Re: Gemini BOOTLOADER update available
My upgrade appeared OK. Is there a way to double check the new bootloader is actually in (apart from the Keil OK and Finished messages)?
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Thanks,
Ken
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On Mon, Apr 14, 2025 at 03:34 PM, <freeparticle@...> wrote:
Paul sorry to bug you again but I've watched the videos on "PAC" and also read the manual but I still have a question.? If this strictly visual guy decides to get OCD about alignment, after completing the PAC process it says I have to do modeling again.? Do I start from the position I'm in or manually return the scope to CWD position before starting the modeling process?
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IIRC, you just start from the position you're in. The model should be reset automatically, so you just need to start building a new one from where the mount is.
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Paul sorry to bug you again but I've watched the videos on "PAC" and also read the manual but I still have a question.? If this strictly visual guy decides to get OCD about alignment, after completing the PAC process it says I have to do modeling again.? Do I start from the position I'm in or manually return the scope to CWD position before starting the modeling process?
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Perfect!? Thanks!? That explains it!
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On Mon, Apr 14, 2025 at 11:14 AM, <freeparticle@...> wrote:
Hey Paul, while I have your attention another question I have is regarding modeling and "west" vs "east" stars the Gemini offers.? While the pointing accuracy is fine when I do proper alignment and modeling I'm baffled by the fact that when I choose a modeling star in the "west" the mount chooses a star that is clearly east of Polaris... (or east of my position) does the definition of "west" have something to do with the meridian?? I live in the Pacific Northwest.
The stars that are picked for model building for each side might be on the same side of the meridian. You can read some of the details here:
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Hey Paul, while I have your attention another question I have is regarding modeling and "west" vs "east" stars the Gemini offers.? While the pointing accuracy is fine when I do proper alignment and modeling I'm baffled by the fact that when I choose a modeling star in the "west" the mount chooses a star that is clearly east of Polaris... (or east of my position) does the definition of "west" have something to do with the meridian?? I live in the Pacific Northwest.
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Pretty sure I tried that but will give it another try.? Thanks.
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Re: Losmandy Hand Controller problem
Sorry, I don¡¯t know. It could be HC, its cord, or even Gemini.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Apr 13, 2025, at 8:45?PM, Jim Bachesta via groups.io <jim.bachesta@...> wrote:
? I tried the buttons, but there was no response on boot up. I tried another test case where?I slewed the scope to zenith as I prepare for this evening's imaging. No movement at all.?? Do the buttons on the back side of HC drive it? On Apr 13, 2025, at 7:52?PM, Jim Bachesta via <jim.bachesta=[email protected]> wrote:
? My hand controller is displaying a solid white screen, with no text or images. I am running Gemini-2 with version 6.12. These are the steps completed.
- Cycled power.
- Checked for night mode, but nothing is displayed, even when its dark.
- I went through the online documentation on troubleshooting.
- I took the HC apart to reseat the memory card. No issues identified.
- Re-flashed the HC to version 6.02, with no change in behavior.
- The reflash did not have any errors, i'm thinking taht it may be an issue with the display.?
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Does anyone have an idea on how to troubleshoot this. I am willing to purchase a new HC, but would love to fix this.? The unit is only 1 year old.? Is the display card available for purchase at a reasonable price?
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I am also considering not replacing the HC given that I can still image w/o the unit.
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Any help is appreciated.?
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On Mon, Apr 14, 2025 at 08:22 AM, <freeparticle@...> wrote:
Thanks Paul... I somehow missed the SAO catalogue as an option (I saw it just didn't make the connection) so will try that my next clear night.? I tried WDS but it kept saying "not found" when I entered its number....? will try that one again too.
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Select WDS catalog in the HC, then delete anything already entered on the screen and enter 08122, then hit enter.
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Thanks Paul... I somehow missed the SAO catalogue as an option (I saw it just didn't make the connection) so will try that my next clear night.? I tried WDS but it kept saying "not found" when I entered its number....? will try that one again too.
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On Sun, Apr 13, 2025 at 02:32 PM, <freeparticle@...> wrote:
Hello all,
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A particular binary was recommended for viewing this month namely Tegmine in Cancer (Zeta Cancri A) and my app Sky Guide provided the following catalogue designations which I wasn't able to find under the catalogue menu on the HC.? Am I missing something?
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Definitely use SAO if nothing else works.
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WDS (Washington Double Star catalog) is available on Gemini, so you'd search for WDS 08122 to find Tegmine from Gemini HC.
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Re: Losmandy Hand Controller problem
On Mon, Apr 14, 2025 at 12:56 AM, Brendan wrote:
Jim how did you reflash the HC Firmware. ?You cannot see the display or did it work for this? ?I¡¯m reading it¡¯s all ¡°white¡± which could also be it¡¯s got no data meaning there is a HC hardware problem.
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Is the boot ¡°splash screen¡± showing on the display? ?If no it¡¯s a HC issue. ?If yes have you plugged in the HC to the correct port or is there a cable issue or socket foreign object? ?
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Yes the displays are available from Losmandy or repairers. ?Symptoms are the display is bad but the only way to tell is replace it. ?Yes the display and system can be scoped out with a CRO but it¡¯ll still come down to replacing to see.
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Cheers?
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Brendan
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I would also check the cable, and then verify that the microSD card in the HC is seated properly. That might be hard to reach, so be careful not to destroy anything in the process of checking.
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Re: Dec Stall from Custom Park to CWD
On Sun, Apr 13, 2025 at 07:57 PM, Chip Louie wrote:
The coupler needs only be capable of moderate torque load.?
Tell that to the helical coupler I destroyed in an attempt to replace the Oldham coupler years ago. This happened because I had a slight binding in the worm/gear mesh that caused Gemini to increase PWM to near 100% at the start of a slew. That twisted the coupler with enough torque to snap it in half! I decided to keep the Oldham coupler after that :)
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Re: Losmandy Hand Controller problem
Jim how did you reflash the HC Firmware. ?You cannot see the display or did it work for this? ?I¡¯m reading it¡¯s all ¡°white¡± which could also be it¡¯s got no data meaning there is a HC hardware problem.
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Is the boot ¡°splash screen¡± showing on the display? ?If no it¡¯s a HC issue. ?If yes have you plugged in the HC to the correct port or is there a cable issue or socket foreign object? ?
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Yes the displays are available from Losmandy or repairers. ?Symptoms are the display is bad but the only way to tell is replace it. ?Yes the display and system can be scoped out with a CRO but it¡¯ll still come down to replacing to see.
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Cheers?
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Brendan
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Re: Losmandy Hand Controller problem
I tried the buttons, but there was no response on boot up. I tried another test case where?I slewed the scope to zenith as I prepare for this evening's imaging. No movement at all.??
Do the buttons on the back side of HC drive it? On Apr 13, 2025, at 7:52?PM, Jim Bachesta via <jim.bachesta=[email protected]> wrote:
? My hand controller is displaying a solid white screen, with no text or images. I am running Gemini-2 with version 6.12. These are the steps completed.
- Cycled power.
- Checked for night mode, but nothing is displayed, even when its dark.
- I went through the online documentation on troubleshooting.
- I took the HC apart to reseat the memory card. No issues identified.
- Re-flashed the HC to version 6.02, with no change in behavior.
- The reflash did not have any errors, i'm thinking taht it may be an issue with the display.?
?
Does anyone have an idea on how to troubleshoot this. I am willing to purchase a new HC, but would love to fix this.? The unit is only 1 year old.? Is the display card available for purchase at a reasonable price?
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I am also considering not replacing the HC given that I can still image w/o the unit.
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Any help is appreciated.?
?
?
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Re: Losmandy Hand Controller problem
Do the buttons on the back side of HC drive it?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Apr 13, 2025, at 7:52?PM, Jim Bachesta via groups.io <jim.bachesta@...> wrote:
? My hand controller is displaying a solid white screen, with no text or images. I am running Gemini-2 with version 6.12. These are the steps completed.
- Cycled power.
- Checked for night mode, but nothing is displayed, even when its dark.
- I went through the online documentation on troubleshooting.
- I took the HC apart to reseat the memory card. No issues identified.
- Re-flashed the HC to version 6.02, with no change in behavior.
- The reflash did not have any errors, i'm thinking taht it may be an issue with the display.?
?
Does anyone have an idea on how to troubleshoot this. I am willing to purchase a new HC, but would love to fix this.? The unit is only 1 year old.? Is the display card available for purchase at a reasonable price?
?
I am also considering not replacing the HC given that I can still image w/o the unit.
?
Any help is appreciated.?
?
?
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Losmandy Hand Controller problem
My hand controller is displaying a solid white screen, with no text or images. I am running Gemini-2 with version 6.12. These are the steps completed.
- Cycled power.
- Checked for night mode, but nothing is displayed, even when its dark.
- I went through the online documentation on troubleshooting.
- I took the HC apart to reseat the memory card. No issues identified.
- Re-flashed the HC to version 6.02, with no change in behavior.
- The reflash did not have any errors, i'm thinking taht it may be an issue with the display.?
?
Does anyone have an idea on how to troubleshoot this. I am willing to purchase a new HC, but would love to fix this.? The unit is only 1 year old.? Is the display card available for purchase at a reasonable price?
?
I am also considering not replacing the HC given that I can still image w/o the unit.
?
Any help is appreciated.?
?
?
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Re: Dec Stall from Custom Park to CWD
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In thinking about the coupler type options out there I remembered a nice chart from Ruland that explains the different types of couplers they offer.? There are other brands of couplers but they all fall into one of the categories on the chart.? I have added a link to the chart below so you can understand the differences and why the folks who tested other coupler types experienced what they did.
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IME the requirements for the drive coupler based on the mechanical design of the drive system are as follows.
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Due to the drivetrain design the coupler must be able to accommodate some small amount of axial misalignment while maintaining constant velocity.? Additionally with this drivetrain layout there is no need for the coupler to accommodate any angular misalignment.??
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The coupler must have zero backlash.
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The coupler must be very stiff torsionally.?
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The coupler needs only be capable of moderate torque load.?
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The coupler doesn't experience significant bearing load so this is not an important factor.?
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For maximum drivetrain responsivness to changes in speed and direction for example during guiding, the amount of damping and inertia in the coupler should be as low as possible.?
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Ideally the coupler should not allow axial play in operation or changes in speed or direction. This is important for drivetrain responsivness as when guiding and platesolving centering.?
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IMO Scott selected the right type for the job based on the most desirable characteristics for the coupler types available.? Check the chart to see how your favorite coupler type stack up.??
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Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?
Astrospheric - South Pasadena, CA?
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On Sun, Apr 13, 2025 at 02:32 PM, <freeparticle@...> wrote:
... missing something?
For general star look up, I cross reference on the WEB to a SAO designation and use that catalogue.? Just be sure to use a six-digit reference including leading zeros.? And be mindful that this large catalogue list can take some number of seconds to return a query result.
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Using a smart phone APP, Sky Safari provides SAO references in their list of catalogues looked up in a similar way.?
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Paul Kanevsky
Chip Louie