On Mon, Nov 18, 2024 at 02:40 AM, <djewing@...> wrote:

Can someone point me in the direction of getting my mount working with the asiair. Some things function but not all.?

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We can't help if you don't respond.? What is your rig configuration and what issues have you had?? Let us know if you still need help.?

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On Mon, Nov 18, 2024 at 04:11 PM, <Tjkallenbach@...> wrote:

My experience is that while I still experience "problems", most of them have work-arounds.? For example, when I run the polar align routine in the air, the degrees of rotation will not count up.? Even though the mount is moving the counter stays at 0.0 degrees.? I have to cancel the operation and run it again for the degrees to increment toward 60°.? If I just let it go without the count, the polar align fails and I need to go to CWD with the hand controller, switch the air off, switch the gemini off, restart the gemini then restart the air.? It is not a big deal just a little quirky.? After a successful PA, I go home and restart everything.? Oh...going home, When I tell the mount to go home in the air, the mount will go home but I do not get the message go home success or whatever it is.

When it is time to do a meridian flip it seems that the mount will not move until the air has issued the command three times but then will do the flip.??

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Tom

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Hi Tom,

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Not to be dismissive but much of the trouble is just not being up to date and setup right. So first, what level Gemini 2 firmware are you on?? The old L5.x has some issues that were resolved in L6.x particularly small positionimg movements with the v3.0 PIC code rewrite.?

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As far as your mount not completing the auto PA routine and assuming you have a full L6.x update a couple issues could be in play.? The first is that your mount is not completing the required RA movement before the ASIAIR times out for the move.? I suggest you try increasing Gemini-2 MOVE speed to something around 400 or higher.? But my best advice is to enable and use the built-in ASIAIR All-Sky PA. My driveway has an obstructed NCP view 90% of the year and using All-Sky I can get my PA to under 0.30" of arc in about 5-8 minutes.? It works great for imaging and visual.?

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I have not used the meridian flip in anger but have tested it quite a bit and confirmed telescope position post flip using Sky Safari 7 Pro and the fabulous Nexus DSC system and IME it seems to work fine if configured correctly as many others have reported.? There are some settings you need to configure on the Gemini-2 and the ASIAIR.? The setting are a bit different and the later ASIAIR app / ASI firmware and Gemini-2 L6.x seem to work fine, L5.x may still have issues.?

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AFAIK the only real bug is ZWO's lack of understanding about the Gemini-2 "Park" command which is a complex command not found in 14" and smaller LX200 classic mounts. This is a true ASIAIR issue that has existed since day one.? It doesn't seem like a serious issue to ZWO probably because it would take more than a few minutes to resolve and they have no Gemini 2 to test with. If you are an observatory user this might be annoying. As a field user this is not a big deal as I almost never park the mount IRL.?

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What other problems have you had with your Gemini-2 and ASIAIR?? Maybe I know the problem and can help.?

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My experience is that while I still experience "problems", most of them have work-arounds.? For example, when I run the polar align routine in the air, the degrees of rotation will not count up.? Even though the mount is moving the counter stays at 0.0 degrees.? I have to cancel the operation and run it again for the degrees to increment toward 60°.? If I just let it go without the count, the polar align fails and I need to go to CWD with the hand controller, switch the air off, switch the gemini off, restart the gemini then restart the air.? It is not a big deal just a little quirky.? After a successful PA, I go home and restart everything.? Oh...going home, When I tell the mount to go home in the air, the mount will go home but I do not get the message go home success or whatever it is.

When it is time to do a meridian flip it seems that the mount will not move until the air has issued the command three times but then will do the flip.??

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Tom

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Thanks Paul...on to it....

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Brendan

I've used PicKit2 and PicKit3 programmer software instead of MPLab with good results on multiple Gemini units.

Installers for this software are still available from the Microchip website:

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or

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MPLabX v4.15 is available from a dropbox link:

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Regards,

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? -Paul

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It is interesting to see that some people repeatedly have issues with their ASIAIR and Gemini systems while the vast majority do not.? I was a Losmandy Gemini-2 L6 beta tester and the Gemin 2 L6 beta did have a couple of serious issues come up in the development phase of the all new L6 firmware and PIC controller code that were eventually tracked down and killed in the iterative L6 beta process.? Since the initial production L6 release there have been some nice cosmetic refinements and internal updates made to the Gemini firmware which are worth doing the update for.??But for a user who often has problems with these things the advice to hold off on updating firmware and software if your system is working for you is IMO sound.? For those who have not had many issues getting and installing the later apps and firmware you can feel confident in choosing to update to the latest ASIAIR production or beta 2.3 app and firmware as well as the latest current production version Gemini-2 L6.1 and HC v1.63 firmware as they are working just fine for the vast majority of people using them.? ??

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On Mon, Nov 18, 2024 at 02:40 AM, <djewing@...> wrote:

Can someone point me in the direction of getting my mount working with the asiair. Some things function but not all.?

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Sure, please post details of your system and the smart device you run the ASIAIR app on.??

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For example my Gemini 2 mini and ASIAIR Plus both use Ethernet to connect to a GL.iNet Slate-AX1800 travel router.

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Gemini 2 mini - L6.1 firmware, 1.63 HC firmware with v.3 PIC code?

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Latest ASIAIR app 2.3 11.44beta

ASI2600MC-Pro? main camera

EAF

EFW?

ASI678MM? piggybacked guide camera

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Haven't had any issues to speak of, everything seems to work as far as I can tell.? I have tested the meridian flip but not used it IRL.?

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Post and ask away.

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Can someone point me in the direction of getting my mount working with the asiair. Some things function but not all.?

quick update....you can use MPLABX downloader then install MPLAB IPE5 or MPLAB IDE (don't know that ver) instead of full package.

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MPLAB IPE is much easier to use than MPLABX or MPLAB IDE.? for programming dspic33s or any hex/bin file

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Gives a video how to ....so sorry yes you can get MPLAB IPE ver 5....buy following instructions.? Its compatibility with PICkit3...unknown

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Ill try on another computer and get back

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cheers

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Ben

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Brendan

yeah Chip if you have links to them that’ll be great or links to a google drive if you have one.?

I deleted the installers for. MPLAB IPE 4.15 and MPLAB IDE 6.05. ? But have the programs installed on lappy. ? But this is useless when I want to ?change computers …I’ll need the installer packages.?

any links appreciated?

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Damn microchip! ?I was an idiot to discard installer packages.?

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cheers

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Brendan

Hi Bob,

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I have various versions of the PIC chip programing and IDE apps. The easiest to use is probably the oldest standalone app - PicKit2 v2.61.00, very simple interface.? I also have copies of MPLAB X 4.15 and 6.05? all worked fine using the routines posted for use with the older PICKit2/3 programmers I posted links to above.? Let me know if you need me to email them to you.? ??

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Bob,

if I remember correctly, when you turn Gemini on with the motor cables disconnected, it will beep constantly to remind you there’s something amiss (Gemini is not sensing the signals from the encoders). To bypass the beeps turn terrestrial tracking on (the mount essentially stops tracking).

Also, if you have the motors connected make sure the loads are well balanced as level 6 firmware is more sensitive to imbalances. The issue has been reported before and is well documented in these forums so you’re not alone :)

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good luck

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Jonathan

Thank you everyone, great suggestions. I unplugged the cables to both servos and turned on the Gemini 2 and the rapid beeping still happily continues.???♂?

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Thanks Brendan for the PIC programmer information, very helpful.

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Best regards, Bob

Bob

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Chip could be very correct that the ver1 Dspic33 firmware may well work but also may have unintended issues.?? The Beep could have been part of new lvl6 stall detection that works with lvl3 dspic33 code.....so yeah he's correct.....reset HGM defaults....see if you can get it running.?

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He's correct you may have someone close by that can do the firmware flash for you you're at Flagstaff???? 7000'?????? Yeah there might be other Losmandy users nearby....come on folks pipe up!

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Here's the problem with Pickit3's etc.?? Their support has been dropped by Microchip from MPLAB IDE 6.1 on.?? So MPLAB IDE ver 6.05 is last you can get to support pickit3 or MPLAB X 5.4 see link below. ? But even then I like to use earlier versions of MPLAB IPE ver 4.15 as its so much simpler.? But all these standalone download packages have been removed from Microchip site.?? I kinda detest MPLABX!

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(or earlier) you need earlier versions of .? or somehow find MPLAB IDE ver 6.05 or MPLAB IPE 4.15 download packages from somewhere (ensure they are not full of virus).

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However, If you don't like using MPLABX or pickit5 etc...... and like MPLAB IDE or MPLAB IPE bad luck .......Unless you can obtain an earlier version or MPLAB IDE 6.05 or MPLAB IPE 4.15. download packages for a pickit3. ?? Otherwise you have to use MPLAB X and pickit 5 or MPLAB SNAP programmer to use to program the dspic33FJ12MC201......?? (and other things)

If you update to dspic33 lvl3.x (now 3.1) you must ensure you can get software to run it like MPLAB IDE 6.05 or I use MPLAB IPE (Integrated Programming Environment) lvl 4.15 or you need a pickit 5 or if you have the Losmandy programmer they have software to run it just fine from their site.

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Microchip removed all links to these "stand alone packages MPLAB IDE and MPLAB IPE".....?? Nor do I know if they are reputable download places so do so at your own risk!

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Just heads up to all users

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Brendan

Have a look at the documents in the Files subfolder - /g/Gemini-II/files/+++%20Gemini%202%20Level%206%20Upgrade%20+++

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Ken

On Tue, Nov 12, 2024 at 01:18 PM, <pererikjorde@...> wrote:

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Everything seem to work now, except that some of the menu items ?on the embedded web-server? (HandControl, MobileHandControl, Manual and Serial Command Set) return a 404 (not found) error. So probably some html files missing.

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Thanks again for your help! Greatly appreciated!

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Regards,

Per Erik

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If it is working now just run GFU with all options checked and pick L6.1 from the menu.? This will restore the missing files and no more 404 errors.?

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On Sat, Nov 16, 2024 at 07:32 AM, <bobthorpe@...> wrote:

Many thanks for your patience Chip and Brandon, thank you so very much for taking the time to help me, simply wonderful. It is so great to have the high-end precision Losmandy G11 mount and Gemini 2, I just wish we could turn down the super-moon’s brightness tonight, so that we can all see and enjoy the rest of the night sky.?

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What’s very strange with the beepin Dec error is that it started immediately after the ver 6 firmware upgrade, without any weight (telescope or counterweight) on the Dec or input / movement of the Dec servo.?

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If I take the next step of pic reprogramming, do you have a link for downloading the servo firmware and an Amazon pic programer device suggestion?

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Warmest regards, Bob

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Hi Bob,

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Did the beeping stop?? Here is an Amazon link to one of the PIC programmers I have used, I have used several of versions and they all worked fine.? I have also used several different versions of the programming app but the last standalone version I used was as well as the newer which works great if you are nerd like me (it has a lot of debugging and ICE you won't care about) but it only runs under Win11 on 64bit processors.??

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There are also many step by step videos by Brian V. our former Losmandy on-line support and fearless leader, stashed here in the Gemini 2 user group.??

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Hope this helps or if you are near some one who was part of the L6 BETA they might be willing to do the update for you.? If you are in or near L.A. you are welcome to swing by and I can do it for you.?

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Many thanks for your patience Chip and Brandon, thank you so very much for taking the time to help me, simply wonderful. It is so great to have the high-end precision Losmandy G11 mount and Gemini 2, I just wish we could turn down the super-moon’s brightness tonight, so that we can all see and enjoy the rest of the night sky.?

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What’s very strange with the beepin Dec error is that it started immediately after the ver 6 firmware upgrade, without any weight (telescope or counterweight) on the Dec or input / movement of the Dec servo.?

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If I take the next step of pic reprogramming, do you have a link for downloading the servo firmware and an Amazon pic programer device suggestion?

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Warmest regards, Bob

I’d be pretty surprised if it wasn’t playing up without the lvl 3.+ dsPIC33 firmware. ?

if you flash GFU back to lvl 5 ensure you reset HGM Defaults and then all your settings

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?cheers?

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Brendan