them
for advanced processing requirements.

Input Data Type

Measured field. Select this option for normal processing
of field data.
White noise test. A dual random white noise generator
Any value other than zero will cause a selection box to is available from Phoenix for bench testing purposes. If
appear in the Magnetotelluric Processing Setup dialog data have been acquired with this input, select White
box, for easier readjustment of the value. noise test to prevent SSMT2000 from attempting to
locate and use sensor calibration files. For more
information on noise test processing, see “Processing
white noise and parallel noise test data” on page 65.

41 Chapter 2 Understanding Fourier Transform parameters 41

42 Chapter 2 Understanding Fourier Transform parameters 42
Parallel noise test. If the sensors or electrodes were set
out in parallel for testing, or if you want to compare
similar components from multiple sites, select this
checkbox. If the checkbox is selected but unavailable,
then the Array Type in the Site Parameter file has been
set to 1 – Parallel orientation. For more information on
noise test processing, see “Processing white noise and
parallel noise test data” on page 65.
Hourly files. Select this option only if the instrument is
used in continuous monitoring applications, where the
files are closed automatically at set intervals for trans-
mission to a processing computer.
Output Data Format Coefficient Program – TSTOFT Program Description”
contained in the file TSTOFT.PDF in the folder C:\EMT-
This parameter determines the set of frequencies that SW\EMT-DOCS, or in the documentation folder on the
will be output for a given combination of MTU⁄MTU-A Phoenix software CD.
and sensor type. See the frequency tables in Appendix
C on page 145 for details. Process normal bands (levels). For normal processing,
select this option.
4 frequencies per octave. For higher resolution in the
apparent resistivity plots and improved ability to Process only band (level) n. If you want to restrict
interpret the results, select this option. processing to a single band, select this option and
select or type the band number desired.
2 frequencies per octave. For backwards compatibility
with the V5-16 format, or to edit combined data from Process extended bands (levels). To output very low
MTUs and MTU-As with identical frequencies in the frequency bands, select this option.
overlapping range, select this option. The frequency ranges of various equipment
combinations are:
Bands (Levels) • MTU-A + AMTC-30: 10Hz – 0.5Hz (Band 5).
• MTU-A + MTC-50: 1000s – 10 000s (Band 7).
These parameters determine how many frequency • MTU + MTC-50: 1000s – 10 000s (Band 7).
bands (formerly known as Levels) will be processed
and therefore how many FCn files will be created. The Note For MT data, you must have at least 18 hours of
table at the bottom of the box displays details on the continuous recording in order to process extended
selected bands. For an explanation of the terms used in bands.
the table headings, refer to “Time Series To Fourier

43 Chapter 2 Understanding Fourier Transform parameters 43

44 Chapter 2 Examining calibration files 44
Processing Times recalibrated at the end of a survey. They may also
require recalibration during a survey—in the case of
By default, SSMT2000 processes data acquired over equipment damage, for example.
the longest time span common to all the selected sites.
In the calibration process, the response of the
If it is known that data quality is poor at the beginning instrument and components is measured using a
or end of the common time span—due to a known input signal. The signal includes components at
thunderstorm or broken E-lines, for example—better odd harmonics, starting with a different fundamental
results can be obtained by shortening the time span to for each frequency band the instrument can acquire.
eliminate the poor data. The results are stored in a file named with the serial
Use default times. Select this option for normal number of the instrument or sensor and the extension
processing. .CLB (instrument) or .CLC (sensor).

Specify times. Select this option and edit the Start SSMT2000 includes a utility for viewing and printing
from or End at times as required to shorten the time different analyses of the calibration results. These
span. When you save the parameter file, SSMT2000 analyses will show whether the equipment is working
will add or increment a digit at the end of the filename, properly. They can also help to verify that you have
from 0 through 9, to indicate the file version number. chosen instrument filter settings that are appropriate
for site conditions.

To simply evaluate the calibration, use the

Examining calibration files DEFAULT.TBL as the Site Parameter File (in step 6 on
page 46). This setting removes the effect of the line
Phoenix V-5 System 2000 MTU⁄MTU-As and sensors frequency comb filter. (You can view calibration results
must be calibrated before each survey and should be
that include the effect of the filter by selecting a To view calibration curves:
specific Site Parameter file from the list; however, the 1. In the SSMT2000 main window, select the folder(s)
resulting scatter of points on the curve makes it containing the calibration files you want to
difficult to evaluate the calibration.) examine.
On the other hand, to evaluate the effect of specific
filter settings, select the Site Parameter File
containing the settings you want to check. The
displayed calibration results will then include the effect
of the high-pass filter (if selected) and all digital filters.
In the case of an MTU-A, the display will also include
2. Below the Sensor Calibrations (CLC) folder
the effect of the input low-pass filter, taking into
account the electrode resistance as recorded by the selector pane, click .
user.
The Display Calibrations dialog box appears.

Note An inaccurate record of contact resistance will

introduce error when the processing software applies
its correction using the calibration model. This fact
emphasizes the importance of correctly measuring
contact resistance at the survey site. Measurements
taken at the end of a sounding are preferable to those
taken just after the electrodes are buried. (The soil
conditions at the electrodes are likely to be unstable
for a time after installation, until the salt water has
dispersed.)

45 Chapter 2 Examining calibration files 45

46 Chapter 2 Examining calibration files 46
eters File. If you want to view an analysis showing
the specific frequencies at which your data will be
processed, choose the appropriate Fourier Param-
eters File from the dropdown list. (See “Creating
Fourier transforms” on page 25 for more infor-
mation.)
6. From the Site Parameter File dropdown list,
select either DEFAULT.TBL (for simple calibration
evaluation) or a specific site TBL file (for filter
settings evaluation).
7. Finally, if the calibration was for an MTU-A to
acquire MT data (not AMT data), clear the AC
coupling checkbox. For other instrument or data
3. Select the calibration type (instrument or sensor). types, select AC Coupling.
If you select Instrument calibrations, you should
also select Remove linear phase delay. (Phase 8. Click .
delay is an artefact of the digital filters and will
The Display Calibration Files window appears, showing the
disrupt the curves.) magnitude (upper curve) and phase (lower curve) of the
4. From the Select file to display list, select the file instrument or sensor response.
you want to view.
5. To view the standard analysis (two frequencies per
octave), select the DEFAULT.PFT Fourier Param-
 axes) are linear. You can toggle the magnitude y-axis
between logarithmic and linear scales.

To change the scale of the magnitude curve:

• Right click anywhere on the curves and choose the
desired scale from the shortcut menu. (The current
choice is indicated by a checkmark.)

Printing calibration curves

If the chart is for a sensor, the calibration is displayed
as a single curve.

Changing the vertical scale To print a sensor channel:

By default, the calibration curves are displayed in semi- • Click either or .

logarithmic format—the frequency scale (x-axis) is
logarithmic and the phase and magnitude scales (y- If the chart is for an instrument, multiple channels will
be overlaid. Channels are numbered sequentially,

47 Chapter 2 Examining calibration files 47

48 Chapter 2 Examining calibration files 48
representing the components in alphabetical order (Ex, To view raw calibration data:
Ey, Hx, Hy, Hz, if they exist). 1. Right click anywhere on the curves and choose
View Data from the shortcut menu.
To print a single instrument channel:
• Click one of the Print Channel buttons at the
bottom of the window.

To print all the instrument channels overlaid on a A spreadsheet window displays the data.
single chart:

• Click .

Viewing calibration data numerically

You can view the numerical values of a calibration
curve on screen in a spreadsheet format. You can also
save or export the data in text (.TXT) or comma
separated values (.CSV) format for use by another
program. All word processing programs can open .TXT
files. Most spreadsheet programs can open .CSV files.
2. Use the scrollbar on the right of the window to see
the remaining frequencies.
Editing site parameters—
advanced
To save the data for text editing:
In some circumstances, it may be necessary to edit
• Click . Site Parameters that are not normally changed and are
not accessible through the Multi-table Editor. For
A file with the same name but the extension .TXT is saved in the example, a file may be corrupt and contain an invalid
same folder as the calibration file, and the Save to File button
appears dimmed.
start or end time. It is sometimes possible to overcome
such problems using an advanced editing utility that
To export the data for spreadsheet editing: allows direct access to all the fields in a Site Parameter
file.
• Click .
Warning! Modifying parameters incorrectly may produce
A file with the same name but the extension .CSV is saved in the invalid results, cause data loss, or may prevent
same folder as the calibration file, and the Export to File button ! data processing altogether. Phoenix Geophysics
appears dimmed. Ltd. accepts no responsibility for data loss or
invalid results or interpretations based on
parameters incorrectly modified.
DO NOT MODIFY PARAMETERS unless you
fully understand the consequences or are advised
by Phoenix Geophysics Technical Support.

49 Chapter 2 Editing site parameters—advanced 49

50 Chapter 2 Editing site parameters—advanced 50
The Advanced Parameter Table Interface lists all the 2. From the Edit menu, choose Edit TBL—Advanced.
parameters in a Site Parameter file in alphabetical
A Warning dialog box appears.
order, with their current values and a brief explanation.
3. If you want to continue, click Yes.
To use Advanced Editing:
The Advanced Parameter Table Interface dialog box
1. In the main window, select only one Site Parameter appears.
file you want to edit.

The Advanced Parameter Table Interface.

4. In the Parameter column, locate the required during processing and salvage data that would
parameter name. Drag the scroll bar on the right if otherwise be unusable.
necessary.
Note Users encountering these errors frequently are
5. In the Value column, double click the current value
advised to review the layout procedures described in
to activate the field. the V5 System 2000 MTU/MTU-A User Guide.
6. Double click again (or drag the mouse pointer
through the value) to select it. To correct errors in sensor identification (sensor serial
7. Type the new value and press Enter. numbers recorded incorrectly), just use the Multi-table
editor (see step 6 on page 23) to type in the correct
8. Repeat as required for other parameters.
values.
9. Click to save the changes or to To correct errors in polarity, orientation or connection,
discard them. use the Edit Layout Errors feature explained here. This
feature can correct for:
10. Click to return to the main window.
• Hx, Hy, and/or Hz sensors connected to the wrong
terminal on the three-way splitter cable.
• Hx and/or Hy sensors incorrectly oriented by 180°.
Correcting layout errors • Ex and Ey connections interchanged.
• Ex and/or Ey polarity reversed.
The most common errors made by inexperienced field
crews occur when components are incorrectly oriented,
incorrectly connected, or incorrectly identified. If you
discover such errors, you can compensate for them

51 Chapter 2 Correcting layout errors 51

52 Chapter 2 Correcting layout errors 52

Note It is not practical to try to compensate for incorrectly

reasons, you should finish editing with the Multi-table
paired electrodes (e.g., N–E and S–W), since the editor before using the Edit Layout Errors feature.
result is two parallel E-lines instead of two orthogonal
E-lines.
Starting layout error correction
Once you have saved the edited Site Parameter File,
Preparation you can open the Edit Layout Errors dialog box.
Before correcting layout errors, use the Multi-table
editor to complete the editing of the Site Parameter file To start layout error correction:
in question. Type in all the parameter values necessary, 1. In the main window, select only the single Site
including the ones that you know are wrong, and save Parameter file you want to correct.
the file. This is the starting point for correcting layout 2. From the Edit menu, choose Layout Errors.
errors. If you apply error correction more than once,
SSMT2000 must be able to identify this starting point
each time.

If you correct layout errors before you have completely

edited the Site Parameter file, you will have to use the
Multi-table editor on the corrected file. In doing so, you
may inadvertently override the corrections. You will
also be altering the file from its starting point, making
it more difficult to repeat error correction. For these
 The Edit Layout Errors dialog box appears. Correcting magnetic component
polarity errors
A common error made by inexperienced crews is to
align the sensors so that the connectors always point
back toward the MTU⁄MTU-A, no matter which quadrant
they may be in. If the Hx sensor is south of the site
centre, or the Hy sensor is west of the site centre, the
result is reversed polarity.

The following three diagrams show how SSMT2000

makes adjustments to compensate for the error(s).

Note In the diagrams, the location of the sensors in a

specific quadrant is arbitrary and not relevant to the
procedure.

Depending on the kind of error being corrected, the

channel assignments, sensor assignments, dipole sign
(+/–) and/or H azimuth may be changed. The dialog
box shows the original starting point values in the top
left frame. As you make your corrections, the new,
“Current” values appear in the top right frame.

53 Chapter 2 Correcting layout errors 53

54 Chapter 2 Correcting layout errors 54
Hx reversed. SSMT2000 interchanges the Hx and Hy Hx and Hy both reversed. SSMT2000 increases the H
channels and serial number assignments and increases azimuth by 180° (no change to sensor channels or
the H azimuth by 90°. serial numbers).

This incorrect …is reinterpreted as this correct This incorrect …is reinterpreted as this correct
layout… layout, rotated 90°. layout… layout, rotated 180°.
Hy (ch 4)
90° 180°
Hx Hx
Hy (ch 4)
(ch 4) (ch 3)

Hx Hx
Hy (ch 3) Hy (ch 4)
(ch 3) (ch 3)

Hy reversed. SSMT2000 interchanges the Hx and Hy

channels and serial number assignments and decreases To correct for reversed sensor polarity:
the H azimuth by 90°. 1. In the Sensor polarity frame, select either or both
check boxes, according to the error that was made.
This incorrect …is reinterpreted as this correct
layout… layout, rotated –90°.

Hx Hx –90°
(ch 3) (ch 4)

Hy (ch 4) Hy (ch 3) In the Current frame, SSMT2000 displays adjusted channels,

serial numbers, and H azimuth.
 To correct sensor connections:
2. To save the changes, click ; to revert to the
1. If Hx was connected to the wrong pigtail, select
original values, click ; to close the dialog box Hx sensor connected to and choose the actual
connected pigtail from the dropdown list.
without saving changes, click .

Correcting magnetic component

connection errors 2. If Hy was connected to the wrong pigtail, select
Hy sensor connected to and choose the actual
The three-way splitter cable for connecting sensors to
connected pigtail from the dropdown list.
the MTU⁄MTU-A is marked with coloured rings on the
pigtails—one ring for Hx, two for Hy, and three for Hz. If 3. If Hz was connected to the wrong pigtail, it will be
these markings are not matched to the correct sensor automatically corrected when you follow steps 1
cables, data will be recorded on the wrong channels. and 2.

Hz 4. To save the changes, click ; to revert to the

original values, click ; to close the dialog box

to MTU/
MTU-A
Hy
without saving changes, click .

Hx

55 Chapter 2 Correcting layout errors 55

56 Chapter 2 Correcting layout errors 56
Correcting telluric component errors SSMT2000 corrects polarity by multiplying the dipole length by
–1 and corrects interchanged dipoles by interchanging Ex and Ey
channel assignments.
Two types of errors in dipole layout can be corrected:
reversed polarity of a dipole and interchange of the two
dipoles. 2. To save the changes, click ; to revert to the

Note It is not practical to try to compensate for incorrectly original values, click ; to close the dialog box
paired electrodes (e.g., N–E and S–W), since the
result is two parallel E-lines instead of two orthogonal without saving changes, click .
E-lines.

Revising layout corrections

To correct telluric layout errors:
1. In the Telluric (E Channels) frame, select the When you make layout error corrections, SSMT2000
check boxes that describe the actual layout saves the original Site Parameter values (the “starting
conditions. point”) in a special file with the same name but a .TBK
extension. This file makes it possible to reverse layout
corrections you have made.

To reverse layout corrections:

1. From the Edit menu, choose Layout Errors.
2. Click Restore.
SSMT2000 restores the Site Parameter file to the starting point
values.
3. Click in the confirmation dialog box.

4. Click in the Edit Layout Errors dialog box.

If you have used the Multi-table editor to change the
Site Parameter (TBL) file after applying layout
correction, then the Site Parameters no longer match
the starting point values. Therefore, it is not possible to
reverse or revise the layout corrections reliably.

In this case, when you choose Layout Errors from the

Edit menu, a warning dialog box appears.

The warning dialog box refers to the following

instructions.

To restore original parameter values:

1. If you have the original Layout Sheet, click .

SSMT2000 replaces the Site Parameter file with a copy of the file
as it was saved by the instrument—before you did any editing at
all.

57 Chapter 2 Correcting layout errors 57

58 Chapter 2 Correcting layout errors 58
2. If you don’t have the original Layout Sheet, click 3. Use the Multi-table editor and the Layout Sheet or
Open filename.TBK. Notepad file to edit the Site Parameters. If you are
using the Notepad file, locate the parameter code in
A text version of the Site Parameter file opens in Notepad as it
was at the starting point when you first applied layout error the leftmost column and its value in the rightmost
correction. column. The code for each required parameter is
shown in the following illustration.
 Creating reports
Four reports are available from the Report menu:
• Site Parameters
• Time Ranges
• Saturated Records
• Custom Parameters

The Site Parameters report

For information on the Site Parameters report, see
“Understanding the Site Parameter (TBL) file” on
page 19.

To view the Site Parameters report:

• On the Toolbar, click , or choose View Site

Parameters (TBL) from the Report menu.

59 Chapter 2 Creating reports 59

60 Chapter 2 Creating reports 60
The Time Ranges report sort the report by various criteria, or manipulate it in
other ways.
For information on the Time Ranges report, see
“Verifying acquisition times” on page 24. To create the Saturated Records report:
1. In the Site Parameters folder selection pane,
To view the Time Ranges report: navigate to the folder containing the Site Parameter
file(s) you want to include in the report.
• On the Toolbar, click , or choose View Time
Ranges from the Report menu. A list of the files appears in the Site TBLs file selection pane, but
you do not need to select any—the report will cover all files in
the folder.

The Saturated Records report

The Saturated Records report can be useful when
troubleshooting. If Gain is set too high, the dynamic
range of the system will be exceeded, resulting in
many “saturated” records. A fault in the instrument can
also produce this result. The Saturated Records report
provides a way of viewing instrument and channel
performance for multiple instruments, sites, and
channels. The report can be viewed on-screen within
SSMT2000 and is simultaneously saved as a comma-
separated-values (.CSV) file. Most spreadsheet
programs can open or import CSV files, allowing you to
 The Saturated Records Report dialog box appears:

3. Select the records, the sort criterion, and the sort

2. From the Report menu, choose Saturated
Records Report… (If the folder you selected in order, and click .
step 1 contains no Site Parameter files, the
command will be unavailable. Repeat step 1,
selecting a different folder.)

61 Chapter 2 Creating reports 61

62 Chapter 2 Creating reports 62
The compiled report appears:
6. Click to return to the report dialog box.
You can change the setup and run the report again,
or return to the main window by clicking

again.

The Custom Parameters report

4. You can examine the report on screen, using the The Custom Parameters report content is completely
scroll bar on the right to move among the rows, or flexible: you can create a listing of any and all
launch a spreadsheet or text-processing program parameters contained in the Site Parameter files in any
folder, sorted by any single parameter. The report will
and open the file from within that program. The file
name appears at the bottom of the report. be saved in comma-separated-values (.CSV) format for
use with a spreadsheet or text-processing program and
5. To change the width of the columns, drag the
will also appear on screen.
vertical bars that separate the column headings.
The pointer will change appearance when it is
To create a Custom Parameters report:
correctly positioned to allow resizing:
1. In the Site Parameters folder selection pane,
navigate to the folder containing the Site Parameter
file(s) you want to include in the report.
A list of the files appears in the Site TBLs file selection pane, but
you do not need to select any—the report will cover all files in
the folder.
 The Custom Parameters Report dialog box appears:

3. Several commonly used parameters appear in the

2. From the Report menu, choose Custom Param-
Include parameters list; all other parameters
eters Report… (If the folder you selected in step 1
appear in the Do not include list. If the default
contains no Site Parameter files, the command will
selection meets your needs, click Create Report. If
be unavailable. Repeat step 1, selecting a different
not, follow the next procedures to modify the
folder.)
report.

63 Chapter 2 Creating reports 63

64 Chapter 2 Creating reports 64
The parameter moves from the Include parameters list to the
Note In the latitude and longitude formats, “d” represents Do not include list.
degrees, “m” represents minutes, and “s” represents
seconds. “C” represents the cardinal points of the
compass—N or S for north or south latitude, E or W for
To add parameters to the report:
east or west longitude. The EDI format uses a “+” for • In the Do not include list, select the parameter you
north or east and a “–” for south or west. The suffixes
themselves are acronyms for Degrees/Minutes/ want to include, and click .
Fractions (DMF), Degrees/ Minutes/Seconds (DMS),
and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). The parameter moves from the Do not include list to the
bottom of the Include parameters list.

To change the order of included parameters:

Modifying the Custom Parameters
• In the Include parameters list, select the
report parameter you want to move, and click either
You can add to or subtract from the default list of
or .
parameters, and you can change the order of the
columns in the report. You can also specify a sorting
To change the sort criteria:
criterion and sort order.
1. After selecting all the parameters you want to
To remove parameters from the report: include, choose the sort criterion from the Sort By
list.
• In the Include parameters list, select the
2. Click either the Ascending or Descending sort
parameter you want to remove, and click . order.
Opening reports in a spreadsheet 9. Select Treat consecutive delimiters as one.
program 10. Select " as the Text qualifier.
11. Click Next.
Most word processing and spreadsheet programs can
12. Scroll through the Data preview. If any column is
import the report files saved by SSMT2000. The exact
empty, select it and click Do not import column
procedure will vary depending on the program. As an
(skip).
example, this section provides instructions for using
Microsoft Excel™. 13. Select the column to the right of the Latitude X
Longitude column and click Text.
To open a report with Microsoft Excel: 14. Click Finish.
1. Launch Excel. 15. In the Import Data dialog box, click OK to accept
2. In the blank workbook that appears, select cell A1. cell A1 as the destination.
3. From the Data menu, point to Import External
Data and then click Import Data.
4. In the Files of type list, select All Files (*.*). Processing white noise and
5. Select the file saved by SSMT2000 (SATR.CSV,
CUSTOM.CSV, or the name you assigned to the file)
parallel noise test data
and click Open. Two types of noise tests can be performed to verify or
6. In the Text Import Wizard, click Delimited. troubleshoot system and component performance:
white noise and parallel noise. The processed output
7. Click Next.
from these tests can be viewed and printed with the
8. Select Comma and Space as the Delimiters.
NPIPlot program.

65 Chapter 2 Processing white noise and parallel noise test data 65

66 Chapter 2 Processing white noise and parallel noise test data 66
In the case of a white noise test, the input source is a To process orthogonal white noise data:
dual random white noise generator, available from • Follow the instructions given earlier in this chapter
Phoenix. The two outputs from the generator can be for processing site data, being sure to select White
connected to the MTU⁄MTU-A in either orthogonal or noise test in the Time Series to Fourier Transform
parallel configuration. parameters.
In the case of a sensor parallel noise test, one or more
MTU⁄MTU-A instruments are set up in the field with the
Processing parallel noise data
E-lines in parallel at right angles to the sensors, which
are also in parallel. You can also conduct parallel tests Parallel noise data, whether from a white noise or
using multiple standard orthogonal layouts separated natural source, is processed differently, so that
by only a meter or so, comparing corresponding channels of the same type can be compared with each
channels from two or more instruments. other, i.e., magnetic with magnetic and telluric with
telluric. To view the processed data, use the NPIPlot
program, described in Chapter 3 on page 73.
Processing orthogonal white noise
data Tip To avoid confusing test data with field data, create a
separate folder for the test data and associated Site
White noise data from an orthogonal configuration is Parameter files.
processed exactly the same way as normal field data,
except that sensor calibration files are not used in the Changing the Array type. If you are performing parallel
Fourier transform stage of processing. processing on data from a site where the channels
were laid out in parallel (i.e., you are not using data
from multiple standard orthogonal layouts), the Array Creating Fourier Transforms. The procedure for
Type must be changed in the Site Parameter files. creating Fourier Transforms is similar to that used for
field data.
To change the Array Type:
1. Select the first Site Parameter file containing To prepare the Fourier Transform Parameter file:
parallel noise data. 1. From the Process menu, choose Parallel Noise
2. From the Edit menu, choose TBL – Advanced… Processing.
and in the warning dialog box, click Yes to 2. In the folder selection panes of the main window,
continue. select the folder containing the Site Parameter files
3. In the Advanced Parameter Table Interface, locate you want to work with.
the ATYP parameter and change its value to 1. If a suitable Fourier Transform Parameter file exists in the Fourier
Parameters folder, SSMT2000 will select that file from the drop-
down list.

3. To review the selected parameter file, or to create a

new file, click on the Toolbar, or choose Edit

TS to FT Parameters (PFT) from the Edit menu.
4. If the signal source was a white noise generator,
4. Save the file and close the Interface. select White noise test as the Input Data Type;
otherwise, select Measured Field.
5. Repeat these steps for any other Site Parameter
files you want to process. 5. Save the file and close the dialog box.

67 Chapter 2 Processing white noise and parallel noise test data 67

68 Chapter 2 Processing white noise and parallel noise test data 68
To produce the Fourier transforms:
1. Select the Site Parameter files that you want to
work with.

2. On the Toolbar, click , or choose Create The results are saved in files with the same name as
Fourier Coefficients (TS to FT) from the the Site Parameter file, but with an extension of FCn,
Process menu. where n is the frequency band.

SSMT2000 opens a new window and applies Fourier coefficients

to the data from each selected Site. The windows close
automatically approximately 10s after processing ends:

These files are listed in the lower left pane of the main
window whenever the associated Site Parameter file is
selected. Click the + or – sign to expand or contract the
list. 2. On the Toolbar, click or choose Parallel Noise
processing (PRM) from the Edit menu.
Reprocessing the Fourier Transforms. A processing
parameters dialog box similar to that for robust The Parallel Noise Test Processing Setup dialog box appears.

processing allows you to set up the channels to be

processed.

When you setup these parameters, SSMT2000 will

suggest a file name based on the number of E and H
channels selected, the date and run number from the
first Site Parameter file chosen. For example, if two E-
channels and 3 H-channels are selected from Site
Parameter file 1332523A.TBL, the file name suggested
by SSMT2000 will be E2H3523A.PRM. You can override
this suggested file name if you want. The file name of
the PRM file will become the file name of the output
file, with the extension NPI.

To edit the reprocessing parameters:

3. Select the site(s) from which you want to take
1. In the main window folder selection panes, select channels. The drop-down lists display all the files
the folder containing the Site Parameter files you contained in the Site Parameters folder that you
want to work with. (You do not need to select selected in the main window.
individual files.)

69 Chapter 2 Processing white noise and parallel noise test data 69

70 Chapter 2 Processing white noise and parallel noise test data 70
4. Select the E and H channels from each site that you 6. In the same manner, select the folder in which to
want to process together. You can select up to 7 store the temporary files that SSMT2000 creates
channels in total. during processing.
The message box below the lists confirms the number of 7. If desired, overwrite the file name suggested by
different sites and channels selected. SSMT2000 for the processing parameters (PRM)
file. The file name entered here will be used as the
output file name, but with the extension NPI.
5. Select the folder in which to store the output (Plot) 8. Save the file and click to return to the main
files. window.

To reprocess the Fourier transforms:

1. In the lower right pane of the main window, select
the Robust Parameters file that you just prepared.
Either locate an existing folder by clicking or
type the full path and folder name in the text box. 2. On the Toolbar, click , or choose Process from
the Process menu.
Note You can type a name for a folder that does not yet
exist on your hard drive—SSMT2000 will create the SSMT2000 opens a full-screen DOS window and reprocesses the
folder during processing. (The folder that is to contain Fourier transforms. This can take several minutes, depending on
the new folder must already exist, however. file sizes. The window closes automatically when reprocessing is
finished.
SSMT2000 cannot create nested folders.)
71 Chapter 2 Processing white noise and parallel noise test data 71
72 Chapter 2 Processing white noise and parallel noise test data 72
Chapter
The NPIPlot program allows you to view and print
parallel noise test results that have been processed by
SSMT2000.

Viewing Noise Test Results with

NPIPlot
73 Chapter 3 73
74 Chapter 3 Starting NPIPlot 74

Starting NPIPlot Viewing test results

Launch the NPIPlot program as you would any Windows You can view comparisons of any pairs of channels in
program: double click the desktop icon or click Start, any of the noise plot files output by SSMT2000.
point to Programs, then to Phoenix Geophysics NPIPlot,
and click NPIPlot. To select a file for viewing:
The main program window appears. 1. To locate the folder containing your parallel noise
output files, either click or double click the text
box beside it.
2. In the Browse for Folder dialog box, select the
folder containing your output files and click OK.
3. In the File list, click the file you want to use.
To select channels to plot: Two channel plots appear in the chart area. The upper plot
shows signal amplitudes and the difference between them; the
• Click anywhere in the Plot list and then click the lower plot shows coherency and amplitude ratio.
channel pair you want to plot.

75 Chapter 3 Viewing test results 75

76 Chapter 3 Modifying the plot appearance 76

Modifying the plot appearance 2. Use the controls within the dialog box to customize
the appearance of the upper plot.
The colours, shapes, and other characteristics of the
3. Click or and use the controls
plot can be customized in several ways.
to customize the appearance of the lower plot.
To modify the plot appearance:
4. When you are satisfied, click .
1. Right-click anywhere on the plot and click
5. If you want to keep these settings as the defaults
Appearance.
The Plot Options dialog box appears. for other plots, click .

Printing noise test plots

You can print each pair of plots individually, or you can
print a set of all pairs as a single print job. Each page
will be printed in landscape orientation, unless you
change the setting from the File menu.

To override the printing defaults:

1. From the File menu, click Print…
2. In the Print dialog box, make the changes you
want.
 If you want to add header information such as your
company name and address, click Include header,
Evaluating noise test plots
and type the desired information in the Header All curves in the plots should be fairly smooth, except
area. at the extremities of the frequency range and at the
frequency of the local power grid.
3. Click .
In the lower plot, both the amplitude ratio and
coherency should approach 1.0 except at the
Note Printing overrides are not saved. If you want to print
more plots in the same configuration, repeat the extremities of the frequency range.
procedure just described; do not use the Print button.
In the upper plot, the signal amplitudes should be
roughly a decade above the signal differences.
To print using the defaults:
• To print just the pair of plots currently displayed, in

the main window, click . Viewing and exporting

• To print all the channel pairs, click . channel data
You can view the data from the NPI files in a
spreadsheet format on screen. You can also export the
data from the EDI format to ASCII format files that can
then be opened in a word processor or imported to a
spreadsheet program.

77 Chapter 3 Evaluating noise test plots 77

78 Chapter 3 Viewing and exporting channel data 78
To view or export channel data: A plain text file with the same name as the NPI file but with the
extension ASC is saved in the same folder as the source data.
1. Right-click anywhere on the plot you want to export
and click View Data. For an example of how to import report files into
2. If you want to export the data, click Save To File. spreadsheets, see “Opening reports in a spreadsheet
program” on page 65.
Chapter
The output of the SSMT2000 program is one or more
files (known as MT Plot files) that form the basis for
calculating apparent resistivity and other
characteristics of the site. For best results, these files
must be edited one frequency at a time, both to verify
the viability of the sounding and to reduce or eliminate
low quality data.

The edited files can then be translated into various

industry-standard EDI formats for use by interpretation
software.

Editing and translation is done with the MT-Editor

program, described in this chapter.

Editing Processed Data with

MT-Editor
79 Chapter 4 79
80 Chapter 4 MT-Editor overview 80

MT-Editor overview Note To have full functionality, you must register your copy
of MT-Editor with Phoenix Geophysics Ltd. You will not
MT-Editor is a Windows-based program that takes as be able to save or export your work until the program
input one or more crosspower (or “plot”) files created is registered. See “Registering MT-Editor” on
by SSMT2000. MT-Editor merges the crosspowers and page 139.
displays its calculations graphically. This lets you view
different characteristics of the soundings, such as
apparent resistivity, phase, impedance, strike direction,
coherence, and so on, across the full frequency range Exploring MT-Editor
that was acquired.
This section describes the basics of the MT-Editor
MT-Editor also gives you the ability to remove program:
individual crosspowers from the calculations, so that • Starting the program.
you can edit out poor quality data. The edits are made • Understanding the main window, the toolbars, and
by changing a mask, not by deleting data, so it is easy the menus.
to restore individual crosspowers or revert to the initial
The SAMPLE DATA folder on the software distribution
view. The program includes an “auto-edit” capability
CD contains several plot files (*.MT, *.EMT). As you
that quickly masks crosspowers that lie too far from the
read this chapter, you may want to open these files and
mean, saving considerable time in the editing process.
experiment with the program features.
 Menu bar
Toolbars

Workspace

The MT-Editor main window.

81 Chapter 4 Exploring MT-Editor 81

82 Chapter 4 Exploring MT-Editor 82
Starting MT-Editor The workspace will be blank when you launch the
program.
Start MT-Editor as you would any other Windows-based
program: either double click a desktop shortcut, or The menus and the toolbars both allow you to perform
launch the program from the Start menu. the most common tasks. The menus include some
commands that are not available from the toolbars.

The main window

The menus
When you launch the MT-Editor program, the main
application window appears (see the illustration on This section briefly describes each of the seven menus.
page 81).
Note Individual commands on each menu are disabled and
Across the top of the main window are the menus: appear dimmed unless a window in which they can be
used is open.
If a keyboard shortcut exists for a command, it
appears to the right of the command on the menu.
Below them are the toolbars: Menus and commands can also be activated by holding
down the Alt key while typing the underlined letter in
the menu.
Throughout the instructions in this manual, tools and
commands that appear on both a menu and a toolbar
are referred to by the toolbar only. It should be
Below the toolbars is the main workspace, in which
understood that menus and keyboard shortcuts can
other windows will open as you work with your files. also be used where available.
The Files menu. The commands on this menu are used measurement units, and EDI format. Most of the
to open, close, and export crosspower files; to print the Processing commands are duplicated on the
active window contents; to perform automatic editing Navigate and Processing toolbars.
of several files at once (“batch” processing); and to exit
The Reference menu. The commands on this menu let
the program. Most of these commands are duplicated
you switch among four types of calculation that may
on the Files toolbar.
have been output by SSMT2000, using Local E, Local H,
The Edit menu. The two commands on the Edit menu, Remote E, or Remote H channels as reference.
Deleting and Restoring, toggle the effect of some of
The Window menu. The commands on this menu let
the selection tools on the Cursors toolbar, used in
you organize and rearrange multiple windows that may
editing crosspowers. The commands are duplicated on
be open in the main workspace. If the window you
the EditingMode toolbar.
want to see is hidden behind others, you can select it
The View menu. The View commands allow you to from the Window menu to bring it to the front. You
switch among various graphical and textual views of can also close all open windows without closing the
the data, and also allow you to show or hide each of file(s) you are working with.
the toolbars. All the commands except the Toolbars
The Window commands are not available on a toolbar.
submenu are duplicated on the View toolbar.
The Help menu. The About command on this menu
The Processing menu. This menu contains the
provides information on the program version and links
commands used to automatically or manually edit the
to the software’s author. The Registration command
crosspowers and to retrieve previous editing sessions.
lets you retrieve and input the coded information that
The Options command lets you set the properties of
will register the software and enable full functionality.
export files such as header text identifying survey
participants, distance to the reference site,

83 Chapter 4 Exploring MT-Editor 83

84 Chapter 4 Exploring MT-Editor 84
For registration instructions, see “Registering MT- 2. Select the toolbar that you want to show or hide.
Editor” on page 139. (Toolbars that are currently showing are indicated
by a check mark.)

The Toolbars
This section briefly describes the eight toolbars, which
provide quick access to the most frequent commands.

Note Individual tools on each toolbar are disabled and

appear dimmed unless a window in which they can be
used is open.
Hover the mouse pointer over a tool to learn its name
To move a toolbar:
and keyboard shortcut, if one exists. • Point to the pair of ridges on the left end of the
toolbar, and drag it to a new position.
You can customize the main window by showing or
hiding individual toolbars, and by rearranging them.
This lets you maximize the workspace and the graphs
within it. The other toolbars will move as necessary to accommodate the
toolbar’s new position.

To show or hide a toolbar:

1. Right-click anywhere in the toolbar area, or choose
ToolBars from the View menu.
The File toolbar. The View toolbar.

Button Command Each button on the View toolbar opens (or brings to
the front) a different window.
Open file(s).
Button Command
Save file(s).
View station header information.

Save As. Saves file(s) with new name(s). View Starting Data. Shows the data with no
editing mask applied.
Close. Immediately closes all open files,
View Resulting Data. Shows the data with the
whether saved or not.
editing mask applied.
ExportTo. Saves the edited data in a variety
View Mask. Shows a block diagram of the
of EDI formats.
editing mask itself.

Exit the program.

View Polar Diagrams.

Warning! Be sure to save or export your work before using View Oplog (Operator Log) Lines.
the Close command, unless you want to discard
! your edits and begin again.

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86 Chapter 4 Exploring MT-Editor 86
The Processing toolbar. The Navigate toolbar.
The buttons on the Processing toolbar open the You can use these tools when editing, to move from
editing window and also enable the Navigate, one data point to another. However, it is generally more
Cursors, and EditingMode toolbars. efficient to use the keyboard shortcuts.

Button Command Button Command

Editing. Opens the editing window and lets First. Moves to the leftmost data point.
you edit crosspowers manually. (Shortcut: CTRL+A.)
AutoEdit. Applies an algorithm to mask outly- Prior. Moves leftward one data point. (Short-
ing crosspowers. To see the result, click Edit- cuts: CTRL+S, <spacebar>, or Left Arrow.)
ing. Next. Moves rightward one data point.
Options. Lets you set up default file proper- (Shortcuts: CTRL+D, <spacebar>, or Right
ties for exporting in EDI format. Arrow.)
Last. Moves to the rightmost data point.
The Show toolbar. (Shortcut: CTRL+F.)
These tools are only available during editing. Their
calculations do not include deleted crosspowers. Note The spacebar moves leftward or rightward one data
point depending on the last direction set by the Prior
Button Command or Next commands. It also automatically reverses
Mean view. Shows the arithmetic mean of the direction when the First or Last data point is
crosspowers that make up a given data point. encountered.

Std view. Shows ±1 standard deviation of the

crosspowers that make up a given data point.
The Cursors toolbar. Button Name and Use
When editing, the cursors allow you to delete (i.e., Two Vertical Lines. Use this tool to delete or
restore a group of crosspowers. First choose
mask) or restore single or multiple crosspowers. For
Deleting or Restoring from the Editing-
three of these tools, you must first choose Deleting or Mode toolbar, then use this tool to select the
Restoring from the EditingMode toolbar or the Edit group. Click between any two crosspowers to
menu to define the effect the cursor tool will have. set the first boundary, then move just beyond
the last crosspower in the group and click to
In any graph, the Pointer tool lets you enlarge part of set the other boundary. All the crosspowers
the graph (zoom in) and restore it to 100% size. between the Vertical Lines will be deleted or
restored.
Button Name and Use
Circle. Use this tool to delete or restore indi-
Pointer. Use this tool to zoom in on part of a vidual crosspowers. First choose Deleting or
graph. To zoom in, drag a rectangle from top Restoring from the EditingMode toolbar,
left to bottom right of the area you want to then click with this tool directly on the indi-
enlarge. To restore to 100% size, drag diago- vidual crosspowers.
nally in any other direction.
Lasso. Use this tool to delete or restore a
Hand. Use this tool to toggle the status of a group of crosspowers. First choose Deleting
single crosspower. Click once to delete a or Restoring from the EditingMode toolbar,
crosspower, click again to restore it. (The then use this tool to drag a rectangle from
Hand reverts to the Pointer tool when the top left to bottom right, surrounding the
cursor is not directly over an editable cross- crosspowers you want to delete or restore.
power.)

87 Chapter 4 Exploring MT-Editor 87

88 Chapter 4 Setting up export options 88
The Reference toolbar. The EditingMode toolbar.
If local or remote E or H channels were used as The EditingMode toolbar lets you toggle the effect of
reference(s) during SSMT2000 processing, the tools on several tools on the Cursors toolbar, switching
the Reference toolbar will allow you to switch among between deleting and restoring the crosspowers
them when editing. selected with the cursor.

Button Command Button Command

Local E. Shows the results of Local E refer- Deleting. To delete crosspowers, choose this
ence processing. tool, then choose the Lasso, Circle, or Two
Local H. Shows the results of Local H refer- Vertical Lines cursor.
ence processing. Restoring. To restore deleted crosspowers,
Remote E. Shows the results of Remote E ref- choose this tool, then choose the Lasso, Cir-
erence processing. cle, or Two Vertical Lines cursor.

Remote H. Shows the results of Remote H

reference processing.

Setting up export options

Before you begin editing data from a survey, you
should set up the options that will be common to all the
files that you export to your interpretation software.

The actual values for these options will vary depending

on the interpretation software that you choose; consult
the software’s documentation to learn what values are 2. Type in the Default data for export to EDI-Files
appropriate. as described above each text box in the dialog.
3. Calculate the average distance in meters between
To set export options: the survey sites and the magnetic reference site,
and type in the Remote H distance for reference
1. Click on the Processing toolbar.
coils in meters.
The Options dialog appears. 4. Make four selections in the Export control area,
according to the requirements of your interpre-
tation software and the circumstances of your
survey:
• Change Arg Z, Rho if your software requires an
orientation of the impedance matrix different
from the Phoenix standard.
• Choose Measurement Units of either
mV/Gamma (H) and mV/km (E) or om (ohm-
meters).
• If an additional local Reference was used,
choose Additional Loc E, H; otherwise choose
Main.
• To export (Write to file) all results in a single
continuous file, choose Append; to export
results in separate files, choose In New.

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90 Chapter 4 Starting an editing session 90
5. Click OK to apply the changes and close the It is therefore possible that you will have several files
Options dialog. for each site, with each file possibly containing a
different number of crosspowers and a different
frequency range. MT-Editor allows you to selectively
merge the files so that the final output contains the
Starting an editing session best quality data (up to 100 crosspowers per
frequency) and a range of up to 100 frequencies.
Every editing session begins by opening one or more
plot files output by SSMT2000. When opening files in For example, data acquired by an MTU-5 using MTC-50
MT-Editor, it may be necessary or desirable to specify coils could be processed in three ranges of 40
that only a subset of the data be used. You will also frequencies each: MTH, MTL, and MTR (see the
have the choice of continuing with a previously saved illustration on page 91), with perhaps 40 crosspowers
editing session, or starting again with the raw data. per frequency. MT-Editor could open all three files at
This section explains how. once, and for the 20 frequencies in MTL that overlap
MTR, all 80 crosspowers would be used to calculate
each frequency.
Specifying frequencies
Allowing for the 20 frequencies that overlap, the total
The plot files to be edited from a given survey site will
number of frequencies for the site would be:
vary in content depending on several factors:
( 3 × 40 ) – 20 = 100 .
• Equipment used (MTU, MTU-A; MTC-50, MTC-30).
• Processing parameters chosen in SSMT2000 A more complex example would be to combine data
(Frequency Ranges; Maximum Crosspowers). acquired by an MTU-5A first with MTC-30 coils, then
with MTC-50 coils, at a single site. The data could be
processed in the EMT, HMT, and RMT ranges with 60
crosspowers per frequency. In this example, the 20
overlapping frequencies in EMT and HMT could not be
combined, because 2 × 60 crosspowers would exceed
the 100-crosspower limit. Instead, when opening the
files, you would specify that only the first 20
frequencies of the EMT range (or perhaps, only the last
20 of the HMT range) should be used. The result would
be 100 frequencies ( 20 + 40 + 40 = 100 ) calculated
from 60 crosspowers each.

See “Opening files” on page 92 for instructions on how

to specify which frequencies should be used.

Note If you open only one file, all its frequencies will be
used; the Open dialog does not allow you to specify a
subset. (If for some reason you want to remove a
frequency entirely, you can delete all the crosspowers
for that frequency when editing.)

Frequency ranges (processing parameters).

91 Chapter 4 Starting an editing session 91

92 Chapter 4 Starting an editing session 92
Continuing from a previous session To open a single plot file for editing:

When you save your work during an editing session, 1. Click on the Files toolbar.
MT-Editor saves the mask that you create, giving it the
A standard Windows Open dialog appears.
name PLOT-EDIT. It does not change the raw data,
which is preserved with the name PLOT-COMP. Each 2. Navigate to the folder containing your plot files, and
new editing session is saved separately. This means select the file that you want to edit.
that when you open files for editing, you have the 3. Click Open.
choice of starting with the raw data, or continuing from
where you left off in a previous session. (You can also If no previous editing session was saved, the Program output
window appears briefly, followed by the Starting data window.
revert to previous work during an editing session by
choosing Other editing from the Processing menu.) If one or more previous editing sessions were saved, a dialog
appears with a list of them sorted from earliest to latest.

Opening files
Tip As soon as you open files, the Open menu command
and tool are disabled, and remain so until you close the
files. If you close all the windows in the main
workspace, it may appear that no files are open—yet
you cannot use the Open command. In this case, either

re-open the windows for the current files, or click to

close the current files and enable the Open command.
4. If you want to start with unedited data, select the 3. Click Open.
line that begins with PLOT-COMP. If you want to
For each file in turn, a dialog appears with a list of saved editing
continue from a previous session, select one of the sessions and two frequency selection boxes.
lines that begin with PLOT-EDIT.
5. Click OK.
The Program output window appears briefly, followed by the
Starting data window.

Note When opening multiple files with mixed reference

types, ensure that the first and last files that you
select are from sites processed with remote H
reference channels. Otherwise, all files will be treated
as having local H reference only. (This condition will be
removed in a future upgrade of MT-Editor.)

4. If you want to start with unedited data, select the

To open multiple plot files for editing: line that begins with PLOT-COMP. If you want to
continue from a previous session, select one of the
1. Click on the Files toolbar. lines that begin with PLOT-EDIT.
A standard Windows Open dialog appears. 5. If you want to include only a subset of the data,
change the frequency number in one or both of the
2. Navigate to the folder containing your plot files, and
frequency selection boxes. (You can replace the
select the files that you want to edit. (Hold down
default by selecting it and typing a new number, or
the Ctrl key while clicking to select multiple files.)

93 Chapter 4 Starting an editing session 93

94 Chapter 4 Viewing the Starting data and Resulting data 94
you can click on the up and down arrows to scroll Opening the windows
through the list.)
6. Click OK. When you first open files, MT-Editor performs a series
of calculations in the Program output window, and
Tip When files contain overlapping frequencies, it can be then opens the Starting data window automatically. If
valuable to first open them separately, to find out which you close this window, you can reopen it from the
contain the best quality data at various frequencies. toolbar.
Then when you merge the files for editing, you can
specify which frequencies to use from each.
To open the the Resulting data window:

• Click on the View toolbar.

Viewing the Starting data and To reopen the Starting data window:
Resulting data • Click on the View toolbar.
Because MT-Editor uses a mask to “delete”
crosspowers, it is always possible to view both the
results of your edits and the data you started with. Two
different windows display these views: the Starting
data window and the Resulting data window.
 Choosing parameters and
components to view
The Starting data and Resulting data windows allow
you to view nine different parameters of the plot files:

As you select each parameter, the Components list

The Starting data window. will change appropriately, allowing you to select which
components are displayed. By default, all components,
processing methods, and files for the displayed
Tip When multiple windows are open, you can bring a
hidden window into view by choosing it from the
parameter are selected when you first open the
Window menu. window.

95 Chapter 4 Viewing the Starting data and Resulting data 95

96 Chapter 4 Viewing the Starting data and Resulting data 96
To toggle the display of components, files, clipped. This section explains how to manage the
processing methods, or legends: windows’ appearance.
• Select or clear the the item in the control area lists Moving and resizing windows. Use standard Windows
that you want to display or hide. A checkmark mouse commands to change a window’s size and
indicates that an item is displayed. position: move a window by dragging its title bar;
maximize it by clicking the Maximize button; resize or
reshape it by dragging the corners or sides.
Resizing or restoring window controls. The right hand
Tip Viewed on screen, the control areas of the Resulting side of each Starting data or Resulting data window
data window make clear what components the markers contains a set of controls for choosing the parameter to
represent. However, the control areas will not appear in
display, as well as for selecting which components,
a printout. To produce a meaningful printout, select
Show legend before printing. files, processing types, and legends should be visible.
See “Choosing parameters and components to view” on
page 95 for instructions on using these controls.
Customizing the windows If more choices are available than can fit into a control
You can customize the appearance of the Starting list, a scroll bar will appear to the right of the list.
data and Resulting data windows in a variety of Depending on the the number of files, channels, or
ways. MT-Editor saves the customizations between components available, it may be helpful to resize a
launches. Even if you don’t customize, though, control area to avoid the need to scroll. Furthermore, if
choosing different files, parameters, and window sizes you resize the whole window, you may find that some
may result in windows or window controls being of the controls are clipped at the bottom. Resizing any
control area will restore the clipped areas.
To resize a control area: control areas, where the mouse pointer is a double-
1. Move the mouse pointer into the space below the headed arrow.
control area you want to resize, until the pointer The controls resize automatically.
changes to a double-headed arrow.

Changing graph properties

The graph of any of the Parameters viewable in the
Starting data and Resulting data windows can be
further customized by changing its properties. Two
2. Drag the mouse pointer to a new position (indicated methods are available: the ChartEditor, and
by the gray line that appears when you click). Properties.
The control area changes size, and the controls below it adapt to
the remaining space. Warning! ChartEditor provides direct access to the
underlying graphic engine at the core of
! MT-Editor. It is very powerful, and with few
Tip You cannot expand a control area if it would force areas
below it to move outside the window boundary. To size exceptions, it is not intended for regular use with
the controls most efficiently, resize the bottom control MT-Editor. Users are cautioned not to change
first, then the next above it, and so on. settings in ChartEditor except as explicitly
instructed in this User Guide.

To restore clipped (hidden) controls:

To access ChartEditor or Properties:
• If you cannot see a control (it has been clipped by
• Right click anywhere within the frame of the graph
resizing the window), simply click between two
(not the control areas) and choose either

97 Chapter 4 Viewing the Starting data and Resulting data 97

98 Chapter 4 Viewing the Starting data and Resulting data 98
ChartEditor or Properties from the popup menu, 2. Click on the Min or Max value you want to change
as noted in the instructions that follow. and type a new value.
3. If you are changing the horizontal scale, clear
To optimize the x-axis: AutoX.
1. Choose Properties from the popup menu.
4. Click to apply the change and close the dialog.
2. Select AutoX.
Tip The default scales for most graphs should be adequate,
3. Click to apply the change and close the dialog.
however, you will probably want to set the values for
Tipper magnitude to a minimum of 0.01 and a maximum
of 1.0.
It is best to use non-zero values in all fields. Minimum
values of 0.0 for any graph may cause all points to
disappear from view.

To change marker size for all points:

1. Choose Properties from the popup menu.
The scale adjusts to fit all the data points into the entire 2. Click on PointSize and type a new value.
horizontal axis.
The size of the markers for all data points changes to the new
value.
To change axis scales manually:
1. Choose Properties from the popup menu. 3. Click to apply the change and close the dialog.
To change marker properties for only one
component:
Opening and customizing the
1. Choose ChartEditor from the popup menu. Editing window
2. Click the Series tab.
To open the editing window:
3. Select the component from the drop-down list.
4. Select a new marker Style, Width, and/or Height. 1. If you want to use Autoediting, click on the
5. Close the ChartEditor. Processing toolbar.
The Program output window displays the editing mask in
Note Changing PointSize in the Properties dialog will binary form.
reset all the markers to their default shapes and the
current point size.
2. Click on the Processing toolbar.

To add a line between points: The MTEd1 window appears. Rhoxy points and crosspowers are
indicated by red triangles. Rhoyx points and crosspowers are
1. Choose Properties from the popup menu. indicated by green triangles. The active frequency (left hand
panes) and any crosspowers deleted by Autoediting (right hand
2. Select Line.
panes) are indicated by white triangles. See “The editing
The graph style changes from markers only to line plus markers. window.” on page 100.

Note Early versions of MT-Editor may display incorrect

symbols in the titles of each of the four graphs.
Correct symbols are shown in the illustration.

99 Chapter 4 Opening and customizing the Editing window 99

100 Chapter 4 Opening and customizing the Editing window 100

Vertical lines:
Upper graphs: ±1 standard
apparent deviation
resistivity

White triangle: White triangle:

the frequency “deleted”
being edited. crosspower.

Lower graphs:
impedance
phase

The editing window.

Changing graph properties Editing the crosspowers
The properties of the four graphs in the Editing window The primary objective of editing is to create a smooth
can be changed in the same way as those in the apparent resistivity curve, by eliminating from the
Starting data and Resulting data windows. See calculation of each data point any crosspowers that
“Changing graph properties” on page 97 for were affected by noise. The editing is done by deleting
instructions. or restoring individual crosspowers in the two graphs
on the right of the window. The effect can be seen in
To change the proportions of the four graphs: the two graphs on the left of the window.
1. Position the mouse pointer on either the vertical or
There are two methods of editing, auto and manual, as
horizontal double lines that separate the graphs,
until the pointer changes to a double-headed arrow. mentioned above. With normal quality data (low to
moderate noise), it is best to start with autoediting and
2. Drag the double lines to a new position.
then refine the result with manual editing. With very
noisy data, it may be faster to start by deleting all the
Tip On computers with small screens, it can be hard to
position the editing cursor exactly on the crosspower
crosspowers for a given frequency, and then selectively
you want to edit—especially if the number of restore the best.
crosspowers is large. Be sure to use the options of
zooming and resizing the graphs and/or resizing the Tip Impedance phase is often more sensitive to noise than
markers so you can work more easily. apparent resistivity is. You may find it most efficient to
start editing using the phase graphs, then refine the
result using the apparent resistivity graphs. For the best
results, repeat the editing using different reference
processing (Local E, Local H, etc.), if it is available.

101 Chapter 4 Editing the crosspowers 101

102 Chapter 4 Editing the crosspowers 102
For efficency, scan the crosspowers for each frequency 2. Evaluate the crosspowers in the right hand pane,
as you begin to edit them, and choose the most looking for long vertical error bars (indicating a
appropriate tool from the Cursors toolbar to make large standard deviation) and crosspowers that
your changes. vary significantly from the others.
• If only one or two crosspowers are of low quality, 3. If it is helpful, show the Mean and/or Standard
choose the Hand tool.
Deviations of the crosspowers by clicking or
• If several crosspowers in a row are of low quality,
edit them as a group. Choose the Two Vertical on the Show toolbar.
Lines or the Lasso tool and toggle its effect by
4. Use one of the tools on the Cursors toolbar to
choosing Deleting or Restoring from the Editmode
delete the low quality crosspowers (or to restore
toolbar.
them if you change your mind).
To learn how to use all the tools, see “The Toolbars” on 5. Evaluate the effect of your editing by examining the
page 84. left hand panes.
6. When you are satisfied with the results, move to
To Autoedit the crosspowers: the next crosspower (see “The Navigate toolbar” on
page 86) and repeat from step 2.
• Click on the Processing toolbar.
7. When all the crosspowers from a given type of
To manually edit the crosspowers: processing have been edited, consider whether the
results can still be improved: if possible, select a
1. If necessary, click to make the first frequency different type of processing from the Reference
active. toolbar and repeat the editing process.
Viewing the data mask
Although the terms Deleting and Restoring are used to
refer to the editing process, no crosspowers are
actually deleted from the data. Instead, they are
temporarily removed from the calculations of the data
points. It can be useful to have an overall view of how
many crosspowers remain in use; the Mask View
shows this information.

To view the data mask:

• Click on the View toolbar.

The Mask View window appears:

103 Chapter 4 Viewing the data mask 103

104 Chapter 4 Viewing the data mask 104

Light blue:
included
crosspowers.

Dark blue:
“deleted”
crosspowers

White: no
data

The Mask View window.

Each row of the Mask View table represents a single and low frequencies at the bottom. Each cell in a row
frequency, with high frequencies at the top of the table represents a single crosspower. White cells indicate
there is no data; dark blue cells indicate “deleted”
crosspowers; light blue cells indicate crosspowers that
are included in the calculations.

Viewing polar diagrams

Polar diagrams of the frequencies in your data set are
available from the View menu and toolbar. Initially, a
separate diagram will be created for each frequency,
making the individual plots very small. However, it is
easy to change the number of plots that are shown at
one time, and to view only a subset of the data.

To view polar diagrams:

• Click on the View toolbar.

Customizing the polar diagrams
The Polar diagrams window opens. window
Use the controls on the right hand side of the polar
diagrams window to customize the display.

105 Chapter 4 Viewing polar diagrams 105

106 Chapter 4 Printing 106
• Select or clear the components (Zxy, Zxx) that you
want to display or hide. A checkmark indicates that
Printing
a component is currently displayed. The Print command on the Files menu is under
• To see a contiguous subset of the data, choose from development. At present, only some graphs can be
the drop-down lists the First and Last frequencies Previewed or Printed from this menu, in portrait
you want to view. (This is a good way to increase the orientation only (regardless of print setup properties).
size of individual plots.)
For more control over the appearance of a printed
Note The value you set for First freq must be greater than graph, use the following procedure.
the value for Last freq.
To print a graph:
• To see a non-contiguous subset of the data, change 1. Right click on the graph and choose ChartEditor
the Step value. A Step value of 2 will display every from the popup menu; if ChartEditor is not on the
second frequency between First and Last; a Step menu, choose Properties.
value of 3 will display every third frequency, and so 2. Click the Print tab.
on. (Increasing the Step value is also a good way to 3. Select the page orientation desired.
increase the size of the plots.)
4. To change the margins, drag the dotted lines in the
• To normalize either of the component values, select
preview pane.
the appropriate Normalize controls. A checkmark
indicates that a component is currently normalized. 5. Click Setup to choose your printer and set its
properties in a standard Windows Print Setup
dialog.
6. Close the Print Setup dialog.
7. Click Print.
Exporting in EDI format
Tip Most printing will be done from the Resulting data When you are satisfied with your edits, save the data
window, where the control areas make clear what for use with your interpretation software.
components the markers represent. However, the
control areas are not printed. To produce a meaningful
printout, select Show legend before printing. To export in EDI format:
1. Ensure that you have correctly set up the file
header and format parameters using the Options
command (see “Setting up export options” on
Saving your work page 88).

You should save your editing periodically as you work, 2. Click on the Files toolbar.
before you close the file(s) you are editing, and before 3. Navigate to the folder where you want to save the
you exit the program. output file.
4. Choose the file format from the Save as type:
To save your edits:
drop-down list.
• On the Files toolbar, click either to save the file 5. If desired, change the File name.
6. Click Save.
with its current name, or to open the Save As
dialog and save the file with a new name.

107 Chapter 4 Saving your work 107

108 Chapter 4 Exporting in EDI format 108
Chapter
This chapter explains how to use Synchro Time Series
View to view and print graphical representations of:
• raw time series data.
• power spectra derived from the time series data.
• coherencies between pairs of channels.

The time series files must have been acquired with

Phoenix System 2000 or System 2000.net equipment.
Up to six channels from one or more files can be
analysed at one time.

Viewing Time Series Data with

Synchro Time Series View
109 Chapter 5 109
110 Exploring Synchro Time Series View 110

Exploring Synchro Time Series The Menus and the Toolbar both allow you to perform
the most common tasks.
View Across the bottom of the main window is the Status
Start Synchro Time Series View as you would any other bar. At startup the bar is blank, but when time series
Windows program: either double click a desktop channels are loaded, the Status bar displays
shortcut, or launch the program from the Start menu. information about the them.

Understanding the main window

When you launch the Synchro Time Series View
program, the main application window appears (see
the illustration on page 111).

Across the top of the main window are the Menus:

Below them is the Toolbar:

 Menu bar
Toolbar

Status bar

The Synchro Time Series View main window.

111 Exploring Synchro Time Series View 111

112 Viewing time series channels 112

Viewing time series channels The Load Time Series dialog box appears. Only the first
Window button is enabled.

Synchro Time Series View can display and analyse up

to six data channels at a time. The channels can be
taken from more than one site, but the program will
display only those records that lie within a common
time span.

Opening time series files

The first task is to identify which channel(s) from which
site(s) to load. Synchro Time Series View will
automatically select the highest sampling rate from the
first site you select, but you can easily choose another
sampling rate if you want.

To load time series channels: 2. In the Window column, click .

1. On the Toolbar, click or choose Open from the

File menu.
 The Select TS File and Component dialog box appears. The dialog box displays the names of the time series file and
component, and the highest sampling rate of the site. The
Window button for the next channel is enabled.

6. If you want to load all the remaining channels from

the chosen site, click . Otherwise, click

and load the next channel in the same manner
3. Click and open any time series file (TSL, TSH, as the first channel.
or TS2 to TS5) from the site you want to use. 7. Continue by clicking the next numbered button until
4. In the Component area, click the channel you all desired channels are loaded.
want to view.
5. Click OK to return to the Load Time Series dialog Note: To load the same channels from other time series files
from the same site(s), select a different sampling rate
box. from any list in the Sampling column.

8. Click OK to return to the main window.

113 Viewing time series channels 113

114 Viewing time series channels 114
The main window now displays the selected channels in number, saturation status, date, and channel of whichever time
graphical format. The Status bar displays the file name, record series record the mouse points to.
Note: The program opens in a maximized window. If you
resize the window, it may become too small to show
the Status bar. Increase the size of the window slightly
to bring the Status bar back into view.

Specifying start and end times

Time series files can be very large, depending on the
sampling schedule and the length of acquisition. You
2. Select Specify start/end time for loading.
may want to view only a subset of the records in your
files. You can specify start and end times other than the 3. Click OK.
beginning and end of a file. 4. From the File menu, choose Open and load the
files you want to view, as described earlier in this
To specify start and end times: chapter.
1. From the Options menu, choose TS info When you click OK in the final step of loading, the Specifying
options… Times dialog box appears:

The Time Series Info Options dialog box appears:

115 Viewing time series channels 115

116 Viewing time series channels 116
instruments with older firmware) there may be
problems getting all the required information from the
site parameter file alone.

If you experience problems opening files, it may help to

have the program read and analyse the time series files
directly to get the required information. (Files may take
slightly longer to load if you select this option.)

5. Edit the dates and/or times displayed in the dialog To open files by analysing the time series
box and click OK. records:
1. From the Options menu, choose TS info
The channels are loaded and displayed in the main window.
options…
The Time Series Info Options dialog box appears:
Troubleshooting time series files
This section describes a method of opening files that
otherwise fail to open and cause an error in Synchro
Time Series View.

When you open time series files, Synchro Time Series

View reads the associated site parameter (TBL) file to
get information on start and end times, number of
records, etc. Sometimes (especially with files from
 The default scale normalizes the data to use the full
height of each strip chart with zero in the centre (called
“Adaptive scale”) and DC offset automatically
corrected. Adaptive scale applies to all the scans visible
in a given window. When the signal amplitude varies as
you scroll through the data, the vertical scale will grow
or shrink as needed to normalize the scans currently
visible.

You can disable adaptive scaling and increase or

2. Click Analyse TS files.
decrease the limits manually. You can also disable the
3. Click OK. DC offset autocorrection. Either of these changes may
4. Try again to open the file(s) that caused problems. require you to shift the y-axis origin up or down in
order to see the data.
If you still cannot open the files, contact Phoenix for
support.
To change the number of scans visible:
• On the Toolbar, select the desired number of scans in
the Scans per window list. (The choices will vary
Modifying the time series view depending on the frequency band of the time series
files.)
Synchro Time Series View provides several controls for
modifying the time series view. You can scroll through To scroll through all the records sequentially:
the records, change the number of scans shown in the
window, and change the vertical scale of each chart. • Click or on the Toolbar.

117 Modifying the time series view 117

118 Modifying the time series view 118
To scroll by increments of 1% of the file length: The Scale Settings dialog box appears.
• Click the scroll arrows at either end of the scroll bar
or press the LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW keys.

To scroll by increments of 10% of the file length:

• Click in the scroll bar on either side of the scroll box.

To scroll rapidly:
• Drag the scroll box. (The smallest increment with this
method is 1% of the file length.)

To change the vertical scale or shift the y-axis

origin:
1. Right-click on the chart of the channel you want to
change (or click on the Toolbar, or choose
Vertical Scales from the View menu).

2. Clear the Adaptive scale check box.

3. Enter a new maximum value for the vertical scale of
any channel. (The value is multiplied by –1 to set
the minimum value.)
4. If you want to change the position of the y-axis
origin, click one of the Shift scope buttons.
Viewing power spectra
Synchro Time Series View includes the capability of
The y-axis origin will be moved a distance equal to half the
original Maximum value. calculating power spectra, as well as coherency
between pairs of channels.
5. Click OK to return to the main window.
To calculate and view power spectra:
To restore the vertical scale:
1. Load the time series files that you want to work
1. Right-click on the chart of the channel you want to with.
change.
• To restore the original maximum and minimum 2. On the Toolbar, click , or choose Compute
and move the y-axis origin back to the centre of Spectra from the Spectra menu.

the chart, click

• to restore adaptive scaling, select Adaptive
scale
• to remove DC offset effects, select DC offset
auto correction
2. Click OK to return to the main window.

119 Viewing power spectra 119

120 Viewing power spectra 120
The Spectra Computation dialog box appears. A progress dialog box appears while the program computes the
power spectra, and then the Spectra window appears,
maximized. If both E and H channels have been analysed, the
window will be split; if only one type of channel has been
analysed, the curves will fill the window.

Note: If Skip saturated records is selected and the time

series files contain many saturations, there may not
be enough valid records to compute the spectra.
Synchro Time Series View will display the error
message, “No acceptable time segments found.”

3. Choose the number of samples for each Fourier

Transform calculation. (The choices will vary
depending on the frequency band of the time series
files; lower numbers will produce smoother curves.)
4. Choose the algorithm to be used in the Data
window (Hann, Nuttall, or Rectangular).
5. Optionally, to prevent saturated records from being
included in the calculations, select Skip saturated
records.
6. Click OK.
 Spectra
legend

E channels

Scale
legends

H channels

The Spectra window.

121 Viewing power spectra 121

122 Modifying the spectra view 122

Modifying the spectra view By default, the graph is plotted on a logarithmic scale
for both axes, with frequency on the x-axis.
The Spectra window provides several controls for
modifying the view. You can choose which channel(s) To change the frequency scale:
to plot, change the scales, enlarge a portion of the • Choose Log or Linear from the Freq. Scale legend.
curves, and pinpoint values on the curves.

To select channels for plotting:

1. The curves are colour-coded in the Spectra legend;
clear the check box of any channel you want to By default, the curves are scaled to fill the available
remove from the graph. space. You can override this setting by changing the
scale of either x or y axis, or both.

To change the axes limits:

1. In the Scale legend, clear the Auto check box.

2. To restore a curve to the graph, select it in the

Spectra legend. 2. Click .
 The Scale Settings dialog box appears. To enlarge a portion of the plot:
1. In the Scale legend, clear the Auto check box.

2. Click .

The mouse pointer changes to .

3. Place the mouse pointer at the left or right

boundary of the area you want to enlarge, and drag
3. Edit the minimum and maximum for the frequency, it to the other boundary. (The boundaries must
for the E channels, and/or for the H channels, as encompass at least one decade of frequencies.
desired. Choosing a smaller span will have no effect.)

4. Click OK. 4. To choose another area to enlarge, select Auto and

repeat steps 1 to 3.
The curves are replotted at the new scale.

5. To restore the default scale, select Auto. To restore the default scale:
• Select Auto.

123 Modifying the spectra view 123

124 Viewing coherencies 124
To pinpoint values on the curves: 2. The curves are colour-coded in the Component
• Position the mouse pointer over a point on the curve Pairs legend; clear the check box of any channel
and read the frequency and power spectra density you want to remove from the graph.
(PSD) values below the Scale legends, between the
Coh and Print buttons.

Viewing coherencies
Once the power spectra have been calculated, it’s easy
to plot the coherencies between all the pairs of
channels.

To view coherencies:

1. From the Spectra window, click .

3. To restore a curve to the graph, select it in the
The Coherencies window appears, showing curves for all
possible channel pairs. Component Pairs legend.
To pinpoint values on the curves: To print the plots:
• Position the mouse pointer over a point on the curve
1. For time series, click on the Toolbar or choose
and read the frequency and coherency values below
Print from the File menu.
the Component Pairs legend.
For spectra or coherencies, click .
The Print Preview window appears.

4. To return to the Spectra window, close the Coher-

encies window.

Printing time series, spectra,

and coherency plots
Any of the plots can be printed to any printer
connected to your PC.

125 Printing time series, spectra, and coherency plots 125

126 Printing time series, spectra, and coherency plots 126

The Print Preview window.

2. Edit the Title text, which will appear on the print- 3. If you want to modify the default printer settings
out centred below the plot. (choice of printer, page orientation, margins, etc.),
click .
A standard Windows printer setup dialog box appears.

4. Set up the printer as desired and click OK.

5. Click to send the plot to the printer, or

click to return to the plot without
printing.

127 Printing time series, spectra, and coherency plots 127

128 Printing time series, spectra, and coherency plots 128
Appendix
The chart on the following pages illustrates the steps
required to process data. The chart shows the source,
the method used, and the result for each step.

Data processing flowchart

129 Appendix A 129

 ACTION SOURCE METHOD RESULT

BEFORE DATA ACQUISITION

Copy calibration
files to PC

1
CAL TAG-TSer
*.CLC
*.CLB TAG-CAL
Verify calibrations

2 TAG-TSer
TAG-CAL
*.CLC
*.CLB

AFTER DATA ACQUISITION

Copy data files to

PC TAG-TSer
AMT
3 yyyy-Hdd
DATA MT
*.TBL
*.TSn yyyy-Hdd
UMT
yyyy-Hdd
Verify & edit site
parameters

4
yyyy-Hdd yyyy-Hdd
*.TBL (edited)
*.TBL *.TBO (original)

Optional: View
TBL file
yyyy-Hdd
*.TBL

4a

Archive data

5 yyyy-Hdd
CD or DVD burning software, or or
copy to ZIP drive

Set up Fourier SSMT-PFT

Transform
MA35DN4D.PFT
parameter file for
MM55DN4D.PFT
the project
MU55DN4D.PFT
yyyy-Hdd ...
6 *.TBL Project.PFT
 ACTION SOURCE METHOD RESULT

From Time Series

(TS), create Fou- TAG-CAL
rier Transforms
*.CLB yyyy-Hdd
(FT)
*.CLC *.FCn
yyyy-Hdd
7 *.TBL
*.TSn
SSMT-PFT
Project.PFT

Optional: Check
acquisition times
yyyy-Hdd
*.TBL

7a
Set up robust
processing
parameters

8 yyyy-Hdd
*.PRM
yyyy-Hdd
*.TBL

Process data TAG-DATA

yyyy-Hdd aaa-SITE
9 *.TBL
*.FCn
*.?MT
*.MT?
*.PRM

Edit data TAG-DATA

aaa-SITE TAG-EDI
10 *.?MT
MTEDIT

Save (MPK) and Export (EDI)

*.EDI
*.MPK
*.MT?

Optional: re-edit
*.MPK files TAG-EDI MTEDIT
TAG-EDI
*.MPK *.EDI
Save (MPK) and Export (EDI) *.MPK
10a

Plot data TAG-DATA

aaa-SITE
11 *.?MT MTPLOT
*.MT?
TAG-EDI
*.EDI

or 
Appendix
Before processing data for the first time, you must
install the Phoenix processing software on your
computer and prepare your file system. This appendix
tells you how.

Installing software and setting up

your PC
131 Appendix B 131
132 Appendix B System requirements 132

System requirements Installing the software

Phoenix software is designed to run on a PC equipped Phoenix software is shipped on a CD-ROM that also
with: contains sample data. The data folder is not copied to
the PC during the installation process, but can be
• Microsoft® Windows™ 95, 98, Me, or XP
copied manually if desired.
• Pentium processor
• 100MB of free space on drive C: (for applications) The Setup program will install MTU and MTU-A Host
• 500MB of additional free space on any drive (for software, SSMT2000 data processing software, and MT-
temporary files created during processing) Plot software. Overall installation is controlled by a
• CD-ROM or CD-RW drive for loading software batch file that requires you to press a key to start each
• CD-RW, DVD-RW, or other mass storage drive for of the phases of installation.
archiving data
• super VGA (800 x 600) or higher resolution monitor To install the software:
• parallel port configured as ECP (See “Configuring the 1. If Phoenix software has already been installed on
parallel port” on page 134.) your PC, change the name of the folder C:\EMT-SW
• keyboard and mouse or other pointing device to preserve your previous work.
• Internet access (optional, for software updates) 2. Close any applications that are currently running.
3. Insert the Phoenix CD into the CD-ROM drive.
Note Data processing can be very time-consuming on older
computers. Phoenix recommends using a recent 4. If Autorun is enabled, wait for Windows Explorer to
vintage, high-speed Pentium processor. (Celeron open.
processors are not recommended) If Windows Explorer does not open automatically,
double click on the CD-ROM icon on the desktop.
5. Double click on Setup.Bat and follow the instruc- 4. Insert the Phoenix CD into the CD-ROM drive.
tions on screen. 5. If Autorun is enabled, wait for Windows Explorer to
6. Be sure to return to the Setup batch window (a open.
DOS window) and press any key to start each If Windows Explorer does not open automatically,
subsequent phase of installation. double click on the CD-ROM icon on the desktop.
Installation is complete when the Setup batch window title says 6. Copy these folders from the CD to the PGL folder
“Finished.” you created:

After installing the software, follow the instructions on • 1_PC HOST FILES
page 134 to configure the parallel port. • 2_PROGRAMS
• 3_SSMT2000
Note Some customers have reported problems installing the
software on Windows Me systems. If your installation 7. Copy these files from the CD to the PGL folder you
fails, use the following alternate procedure. created:
• autorun.inf
To install the software (alternate for Windows • ReadMe.html
Me): • Setup.Bat
1. If Phoenix software has already been installed on 8. In the PGL folder, double click Setup.Bat and follow
your PC, change the name of the folder C:\EMT-SW the instructions on screen.
to preserve your previous work.
9. Be sure to return to the Setup batch window (a
2. Close any applications that are currently running. DOS window) and press any key to start each
3. Create a new temporary folder on your desktop, subsequent phase of installation.
called PGL.

133 Appendix B Installing the software 133

134 Appendix B Configuring the parallel port 134
Installation is complete when the Setup batch window title says To determine the parallel port configuration:
“Finished.”
1. Right-click on My Computer and choose
After installing the software, follow the next procedure Properties.
to configure the parallel port. 2. If your operating system is Windows Me or earlier,
click the Device Manager tab; if your operating
system is Windows XP, click the Hardware tab and
Configuring the parallel port then the Device Manager button.
3. Expand the Ports (COM & LPT) entry by clicking
The WinHost program communicates with an MTU⁄MTU- the plus sign to the left of it. (See the illustration on
A via a special cable (part number 6218) and adapter page 135.)
(part number 6228) connected to the PC’s parallel port.
4. If there is an ECP Printer Port listed, verify the
The parallel port must be configured as an Extended ECP port Properties as described on page 136. If
Capability Port (ECP). ECP provides a high-performance there is no ECP Printer Port listed, follow the next
bi-directional communication path between the PC and procedure to create the port.
the instrument. Your PC may already be configured to
use the ECP protocol, in which case you need to verify
the setup only if you experience problems using
WinHost. Otherwise, you will have to configure the port
in your computer’s CMOS Setup.
 your PC documentation or the manufacturer’s Web
site. (Typically, the command key is one of the
Function keys or the Insert or Delete key. Many
computers, when they are powered on, will display
a prompt that names the command key.)
2. Follow the instructions just given to determine the
parallel port configuration. If there is an SPP
Standard Parallel Port listed, select it and click
Remove. Close the Properties dialog box.
3. Restart your computer. (You may have to shut down
your computer completely before restarting it in
order to reach the CMOS Setup prompt.)
4. During the restart, before the Windows logo screen
appears, type the keyboard command to enter
CMOS Setup.
5. Consult your PC documentation or follow the on-
screen prompts for instructions, and change the
To create an ECP parallel port: parallel port to ECP. If there are options for a DMA
channel or Interrupt Request, accept the defaults.
1. Be prepared to issue the keyboard command that
puts your PC into CMOS Setup during system 6. Save the new settings and exit CMOS Setup.
startup (“cold boot”). This command varies from 7. Allow Windows to continue loading, and observe
one manufacturer and model to another. Consult whether it detects and configures the new ECP port.

135 Appendix B Configuring the parallel port 135

136 Appendix B Configuring the parallel port 136
If it does, verify the ECP port Properties as
described on page 136.
8. If Windows does not detect and configure the ECP
port, follow the next procedure to add it manually.

If you are not sure whether Windows detected the port,

repeat the procedure on page 134 to determine the
parallel port configuration.

To add an ECP port manually:

1. Create the ECP port in CMOS Setup as just
described.
2. When Windows finishes loading, click on Start,
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish adding
point to Settings, then click Control Panel.
the port, reboot the computer, then follow the next
3. Click on Add New Hardware. procedure to verify the port properties.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions. When asked “Do
you want Windows to search for your new To verify the ECP port properties:
hardware?” click “No, I want to select the hardware 1. Right-click on My Computer and choose
from a list.” Properties.
5. Choose Ports (COM & LPT) from the list and then 2. If your operating system is Windows Me or earlier,
click on (Standard port types) and ECP Printer click the Device Manager tab; if your operating
Port.
 system is Windows XP, click the Hardware tab and 8. Examine the Conflicting device list. If there are
then the Device Manager button. any conflicts, resolve them according to the instruc-
3. Expand the Ports (COM & LPT) entry by clicking tions in your PC documentation or in the Windows
the plus sign to the left of it. Help files.
4. Select the ECP Printer Port and click Properties.
5. If your operating system is Windows XP, click the Troubleshooting parallel port
Port Settings tab. Select “Use any interrupt
communications
assigned to the port.”
6. Click the Resources tab. If you experience communication problems between
the PC and the MTU⁄MTU-A when using WinHost, there
7. Examine the Resource type list. It should contain
may be a problem with the parallel port configuration
three or four lines: two Input/Output Ranges, an
or operation. Try these suggestions:
Interrupt Request, and possibly a Direct Memory
Access setting: • Verify that the cable and adapter are correct and that
both are being used. A laplink cable alone without
the adapter will not work.
• Verify that the cable and adapter are working
properly. Try using them with a different instrument,
or try substituting a cable and adapter that you know
If any line other than Direct Memory Access is are working properly.
missing, you may have to upgrade the BIOS of the • Verify the ECP port properties as described on
PC in order to use WinHost. page 136.

137 Appendix B Configuring the parallel port 137

138 Appendix B Updating the software 138
• Verify that the parallel port is working properly by To disable “compatibility” mode in Windows XP:
connecting a printer (using a standard printer cable) 1. From the Start menu, click Programs, point to
and printing a test document. Phoenix Geophysics Host Software, and right-click
• If your operating system is Windows XP and you on WinHost.
receive error code 54, “ECP driver is not set up to use
2. Click Properties.
an interrupt,” verify that the Port Settings will “Use
3. Click the Compatibility tab.
any interrupt assigned to the port.” (See step 5 on
page 137.) 4. Clear the Compatibility mode checkbox.
• If you receive error code 4096, “Error setting up 5. Click OK.
timer event,” Windows is out of memory. Reboot the
PC.
• If you receive error code 4098, “ECR register not
detected,” the system BIOS is not set for ECP mode. Updating the software
Follow the instructions under “Configuring the Periodic updates to SSMT2000 processing software are
parallel port” on page 134, being sure to save the made available through the Phoenix website.
settings when exiting CMOS setup. SSMT2000 includes a utility to check for and install
• If you receive error code 4097, “Error accessing the updates.
driver,” Windows XP is attempting to run WinHost in
“compatibility” mode. Follow the next procedure to To check for updates:
change the mode.
1. Ensure that your computer is connected to the
Internet.
2. Launch SSMT2000.
3. From the Help menu, choose Check for Updates. 2. From the MT-Editor Help menu, choose Regis-
tration.
A Warning dialog appears.
3. Select the text in the Hardware ID box and press
4. Click Yes to continue. CTRL+C to copy the text to the clipboard.
SSMT2000 closes temporarily, determines current software
versions, and checks for updates.

A DOS-mode screen appears briefly during this process.

5. If updates are available, follow the instructions on

screen to complete the updating process.

Registering MT-Editor
After installation, the MT-Editor program must be
registered (by e-mail to Phoenix) in order to enable the 4. Close the dialog box and exit from MT-Editor.
saving and exporting functions. Up to three copies of 5. Launch your e-mail client and create a new
MT-Editor can be registered for each purchased license. message to:
mail@phoenix-geophysics.com
To request an MT-Editor Serial Number:
1. After installing the software, launch MT-Editor.

139 Appendix B Registering MT-Editor 139

140 Appendix B Registering MT-Editor 140
6. In the body of the message, request a Serial 4. In the MT-Editor Registration dialog box, select the
Number for MT-Editor and provide: words “Enter user name here” and press CTRL+V to
• a Company Name or User Name for this copy of paste the Company Name from the clipboard.
the program 5. In the e-mail message, select the Serial Number
• the Hardware ID from the Registration dialog box. and press CTRL+C to copy it to the clipboard.
(Press CTRL+V to paste the Hardware ID from 6. In MT-Editor, click anywhere in the Serial Number
the clipboard.) text box and press CTRL+V to paste the Serial
7. Send the e-mail to Phoenix. Number from the clipboard.

Phoenix personnel will reply in one to two business

days with a Serial Number keyed to both the
Hardware ID and the Company Name you provided.

To enter the Serial Number and complete the

registration:
1. When you receive the Phoenix reply, open the e-
mail message and launch MT-Editor.
2. From the MT-Editor Help menu, choose Regis-
tration.
3. In the e-mail message, select the Company Name 7. Click .
or User Name and press CTRL+C to copy it to the
clipboard.
Organizing your files We recommend establishing a three-letter tag for each
survey, and using that tag in the name of each folder
Phoenix software relies on several file naming and containing files related to the survey.
organization conventions. Although it is possible to
For example, in a survey of Three River Valley, you
follow alternate plans, we strongly recommend that
might choose TRV as the tag. You would then create:
you establish the following file and folder conventions
in order to minimize problems. • a folder called TRV-TSER for the daily time series
folders.
Note In all cases, limit folder and file names to eight • within TRV-TSER, a folder called TRV-Cal for the
characters, and file extensions to three calibration files.
characters. Do not use spaces in path names, file
names, or extensions.
• a folder called TRV-DATA for the plot file folders.
Some language versions of Microsoft Windows You would also use the TRV tag when naming sites in
(Russian, for example) will cause problems if file the Multi-table editor (see “Editing site parameters with
names consist only of digits. Ensure that the first
the Multi-table Editor” on page 20.)
character of a file name is an alphabetic character, not
a digit.

For each survey you conduct, three types of files need Storing raw data files
to be stored and organized on your PC: calibration files, The raw data files are named by the MTU⁄MTU-A in the
raw data (time series) files, and processed data (plot) formats ssssHdda.TBL and ssssHdda.TS? where:
files.
• “ssss” represents the serial number of the A/MTU.
• “H” represents the month in hexadecimal.
• “dd” represents the day of the month in decimal.

141 Appendix B Organizing your files 141

142 Appendix B Organizing your files 142
• “a” represents an alpha character denoting the order
of repeated soundings at a single site.
• “TBL” identifies a Site Parameter (Table) file.
• “TS?” identifies a time series data file (TSH, TSL, or
TS2 to TS6, depending on A/MTU firmware).

We recommend that files of these types be stored

together in a folder identifying the date of the
soundings, in the form yyyy-Hdd where:
• “yyyy” represents the year.
• “H” represents the month in hexadecimal.
• “dd” represents the day of the month in decimal. Each of the dated folders in TRV-TSER would contain
To continue the example, after five days of surveying in the Site Parameter and Time Series files from all the
May, 2002, the TRV data would be organized like this: MTU⁄MTU-As that acquired data on that day.

Storing calibration files

Equipment must be calibrated at the beginning of each
survey, and may have to be recalibrated during a
survey. The calibration files must be available
whenever SSMT2000 analyses the data acquired with
the calibrated equipment. We therefore recommend
storing the calibration files in a TAG-CAL folder within used a local telluric (E) reference, the folder might be
the TAG-TSER folder, as illustrated above. This called LoE-SITE. You would store both these folders in a
distinguishes the calibration files from others created folder called TRV-DATA.
with the same equipment on other surveys, and also
You can create the SITE folders in advance if you want,
ensures that when the TAG-TSER folder is archived, the
or simply create them as needed using the
calibration files are included.
Magnetotelluric Processing Setup dialog. (The TAG-
In the case where equipment must be recalibrated DATA folder that is to contain the SITE folders must be
during a survey, the new files could be stored in folders set up in advance, however.) See “Reprocessing the
called TAG-CAL1, TAG-CAL2, etc. Fourier transforms” on page 29.

Storing output (plot) files

The data from survey sites may have to be processed
Formatting a CompactFlash
several times using different parameters in order to get card
satisfactory results in all the desired frequency ranges.
CompactFlash cards must be correctly formatted before
For this reason, we recommend creating a TAG-DATA
use.
folder and within it various aaa-SITE folders, where
“aaa” is an abbreviation or code relating to the type of
processing performed.

For example, if you processed Three River Valley site

data using a remote magnetic (H) reference, you might
store the output files in a folder called ReH-SITE. If you

143 Appendix B Formatting a CompactFlash card 143

144 Appendix B Formatting a CompactFlash card 144

Note The formatting utility provided by SanDisk corporation

2. Double click My Computer.
is not compatible with Phoenix instruments. 3. Right-click the CompactFlash card drive letter and
CompactFlash cards must use the FAT or FAT16 (File click Format…
Allocation Table) file system applied by the Windows
formatting utility. Do not format as FAT32 or NTFS. 4. If your operating system is Windows XP, be sure
If you experience operating system crashes when that the File system is set to FAT. (In earlier
inserting a CompactFlash card into the reader, the Windows versions, the file system is always FAT.)
problem may be caused by static electricity. Touch a 5. If desired, type a volume label (a name for the
grounded object such as an unpainted area of the
disk).
computer case before inserting the card.
6. If Quick Format is selected, clear the checkbox.

To format a CompactFlash card: 7. Click Start.

1. Insert the card into a card reader connected to the When formatting is complete, click Close. The card is
PC. ready for use in Phoenix instruments.
Appendix
This appendix provides charts of all the
frequencies output by SSMT2000 for various
combinations of:
• Line Frequency filter.
• A/MTU box type.
• Firmware version.
• Sensor type.
• Frequencies per octave.
The first half of the appendix covers the line
frequency filter of 50Hz; the second half
covers the line frequency filter of 60Hz. The
tables appear in order from highest to lowest
frequencies.

Frequency tables for SSMT2000

145 Appendix C 145

146 Table C-1: 50Hz LF, MTU-A, AMTC-30
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
Firmware: B B
Range
EMT (50) EMT (50)
Name:
24000 10666.67 10400 24000
FC2 8800 FC2
8000 7200
6000
5333.33 5200
4400
4000 3600
3000
2666.67 2600
2200
2000 1800
1500
1333.33 1300
1100
1000 900
776.47 2400
666.67 635.29 FC3
529.41
500 458.82
388.235
Firmware: B B
Range EMT (50) EMT (50)
Name: continues continues
Firmware: Ext. Range
Range
LMT (50) begins
Name:
2400 320 317.645
FC3 264.705
240 229.41
Appendix C

194.1175
160 158.8225
132.3525
120 114.705
97.0588
80 79.4113
146

66.1763
Table C-1: 50Hz LF, MTU-A, AMTC-30(cont’d)

147
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
2400 60 57.3525 2400
FC3 48.5294 FC3
40 39.7056
32.5 150
30 27.5 FC4
22.5
20 18.75
16.25
15 13.75
11.25
Firmware: B B
Range EMT (50)
EMT (50) ends
Name: continues
Firmware: Ext. Range
Range LMT (50)
Name: continues
2400 10 9.375
FC3 8.125
7.5 6.875
5.625
150 6 4.6875 150 (AMT)
FC4 4.0625 15 (MT)
FC5
4.5 3.4375
2.8125
3 2.34375
2.03125
2.25 1.71875
1.40625
1.5 1.17188
1.01563
1.125 0.85938
Appendix C

0.70313
0.75 0.58594
0.50781
0.5625 0.42969
0.35156
147
148 Table C-1: 50Hz LF, MTU-A, AMTC-30(cont’d)
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
150 (AMT) 0.375 0.2929688 150 (AMT)
15 (MT) 0.2539063 15 (MT)
FC5 FC6
0.28125 0.2148438
0.1757813
0.1875 0.1464844
0.1269532
0.140625 0.1074219
0.0878907
0.09375 0.0732422
0.0634766
0.070313 0.053711
0.0439453
0.046875 0.0366211
0.0317383
0.035156 0.0268555
0.0219727
0.023438 0.0183106
0.0158691
0.017578 0.0134277
0.0109863

Shaded areas indicate overlap of frequency ranges.

Appendix C
148
149 Appendix C 149
150 Table C-2: 50Hz LF, MTU-A, MTC-50
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
Firmware: Hi Range Hi Range
Range
HMT (50) HMT (50)
Name:
2400 320 317.645 2400
FC3 264.705 FC3
240 229.41
194.11765
160 158.8225
132.3525
120 114.705
97.05883
80 79.41125
66.17625
60 57.3525
48.52941
40 39.70563
32.5 150
30 27.5 FC4
22.5
20 18.75
16.25
15 13.75
11.25
Firmware: Hi Range Hi Range
Range HMT (50) HMT (50)
Name: continues continues
Firmware: Lo Range
Range
RMT (50) begins
Name:
2400 10 9.375
FC3 8.125
7.5 6.875
Appendix C

5.625
150 6.0 4.6875 150 (AMT)
FC4 4.0625 15 (MT)
FC5
4.5 3.4375
2.8125
3.0 2.34375
150

2.03125
Table C-2: 50Hz LF, MTU-A, MTC-50 (cont’d)

151
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
150 2.25 1.71875 150 (AMT)
FC4 1.40625 15 (MT)
FC5
1.5 1.171875
1.015625
1.125 0.859375
0.703125
0.75 0.5859375
0.5078125
0.5625 0.4296875
0.3515625
Firmware: Hi, Lo Ranges Hi Range
Range HMT (50), RMT
HMT (50) ends
Name: (50) continue
Firmware: Lo Range
Range
RMT (50) begins
Name:
150 (AMT) 0.375 0.2929688 150 (AMT)
15 (MT) 0.2539063 15 (MT)
FC5 FC6
0.28125 0.2148438
0.1757813
0.1875 0.1464844
0.1269532
0.140625 0.1074219
0.0878907
0.09375 0.0732422
0.0634766
0.070313 0.053711
0.0439453
0.046875 0.0366211
0.0317383
0.035156 0.0268555
Appendix C

0.0219727
0.023438 0.0183106
0.0158691
0.017578 0.0134277
0.0109863
151
152 Table C-2: 50Hz LF, MTU-A, MTC-50 (cont’d)
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
Firmware: Hi Range Lo Range
Range HMT (50) RMT (50)
Name: continues continues
Firmware: Ext. Range
Range
LMT (50) begins
Name:
150 (AMT) 0.011719 0.009155275 150 (AMT)
15 (MT) 0.007934572 15 (MT)
FC6 FC7
0.0087891 0.006713869
0.005493166
0.0058594 0.0045776
0.0039673
0.0043945 0.0033569
0.0027466
0.0029297 0.0022888
0.0019836
0.0021973 0.0016785
0.0013733
0.0014648 0.0011444
0.0009918
0.0010986 0.0008392
0.0006866
0.0007324 0.0005722
0.0004959
0.0005493 0.0004196
0.0003433
Firmware: Hi Range Lo Range
Range
HMT (50) ends RMT (50) ends
Name:
Firmware: Lo Range Ext. Range
Range RMT (50) LMT (50)
Name: continues continues
Appendix C

150 (AMT) 0.0003662 0.0002861 150 (AMT)

15 (MT) 0.000248 15 (MT)
FC7 FC8
0.0002747 0.0002098
0.0001717
0.0001831 0.0001431
0.000124
152
Table C-2: 50Hz LF, MTU-A, MTC-50 (cont’d)

153
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
150 (AMT) 0.0001373 0.0001049 150 (AMT)
15 (MT) 0.0000858 15 (MT)
FC7 FC8
0.0000916 0.0000715
0.000062
0.0000687 0.0000525
0.0000429
0.0000458 0.0000358
0.000031
0.0000343 0.0000262
0.0000215
0.0000229 0.0000179
0.0000155
0.0000172 0.0000131
0.0000107

Shaded areas indicate overlap of frequency ranges.

Appendix C
153
154 Table C-3: 50Hz LF, MTU, AMTC-30 (V5-comp.)
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
Firmware: Up Range Up Range
Range
EMT (50) EMT (50)
Name:
2560 640 720 2560
FC3 600 FC3
480 520
440
320 360
300
240 260
220
160 180
150
120 130
110
80 90
75
60 65
55
320 40 45
FC4 37.5 320
30 32.5 FC4
27.5
20 22.5
18.75
15 16.25
13.75
10 11.25
9.375
7.5 8.125
6.875
Appendix C

24 6 5.625
FC5 4.875 24
4.5 4.125 FC5
3.375
3 2.8125
2.4375
154
Table C-3: 50Hz LF, MTU, AMTC-30 (V5-

155
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
24 2.25 2.0625 24
FC5 1.6875 FC5
1.5 1.40625
1.21875
1.125 1.03125
0.84375
0.75

0.5625

0.375

0.2813

Appendix C
155
156 Table C-4: 50Hz LF, MTU, MTC-50 (V5-comp.)
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
Firmware: D Hi Range
Range
MT (50) MTH (50)
Name:
2560 320 360 2560
FC3 300 FC3
240 260
220
160 180
150
120 130
110
80 90
75
60 65
55
320 40 45
FC4 37.5 320
30 32.5 FC4
27.5
20 22.5
18.75
15 16.25
13.75
Firmware: D Hi Range
Range MT (50) MTH (50)
Name: continues continues
Firmware: Lo Range
Range RMT (50)
Name: begins
320 10 11.25
FC4 9.375
7.5 8.125
Appendix C

6.875
24 6 5.625
FC5 4.875 24
4.5 4.125 FC5
3.375
3 2.8125
156

2.4375
Table C-4: 50Hz LF, MTU, MTC-50 (V5-comp.)(cont’d)

157
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
24 2.25 2.0625 24
FC5 1.6875 FC5
1.5 1.40625
1.21875
1.125 1.03125
0.84375
0.75 0.70313
0.60938
0.5625 0.51563
0.42188
Firmware: D, Lo Range Hi Range
Range MT (50), RMT
MTH (50) ends
Name: (50) continue
Firmware: Lo Range
Range MTL (50)
Name: begins
24 0.375 0.3515625
FC5 0.3046875
0.2813 0.2578125
0.2109375
0.1875 0.1757813
0.0523438
0.140625 0.1289063
0.1054688
0.09375 0.0878906
0.0761719
0.070646 0.0644531
0.0527344
03046875 0.0439453
0.0380859
0.035156 0.0322266
Appendix C

0.0263672
24 0.023438 0.0219727 24
FC6 0.019043 FC6
0.017578 0.0161133
0.0131836
157
158 Table C-4: 50Hz LF, MTU, MTC-50 (V5-comp.)(cont’d)
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
Firmware: D, Lo Range Lo Range
Range MT (50), RMT MTL (50)
Name: (50) continue continues
Firmware: Ext. Range
Range MTR (50)
Name: begins
24 0.011719 0.0109863 24
FC6 0.0095215 FC6
0.008789 0.0080566
0.0065918
0.005859 0.0054932
0.0047607
0.004395 0.0040283
0.0032959
0.00293 0.0027466
0.0023804
0.005197 0.0020142
0.0016479
0.001465 0.0013733
0.0011902
0.001099 0.0010071
0.000824
0.000732 0.0006866
0.0005951
0.000549 0.0005035
0.000412
Firmware: D Lo Range
Range
MT (50) ends MTL (50) ends
Name:
Firmware: Lo Range Ext. Range
Range RMT (50) MTR (50)
Name: continues continues
Appendix C

24 0.000366 0.0003433 24
FC7 0.0002975 FC7
0.000275 0.0002518
0.000206
0.000183 0.0001717
0.0001488
158
Table C-4: 50Hz LF, MTU, MTC-50 (V5-comp.)(cont’d)

159
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
24 0.000137 0.0001259 24
FC7 0.000103 FC7
0.000092 0.0000858
0.0000744
0.000069 0.0000629
0.0000515
0.000046 0.0000429
0.0000372
0.000034 0.0000315
0.0000257
0.000023 0.0000215
0.0000186
0.000017 0.0000157
0.0000129

Shaded areas indicate overlap of frequency ranges.

Appendix C
159
160 Table C-5: 50Hz LF, MTU, MTC-50 (V5-2000)
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
Firmware: Hi Range Hi Range
Range
HMT (50) HMT (50)
Name:
2400 320 317.645 2400
FC3 264.705 FC3
240 229.41
194.11765
160 158.8225
132.3525
120 114.705
97.05883
80 79.41125
66.17625
60 57.3525
48.52941
40 39.70563
32.5 150
30 27.5 FC4
22.5
20 18.75
16.25
15 13.75
11.25
Firmware: Hi Range Hi Range
Range HMT (50) HMT (50)
Name: continues continues
Firmware: Lo Range
Range
RMT (50) begins
Name:
2400 10 9.375
FC3 8.125
7.5 6.875
Appendix C

5.625
150 6.0 4.6875 15
FC4 4.0625 FC5
4.5 3.4375
2.8125
3.0 2.34375
160

2.03125
Table C-5: 50Hz LF, MTU, MTC-50 (V5-2000) (cont’d)

161
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
150 2.25 1.71875 15
FC4 1.40625 FC5
1.5 1.171875
1.015625
1.125 0.859375
0.703125
0.75 0.5859375
0.5078125
0.5625 0.4296875
0.3515625
Firmware: Hi, Lo Ranges Hi Range
Range HMT (50), RMT
HMT (50) ends
Name: (50) continue
Firmware: Lo Range
Range
RMT (50) begins
Name:
15 0.375 0.2929688 15
FC5 0.2539063 FC6
0.28125 0.2148438
0.1757813
0.1875 0.1464844
0.1269532
0.140625 0.1074219
0.0878907
0.09375 0.0732422
0.0634766
0.070313 0.053711
0.0439453
0.046875 0.0366211
0.0317383
0.035156 0.0268555
Appendix C

0.0219727
0.023438 0.0183106
0.0158691
0.017578 0.0134277
0.0109863
161
162 Table C-5: 50Hz LF, MTU, MTC-50 (V5-2000) (cont’d)
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
Firmware: Hi Range Lo Range
Range HMT (50) RMT (50)
Name: continues continues
Firmware: Ext. Range
Range
LMT (50) begins
Name:
15 0.011719 0.009155275 15
FC6 0.007934572 FC7
0.0087891 0.006713869
0.005493166
0.0058594 0.0045776
0.0039673
0.0043945 0.0033569
0.0027466
0.0029297 0.0022888
0.0019836
0.0021973 0.0016785
0.0013733
0.0014648 0.0011444
0.0009918
0.0010986 0.0008392
0.0006866
0.0007324 0.0005722
0.0004959
0.0005493 0.0004196
0.0003433
Firmware: Hi Range Lo Range
Range
HMT (50) ends RMT (50) ends
Name:
Firmware: Lo Range Ext. Range
Range RMT (50) LMT (50)
Name: continues continues
Appendix C

15 0.0003662 0.0002861 15
FC7 0.000248 FC8
0.0002747 0.0002098
0.0001717
0.0001831 0.0001431
0.000124
162
Table C-5: 50Hz LF, MTU, MTC-50 (V5-2000) (cont’d)

163
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
15 0.0001373 0.0001049 15
FC7 0.0000858 FC8
0.0000916 0.0000715
0.000062
0.0000687 0.0000525
0.0000429
0.0000458 0.0000358
0.000031
0.0000343 0.0000262
0.0000215
0.0000229 0.0000179
0.0000155
0.0000172 0.0000131
0.0000107

Shaded areas indicate overlap of frequency ranges.

Appendix C
163
164 Table C-6: 60Hz LF, MTU-A, AMTC-30
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
Firmware: B B
Range
EMT (60) EMT (60)
Name:
24000 10666.67 10400 24000
FC2 8800 FC2
8000 7200
6000
5333.33 5200
4400
4000 3600
3000
2666.67 2600
2200
2000 1800
1500
1333.33 1300
1100
1000 900
776.47 2400
666.67 635.29 FC3
529.41
500 458.82
388.235
Firmware: B B
Range EMT (60) EMT (60)
Name: continues continues
Firmware: Ext. Range
Range
LMT (60) begins
Name:
2400 384 317.645
FC3 264.705
288 229.41
Appendix C

194.1175
192 158.8225
132.3525
144 114.705
97.0588
96 79.4113
164

66.1763
Table C-6: 60Hz LF, MTU-A, AMTC-30 (cont’d)

165
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
2400 72 57.3525 2400
FC3 48.5294 FC3
48 39.7056
32.5 150
36 27.5 FC4
22.5
150 24 18.75
FC4 16.25
18 13.75
11.25
Firmware: B B
Range EMT (60)
EMT (60) ends
Name: continues
Firmware: Ext. Range
Range LMT (60)
Name: continues
150 12 9.375
FC4 8.125
9 6.875
5.625
6 4.6875 150 (AMT)
4.0625 15 (MT)
FC5
4.5 3.4375
2.8125
3 2.34375
2.03125
2.25 1.71875
1.40625
150 1.5 1.17188
FC5 1.01563
1.125 0.85938
Appendix C

0.70313
0.75 0.58594
0.50781
0.5625 0.42969
0.35156
165
166 Table C-6: 60Hz LF, MTU-A, AMTC-30 (cont’d)

Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling

Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
150 0.375 0.2929688 150 (AMT)
FC5 0.2539063 15 (MT)
FC6
0.28125 0.2148438
0.1757813
0.1875 0.1464844
0.1269532
0.140625 0.1074219
0.0878907
0.09375 0.0732422
0.0634766
0.070313 0.053711
0.0439453
0.046875 0.0366211
0.0317383
0.035156 0.0268555
0.0219727
0.023438 0.0183106
0.0158691
0.017578 0.0134277
0.0109863

Shaded areas indicate overlap of frequency ranges.

Appendix C
166
167 Appendix C 167
168 Table C-7: 60Hz LF, MTU-A, MTC-50
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
Firmware: Hi Range Hi Range
Range
HMT (60) HMT (60)
Name:
2400 384 317.645 2400
FC3 264.705 FC3
288 229.41
194.11765
192 158.8225
132.3525
144 114.705
97.05883
96 79.41125
66.17625
72 57.3525
48.52941
48 39.70563
32.5 150
36 27.5 FC4
22.5
150 24 18.75
FC4 16.25
18 13.75
11.25
Firmware: Hi Range Hi Range
Range HMT (60) HMT (60)
Name: continues continues
Firmware: Lo Range
Range
RMT (60) begins
Name:
150 12 9.375
FC4 8.125
9 6.875
Appendix C

5.625
6 4.6875 150 (AMT)
4.0625 15 (MT)
FC5
4.5 3.4375
2.8125
3 2.34375
168

2.03125
Table C-7: 60Hz LF, MTU-A, MTC-50 (cont’d)

169
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
150 2.25 1.71875 150 (AMT)
FC4 1.40625 15 (MT)
FC5
150 (AMT) 1.5 1.171875
15 (MT) 1.015625
FC5
1.125 0.859375
0.703125
0.75 0.5859375
0.5078125
0.5625 0.4296875
0.3515625
Firmware: Hi, Lo Ranges Hi Range
Range HMT (60), RMT
HMT (60) ends
Name: (60) continue
Firmware: Lo Range
Range
RMT (60) begins
Name:
150 (AMT) 0.375 0.2929688 150 (AMT)
15 (MT) 0.2539063 15 (MT)
FC5 FC6
0.28125 0.2148438
0.1757813
0.1875 0.1464844
0.1269532
0.140625 0.1074219
0.0878907
0.09375 0.0732422
0.0634766
0.070313 0.053711
0.0439453
0.046875 0.0366211
0.0317383
0.035156 0.0268555
Appendix C

0.0219727
0.023438 0.0183106
0.0158691
0.017578 0.0134277
0.0109863
169
170 Table C-7: 60Hz LF, MTU-A, MTC-50 (cont’d)

Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling

Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
Firmware: Hi Range Lo Range
Range HMT (60) RMT (60)
Name: continues continues
Firmware: Ext. Range
Range
LMT (60) begins
Name:
150 (AMT) 0.011719 0.009155275 150 (AMT)
15 (MT) 0.007934572 15 (MT)
FC6 FC7
0.008789 0.006713869
0.005493166
0.005859 0.0045776
0.0039673
0.004395 0.0033569
0.0027466
0.00293 0.0022888
0.0019836
0.002197 0.0016785
0.0013733
0.001465 0.0011444
0.0009918
0.001099 0.0008392
0.0006866
0.000732 0.0005722
0.0004959
0.000549 0.0004196
0.0003433
Firmware: Hi Range Lo Range
Range
HMT (60) ends RMT (60) ends
Name:
Firmware: Lo Range Ext. Range
Range RMT (50) LMT (50)
Name: continues continues
Appendix C

150 (AMT) 0.0003662 0.0002861 150 (AMT)

15 (MT) 0.000248 15 (MT)
FC7 FC8
0.0002747 0.0002098
0.0001717
0.0001831 0.0001431
0.000124
170
Table C-7: 60Hz LF, MTU-A, MTC-50 (cont’d)

171
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
150 (AMT) 0.0001373 0.0001049 150 (AMT)
15 (MT) 0.0000858 15 (MT)
FC7 FC8
0.0000916 0.0000715
0.000062
0.0000687 0.0000525
0.0000429
0.0000458 0.0000358
0.000031
0.0000343 0.0000262
0.0000215
0.0000229 0.0000179
0.0000155
0.0000172 0.0000131
0.0000107

Shaded areas indicate overlap of frequency ranges.

Appendix C
171
172 Table C-8: 60Hz LF, MTU, AMTC-30 (V5-comp.)
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
Firmware: Up Range Up Range
Range
EMT (60) EMT (60)
Name:
3072 768 720 3072
FC3 624 FC3
576 528
432
384 360
312
288 264
216
192 180
156
144 132
108
96 90
78
72 66
54
384 48 45 384
FC4 39 FC4
36 33
27
24 22.5
19.5
18 16.5
13.5
12 11.25
9.75
9 8.25
6.75
Appendix C

24 6 5.625 24
FC5 4.875 FC5
4.5 4.125
3.375
3 2.8125
2.4375
172
Table C-8: 60Hz LF, MTU, AMTC-30 (V5-comp.) (cont’d)

173
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
24 2.25 2.0625 24
FC5 1.6875 FC5
1.5 1.40625
1.21875
1.125 1.03125
0.84375
0.75

0.5625

0.375

0.2813

Appendix C
173
174 Table C-9: 60Hz LF, MTU, MTC-50 (V5-comp.)
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
Firmware: D Hi Range
Range
MT (60) MTH (60)
Name:
3072 384 360 3072
FC3 312 FC3
288 264
216
192 180
156
144 132
108
96 90
78
72 66
54
384 48 45 384
FC4 39 FC4
36 33
27
24 22.5
19.5
18 16.5
13.5
Firmware: D Hi Range
Range MT (60) MTH (60)
Name: continues continues
Firmware: Ext. Range
Range LMT (60)
Name: begins
384 12 11.25
FC4 9.75
9 8.25
Appendix C

6.75
24 6 5.625 24
FC5 4.875 FC5
4.5 4.125
3.375
3 2.8125
174

2.4375
Table C-9: 60Hz LF, MTU, MTC-50 (V5-comp.) (cont’d)

175
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
24 2.25 2.0625 24
FC5 1.6875 FC5
1.5 1.40625
1.21875
1.125 1.03125
0.84375
0.75 0.703125
0.609375
0.5625 0.515625
0.421875
Firmware: D, Ext Range Hi Range
Range MT (60), LMT
MTH (60) ends
Name: (60) continue
Firmware: Lo Range
Range MTL (60)
Name: begins
24 0.375 0.3515625
FC5 0.3046875
0.2813 0.2578125
0.2109375
0.1875 0.1757813
0.1523438
0.140625 0.1289063
0.1054688
0.09375 0.0878906
0.0761719
0.070646 0.0644531
0.0527344
0.046875 0.0439453
0.0380859
0.035156 0.0322266
Appendix C

0.0263672
24 0.023438 0.0219727 24
FC6 0.019043 FC6
0.017578 0.0161133
0.0131836
175
176 Table C-9: 60Hz LF, MTU, MTC-50 (V5-comp.) (cont’d)

Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling

Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
Firmware: D, Ext Range Lo Range
Range MT (60), LMT MTL (60)
Name: (60) continue continues
Firmware: Ext. Range
Range MTR (60)
Name: begins
24 0.011719 0.0109863 24
FC6 0.0095215 FC6
0.008789 0.0080566
0.0065918
0.005859 0.0054932
0.0047607
0.004395 0.0040283
0.0032959
0.00293 0.0027466
0.0023804
0.005197 0.0020142
0.0016479
0.001465 0.0013733
0.0011902
0.001099 0.0010071
0.000824
0.000732 0.0006866
0.0005951
0.000549 0.0005035
0.000412
Firmware: D Lo Range
Range
MT (60) ends MTL (60) ends
Name:
Firmware: Ext Range Ext. Range
Range LMT (60) MTR (60)
Name: continues continues
Appendix C

24 0.000366 0.0003433 24
FC7 0.0002975 FC7
0.000275 0.0002518
0.000206
0.000183 0.0001717
0.0001488
176
Table C-9: 60Hz LF, MTU, MTC-50 (V5-comp.) (cont’d)

177
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
24 0.000137 0.0001259 24
FC7 0.000103 FC7
0.000092 0.0000858
0.0000744
0.000069 0.0000629
0.0000515
0.000046 0.0000429
0.0000372
0.000034 0.0000315
0.0000257
0.000023 0.0000215
0.0000186
0.000017 0.0000157
0.0000129

Shaded areas indicate overlap of frequency ranges.

Appendix C
177
178 Table C-10: 60Hz LF, MTU, MTC-50 (V5-2000)
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
Firmware: Hi Range Hi Range
Range
HMT (60) HMT (60)
Name:
2400 384 317.645 2400
FC3 264.705 FC3
288 229.41
194.11765
192 158.8225
132.3525
144 114.705
97.05883
96 79.41125
66.17625
72 57.3525
48.52941
48 39.70563
32.5 150
36 27.5 FC4
22.5
150 24 18.75
FC4 16.25
18 13.75
11.25
Firmware: Hi Range Hi Range
Range HMT (60) HMT (60)
Name: continues continues
Firmware: Lo Range
Range
RMT (60) begins
Name:
150 12 9.375
FC4 8.125
9 6.875
Appendix C

5.625
6 4.6875 15
4.0625 FC5
4.5 3.4375
2.8125
3 2.34375
178

2.03125
Table C-10: 60Hz LF, MTU, MTC-50 (V5-2000) (cont’d)

179
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
150 2.25 1.71875 15
FC4 1.40625 FC5
15 1.5 1.171875
FC5 1.015625
1.125 0.859375
0.703125
0.75 0.5859375
0.5078125
0.5625 0.4296875
0.3515625
Firmware: Hi, Lo Ranges Hi Range
Range HMT (60), RMT
HMT (60) ends
Name: (60) continue
Firmware: Lo Range
Range
RMT (60) begins
Name:
15 0.375 0.2929688 15
FC5 0.2539063 FC6
0.28125 0.2148438
0.1757813
0.1875 0.1464844
0.1269532
0.140625 0.1074219
0.0878907
0.09375 0.0732422
0.0634766
0.070313 0.053711
0.0439453
0.046875 0.0366211
0.0317383
0.035156 0.0268555
Appendix C

0.0219727
0.023438 0.0183106
0.0158691
0.017578 0.0134277
0.0109863
179
180 Table C-10: 60Hz LF, MTU, MTC-50 (V5-2000) (cont’d)

Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling

Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
Firmware: Hi Range Lo Range
Range HMT (60) RMT (60)
Name: continues continues
Firmware: Ext. Range
Range
LMT (60) begins
Name:
15 0.011719 0.009155275 15
FC6 0.007934572 FC7
0.008789 0.006713869
0.005493166
0.005859 0.0045776
0.0039673
0.004395 0.0033569
0.0027466
0.00293 0.0022888
0.0019836
0.002197 0.0016785
0.0013733
0.001465 0.0011444
0.0009918
0.001099 0.0008392
0.0006866
0.000732 0.0005722
0.0004959
0.000549 0.0004196
0.0003433
Firmware: Hi Range Lo Range
Range
HMT (60) ends RMT (60) ends
Name:
Firmware: Lo Range Ext. Range
Range RMT (50) LMT (50)
Name: continues continues
Appendix C

15 0.0003662 0.0002861 15
FC7 0.000248 FC8
0.0002747 0.0002098
0.0001717
0.0001831 0.0001431
0.000124
180
Table C-10: 60Hz LF, MTU, MTC-50 (V5-2000) (cont’d)

181
Sampling 2 Frequencies/ 4 Frequencies/ Sampling
Rate, Hz octave, Hz octave, Hz Rate, Hz
15 0.0001373 0.0001049 15
FC7 0.0000858 FC8
0.0000916 0.0000715
0.000062
0.0000687 0.0000525
0.0000429
0.0000458 0.0000358
0.000031
0.0000343 0.0000262
0.0000215
0.0000229 0.0000179
0.0000155
0.0000172 0.0000131
0.0000107

Shaded areas indicate overlap of frequency ranges.

Appendix C
181
182 Appendix C 182
Appendix
This Appendix provides specifications for the System
2000 family of MTU instruments:
• MTU-P (2E, 2H, 3H, 5)
• MTU-A (2EA, 2HA, 3HA, 5A)

MTU-P indicates an instrument capable of acquiring MT

data, equipped with a pluggable CompactFlash storage
card. (Earlier instruments had non-removable storage.)

MTU-A indicates an instrument capable of acquiring MT

and AMT data. All versions have removable storage.

The values and specifications given here are typical,

and are subject to change. They are not claimed to be
worst-case specifications.

System 2000 MTU Family

Specifications
183 Appendix D 183
184 Appendix D General 184

General the lowest rate are acquired continuously. Signals

sampled at the two higher rates are sampled
intermittently in a pattern programmed by the user. For
Channels more information, refer to the V5 System 2000
MTU/MTU-A User Guide.
Instruments acquire and store two electric field
channels (E) and/or two or three magnetic field Table D-1 illustrates the sampling rates for frequency
channels (H). bands 2 (highest) to 5 (lowest).
Table D-1: A/MTU sampling rates.

Sampling MTU MTU-A

Band V5-Compatible V5- Data Type
Frequency ranges. MT signals are defined as the
50Hz 60Hz 2000 MT AMT
frequency range up to approximately 400Hz. AMT
signals are defined as the frequency range up to future — — — — 96 000
10 000Hz.
future — — — — 48 000
The MTU-A family acquires MT or AMT signals using 2 — — — — 24 000
V5-2000 (S2000) sample rates.
3 2560 3072 2400 2400 2400
The MTU-P family acquires MT signals using either 4 320 384 150 150 150
V5-2000 or V5-compatible sample rates.
5 24 24 15 15 —
Sampling rates. Time series of signals are stored at
three different sample rates. The signals sampled at
Bandwidth. Signal bandwidth is typically 42% of the Clocking and synchronization
sample rate in V5-2000 modes and 25% of the sample
rate in V5-compatible modes. Sample times are synchronized with UTC using a
combination of global positioning system (GPS) signals
Resolution. Samples are 24-bit resolution. and stable oven-controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO)
clock.
Filtering and noise Long-term absolute accuracy when locked to GPS is
1µs or better.
Noise floor. Typical noise floor (MTU-2EA, high gain, DC
coupling) is 10nV ⁄ Hz above 30Hz. Typical short-term stability governed by OCXO during
GPS dropouts is ±5 x 10-9.
Line frequency digital comb filter. At the lowest
sample rate, a comb filter attenuates odd harmonics of Any Phoenix GPS-equipped devices (MTUs, current
the line frequency. sources, related controllers, etc.) can be synchronized
at any location worldwide without communication
Except at the 24 000Hz sample rate, the higher sample
among the units.
rates use a comb filter to attenuate all harmonics of the
line frequency. At the 24 000Hz sample rate, a digital
high-pass filter (nominal 600Hz corner frequency) is
Calibration
used.
Units perform multi-frequency self-calibration and
magnetic sensor calibration on command. The resulting
files contain a complete calibration of the instrument or
sensor over its useful frequency range, independent of

185 Appendix D General 185

186 Appendix D External connections 186
the mode of operation (e.g., line frequency, AC/DC The schedule (and other parameters) can be
coupling). For more information on file format and established on-line with a PC connected to the
content, see “Calibration file naming and content” on instrument or off-line by saving a startup file on the
page 188. CompactFlash card to be used in the acquisition.

Power Data storage and transfer

Power consumption varies from 14W (MTU-5 with three Calibration and acquisition data are stored on a
magnetic sensors) to as low as 8W (MTU-2E). With removable CompactFlash card of up to 512MB capacity.
appropriate external battery(ies), units will operate for
24h or more. Data can be transferred to a PC either by connecting to
the instrument with a parallel cable or by physically
Units shut down automatically when battery voltage is transferring the CompactFlash card.
low.

All inputs are protected against power surges.

External connections
Scheduling Multi-pin connectors are military grade,
environmentally sealed.
Acquisition start and stop dates and times are user-
programmable. Within the overall duration, acquisition
of the two higher frequency bands can start and stop
together independently of the lowest band.
Ground Auxiliary connector
• Circular, 18-pin, shell size 14.
An external binding post provides the case ground,
which should be connected to a porous pot electrode. • Provides signal input, power output, and calibration
signals to three magnetic sensors.

Telluric inputs
Battery connector
Units are equipped with four binding posts, marked • Circular, 4-pin, shell size 8.
WNSE for ease of cable connection.
• Surge protection and overload protection on all pins.
• Pin A: Battery 1, +12VDC.
Parallel port • Pin B: Battery 2, +12VDC.
• Pin C: Battery common.
A multi-pin connector is used for control and data • Pin D: Battery common.
transfer via an external adapter.
• Circular, 26-pin, shell size 16.
• Pinouts compatible with IEEE 1284 ECP bidirectional GPS antenna connector
PC parallel port (pin A = PC pin 1, pin B = PC pin 2, • Circular, BNC-type.
etc.).
• Electrostatic discharge protection on all pins.
• 5V logic levels.
Mechanical and environmental
Case. Environmentally sealed diecast aluminum.

187 Appendix D Mechanical and environmental 187

188 Appendix D File types and logical record formats 188
Weight. 4.4kg. SYSCAL then computes and displays the response of
the instrument or sensor at those frequencies.
Dimensions. 230mm x 225mm x 110mm.
Instrument. Instrument calibration files are named
Operating temperature. –20°C to +50°C.
automatically in the format ssss.CLB, where ssss is
the instrument serial number.
Sensors. Sensor calibration files are named by the user,
File types and logical record and should be in the format COILssss.CLC (for MTC-50
formats sensors), AMTCssss.CLC (for MTC-30 sensors), or
LOOPssss.CLC (for AL-100 airloop sensors), where
Results are stored in the files described in the following ssss is the coil or loop serial number.
paragraphs. To allow future changes in file formats to
be made transparent, Phoenix software uses a library
of C-language functions to access the files. Anyone Time series file naming and content
writing software to access files generated by the MTU
Time series files can be named by the user. If the user
family is strongly advised to used the Phoenix C library.
does not supply a name, files are named automatically
in the format ssssmdda, where
Calibration file naming and content • ssss is the instrument serial number
• m is the month in hexadecimal
Calibration files are in a proprietary binary format.
• dd is the day in decimal
Human-readable calibration information can be
• a is an alpha character denoting the order of
extracted from calibration files by supplying the
repeated soundings on the same day.
SYSCAL program with a text file of frequencies.
The file extension is in the format TSH, TSL, or TSn and Each record consists of a tag followed by time series
denotes the sample rate: data. Figure D-1 on page 190 illustrates the file format
graphically.
.TSH = V5-compatible Bands 3 and 4 sample rates.
The time series is stored in 24-bit two’s complement
.TSL = V5-compatible Band 5 sample rates. format, three bytes per sample, least significant byte
.TS2 = 24 000Hz sample rate. first. A scan is a set of samples, one from each
channel, taken simultaneously. A complete scan from
.TS3 = 2400Hz sample rate. one sample time is stored consecutively in order of
channel number. (Channels are numbered starting at 1,
.TS4 = 150Hz sample rate.
not 0.) Scans are stored in order of sample time.
.TS5 = 15Hz sample rate.
The first scan in a record always starts exactly on a
Note TS2 to TS5 may use other sample rates in the future. UTC second, and the scan rate is always an exact
TSH and TSL apply only to MTU instruments in V5- integer multiple of 1Hz.
compatible modes.

Time series file format

Time series files consist of records containing time
series data, written chronologically from the time of the
first sample in the record.

Record lengths within a single file may vary.

189 Appendix D File types and logical record formats 189

190 Appendix D File types and logical record formats 190

Record0 Record1

Tag0 Scan0 Scan1 ... Scann Tag1 Scan0 Scan1 ... Scann

Ch1 Ch2 ... Chn Ch1 Ch2 ... Chn Ch1 Ch2 ... Chn Ch1 Ch2 ... Chn Ch1 Ch2 ... Chn Ch1 Ch2 ... Chn ...etc.

(16 or 32 bytes) (16 or 32 bytes)

Simultaneous
samples
UTC
UTC second
second = 1 byte
Ch = Channel

Figure D-1: A graphical representation of the time series file format. The scans within one record span either one second
(Bands 3, 4, and 5) or 0.1 second (Band 2). Records always begin on a UTC second, but not necessarily on consecutive UTC
seconds.

Time series tag format Currently, tags are 16 bytes long in TSH and TSL files
and 32 bytes long in TSn files. Table D-1 summarizes
The tag format may vary depending on instrument the byte assignments within the tags, and the
firmware, but only one tag format is used in any one paragraphs that follow provide additional detail.
file.
Table D-2: Summary of tag byte assignments Table D-2: Summary of tag byte assignments
Byte Meaning Byte Meaning
0–7 UTC time of first scan in the record. 16 reserved for future indication of different tag
0 second and/or sample formats
1 minute 17 sample length in bytes
2 hour 18–19 sample rate (in units defined by byte 20)
3 day 20 units of sample rate
4 month 21 clock status
5 year (last 2 digits) 22–25 clock error in µs
6 day of week 26–31 reserved; must be 0
7 century
8–9 instrument serial number (16-bit integer) Bytes 10–11. The number of scans in the record. Except
in TS2 files, every record contains 1s of data, so this
10–11 number of scans in the record (16-bit integer)
16-bit integer is also the sample rate in Hz. (TS2
12 number of channels per scan
records contain 0.1s of data.)
13 tag length (TSn) or tag length code (TSH, TSL)
14 status code Byte 13. In TSn files, this byte contains the tag length
15 bit-wise saturation flags in bytes (currently 32). In TSL and TSH files, this byte
Tags in TSH or TSL files end with byte 15 contains the code 0, indicating a 16-byte tag length.
Byte 14. The instrument status code values are
explained in Table D-3.

191 Appendix D File types and logical record formats 191

192 Appendix D File types and logical record formats 192
Table D-3: Status codes (Tag Byte 14) as floating point or compressed format. The value is
Value Meaning currently 0.
0 normal completion Byte 17. The sample length in bytes, currently 3.
1 internal error Future changes in sample formats (32-bit integer or
2 reserved floating point, for example) may cause this value to
3 saturation of front-end board analog circuits change.
4 internal error in front-end board digital signal pro- Bytes 18–19. The sample rate (per unit time as
cessor (DSP)
specified by Byte 20). For the range of possible values,
5 internal error
see Table D-1 on page 184.
6 processor timed out without receiving data from
front-end board DSP Byte 20. Time unit of the sample rate. The current
7 internal error range of values is shown in Table D-4. Other values
8 internal error may be defined in the future.
Table D-4: Sample rate units (Tag Byte 20)
Byte 15. Saturation flags. Each bit corresponds to a
Value Unit
different channel (bit 0 for channel 1, bit 1 for channel
0 second (Hz)
2, etc.). A bit’s value will be 1 if either the common
mode or differential mode input voltage limit is 1 minute
exceeded in any sample. 2 hour
3 day
Byte 16. This byte is reserved for future use to identify
different tag formats or different sample formats, such
Byte 21. Clock status. This byte reflects the status of
the clock at the time the record is taken. A value of 4
indicates that the clock was locked to GPS. A value of 3 UTC signal output:
indicates that the time is based on the crystal oscillator • 921 600Hz
initialized by GPS. • 1Hz
Bytes 22–25. Clock error in µs. The value will be 0 • 1/60Hz
unless GPS lock has been lost and reacquired. Recovery
Geophysical current source control output:
from GPS dropout (re-synchronization of the crystal
oscillator) can take up to 20min. During this time, the • 0.001Hz to 10kHz
difference between the recorded sample time (bytes 0– Control waveforms are referenced to zero phase at UTC
7) and the actual sample time is recorded as clock
2000 Jan 01 00:00:00.
error. This value is a 32-bit two’s complement integer,
positive if the sample is late, negative if it is early.
MTU-2ESD, MTU-5ESD
Used in remote reference and monitoring applications,
Related products these instruments use a 33.6kb/s dialup telephone
connection for control and data transfer.
Several other products for similar or specialized
applications are available or under development.
MTU-2ES, MTU-5S
MTU-TXC Also used in monitoring applications, these instruments
use a serial interface for control and data transfer,
Used to synchronize other equipment, such as current
typically connecting to a fibre optic or copper wire
sources, to System 2000 equipment. modem.

193 Appendix D Related products 193

194 Appendix D Related products 194
MTU-5LR System2000.net family
Used in surveys with extended depths of investigation, These instruments, introduced in 2004, are
these instruments employ a ring-core fluxgate multichannel, multifunction receivers. The family
magnetic sensor and low sample rates. includes the V8 and RXU receivers and the RXU-TM
transmitter controller. The V8 has a full-colour,
sunlight-readable display and keyboard, while the RXUs
MTU-AI family are equipped with an infrared interface and are sold
with Palm OS® handheld terminals. All the instruments
These instruments, under development in 2003,
can optionally be equipped with wireless network
provide an infrared interface to allow setup and
capability.
monitoring from Palm OS® handheld terminals.
Index
AutoEdit, 82 coherency type, 37
Numerics AutoX, 94 coherent noise, 38
2 frequencies per octave, 41 comb filter, 181
4 frequencies per octave, 41 B communications, parallel port
4096, error code, 134 bands, processing, 41 troubleshooting, 133
4097, error code, 134 bandwidth, specifications, 181 compatibility mode, Windows XP, 134
4098, error code, 134 batch processing, SSMT2000, 34 Component Pairs legend, SyncTSV, 120
54, ECP driver error code, 134 connection errors, magnetic, 52
C connections
A calibration specifications, 182
about the software, 2 curves, printing, 45 controls, resizing in MT-Editor, 92
AC coupling, examining calibrations, 44 files, examining, 42 Copy Files command, SSMT2000, 11
acquisition times, verifying, viewing data numerically, 46 correcting layout errors, 49
SSMT2000, 23 channels, specifications, 180 corrupt file, editing, SSMT2000, 47
Adaptive Scale, SyncTSV, 114 ChartEditor, 93 Create Fourier Coefficients (TS to FT)
Adaptive scale, SyncTSV, 113 Circle tool, MT-Editor, 83 command, noise tests,
advanced crosspower parameters, 39 CLB file extension, 42 SSMT2000, 65
Advanced Parameter Table Interface, 48 CLC file extension, 42 Create Fourier Coefficients (TS to FT)
Analyse TS files, SyncTSV, 113 clocking and synchronization, command, SSMT2000, 27
archiving raw data, SSMT2000, 15 specifications, 181 creating Fourier transforms,
array type, changing, 64 CMOS Setup, ECP port, 131 SSMT2000, 24
ATYP, 64 coherencies, viewing in SyncTSV, 120 crosspower parameters, 38
audience, intended, 2 coherency, 36 custom parameters report, 60
customizing graphs, MT-Editor, 94

195 Index 195

196 Index 196
SSMT2000, 28, 35
D Edit TS to FT Parameters (PFT) F
data processing flowchart, 125 command, SSMT2000, 25, 65 FAQs, 3
data processing overview, 6 editing crosspowers, MT-Editor, 97 FCn file extension, 27
data storage and transfer, Editing tool, MT-Editor, 82 FCn file extension, noise tests, 66
specifications, 182 electrode resistance and calibration, 43 file and folder names, Plot Files, 30
DC offset, SyncTSV, 113 E-line electrical values, 22 file extension, Plot Files, 28
default times, Fourier Transform E-line errors, correcting, 53 file extensions, SSMT2000, 9
parameter, 42 EMT file extension, 76 file names, raw data, SSMT2000, 10
DEFAULT.PFT, examining calibrations, 44 error codes, parallel port file naming, specifications, 184
DEFAULT.TBL, examining calibrations, 44 4096, 134 files, organizing, 136
degrees, report format, 61 4097, 134 filtering and noise, specifications, 181
Deleting tool, MT-Editor, 84 4098, 134 flowchart, data processing, 125
Device Manager, Windows, 130, 132 54, 134 folder and file names, 9
digital comb filter, 181 error messages format
diting, 35 SyncTSV, 116 data records, 184
DMF, latitude and longitude format, 61 evaluating noise test plots, 73 format, latitude and longitude in
DMS, latitude and longitude format, 61 EXAC, 22 reports, 61
DXAC, 22 examining calibration files, 42 Fourier Transform parameters, 39
DXDC, 22 Excel, for reports, 62 Freq. Scale legend, SyncTSV, 118
DYAC, 22 EXDC, 22 frequencies, specifying in MT-Editor, 86
DYDC, 22 export options, MT-Editor, 84 frequency
exporting in EDI format, MT-Editor, 103 ranges, specifications, 180
E exporting, MT-Editor, 135 frequency ranges
ECP driver, use of interrupt, 134 extended bands, 41 specifications, 180
ECP printer port, 130 Extended Capability Port (ECP), 130 frequency ranges, instrument/sensor
EDI format, exporting from MT- extensions, file, 9 combinations, 41
Editor, 103 external connections, specifications, 182 frequency tables,SSMT2000, 141
EDI, latitude and longitude format, 61 EYAC, 22 FT, samples for, SyncTSV, 116
Edit Robust Parameters (PRM) command, EYDC, 22
 mechanical and environmenta
G L specifications, 183
gain, and saturated records, 57 laplink cable, 133 menus, MT-Editor, 78
graph properties, MT-Editor, 93 Lasso tool, MT-Editor, 83 Microsoft Excel, for reports, 62
latitude, report format, 61 minutes, report format, 61
H layout corrections, revising, 54 Move to next frequency if..., robust
Hand tool, MT-Editor, 83 layout errors, correcting, 49 processing parameter, 37
Hann, 116 legend, MT-Editor printout, 92 moving and resizing windows, MT-
hardware ID, MT-Editor, 135 Load All Seq., SyncTSV, 109 Editor, 92
hexadecimal, in file names, 10 Load Saved Batch Job comand, MT file extension, 76
hidden controls, MT-Editor, 93 SSMT2000, 34 MT-Editor
hidden windows, MT-Editor, 91 Load Time Series, SyncTSV, 108 about, 2
hourly files, Fourier Transform Local E or H, SSMT2000, 30 exporting, 103
parameter, 40 Local E tool, MT-Editor, 84 graph properties, 93
Local H tool, MT-Editor, 84 hardware ID, 135
I logarithmic scale, examining hidden windows, 91
impedance matrix, rotating, calibrations, 45 Mask View, 99
SSMT2000, 39 longitude, report format, 61 menus, 78
increments, scrolling, SyncTSV, 113 moving and resizing windows, 92
installing software, 127 M overview, 76
intended audience, 2 magnetotelluric processing registration, 76
Internet site, 3 parameters, 36–39 resizing window controls, 92
introduction, 1 marker size, MT-Editor, 94 saving and exporting, 135
Mask View, MT-Editor, 81, 99 serial number registration, 135
K maximum crosspowers, 38 user name, 135
Maximum fraction of estimates to Multi-table Editor, SSMT2000, 18
keyboard shortcuts, MT-Editor, 78
keyboard shortcuts, navigating in MT- reject, 38
Editor, 82 Mean tool, MT-Editor, 82 N
measured field, Fourier Transform names, folders and files, 9
parameter, 39 nested folders, SSMT2000, 31, 67

197 Index 197

198 Index 198
No acceptable time segments found, Phoenix Geophysics Limited, contact SyncTSV, 116
SyncTSV, 116 information, 3 reference channels, SSMT2000, 30
noise test results, viewing, 70 plot appearance, NPIPlot, 72 registering MT-Editor, 135
noise, coherent, 38 Plot Files, 28 related products, specifications, 189
North Reference, SSMT2000, 22 PLOT-COMP, 88, 89 Remote E or H, SSMT2000, 30
NPIPlot, 69 PLOT-EDIT, 88, 89 Remote E tool, MT-Editor, 84
NPIPlot, appearance, 72 Pointer tool, MT-Editor, 83 remote H reference channels, MT-
NPIPlot, printing, 72 Polar Diagrams, 81 Editor, 89
Nuttall, 116 polar diagrams, viewing, MT-Editor, 101 Remote H tool, MT-Editor, 84
polarity errors, magnetic, 51 Remove linear phase delay, examining
O Ports (COM & LPT), 132 calibrations, 44
on-line support, 3 power spectra density, SyncTSV, 120 renaming data files, SSMT2000, 15
Oplog Lines, MT-Editor, 81 power spectra, SyncTSV, 115 reports
Options menu, SyncTSV, 111 power spectra, viewing in SyncTSV, 115 creating, 57
Options tool, MT-Editor, 82 power, specifications, 182 custom parameters, 60
organizing your files, 136 printer setup, SyncTSV, 123 importing to spreadsheet, 62
printing calibration curves, latitude and longitude formats, 61
P SSMT2000, 45 modifying custom parameters
parallel noise data, processing, 64 printing noise test plots, 72 reports, 61
Parallel Noise Processing (PRM) printing, MT-Editor, 102 saturated records, 57
command, SSMT2000, 67 printing, SyncTSV, 121 time ranges, 23, 57
parallel noise test, Fourier Transform PRM file extension, 28 view site parameters, 18, 57
parameter, 40 processing flowchart, 125 Reprocess (Robust) command,
parallel noise tests, evaluating, 73 processing times, SSMT2000, 42 SSMT2000, 33, 68
parallel port PSD, 120 requirements, PC, 128
configuring, 130 resistivity variance, 37
troubleshooting communications, 133 R resizing or restoring window controls,
PC requirements, 128 raw data file names, SSMT2000, 10 MT-Editor, 92
PFT file extension, 24 record formats, 184 resolution, specifications, 181
PFT File Naming Convention, table, 24 Rectangular (power spectra), Restore Defaults, SyncTSV, 115
restoring original parameter values, scrolling, SyncTSV, 113 specifications
SSMT2000, 55 seconds, report format, 61 bandwidth, 181
restoring original Site Parameter file, Select TS File and Component, channels, 180
SSMT2000, 19 SyncTSV, 109 clocking and synchronization, 181
Restoring tool, MT-Editor, 84 semi-logarithmic scale, examining data storage and transfer, 182
Resulting Data, MT-Editor, 81 calibrations, 45 external connections, 182
revising layout corrections, sensor serial numbers, SSMT2000, 22 file naming, 184
SSMT2000, 54 serial number, MT-Editor, 135 file types and logical record
Rho variance, 36 shift scope (y-origin), SyncTSV, 113 formats, 184
robust processing, 36 Shift scope, SyncTSV, 115 filtering and noise, 181
rotating the impedance matrix, shortcuts mechanical and environmental, 183
SSMT2000, 39 MT-Editor, 78 power, 182
Russian Windows, 9 navigating in MT-Editor, 82 related products, 189
Windows, 21 sample resolution, 181
S Site Parameter File sampling, 180
sample data, 128 examining calibrations, 43 scheduling, 182
samples for FT, SyncTSV, 116 Site Parameter file system, 179
sampling, specifications, 180 TBL, 17 tag format, 186
Sampling, SyncTSV, 109 Site parameter file specify times, Fourier Transform
saturated records report, 57 restoring, 19 parameter, 42
saving, MT-Editor, 135 Skip saturated records, SyncTSV, 116 specifying frequencies, MT-Editor, 86
Scale Settings (Spectra), SyncTSV, 119 software Spectra Computation, SyncTSV, 116
scale, SyncTSV, 113 installing, 127 Spectra legend, SyncTSV, 118
Scans per window, SyncTSV, 113 updating, 134 SPP Standard Parallel Port, 131
scheduling, specifications, 182 spreadsheet, importing reports, 62

199 Index 199

200 Index 200
SSMT2000 verifying acquisition times, 23 Tipper magnitude scale, MT-Editor, 94
about, 2 verifying site parameters, 17 Toggle Fields command, SSMT2000, 21
batch processing, 34 View Ranges command, 31 toolbars, MT-Editor, 80
Create Fourier Coefficients (TS to FT) View Site Parameters command, 18, 57 troubleshooting time series files,
command, 27 View Time Ranges, 23, 57 SyncTSV, 112
Create Fourier Coefficients (TS to FT) start and end times, specifying, Two Vertical Lines tool, MT-Editor, 83
command, noise tests, 65 SyncTSV, 111
creating data folders, 9 Starting Data, MT-Editor, 81 U
Edit Robust Parameters (PRM) starting MT-Editor, 78 updating software, 134
command, 28, 35 starting SSMT2000, 8 URL, Phoenix Web site, 3
Edit Site Parameters command, 21 station header, MT-Editor, 81 user name, MT-Editor, 135
Edit TS to FT Parameters (PFT) Status bar, SyncTSV, 110
command, 25, 65 Std View, MT-Editor, 82 V
Fourier transforms, creating, 24 support, contact information, 3 verifying acquisition times,
frequency tables, 141 support, on-line, 3 SSMT2000, 23
Load Saved Batch Job command, 34 Synchro Time Series View verifying site parameters, SSMT2000, 17
main window, 8 about, 3 vertical scale, examining calibrations, 45
Multi-table Editor, 18 SyncTSV, 105 Vertical Scales, SyncTSV, 114
North Reference, 22 shift scope, 113 View Ranges command, SSMT2000, 31
Parallel Noise Processing (PRM) troubleshooting time series files, 112 View Site Parameters command,
command, 67 System 2000, 2 SSMT2000, 18, 57
processing times, 42 System 2000.net, 2 View Time Ranges command,
renaming data files, 15 SSMT2000, 23, 57
Reprocess (Robust) command, 33, 68 T viewing noise test results, 70
selecting folders and files, 9 tag format, specifications, 186
sensor serial numbers, 22 TBL (site parameter) file, 17 W
starting, 8 TBO file extension, 18 Web site, 3
temporary file size, 31 telluric component errors, correcting, 53 weight cutoff value, 38
Toggle Fields command, 21 temporary file size, SSMT2000, 31 weight type (Rho variance, Ordinary
transferring data to your PC, 9 time span of acquisition, 23 coherency), 38
white noise test, Fourier Transform table Editor, 21
parameter, 39 Windows XP and ECP port, 133 Z
Windows Me, installation procedure, 129 Windows XP, compatibility mode, 134 Zoom (spectra), SyncTSV, 119
Windows shortcuts, SSMT2000 Multi- Windows, Russian, 9

201 Index 201