Re: Gremlin in Gemini I L4 hand controller
Thanks, Brendan.? I'm confident the cable is bad, but your recommendation about checking the board for corrosion and bad joints is good.? I'll do that, too.? Thanks, also for the lead about conformal.? I will check that out.
Mac is fine.
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Re: Gremlin in Gemini I L4 hand controller
Mac….I hope it’s Mac it’s hard to tell ?you really need a name in signature. ?Just makes it easier to be a bit more personnel in replying.?
It’s kinda unusual to have a bad HC pin/cable ? ?So do check the main PCB and or HC sockets for corrosion and or bad solder join. ?Seen Main PCBs with corrosion around this J1 socket ??
The G1’s are starting to show some corrosion after decades of use. ? Depends upon usage, location, humidity. ? ?A clean up and re-coat of spray conformal will protect it for years to come.
Any issues fire away! ?You found the fault well done! ? Certified “champ”!
--
Brendan
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Re: Gremlin in Gemini I L4 hand controller
Thanks, Brendan, I didn't even notice your attachment.
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Re: Gremlin in Gemini I L4 hand controller
Mac
i posted a jpg cct of the HC above. ?Sone many years ago, not by me ? ?
pin 12 is Left LD which loads the left display with serial data characters. ? Since it’s bad and data overflows from left to right yes you will have garbled display.
cheers
--
Brendan
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Re: Gremlin in Gemini I L4 hand controller
Mystery is likely solved.? I got my multi-meter out and found pin-12 is intermittent.? I haven't been able to find a pin-out for the Gemini I hand controller, so I don't know what signal pin-12 carries.? A new cable is on the way.
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Re: Gremlin in Gemini I L4 hand controller
Ah but which colony? In USA Michael Herman is the guy who does repairs, and in Oz Bren Smith is your man. ? D. ? ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of macdonjh via groups.io
Sent: 05 April 2022 00:20
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Gemini_users_io] Gremlin in Gemini I L4 hand controller? I'm in the Colonies, but if it needs repair, shipping both ways would be worthwhile. Where are you based?? If in UK, I repair Gemini-1 systems here. ? See: ? Cheers David ? ? I have a Gemini I L4 which performs well except for the hand controller.? For a few minutes the HC acts just like it should, but eventually it starts to display gobbledy-gook and shortly afterward it shuts down.? The Gemini controller still has power and the motors are still tracking, but the HC appears to not have power and won't respond when the <menu> button is pressed (or any other button). Even stranger, during the time the display is "junk", the HC continues to receive and send commands to my mount, if I can remember the menu tree well enough to enter my commands without the display confirming what I'm doing.?? I changed the internal battery last weekend.? I've restarted my controller several times.? Does anyone have any ideas?
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Re: Gremlin in Gemini I L4 hand controller
Oops, I thought the G1 and G2 forums were separate.
Thank you, Brendan.? I have no idea what version of Gemini I is, but I'll look the next time I'm at my observatory.? I have the stuff to clean my contacts on the way.? Hopefully it is that simple.? I also have a known "good" cable, so I can try swapping cables as well (I didn't think of doing that until I was on my way home Sunday morning).? If neither of those tests work out I guess I will have narrowed the culprit down to the controller itself.? Fingers crossed that isn't the case.
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Re: Gremlin in Gemini I L4 hand controller
I'm in the Colonies, but if it needs repair, shipping both ways would be worthwhile.
On Sunday, April 3, 2022, 08:30:23 AM CDT, David C. Partridge <david.partridge@...> wrote:
Where are you based?? If in UK, I repair Gemini-1 systems here. ? See: ? Cheers David ?
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of macdonjh via groups.io
Sent: 03 April 2022 13:26
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Gemini_users_io] Gremlin in Gemini I L4 hand controller ? I have a Gemini I L4 which performs well except for the hand controller.? For a few minutes the HC acts just like it should, but eventually it starts to display gobbledy-gook and shortly afterward it shuts down.? The Gemini controller still has power and the motors are still tracking, but the HC appears to not have power and won't respond when the <menu> button is pressed (or any other button). Even stranger, during the time the display is "junk", the HC continues to receive and send commands to my mount, if I can remember the menu tree well enough to enter my commands without the display confirming what I'm doing.?? I changed the internal battery last weekend.? I've restarted my controller several times.? Does anyone have any ideas?
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Re: Gremlin in Gemini I L4 hand controller
Hi remember no need to cross post between forums for help.
Want to ask as some had fuse " fuse that was known to cause HC power etc issues.
However garbled display is not usually a symptom of a bad F2.?? It could be (usual culprits):
The CPU, only test by replacement, or feel if CPU is hot?
The EPROM, again test by replacement
The Displays themselves, The First display (LHS) overflows data to the 2nd RH display a bad first (LH) display can cause garbled issues.?? Test by swapping HC LH display t the RH position and the RH to the LH position.?? or
The HC itself could be the issue aka a bad U4 buffer IC.
All that said it is unusual to have garbled display and also power failure in the HC as generally they are separate things ...the only commonality is +5V being lost to the HC.?? The HC LED is actually powered from 5.4V.? Indeed you said the HC button presses would not respond so this again takes me back to possible loss of +5V to the HC.? Maybe a bad HC cable or corrosion around the HC cable socket.
So what I have given you is a starting point to look at the 5V and a few other things to look at and try.?? Get back if you need more help
regards
--
Brendan
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Re: Gremlin in Gemini I L4 hand controller
Where are you based?? If in UK, I repair Gemini-1 systems here. ? See: ? Cheers David ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of macdonjh via groups.io
Sent: 03 April 2022 13:26
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Gemini_users_io] Gremlin in Gemini I L4 hand controller? I have a Gemini I L4 which performs well except for the hand controller.? For a few minutes the HC acts just like it should, but eventually it starts to display gobbledy-gook and shortly afterward it shuts down.? The Gemini controller still has power and the motors are still tracking, but the HC appears to not have power and won't respond when the <menu> button is pressed (or any other button). Even stranger, during the time the display is "junk", the HC continues to receive and send commands to my mount, if I can remember the menu tree well enough to enter my commands without the display confirming what I'm doing.?? I changed the internal battery last weekend.? I've restarted my controller several times.? Does anyone have any ideas?
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Gremlin in Gemini I L4 hand controller
I have a Gemini I L4 which performs well except for the hand controller.? For a few minutes the HC acts just like it should, but eventually it starts to display gobbledy-gook and shortly afterward it shuts down.? The Gemini controller still has power and the motors are still tracking, but the HC appears to not have power and won't respond when the <menu> button is pressed (or any other button).
?
Even stranger, during the time the display is "junk", the HC continues to receive and send commands to my mount, if I can remember the menu tree well enough to enter my commands without the display confirming what I'm doing.??
?
I changed the internal battery last weekend.? I've restarted my controller several times.? Does anyone have any ideas?
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Re: Parking to Home position failing
Hi Paul,
Gemini G11 version 1, level 4 1.05. I'm currently running 1.0.75 drivers.
I’ve had the same occur in both settings I’m pretty sure. Powered on in parked mode, and connecting driver to mount; and powering on mount and connecting driver in warm start mode. Trying to maintain an automated session, I can't keep using manual mode to select warm restart, cold start modes everytime, which is why I prefer to park, disconnect, close software, and during imaging sessions, start software, connect driver and resume.
When it happens I just move to CWD, power off, cold start from CWD and rebuild a sky model and parking behaves again.
Not sure what is occurring, model becomes corrupt over time if I plate solve with sync in software on every goto? Seems to be re-occuring issue I can't quite pinpoint just yet. Next session I will build a pointing model, then disable sync with goto in software and see what happens.
On 12 Mar 2022, at 23:22, Paul Kanevsky <yh@...> wrote:
? Hi Daniel,
I may have missed it, what version of Gemini are you using and what firmware?
Since you seem to have a problem with the mount being powered on for 48+ hours, can you power it down and then warm (re)start the next time, not leaving it on?
Regards,
? ? -Paul
On Sat, Mar 12, 2022 at 01:51 AM, Daniel Judge wrote:
This one still seems to reoccur and I can't see why. Is there a limit to the number of sync positions held in the formation of the pointing model? Is there a saved value for the home positon/park position?
I'm not sure if constant platesolve and sync from the software is overloading the sync points the gemini is using/saving with the model.
The only fix is to position the mount to CWD, power the mount off, reconned and cold start from cwd, create a pointing model again and continue. Rinse and repeat.
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Re: mount does not learn from platesolving
Losmandy performed a timely non-warranty repair of my motor encoder, which I blew. Last week I felt really bad about this step back, but now things are looking up....and I don't have to explain to my wife why I need to buy a new motor 2 weeks after I bought the new Gemini. Thanks Brian and company for great service!
Clear Skies,
Paul
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Re: Connecting Gemini one to laptop.
It looks like my USB serial port ( COMS 3) is working it shows up as the window you have provided and i go on drives and they say they are up to date.?
The other end of the cable is the small phone jack, presume that's ok.?
Widow keeps opening saying not connecting to Gemini.
Thanks
Ken
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Re: Connecting Gemini one to laptop.
Hi David Thank you for your reply. I have had this set up from new, bought many years ago, but not used a great deal over the time. I have been using my Mead LX200 for many years for visual observing. I now wish to go int atro photography were my EQ mout and refractor would be better for this job. Thanks again for your help ? Ken ? Sent from for Windows ?
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From: David C. PartridgeSent: 18 March 2022 11:54 To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [Gemini_users_io] Connecting Gemini one to laptop. ? A nasty thought occurs – did you buy this G-1 2nd hand?? If so do you know if the serial port actually works? ? I can test and repair if necessary. ? David ? Hi
I am still having great difficulty in find a suitable working cable to attach my RS232 port to my USB laptop.?
I have bought several cables which don't appear to work. I think i have downloaded all the correct software from Ascom.
I would have thought you could by this as a dedicated Gemini part off the shelf.
Are there any special settings i have to program into the Gemini when i open it up on my laptop to to make a connection to my mount.
Would appreciate any help, getting frustrated!
Thank you
Regards
Ken??
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Re: Connecting Gemini one to laptop.
A nasty thought occurs – did you buy this G-1 2nd hand?? If so do you know if the serial port actually works? ? I can test and repair if necessary. ? David
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of k.weilding2@... via groups.io
Sent: 18 March 2022 10:28
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Gemini_users_io] Connecting Gemini one to laptop.? Hi
I am still having great difficulty in find a suitable working cable to attach my RS232 port to my USB laptop.?
I have bought several cables which don't appear to work. I think i have downloaded all the correct software from Ascom.
I would have thought you could by this as a dedicated Gemini part off the shelf.
Are there any special settings i have to program into the Gemini when i open it up on my laptop to to make a connection to my mount.
Would appreciate any help, getting frustrated!
Thank you
Regards
Ken??
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Re: Connecting Gemini one to laptop.
Thank you for that info, will have a look later. Unfortunately I don’t know anybody who could make me one.
Thanks?
Ken?
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- The RS-232 adapter should be full voltage range RS-232 not logic level which a lot of them are.
- How are you wiring the RJ22 4P4C plug?
?
?
Hi
I am still having great difficulty in find a suitable working cable to attach my RS232 port to my USB laptop.?
I have bought several cables which don't appear to work. I think i have downloaded all the correct software from Ascom.
I would have thought you could by this as a dedicated Gemini part off the shelf.
Are there any special settings i have to program into the Gemini when i open it up on my laptop to to make a connection to my mount.
Would appreciate any help, getting frustrated!
Thank you
Regards
Ken??
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Re: Connecting Gemini one to laptop.
- The RS-232 adapter should be full voltage range RS-232 not logic level which a lot of them are.
- How are you wiring the RJ22 4P4C plug?
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of k.weilding2@... via groups.io
Sent: 18 March 2022 10:28
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Gemini_users_io] Connecting Gemini one to laptop.? Hi
I am still having great difficulty in find a suitable working cable to attach my RS232 port to my USB laptop.?
I have bought several cables which don't appear to work. I think i have downloaded all the correct software from Ascom.
I would have thought you could by this as a dedicated Gemini part off the shelf.
Are there any special settings i have to program into the Gemini when i open it up on my laptop to to make a connection to my mount.
Would appreciate any help, getting frustrated!
Thank you
Regards
Ken??
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Re: Connecting Gemini one to laptop.
Hi Ken, First, you should see if you can find a serial COM port on your laptop after connecting the converter to it. It should show up under Control Panel->Device Manager, something like this (it might be a different COM port): ? ? ??  If you don't see a COM port, that means you don't have the right driver installed for your adapter or USB->Serial adapter?isn't working. The serial cable pin-out for Gemini-1 is documented here:?  If you can't find a ready cable, you can always make one or ask someone with a bit of crimping/soldering skills to build one for you. Regards, ? ? ?-Paul
On Fri, Mar 18, 2022 at 06:27 AM, k.weilding2@... wrote:
Hi
I am still having great difficulty in find a suitable working cable to attach my RS232 port to my USB laptop.?
I have bought several cables which don't appear to work. I think i have downloaded all the correct software from Ascom.
I would have thought you could by this as a dedicated Gemini part off the shelf.
Are there any special settings i have to program into the Gemini when i open it up on my laptop to to make a connection to my mount.
Would appreciate any help, getting frustrated!
Thank you
Regards
Ken??
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David C. Partridge
Paul Kanevsky