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Re: ASIAIR Plus and Losmandy GM8 mount Gemini one

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Hi Paul
Thank you for your email.
I set up my mount, camera and ASIAIR plus during day light. For some reason the App connected to my mount and I was able to slew the mont straight away.?
This was only a very brief test, need a clear night to perform more functions, unfortunately not to many clear nights at the moment.?
I did test my cable on my laptop, please see photos.?
Thank you again for all your help, will just have to hope it functions ok, on starry night ?
Ken

Sent from


From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Paul Lloyd <ecarina42@...>
Sent: Friday, December 8, 2023 1:04:30 AM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Gemini_users_io] ASIAIR Plus and Losmandy GM8 mount Gemini one
?
Whew, I'm glad of that, as I would be of no help with IOS. Now to Device Manager:

1. Open the Windows Start menu, and in the search box enter "device manager". This should show it at the top of a list of other, non-relevant items.
2. Click on it and it should start, showing you a long list of a host of items installed in or connected to your PC, most of which you are unlikely to be aware of. Find the item "Ports (COM & LPT)".
3. Click on the ">" icon to the left of this and your converter should show up as "ATEN USB to Serial Bridge (COMn)", or whatever your converter happens to be. The 'COMn' gives you the COM-port number that you needed to tell your Gemini controlling application it should use. (You could double-click on this item to see its properties, including the 'Port Settings' pane that shows the settings the converter uses to communicate between your PC USB port and Gemini; mine is currently at 15200/8/None/1/None.)

If your item shows as something other than an ATEN, then this might be the root of your communication problems, as ASiair runs on an Android-like o/s, and there is likely to be far fewer drivers available for your these types of devices.

Please let me know how you go. Currently in the UK, hey! You must be up late to conduct this discussion!
Paul.


Re: ASIAIR Plus and Losmandy GM8 mount Gemini one

 

Whew, I'm glad of that, as I would be of no help with IOS. Now to Device Manager:

1. Open the Windows Start menu, and in the search box enter "device manager". This should show it at the top of a list of other, non-relevant items.
2. Click on it and it should start, showing you a long list of a host of items installed in or connected to your PC, most of which you are unlikely to be aware of. Find the item "Ports (COM & LPT)".
3. Click on the ">" icon to the left of this and your converter should show up as "ATEN USB to Serial Bridge (COMn)", or whatever your converter happens to be. The 'COMn' gives you the COM-port number that you needed to tell your Gemini controlling application it should use. (You could double-click on this item to see its properties, including the 'Port Settings' pane that shows the settings the converter uses to communicate between your PC USB port and Gemini; mine is currently at 15200/8/None/1/None.)

If your item shows as something other than an ATEN, then this might be the root of your communication problems, as ASiair runs on an Android-like o/s, and there is likely to be far fewer drivers available for your these types of devices.

Please let me know how you go. Currently in the UK, hey! You must be up late to conduct this discussion!
Paul.


Re: ASIAIR Plus and Losmandy GM8 mount Gemini one

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Thank you Paul
I will be using a standard laptop not a Mac, I¡¯m sending my emails from my Apple phone.
Ken

Sent from


From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Paul Lloyd <ecarina42@...>
Sent: Friday, December 8, 2023 12:08:50 AM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Gemini_users_io] ASIAIR Plus and Losmandy GM8 mount Gemini one
?
Actually, Ken, here is what you need:

"The Apple equivalent of a device manager is called "System Information" on macOS. It provides detailed information about the hardware and software configuration of your Mac, including information about connected devices and peripherals. You can find it by accessing the "Utilities" folder within the "Applications" folder, or by using Spotlight search to locate it."

Good luck,
Paul.


Re: ASIAIR Plus and Losmandy GM8 mount Gemini one

 

Actually, Ken, here is what you need:

"The Apple equivalent of a device manager is called "System Information" on macOS. It provides detailed information about the hardware and software configuration of your Mac, including information about connected devices and peripherals. You can find it by accessing the "Utilities" folder within the "Applications" folder, or by using Spotlight search to locate it."

Good luck,
Paul.


Re: ASIAIR Plus and Losmandy GM8 mount Gemini one

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Thank you I will have a try tomorrow as I¡¯m in the UK.?

Sent from


From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Paul Lloyd <ecarina42@...>
Sent: Friday, December 8, 2023 12:04:54 AM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Gemini_users_io] ASIAIR Plus and Losmandy GM8 mount Gemini one
?
Oops! "Sent from Outlook for IOS" explains your confusion - Apple!. Device Manager (DM) is a Windows tool that provides you with a list of all the hardware that the operating system (o/s) has recognized that are connected to your PC, and has installed hardware drivers for. I haven't the faintest what is Apple's equivalent tool - perhaps your favourite Apple support group can help you here, or a simple search of the Web for Apple's equivalent. Anyhow, DM will report under communication devices/USB devices the presence an ATEN unit (or whatever your converter is), and you are able to see what driver has been loaded to interact with it, among other things.

If you can get that far, it would help in the troubleshoot.
Paul.


Re: ASIAIR Plus and Losmandy GM8 mount Gemini one

 

Oops! "Sent from Outlook for IOS" explains your confusion - Apple!. Device Manager (DM) is a Windows tool that provides you with a list of all the hardware that the operating system (o/s) has recognized that are connected to your PC, and has installed hardware drivers for. I haven't the faintest what is Apple's equivalent tool - perhaps your favourite Apple support group can help you here, or a simple search of the Web for Apple's equivalent. Anyhow, DM will report under communication devices/USB devices the presence an ATEN unit (or whatever your converter is), and you are able to see what driver has been loaded to interact with it, among other things.

If you can get that far, it would help in the troubleshoot.
Paul.


Re: ASIAIR Plus and Losmandy GM8 mount Gemini one

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Hi Paul
I¡¯m very grateful for all your help
Unfortunately I¡¯m not very technical when it comes to computers, finding device manager and I don¡¯t know what DM is,
So unfortunately I don¡¯t know if I can check the cable.
If possible could you explain how to do this process for me.
Do Losmandy produce these cables still as I might have to purchase one, if it solves the problem:
Thank you once again for all your help it¡¯s ?much appreciated.
Ken
Sent from


From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Paul Lloyd <ecarina42@...>
Sent: Thursday, December 7, 2023 11:42:46 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Gemini_users_io] ASIAIR Plus and Losmandy GM8 mount Gemini one
?
Also, Ken, what is your ASiair app version number (under the ! symbol in the app).

Paul.


Re: ASIAIR Plus and Losmandy GM8 mount Gemini one

 

Also, Ken, what is your ASiair app version number (under the ! symbol in the app).

Paul.


Re: ASIAIR Plus and Losmandy GM8 mount Gemini one

 

Ken,

I don't know of anyone especially. I've just checked postings, but then, I was in the comfortable position of having a genuine ATEN USB to RS232 converter (in fact I have a spare that I could send you if you are really stuck). Check yours by calling up the Device Manager on your PC (I'm assuming that you are familiar with DM, but if not, just shout). I suspect that it's a comms issue with your RS232 converter. Even if it looks OK in Device Manager (e.g. an ATEN is reported), I'd still get at true ATEN unit, as Chip suggested. While you have the cable connected to your PC, I would check that it is still all right by getting it to instruct the Gemini to control your mount (do you use GCC?, although any application using the appropriate ASCOM driver should suffice to check the cable). I know this is a pain, but you are in trouble shooting mode here!

Good luck, and please let's know how you make out.
Paul.


Re: ASIAIR Plus and Losmandy GM8 mount Gemini one

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Hi Paul

Thank you.

I have found the Losmandy on my ASIAIR plus, the problem I¡¯m having is that my app is not connecting to the mount.

I¡¯m using the same cable which I have been using to connect my Gemini to my laptop, which works ok.

I get a error message on my app ?indicating its not connecting.

I¡¯m using a Galaxy tablet, S4 64GB WiFi 4 RAM, I hope this is good enough to run the app?

The app does pick up my main camera and guid camera.

Do you or anybody else know how I can resolve my connection problem.

Thank you

ken ??

?

Sent from for Windows

?

From: Paul Lloyd
Sent: 07 December 2023 21:38
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Gemini_users_io] ASIAIR Plus and Losmandy GM8 mount Gemini one

?

Ken,

Now, that's interesting. I'm running ASiair Plus v. 2.1 (10.74) and "Losmandy Gemini" appears between "iOptron ZEQ25 GT & 8408" and "LX200 Basic" in my list of mounts. I'm suspecting that you have an earlier version of the ASiair app. I know that I had to upgrade from my Galaxy S2 to a Galaxy S7 because the Android o/s couldn't be updated on the S2 to a sufficient level to support the latest ASiair app. You might like to check points these out.

Note: The ASiair app works with the Gemini, not the mount it is connected to - it shouldn't matter which mount the Gemini is connected to, provided it can drive the mount with most/all Gemini's capabilities, and surely GoTo, and guiding are basic enough for all Losmandy mounts.

I hope these comments help you,
Paul.

?


Re: ASIAIR Plus and Losmandy GM8 mount Gemini one

 

Ken,

Now, that's interesting. I'm running ASiair Plus v. 2.1 (10.74) and "Losmandy Gemini" appears between "iOptron ZEQ25 GT & 8408" and "LX200 Basic" in my list of mounts. I'm suspecting that you have an earlier version of the ASiair app. I know that I had to upgrade from my Galaxy S2 to a Galaxy S7 because the Android o/s couldn't be updated on the S2 to a sufficient level to support the latest ASiair app. You might like to check points these out.

Note: The ASiair app works with the Gemini, not the mount it is connected to - it shouldn't matter which mount the Gemini is connected to, provided it can drive the mount with most/all Gemini's capabilities, and surely GoTo, and guiding are basic enough for all Losmandy mounts.

I hope these comments help you,
Paul.


Re: ASIAIR Plus and Losmandy GM8 mount Gemini one

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Hi Paul
I do have a cable as mentioned above I used it to connect to my laptop and ?Gemini one and it seemed to work ok.
As it worked this way I imagine that it should work connecting the ASIAIR plus to my Losmanday GM8 mount.
What do you think?
I¡¯m using a Galaxy ?tablet S4, 64GB with 4 RAM, (2019) Is this ok?
Thank you would appreciate any help?
Regards
Ken

Sent from


From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Paul Lloyd <ecarina42@...>
Sent: Wednesday, December 6, 2023 8:48:04 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Gemini_users_io] ASIAIR Plus and Losmandy GM8 mount Gemini one
?
Ken,

You might find the following threads useful:

/g/Gemini_users/topic/98513589#33490
/g/Gemini_users/topic/102709342

My G11 mount has been working well with my ASiair Plus using a cable as described by Chip.

Enjoy your setting up, and clear skies, Paul.


Re: ASIAIR Plus and Losmandy GM8 mount Gemini one

 

Ken,

You might find the following threads useful:

/g/Gemini_users/topic/98513589#33490
/g/Gemini_users/topic/102709342

My G11 mount has been working well with my ASiair Plus using a cable as described by Chip.

Enjoy your setting up, and clear skies, Paul.


Re: ASIAIR Plus and Losmandy GM8 mount Gemini one

 

Ken,

Losmandy Gemini is listed and has been a supported since the original ASIAIR was released. You will need to have a USB to RS232 converter and an appropriate RS232 to Gemini 1 RJ11 cable like the one that used to be supplied by Losmandy. Others here can build you a cable if you need one. Michael Herman can supply these cables and we both highly recommend the ATEN USB to RS232 converter because it is a 100% correct implementation of RS232 and known to work correctly. You can buy them directly from ATEN here: ?You will still need the correctly pinned Losmandy RS232 cable with 9 pin D-Sub and RJ11 connectors. But this is know to work correctly.?


--

Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?

? ?Astrospheric Weather for Imagers - Click on my sig!


ASIAIR Plus and Losmandy GM8 mount Gemini one

 

I believe that you can use the ZWO ASIAIR plus with a GM8 mount and Gemini one.
The ASIAIR under mount drop down box gives a list of mounts, which one do you chose as there is no Losmandy mounts.
Are they any special settings I need to choose.
I would appreciate any help given.
Thank you?
Ken


Re: Gemini Initial Steps

 

No idea how or why I wrote this?

¡°money we know we can determine and go forward. ¡°. Makes no sense I¡¯m on drugs (hospital good ones) ! ? Hahaha?

sorry typo?
--
Brendan


Re: Gemini Initial Steps

 

South is -ve. ?Ensure lay and long are set

Latitude:?28¡ã 02' 3.05" N
Longitude:?-82¡ã 39' 54.36" W

so that¡¯s 28 degrees north not south of equator. So + sign in latitude as in +28¡­

so that¡¯s -82 degrees from Greenwich which is west sign (W) 82¡­,

Now you need time zone which is?
gmt -5

now you need dtg Gemini style:

Here's the UTC date/time you downloaded this page :

UTC date/time:?Dec 05, 2023 04:55:49
Gemini UTC display (yymm.dd: hh.mm.ss):?2312.05 04:55:49

from this link. Refresh it to update it
enter as said you:mm.dd.he:mm:ss
?


Ensure right mount type is set ?this should be good now ?set CWD ? ?Remember CWD is not necessary straight down ? shut down system reboot it should boot no warnings and be ready?

so first alignment star you select it then comity to slew to it and use buttons to centre it then press menu ¡°align¡± it will name it and you press right arrow (I think) and it accepts it?
?
it will say star aligned yet it still
may point a little off depends upon your mount setup accuracy ?it has to be polar aligned?

now select another star goto centre it and this time menu ¡°sync¡± it will accept and start to build a point model that fixes point polar align errors ?

maybe do 3 stars no more?

Command it to home CWD it will drive home CWD it may have moved leave it. Do not move. ?Next start can be warm as long as nothing shifted

set system to std default limits for the moment but watch the scope does not crash

set clutches tight before start tight not overly do it can slip if axes scope scratch.?

I¡¯ve been speaking to Michael we discussed are et fox might be yours ?

it¡¯s your decision ?not tracking is a problem probably bad motor or internal encoder reading IC ?

you can take motors off mount and see if they move connected to system via buttons and sidereal on Ra at boot ?

if one is not moving them there is an internal issue ?swap motors does te fault follow the motor or stay where it is!

I cannot help much more than this atm as I don¡¯t have more info Aka does swapping the motor move the fault to other axes or from Ra to Dec etc?

money we know we can determine and go forward.?


they are all fixable !

so it¡¯s your decision ? You always need to polar align a gem mount but you get used to doing it and your star corrections correct for polar pointing alignment errors ?

but they must be polar aligned within ha few degrees or less is best ? This takes time ?

you cannot run the system by HC then stellarium (or any other) ?will not work till the fault is sorted?

it¡¯s your decision I¡¯m just throwing basics to you to help you start?

I can understand frustration I¡¯ve been there but it¡¯s a fine mount easily repaired (I¡¯ve done so many) will last a life time plus ?but you decide the tool you need for your job ?

IMO if you want quick setup to use then a gem mount is not right ?a fob or as you said ?

it¡¯s my opinion and 2cs at that it¡¯s a precision tool but a fib is a good quick light bucket ?the Losmandy a first class visual or imagery mount ? Not quickly set up ?

hope this help I¡¯m slapping down info fast to try help ?

of if you take motors off the mount and have them connected to the Gemini unit ? Power on ?does the Ra start to spin slowely at end of boot! ?Is the Dec pinion nice and stiff resistant to finger twist?

this is badidcof finding the issue ?swapping motors if it follows the motor there¡¯s ya problem ?but if stays on same axes it¡¯s internal encoder pick up ic of bad 5 v to encoder in motor

we need tis info

sorry typos I¡¯m in hospital atm have been for a long time but like to assist as it helps me forget my issues?

cheers

keep in contact maybe give answers to what I said about moving motors and pinions etc ?

just to get you working as soon as we can?

Cheers. Questions fire away but I need the info on motors et to go fwd. I¡¯m sure Michael can fix it. Indeed might have been the one we were discussing?

????

--
Brendan


Re: Gemini Initial Steps

 

Brendan:

I am trying to do the basics,as you suggested. But problems with the hand controller is the reason why it was suggested?to use a planetarium and avoid using the hand controller at all. I read the manual and tried to follow?the procedures, It won't let me get to the basic?menu choices and defaults?to warm start. I enter the time, date and lat/long in the correct?manner, including?the minus 083 longitude for Florida.?

I replaced the battery with a new #2354 and am using?Micjhael Herman's 17 V voltage booster and a cable with RS232 and telephone connectors.

In doing an alignment, I specify stars that I know are visible at my time and location. These are not always accepted. When alignment stars are accepted, the scope slews to places that I know are not correct.

The telescope is well-balanced. But I am having little success with?this mount. I was supposed?to do an astronomy?public outreach event?at a school tonight, but had to cancel because the mount ain't working. I would use it without the go-to?features. but the hand controller won't let?me just slew around the sky. Push-to would work, but then it wouldn't track.

When I show up at these events. I have less than 15 minutes to get set up before 60 kids are waiting to look at the Moon or Jupiter through my telescope. Most of the other club members have Dobs. They are set up and?ready in 5 minutes while I'm still fumbling with mine.

This is frustrating.

I am considering either the ZWO ASIAir or a SkyFi-3 to resolve these issues. But then I have to take a computer?or tablet to? use at a school, which is an added?complication. I am willing to go that route if it will work.?

I am also considering selling the GM8 and getting a Skywatcher HEQ5 which I know how to use, since?I previously had an Orion Sirius or a Celestron AVX. I realize?the GM8 is superior to those, but that does?me no good unless I can make it work.

?Michael Herman said he could fix my Gemini unit and hand controller for about the?same price as a?SkyFi-3. What do you think?
--
Steven Gaber
Oldsmar, FL USA


Re: Gemini Initial Steps

 

Neil?

first the download try read. ?It opens a pdf ?

2nd if it¡¯s starting ok with no ¡°SRAM RESET¡± or funny stuck dots , see ?

then we can assume battery is ok. If you get dots or such change battery

But you then need to enter data into the system so it knows where when you are mount type etc ?The manual tells you specifically Gemini dtg is odd format get it and enter . ?Refresh this page to get it accurate

Gemini UTC display (yymm.dd: hh.mm.ss):

Check mount limits are set to factoryv(reset them as appropriate you need later)

Try read the FAQs most might sound daunting it¡¯s not. ?It¡¯ll help give you ideas.?

Use the system via handset first to get a feel as you learn button sequence that after awhile is 2nd nature ? Then go onto RS232 or BT (RS232 to BT Modules easily avail) .

this is do you get a feel before venturing into planetarium control programs. As they all have their own unique way.


Gemini ASCOM I¡¯d a simple easy to use program. It let¡¯s you save and backup Gemini data as well as update setting. ?


All I¡¯m saying is do the basics start low work high ? We won¡¯t cover any more atm like failed slew as it could be anything from cable to motor to mount limits to wrong lay/log/location/dtg

too much to cover all atm ?get this data input right, start it CWD (per manual) ?and then get back ??


watch out for scope crash on mount you will have to set limits ?Gemini gets close to these and beeps or bumps away when at limit ?but if aces undone cut doesn¡¯t know where limit is ?

do first star alignment ? Remember every star after is ¡°synchronise¡± not alignment ?the manual specifies?

the clutches (if a Losmandy) are made to slip but if the do you have to reset CWD and re-synch mount to a star.?

get back happy to help ? Lots to learn the various Gemini /Losmandy IO forumS have extensive posts most topics covered. But we understand newbs Need help?

So do ask?

cheers

bren?

?



--
Brendan


Re: Gemini Initial Steps

 

I tried to use?Stellarium with my Gemini1 and got all sorts of issues (going to the wrong target, stopping mid-slew).
I ditched Stellarium and went to SkyX and all my problems disappeared.
--
Thanks and Best Regards
Neil


On Mon, Dec 4, 2023 at 1:55?PM <01spaceship@...> wrote:

I use Gemini 1 with Stelarium and a laptop also Asiair with a tablet.?


I use the cable from Michael Herman to connect.

In Stelarium I have to disconnect the telescope and reconnect to see my mount show up close to Polaris. after that it¡¯s jut a slew to target.?