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

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.?

?

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

?

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

?

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

?

Latest ASIAIR app 2.3 11.44beta

ASI2600MC-Pro? main camera

EAF

EFW?

ASI678MM? piggybacked guide camera

?

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.?

?

Post and ask away.

?

--

?

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.? ??

?

--

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.??

?

Tom

?

?

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.??

?

Tom

?

?

?

Hi Tom,

?

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.?

?

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.?

?

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.?

?

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.?

?

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

?

--

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.?

?

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.?

?

--

I am currently working on figuring out what firmware i have. Was told it was L6 by previous owner. I need to confirm myself when I get home today. Mine is guilty of the quirks mentioned in a previous message. Polar alignment being funky, not getting a finished home notification after telling it to go home and meridian flip issues. Only had it out 1 time since purchasing it. I need to tinker some more.?

The issue of PA will slow/motion rotation to 60degs is easier then that. Soon as rotation should begin, look as the speed selection in lower left of HC. Simple toggle to “slew”. ?Always it goes. ?This takes little effect w/o screwing wick the mounts speed settings.

I don’t have problems with flips that I recall. ?Other than not letting AAP re-plate solve after the flip. ?

I have attached a pic of my hc firmware readout.

Thanks Chip,

I sent my Gemini in to Losmandy about 5 months ago, they installed version 6.? The polar align is not really a problem; it is more of an idiosyncrasy.? The speed of rotation seems to vary.? Some times the counter will count of degrees but the mount is moving very slowly.? Other times the mount moves fast without the count up.? Usually, once I cancel the PA and tell it to PA again, it works fine.? ?I will look at the HC to see what speed is being displayed as it moves.? That reminds me...I was resetting the mount limits by following a Losmandy you tube video.? My mount did not behave the way the mount in the video did.? The video said slew to the limit...listen for the beep...change the speed...I don't remember exactly now but I followed the video exactly and it took forever for the mount to move beyond the existing limit to the new limit.? Is there a different method I should use with version 6?

?

Problems I had with meridian flips were probably due to my lack of understanding the mount limits.? I just added an RA extension and 12" pier extension.? My hope is that those two additions will allow me to increase the limits and reduce the idle time during a flip.

?

To be clear, I am not complaining about the mount.? It is a beautiful, well made piece of equipment that I would recommend with hesitation.? It is just different than my Skywatcher EQ6-r.

?

Thank you

On Tue, Nov 19, 2024 at 04:39 PM, <Tjkallenbach@...> wrote:

Thanks Chip,

I sent my Gemini in to Losmandy about 5 months ago, they installed version 6.? The polar align is not really a problem; it is more of an idiosyncrasy.? The speed of rotation seems to vary.? Some times the counter will count of degrees but the mount is moving very slowly.? Other times the mount moves fast without the count up.? Usually, once I cancel the PA and tell it to PA again, it works fine.? ?I will look at the HC to see what speed is being displayed as it moves.? That reminds me...I was resetting the mount limits by following a Losmandy you tube video.? My mount did not behave the way the mount in the video did.? The video said slew to the limit...listen for the beep...change the speed...I don't remember exactly now but I followed the video exactly and it took forever for the mount to move beyond the existing limit to the new limit.? Is there a different method I should use with version 6?

?

Problems I had with meridian flips were probably due to my lack of understanding the mount limits.? I just added an RA extension and 12" pier extension.? My hope is that those two additions will allow me to increase the limits and reduce the idle time during a flip.

?

To be clear, I am not complaining about the mount.? It is a beautiful, well made piece of equipment that I would recommend with hesitation.? It is just different than my Skywatcher EQ6-r.

?

Thank you

?

Hi Tom,

?

Okay got it.? AFAIK the latest versions are: Gemini 2 L6.1, HC 1.63 and PIC code v3.0.? If you have Ethernet working to the Gemini 2 just GFU and install L6.1 and HC 1.63 of you can map the Gemini 2 as a drive and simply copy the files over to the Gemini-2 but I can't recommend this unless you know how to do this already.?

?

The PA issue is well understood and is really more of an undocumented setting requirement ZWO didn't tell anyone about.? The issue is a time out, it is easy to fix by simply changing the MOVE speed in the HC to 400 and using the HC gets this done with three button presses, MENU > SPEED.? Personally I would always choose to use the All-Sky polar alignment as it is very easy and has the potential to give a more accurate polar alignment.?

?

As far as using Gemini limits goes ignore that video and make your life easier by just manually setting the limits to higher numbers both East and West.? Then loosen the RA clutch to accurately set the mount to CWD and then tighten the clutch back to just enough that the RA is firmly set and power down, wait 10 seconds and power back up.? Then using the Gemini-2 HC RA buttons slew the mount either West or East it really doesn't matter as the Gemini 2 will know which way you slewed the mount.? Go to the limit on one side and be sure you leave some room in case your future CWD setting is not as good as this one.? Next you go to the LIMITS page and press SET LIMIT HERE.? Rinse and repeat for the other side of the pier and you are GTG.?

?

Unfortunately the ASIAIR if programed will not shoot past the meridian.? The ASIAIR has a hard limit of zero minutes before the meridian to stop shooting and tracking.? Then you need to set the number of minutes you want the ASIAIR to wait before flipping, reacquiring the target and resuming data capture.? You can shoot through the meridian but you have to be shooting manually.?

?

Oh it is quite different from an EQ6 which is why I sold all 4 of my modified EQMOD mounts, 2 x HEQ5/Sirius and 2x EQ6/Atlas and moved to Losmandy.? It was a GREAT move IME.?

?

Let us know how it goes.? ? ? ? ? ?

?

--