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Re: Update Process Question
First, I regularly use the ASCOM service without issue. I always keep up to date with the latest releases.? Never had a connection issue with ASCOM.
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I'm not a computer guy by any means but could there be an issue with a firewall setting preventing something from being transferred back and forth? It may be a dumb question but I had to ask.
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BUT....I think finally success!? I did rename the NewGem.bin to HGM.Gem2.bin using a SD card reader, reinstalled the card, powered it on and Gemini updated.? See attachments.? It did create that M: file again if that matters but everything appears to work.
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For my configuration and for future updates, for whatever reason, it would appear that I need to grab any new or updated NewGem.bin file, rename to HGM.Gem2.bin then load onto the SD card via a reader, reinstall and power on.? I do save the Gemini.cfg and any Modelxxxxx.bin file to a safe place before updating so I can reload.? I also saved screenshots of important webpages so I can make sure everything gets reconfigured correctly.
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I think it will be clear tonight so hopefully everything will work like it did before (after I get the model sync'd up).? Heading out to the observatory to get Gemini reinstalled on the old MI-250.
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Thanks to all who have been helping me.? I've learned more than I wanted to but that's a good thing! Now if I could just retain all this knowledge!
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Great group.? Great support.
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Chris
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Re: Update Process Question
On Wed, Oct 16, 2024 at 03:46 PM, criscopenneys wrote:
Sure, do that. ? |
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Re: Update Process Question
Wayback...
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My connection at the PC from the G2 is at the ethernet port of the PC.? There is no dongle.? Internet is obtained via WiFi from a USB device but I never have that device plugged in unless I am doing a software update.
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The result of the "Ping" test is attached.
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If the "Sign In" page is supposed to appear after the test, it did not.
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Re: Update Process Question
On Wed, Oct 16, 2024 at 12:11 PM, criscopenneys wrote:
If it works fine to access Gemini with the standard cable then the network configuration is fine.
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One thing you could try is to extract the NewGem.bin file from the L6.05 zip archive, rename it to HGM_Gem2.bin?on the PC hard disk.
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Then, using Gemini web pages SD Card screen upload this HGM_Gem2.bin file to the top folder on the SD card. Once uploaded, restart Gemini, let it boot up fully, then check to see what firmware version it shows. Also check and post a screen shot of the SD Card screen. I want to see if the HGM_Gem2.bin?gets properly renamed, as it should be during a normal bootloader flashing process.
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Regards,
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? -Paul
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Re: Update Process Question
The founders gave us "ping" on the Gemini-2 server, try type typing > ping 192.168.0.111 (the Gemini-2 definition) in the command window when patched together.
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If an issue, check on the attempt that the PC does not also use another Ethernet port (unplug) or the home WiFi (turn off).? ?I did not turn mine off but less is best when testing.? I connected as you suggested and also used a straight patch cable.? Tested with an inexpensive dongle on a USB-A port at the PC to the Gemini-2.?
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Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.22631.4317]
(c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. C:\Users\Doug>ping 192.168.0.110
Pinging 192.168.0.110 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.0.110: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=128 Reply from 192.168.0.110: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128 Reply from 192.168.0.110: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128 Reply from 192.168.0.110: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128 Ping statistics for 192.168.0.110:
? ? Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss), Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: ? ? Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 1ms, Average = 0ms ?
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Re: Update Process Question
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýNo, you probably don¡¯t need a X-over cable.? Almost all ethernet ports these days will auto-detect that. ? You need to ensure:
? D. ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of criscopenneys via groups.io
Sent: 16 October 2024 17:12 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Gemini-II_io] Update Process Question ? After stepping away for a time to clear my head, I went back to the Gemini 2 site to read about how to connect Gemini directly to a computer (gotta start with the basics since I haven't looked at this for awhile).? If I'm reading this section correctly and since my (new computer) ethernet port speed is 100mbps, it looks like I need a crossover cable versus the standard cable that I am using.? Could that be what is causing the timeout errors and all my subsequent headaches?? ? Gemini has always functioned correctly with the standard cable.? I only have had issues with the updates. ? ? |
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Re: Update Process Question
On Wed, Oct 16, 2024 at 10:17 AM, criscopenneys wrote:
connected by a standard 3' patch cable to the computer A direct connection, such as a LAN (Local Area Network), necessitates being on the same network. There are three basic classes of networks, with Class C being the most common for home use, typically represented by a 255.255.255.0 subnet mask, which allows for 256 addresses. Without a router on the LAN, I cannot use other addresses within the network, to establish a direct connection.
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With these musings in mind, I need to know the IP address the PC uses.? I'd open a "CMD" window (Windows_Key+R, CMD) and type > ipconfig.? ?The IP will list for the Ethernet support for the motherboard or dongle if powered and active (maybe a few).
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C:\Users\Doug>ipconfig
Windows IP Configuration
Ethernet adapter Ethernet: ? ?Connection-specific DNS Suffix ?. :
? ?IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.110 ? ?Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0 ? ?Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1 ?
For the direct wire connection at Gemini-2 I enter the same address used to access the controller modifying the last number.? I pick "192.168.1.100".?
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If you did not change the PC-side then any IP other than the laptop's IP suffices but if you defined the prior IP in the PC Hosts file, then look up and use that one or reset this.? Otherwise type the IP to access the controller and not the NetBIOS name of "gemini".
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As an example, using my iPad beside me, but the same concepts (I'm not moving the controller as you did, very nice).? I end up at the sign in screen of the controller using the IP of the controller for the browser address in this example.
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Re: Update Process Question
I've just spent the last 2 - 3 hours trying to do this update.? Partial progress.? I did use the GFU Utility to reformat the SD card and load 6.02.? Both the Flashing and Reboot gave me the timeout messages? ?Powered off and turned back on Gemini. It appears that 6.02 did load and that M: file is gone. I then went to the "Advanced" tab and loaded the current file.? Once again, I got the timeout messages during Flashing and Reboot.? I powered off and powered on Gemini but 6.02 was still there.? I then went to the Firmware webpage and attempted to flash the firmware from there.? Got the? "Hmmmm...." message (see below).? Powered off and on Gemini but still on 6.02.??
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I must have something set up wrong with my Ethernet connection somehow since no one else seems to have this difficulty.? The computer is an Optiplex 9020 that I have had less than a year.? Direct connection from computer to Gemini. Below is a screenshot of some of the properties.? I normally have Gemini out in the observatory about 200' away but I have it indoors now connected by a standard 3' patch cable to the computer so distance shouldn't be a factor.? If anybody sees anything, let me know because I'm stuck and I'm not a network expert.
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Re: HC Doesn't Retain Brightness Settings
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýI updated to HC 1.63cbeta and G2 L6.05beta and the brightness settings now work as expected.? I assigned three different levels of brightness to the Daytime, Dawn and Nighttime, selected the Adaptive Color option and saved the settings.?? I tested the HC startup during the day, twilight and at night and it works perfectly!! ? Thanks ¸é±ð²Ô¨¦ & Paul, Bill ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Paul Kanevsky
Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2024 6:51 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Gemini-II_io] HC Doesn't Retain Brightness Settings ? On Mon, Oct 14, 2024 at 02:58 PM, Rene Goerlich wrote:
The end is here! :) New versions of mainboard firmware (L6.05) and HC firmware (v1.63c) are available: ? ? Please update both. As before, the simplest way is just to use the Advanced tab in GFU. Drop the gemhc_V163c firmware zip file directly into Hand Controller list, and L605 firmware zip file into Gemini CPU list, press Start. ? (Don't forget to press Store Settings after changing HC brightness, and unselect Adaptive Color if you don't want the setting to change automatically.) ? In addition to fixing the HC brightness reset, this also adds the meridian flip point configuration settings to the Mount menu in the Gemini web pages: ? A fix for Gemini.NET ASCOM driver advanced settings window for showing 100% brightness level is also coming soon :) ? Regards, ? ? ?-Paul ? |
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Re: Update Process Question
On Wed, Oct 16, 2024 at 06:59 AM, criscopenneys wrote:
Trust me, Chris :) I've gone through this a number of times: just reformat the SD card. You can do this from the web page or from GFU directly, and then upload the full firmware file using GFU (do the L6.02, since that's the latest one available there). Don't worry if you get a timeout on reboot, that's just Gemini taking too long to restart. Everything that GFU needed to do was already done, so the timeout at that point doesn't hurt anything. For good measure, turn off and then on Gemini to make sure everything is reset properly. After this, you can try to apply later firmware files.
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Regards,
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? -Paul
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Re: Update Process Question
On Tue, Oct 15, 2024 at 11:49 PM, Rene Goerlich wrote:
But you don't need to do this. Just use Paul's great GFU and ignore this M: file! 8)First off, thanks for all this great info.? I'm going to screen snip this and keep it for future reference.? I would like nothing better than to use Paul's GFU but I keep getting the "timeout" error message when the utility tries to do the SRAM Reset and Reboot steps.? I have had this happen with every update - 5.21 to Beta 5.22, (L6 I bought the chip from Losmandy), 6.00 to 6.02 and now this update. ?
You can also flash a new firmware (Newgem.bin or another filename) with the Firmware page. Be aware: The browser will loose the TCP connection and won't update the page after displaying the Wait message. The best way is to close the browser after pushing the "Flash Firmware" button and restart it a minute later.
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I tried again to flash the firmware from the "Firmware" webpage and this time closing the browser as you suggested.? Attempting to restart the webpage after 3 minutes I get this message:
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After rebooting and restarting Gemini and the PC, I can connect to Gemini but the firmware is still on 6.02.?
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So, it looks like I have no choice but to reformat the SD card and reload the files.? Unless someone has something else I can try or some setting I can check.....
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BTW: I have not trained PEC yet (was going to this full moon cycle after this update) so I will omit the PEC file.
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Re: Wanted - Gemini 2 Level 6 firmware upgrade kit
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Hi Susan,
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Splitting the firmware and PIC chip code versions is not recommended.? It has not been tested this way, the L6.0x firmware is designed to work with the v3.0 PIC code.? That said they have common software interfaces and it seems to work at least in the short term though you cannot achieve the same level of mount performance without doing the PIC chip reprogramming.? I didn't write the code but as I understand it, I hope the people who wrote the code and obviously know better will correct me, the PIC chips, there are two (2), one per servo motor channel, are used as sub controllers to off load some processing controlling the servo motors.? The old PIC code did not fully utilize the PIC controllers which sit between the main controller and the servo motors which allows for a reduction of the servo motor overhead on the main controller.?
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There was also a long suspected issue (by some who did not see the expected resolution given the controller hardware) with the encoder code that was corrected with this complete, smart rewrite of the PIC chip code.? The new PIC code allows existing servo motor electronics on the Gemini 2 main circuit board combined with the encoders in the servo motors to realize their full positional resolution potential by using quadrature interpolation on the encoder output.? These changes improved the Gemini's resolution by 4 down to 0.14" of arc, this is a big part of the new L6 and v.3 PIC code secret sauce and why in the L6.0x firmware there is now a 4X encoder resolution check box.?
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Here is what I know about:?
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Many fixes for L6 PEC, works with PEMPro 3.10.05 and later
Fixes for Southern hemisphere parking behavior, safety limits, and to limit computation New serial command 70 to fine tune tracking to an unprecedented precision New servo motor PIC firmware to support 4x encoder resolution and improved runaway protection
support for fast (satellite) tracking in both axes introduction of meridian flip points improvements to PEC management and storage improved HC displays and better network/DHCP management ?
There is much more to it than I know as I was only a beta tester and observer but it works so much better and more reliably than the previous Level 5.xx firmware and original PIC code.?
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Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware? Astrospheric - South Pasadena, CA? |
Paul Kanevsky
David C. Partridge
Chip Louie