Trying to get my 2009 Losmandy G11 Gemini 1 functional again...
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Took my G11 Gemini 1 out of mothballs and want to connect it to my Windows 10 laptop.? Have a virtual serial port installed working via USB.? Used a generic FDTI RS232/RJ0 to USB cable and downloaded the Gemini driver at the ASCOM site.??
Identified the com# used to communicate with the mount and set the baud rate at 115200 as this works with my other mounts. Went to set drivers in EQMOD TOOLS but my mount isn't recognized. Also when I try using the Gemini "app" on its own, it doesn't recognize the mount.? So I ordered a Nexstar serial to USB cable as it was cheap and the only Losmandy specific cable seemed to come from Ukraine and I didn't chance ordering that one. But someone on Cloudynights Forum had success with the Nexstar cable, so... Not sure what's wrong and why I can't get connectivity.? Possibilities are 1) need a firmware update but don't know how to get one or get it loaded onto the scope 2) cable doesn't work 3) the Gemini driver isn't for my old mount but some newer one or 4) your guess is as good as mine... Any ideas? Rick |
开云体育The Serial port on the Gemini-1 and Serial Port 1 of the Gemini-2 both default to 9600 8,N,1 so 115200 isn’t about to work … ? David ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Rick via groups.io
Sent: 20 June 2022 02:34 To: [email protected] Subject: [Gemini_users_io] Trying to get my 2009 Losmandy G11 Gemini 1 functional again... ? Took my G11 Gemini 1 out of mothballs and want to connect it to my Windows 10 laptop.? Have a virtual serial port installed working via USB.? Used a generic FDTI RS232/RJ0 to USB cable and downloaded the Gemini driver at the ASCOM site.?? |
开云体育In that case it’s probable that the RS-232 level shifting IC has handed in its cards. It’s an SMD part so not totally trivial to replace. ? If you are in UK I can fix it, USA is Michael Herman, Australia is Bren Smith. ? If you want me to fix please contact me off list. ? D. ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Rick via groups.io
Sent: 20 June 2022 09:40 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Gemini_users_io] Trying to get my 2009 Losmandy G11 Gemini 1 functional again... ? I actually did try it at 9600 but couldn't get connectivity using that either (i.e. I set both the port and EQMOD to 9600 in a couple of test runs for connectivity). |
开云体育Just in case can you check the wiring of the serial cable – see <https://gemini-2.net/cable_wiring.html> ? From: David C. Partridge <david.partridge@...>
Sent: 20 June 2022 09:48 To: '[email protected]' <[email protected]> Subject: RE: [Gemini_users_io] Trying to get my 2009 Losmandy G11 Gemini 1 functional again... ? In that case it’s probable that the RS-232 level shifting IC has handed in its cards. It’s an SMD part so not totally trivial to replace. ? If you are in UK I can fix it, USA is Michael Herman, Australia is Bren Smith. ? If you want me to fix please contact me off list. ? D. ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Rick via groups.io ? I actually did try it at 9600 but couldn't get connectivity using that either (i.e. I set both the port and EQMOD to 9600 in a couple of test runs for connectivity). |
开云体育Just to confirm – is this the FTDI adapter you’re using: ??? If not that, which one??? You can’t use any of the TTL variants for this. ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Rick via groups.io
Sent: 20 June 2022 02:34 To: [email protected] Subject: [Gemini_users_io] Trying to get my 2009 Losmandy G11 Gemini 1 functional again... ? Took my G11 Gemini 1 out of mothballs and want to connect it to my Windows 10 laptop.? Have a virtual serial port installed working via USB.? Used a generic FDTI RS232/RJ0 to USB cable and downloaded the Gemini driver at the ASCOM site.?? |
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?"Gemini’s serial port is set to communicate at 9600 baud (9600 bps), no parity, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit." ( source: Gemini Users Manual Level 4, Section 6.1.2 Settings, page 82).
Also, you can build your proper cable following the instructions in the same User Manual (Section 6.1.1 Pinout and Wiring, page 80-81). I did it and it is easy. In case you don't know/understand such instructions, I could send you such cable. I did two cables. Cheers!? Manu Madrid, Spain |
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I saw that your?OIKWAN USB to RS232 DB9 Serial Cable Male Converter Adapter with FTDI Chipset has not a RJ9 (C4P4) connector. So you have to connect such cable to your laptop (USB port) and the Gemini hand control box cable (DB9), being such last cable plugged into the Gemini digital drive box. In case it does not work, the reason is the connection between PINs in DB9 and USB. Please, read?the instructions in the User Manual (Section 6.1.1 Pinout and Wiring, pages 80-81):?
You have to use the PINs: 2, 3 and 5 in DB9. |
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I explained badly. I meant that your?OIKWAN USB to RS232 DB9 Serial Cable Male Converter Adapter with FTDI Chipset has?not?a RJ9 (C4P4) connector.?And you need to connect a DB9 to RJ9 (C4P4). Anyway, I told you that I built two cables. So I don't need the second one. If you want I can send you such cable. Only I spend 30 EUR in an electronic store.
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Easiest, after you have found the fault, to send your G-1 main unit, and it's serial port cable, to a repairer for evaluation and if found damaged, for repair.?? I know David has often cautioned against using TTL type serial port chips, but I (and Chip privately too) use the ATEN UC232A device with excellent results for a my G-1 units.? ?And I made up a stock of coiled black serial port cables for G-1s.? If you need one or both I have the ATEN UC232A too.?? Repairers/evaluators are, as David said: David Partridge in UK , Bren Smith in Australia, and me in USA.?? Lastly there is no reason your G1 should go bad just stored in the closet.? If anything ...check your 3V backup battery.?? And set your serial port on your PC for 9600 baud.? See the Gemini-1 manual for details....attached.? ?? The G-1 serial port is sensitive and has unprotected TX and Rx lines. We repair a few per year on average.? ?After I repair those I protect those lines with additional devices behind the board.? Yours may have become damaged and/or its surrounding small capacitors blown up.? If you can't get it to work, we can usually repair them.?? Best of luck, Michael On Mon, Jun 20, 2022, 12:52 AM Rick via <revans_01420=[email protected]> wrote: Took my G11 Gemini 1 out of mothballs and want to connect it to my Windows 10 laptop.? Have a virtual serial port installed working via USB.? Used a generic FDTI RS232/RJ0 to USB cable and downloaded the Gemini driver at the ASCOM site.?? |
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Miracle or miracles. I've got everything to work just be replacing the battery in the Gemini 1 control box. Then I changed all my virtual ports to 9600 baud. Now I have connectivity to Stellarium, APT, and the Gemini control "app". So I can do everything I need via the laptop now. Only holdout for me is that EQMOD won't connect.... thinks I'm using an EQ6R mount (which I usually do in fact). Haven't figured out how to change its mind into realizing that I'm using a Gemini. Even so, it doesn't affect anything as the EQMOD functionality is in APT and the Gemini "app" anyway. Still, I'll try to solve that one. Rick On Monday, June 20, 2022, 11:37:29 AM EDT, Michael Herman <mherman346@...> wrote: Easiest, after you have found the fault, to send your G-1 main unit, and it's serial port cable, to a repairer for evaluation and if found damaged, for repair.?? I know David has often cautioned against using TTL type serial port chips, but I (and Chip privately too) use the ATEN UC232A device with excellent results for a my G-1 units.? ?And I made up a stock of coiled black serial port cables for G-1s.? If you need one or both I have the ATEN UC232A too.?? Repairers/evaluators are, as David said: David Partridge in UK , Bren Smith in Australia, and me in USA.?? Lastly there is no reason your G1 should go bad just stored in the closet.? If anything ...check your 3V backup battery.?? And set your serial port on your PC for 9600 baud.? See the Gemini-1 manual for details....attached.? ?? The G-1 serial port is sensitive and has unprotected TX and Rx lines. We repair a few per year on average.? ?After I repair those I protect those lines with additional devices behind the board.? Yours may have become damaged and/or its surrounding small capacitors blown up.? If you can't get it to work, we can usually repair them.?? Best of luck, Michael On Mon, Jun 20, 2022, 12:52 AM Rick via <revans_01420=[email protected]> wrote: Took my G11 Gemini 1 out of mothballs and want to connect it to my Windows 10 laptop.? Have a virtual serial port installed working via USB.? Used a generic FDTI RS232/RJ0 to USB cable and downloaded the Gemini driver at the ASCOM site.?? |
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On Mon, Jun 20, 2022 at 09:38 AM, Ma Ol wrote:
Download the Gemini driver? AFAIK the latest version is 1.0.84.0 but I don't see it here in the files section. It is however in the Gemini 2 user group files section.? Opps, look in the files section drivers and system files and Geminitelescopeinstaller 1.0.84.0 is right there!? -- Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware? ? ?Astropheric Weather for Imagers - Click on my sig! |
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You can download the latest driver in:
/g/Gemini_ASCOM_Driver/files/Installation_Files/GeminiTelescopeInstaller(1.0.84.0).exe |
Rick
David C. Partridge
Ma Ol
Michael Herman
Chip Louie