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New Gemini L6.1 and Hand Controller v1.63 firmware available!
Hi Folks,
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An official new version of Gemini firmware Level 6.1 and Hand Controller firmware v1.63 are now available for your Gemini.
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A few ways to update to this version:
1. Use . When you launch GFU, it will automatically suggest an update to L6.1. Use the default settings to update all the appropriate files, including some web pages and firmware.
Double-check that the correct IP address is set, Gemini is turned on, and press Start:
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2. Download and copy all the files directly to the Gemini SD card, from zip archive here.
Make sure you copy the folders as well as the .bin file. Don't forget to flash NewGem.bin file from the Gemini web pages after copy.
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3. Individual firmware files are also available, if you need to update just the firmware (this will not update any of the additional files, such as web pages):?
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Here are the changes in this version from the :
Regards,
? ?-Paul
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Re: Alignment (or is it ¡°modeling¡±)
On Fri, Nov 8, 2024 at 06:46 AM, david hill wrote:
I use NINA for imaging sessions with my Gemini mount. It controls the camera and its cooling as well as monitoring guiding through phd2 with my guider camera. It has many useful software plug-ins. ?
I agree.? For folks using NINA the Three Star PA Plug-In works great!? ?But if you are just going visual and don't want to drag a laptop with you my method above works very well.?
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Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware? Astrospheric - South Pasadena, CA? |
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Re: G11 mount upgrade. Best option
Hey Tom,
Yes, I do, thanks for asking:
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I've pretty much completely rebuilt the scope from scratch which made it much more usable... most of my more recent images are with the scope, starting with this one:
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Let us know how it goes with the new extensions! Hope it solves your problems!
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Ryan |
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Re: G11 mount upgrade. Best option
Tom?
I believe you will be served well by the RA extension and Pier extension. I've attached some photos that will illustrate the increased mount rotation that you get by raising the OTA above the level of the leg attachment points. With any luck that will give you the additional range you need without needing to tuck the motors. I was initially worried that the increased height would add instability to the mount, but I have not noticed that at all. As someone who sets up and tears down almost daily, the RA extension also greatly increases the ease with which I do so.
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Hope these help reassure you in your decision and I wish you the best of luck.
Clear skies,
Ryan
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NINA and Meridian Flip
I've watched the Losmandy video with Edward Plumer explaining, very clearly, how meridian flip works with Gemini and NINA. I've used his spreadsheet to calculate the settings for both NINA and Gemini... no joy. I simply cannot get it to work. In the past, I have gotten it working with CGP and it worked consistently. I don't know what I'm doing wrong.
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NINA Version 3.1 HF2
Gemini Version 5 ASCOM Version 1.1.28.0
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My inputs to the spreadsheet:
Western Safety Limit: 104deg 77min Desired Meridian Flip Time: 2 min (I've also tried 5 minutes, but this is my current config)
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The results which I have plugged into NINA and Gemini:
NINA: "Max Minutes After Meridian": 60
NINA: "Minutes After Meridian": 2 Gemini: "Western Goto Limit": 14deg 49min
NINA: "Use Telescope Side of Pier" : on
NINA: "Pause Before Meridian" : 0min
Gemini ASCOM: "Nudge mount out of safety limit on slew": on
Gemini ASCOM: "Flip using Goto": I have no such setting that I can find.
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Re: G11 mount upgrade. Best option
I have a substantial 10¡± Newt on my G11G and the 12¡± pier extension allows me to image up to 55 minutes past the meridian. That being said, an 8¡± would have worked as well. I also have the RA extension and tucked motors.?
if you are considering a pier extension, slew your 130 vertical and measure how far below the top of the legs the lowest part of your imaging train hangs down. Then round up to the next pier extension length. That should get you to clear the legs.?
if you are hitting the motor prior to hitting the pier then perhaps the tucked motor upgrade would be worth it.?
I imagine you could save money by just tucking one motor? If it hits the DEC motor but not the RA motor maybe you could just tuck the DEC?
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RA extension probably won¡¯t do much to increase your motor clearance because the DEC motor moves outward with the DEC axis. It might give you a little more room from the RA motor though.? |
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Re: Alignment (or is it ¡°modeling¡±)
On Sun, Nov 3, 2024 at 12:47 PM, <kevinwalsh324@...> wrote:
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Sorry for going sideways on this.?
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I have the same problem, no reliable Polaris access due to the trees.? Winter visual PA using the polar scope works well because there are no leaves!? But the rest of the year is blocked as the trees leaf in.? With the ASIAIR All-Sky PA works perfectly.? There are other automated methods but I have found that by doing the usual leveling of the Losmandy mount using the base bubble levels and using a smartphone with a free planetarium app called SkyEye I can get pretty good results for visual work.?
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This is what I have done in the past, I turn on the EQ grid lines in the SkyEye app then using the polar scope eyepiece or polar scope hole metal cap for a flat reference surface I hold the phone on it flat and adjust the AZ and elevation to center Polaris on the screen to get the scope pointed surprisingly well at Polaris.? Next I do a GOTO to an obvious Bright Star then use the mount AZ and elevation knobs to center the star.? I usually pick a bright star or two along the equator to the East repeating the same GOTO routine and manually adjusting.? Then I GOTO another bright star to the West and do the same thing.? Then do a GOTO to the first bright star and see where you are.? Use a moderate magnification and then using the HC controls center the star and do a SYNC.?
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From here on you should have decent GOTOs though you will want to then proceed with the PA correction routine if not close enough but I have never had to use that routine.? ?
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Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware? Astrospheric - South Pasadena, CA? |
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Re: Weird Gemini telescope behavior
On Wed, Nov 6, 2024 at 12:08 PM, Chip Louie wrote:
That's exactly right. All Gemini ship with the same MAC address. To use them on the same network, at least one of the two must be changed manually.
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Re: Weird Gemini telescope behavior
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Oh, I forgot.to mention that I have had three Gemini 2 controllers on my home LAN and the all worked fine but all had different IP and MAC addresses.? I never tested operating more than 2 at once as one of the Gemini-2 was always controlled by an ASIAIR talking to a PC using the BlueStacks emulator.??
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Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware? Astrospheric - South Pasadena, CA? |
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Re: Weird Gemini telescope behavior
On Tue, Nov 5, 2024 at 04:41 PM, crocco1250 wrote:
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Hi Chuck,
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The Gemini 2 controllers all come from the factory with the same MAC address by default.? It's easy to change the MAC address and this should allow both to work without mistaking one Gemini 2 for the other.? Gemini.net can handle more than one Gemini 2 on the same network but AFAIK you still need different MAC addresses even using UDP protocol because both UPD and TCP protocols use IP which is dependent on their MAC address.? It's been a long time since I did networking but I think this is the way it works.?
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Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware? Astrospheric - South Pasadena, CA? |
Chip Louie
Paul Kanevsky
Ryan Noonan
John Dias