Cold start CWD.
When I first used the mount, I was able to meridian flip.? The capture software back then used the 3 slew method. Recently, the newer version uses the pier side method - and it always fails. Reverting back to the older version of the software, fixes things.
In this video starting at 5:49, the person indicates some mounts/software do not handle the pier side method well thus he recommends not using it.? This also indicates the issue is not confined to just me and my equipment and software.

The ccdciel software author, is working on an option to turn off pier side thus allowing the 3 slew method.? This will solve the problem as I just tested it.

On Mon, Feb 20, 2023 at 10:29 PM, Frank Wielgus wrote:

Thanks for the suggestion Paul.? I tried it out today but no luck.

Hi Frank, so are you ever able to perform a meridian flip? If yes, how and when? As to the original subject line, was this something that was working and then just stopped?

I don't see anything in your logs or settings that could prevent a flip. I assume you're starting with the mount in a proper CWD position with a Cold start?

开云体育

Frank,

--
Paul

Thanks for the suggestion Paul.? I tried it out today but no luck.

On Mon, Feb 20, 2023 at 10:43 AM, Frank Wielgus wrote:

So, given the above:
- mount does not flip even though it should
- manipulating limits does not help?
- happens via usb or ethernet
- happens even when not running an imaging application
- happen after testing a variety of cables and laptops
Does this imply anything regarding my gemini unit ?

Can’t say if that’s a hardware or software/settings issue, although it’s hard to imagine that hardware is causing this if everything is working except for flips. Did you try resetting Gemini firmware to all default settings? ?Might be worth a try.

So, given the above:
- mount does not flip even though it should
- manipulating limits does not help?
- happens via usb or ethernet
- happens even when not running an imaging application
- happen after testing a variety of cables and laptops
Does this imply anything regarding my gemini unit ?

On Sun, Feb 19, 2023 at 08:09 PM, Frank Wielgus wrote:

A few posts below this one, I attached an ascom log for one of my troubleshooting runs.? I looked and the Mf# is in there.? Whether done at right time or not is beyond me.

That's correct. There is a meridian flip command in the log, :Mf# issued, it appears to happen at HA of 0.026183, or past the meridian. The mount reports being on West side of the pier. The software asks to go to East side. The command is sent... Gemini reports success, yet, no motion occurs and hour angle continues to increase past the meridian.

18:13:32.598 Serial received:? ? ? ? ? TID:8 [0]: :GH, +0.026183

--
Brian

A few posts below this one, I attached an ascom log for one of my troubleshooting runs.? I looked and the Mf# is in there.? Whether done at right time or not is beyond me.

A solution of sorts.? I reverted to a version of the capture software that doesn't rely on pier side to determine when to flip.? When the scope and target cross the median - even all the way to the limits, Gemini reports scope west pointing east and this screws up the flip as the capture software is waiting for a pier side change to make the flip. I'm not an expert in this so I may not be saying it right ( don't shoot please ).
Anyways - a solution that gets me back to imaging.

A friend with a "new to him" G8 with the same gemini unit and software helped with testing various limit settings and was able to generate a flip with his unit with? E & W limits at 92 and WGT at 2.5. Software was told to flip 5 mins. past meridian.
When I tried the same it failed.
I'm thinking the issue involves something else.
Is it possible I have a corruption and need to reflash the gemini unit firmware with the existing version again ?

Thanks Jonathan - great idea.
Just tried it. Results the same, no flip - even after a 5 min. retry.
Attached is the ascom log should it prove useful.

Could you try changing the settings in CCDciel? Use “can track past meridian” for 12 minutes and “no flip until past meridian” at 0. This should be comfortably within the gemini limits. I think the settings as they are now are a bit too close to the physical limits and any error in setting CWD when starting can skew the results.

You can try this during daylight so you don’t waste a perfectly good imaging night ;)

hope this helps

Thanks for the tips. The key factors are in the screen shot attached.
The way is interpret this is as follows:
1. the gemini limits permit meridian flip between 8 mins. before the meridian to 16 mins. after
2. the capture software was set to meridian flip between 7 mins. before meridian to 15 mins. after ( a 1 min. cushion on each end )
When run ( cold stars CWD ), the command to flip was given between 7-6 mins. before the meridian ( doing an inside imaging sequence ).
After the command for the flip, the mount reported back that it is west pointing east - the flip failed
The capture software retried after 5 mins. - the flip failed
Hopefully the screen shot helps.

WSL=94,?? ESL= 94,?? WSL=3? these are my settings.? Assuming use of only the HC and a planetarium connected to gemini, I interpret this as permitting a meridian flip between 91 and 93 degrees. Is this correct ?
Since the Gemini is new and was only used 2 months, and I cannot use the usb method at all, what are my options for replacement/repair ?

Hi Frank,

the math is correct. As it stands your window of opportunity for a flip runs from 1 degree past meridian all the way to your safety limit of 4 degrees past meridian. That is 4 minutes to 16 minutes past meridian. Not a whole lot of wiggle room but manageable, just need to pay close attention to where your target is.?

As Paul suggested, you may want to increase your WGL to something like 6 to give you more room to work. That will let you flip from 2 degrees before the meridian. Also, if those limits are not hard set for your equipment, you may want to increase them a bit (but only if your scope allows).?

Finally, the software you use for imaging needs to have the correct values as well, and they all work slightly differently. Some require time instead of degrees so be careful with that too.

As for the comms error my only suggestion would be to make sure the com ports are setup properly in your gemini.net driver. Maybe even check the usb config on device manager to make sure it’s all correctly set (I assuming windows?).

good luck

Jonathan

Frank, I don't work for Losmandy, so you're better off contacting their support directly about any repair/replacement.

Your? safety limits are very conservative, so there will be a very limited area where a flip is even possible. One thing to realize with Gemini L5 is that if you use a Goto to force a flip, the destination coordinates for such a goto must be sufficiently far from the current position, otherwise Gemini might decide that it's easier to reach this destination by staying on the same side of the meridian (as long as the safety limit is not violated.) If you must have such strict safety limits, you may want to try to increase the western goto limit and make it larger. That will increase the area where a goto destination will likely cause a flip. L6 beta is changing some of this logic to improve the reliability of automated meridian flips.

Regards,

? -Paul

?

correction between 91 and 94 degrees

Thanks.
WSL=94,?? ESL= 94,?? WSL=3? these are my settings.? Assuming use of only the HC and a planetarium connected to gemini, I interpret this as permitting a meridian flip between 91 and 93 degrees. Is this correct ?
Since the Gemini is new and was only used 2 months, and I cannot use the usb method at all, what are my options for replacement/repair ?