HI All! I am new to Gemini and I am just getting familiar with its operation.?? I have a G11GT and I am using the Losmandy GPS unit to determine lat, Long and time.??? I am noticing some quirks with respect to how Gemini and the GPS interact.? Basically, if I go from a cold start(or quick start), Gemini automatically sets the time zone to -8(I assume California) and the corresponding time.? When the GPS is queried, the lat and long come back correctly, but the time zone and time on the hand controller do not reset. If I reset the time zone manually, and THEN requery the GPS, things seem to come back more or less correctly.??? My question is, when using the GPS, what is recommended practice for setting the time zone and time?? I have read a number of sources that suggest Gemini uses the information GPS and that the hand set time etc..? do not play a role in goto and pointing, but my experience suggests otherwise(I may be misunderstanding what people are saying!).? ?Another suggestion is to simply set the time zone to zero and go.? A third approach was to set the time zone directly (or one behind for daylight savings) to get the accurate time.? I have kind of played around with all of these with varying results. I should point out that I use pole master to polar align, so I am confident that the mount is level and aligned.? ? I would appreciate any insight this group could provide.? I am having fun with the mount, and am just working through this little wrinkle in an otherwise cool process! Thanks! JMD
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Re: G1 on G-11 refuses to go to bright stars
Magnus,
I have had similar issues when either the location or time are entered incorrectly.
Regards
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Hi!
I'm in Sweden, at 21, 22 in the evening. The stars I am trying to reach is about 45 degrees above the horizon. Mizar and Dubhe West-North-West, roughly. Earlier, the same thing happened with Altair and Deneb, a few weeks ago, when they were high, South and sligtly to the east.
As for safety limits, the location of the stars are way off the limits. And I can easily slew the mount to them. It is the GoTo that does something strange.?
As for battery - new as of 1 hour before trying this yesterday.?
Magnus
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Re: G1 on G-11 refuses to go to bright stars
Hi!
I'm in Sweden, at 21, 22 in the evening. The stars I am trying to reach is about 45 degrees above the horizon. Mizar and Dubhe West-North-West, roughly. Earlier, the same thing happened with Altair and Deneb, a few weeks ago, when they were high, South and sligtly to the east.
As for safety limits, the location of the stars are way off the limits. And I can easily slew the mount to them. It is the GoTo that does something strange.
As for battery - new as of 1 hour before trying this yesterday.
Magnus
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Re: Mount Clutch Tensions
But my arm isn't tired yet.? 
Chip
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Re: G1 on G-11 refuses to go to bright stars
This could also be the start of a serial communication issue or battery failure. I had this issue and it disappeared once I replaced the battery with a fresh cell. The Gemini 1 seems to start to have issues when the battery falls 10% of a fresh cell or once you get below about 2.9vdc or so. I just pitch them when they get below 3vdc to avoid any issues in the dark at 20F. I've also had issues with odd goto failures and even stranger, very rapid battery drain until I consistently used an ATEN USB to RS232 converter. My GM8 has the lighted rocker switch Gemini 1 controller that I use a lot in my driveway and the last time I put a battery in it was almost 8 months ago. Prior to tossing an old the FTDI based USB to RS232 converter I had for many years the batteries in the Gemin 1 would die within weeks of installation which presented many off issues like yours.? ? Chip?
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Re: G1 on G-11 refuses to go to bright stars
Make sure your safety limits are set for your particular equipment and that you are not relying on the defaults. This will make a world of difference.
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?
Hi!
I thought I had posted on this problem before here, but cannot find my original post...so here is a new one.
Problem: My G-11 seems to refuse to go to some locations, that should be unproblematic. For instance: Tonight I cold started the unit, and did a first alignment on Altair. Then choose to go to Mizar, which does not involve a MF and is far from any limits. I get the message **Interrupted**. The same for many stars. Deneb and Vega worked today, and even Mirfak, but still Mizar and Dubhe just gets Interrupted. I managed to do alignment with 5 or 6 stars, and the model seems to be fairly OK, with a polar alignment error of 7'. So how come it refuses to go to a number of stars (about half of the ones I tried)?
And it's got a fresh 3 V battery. Changed today.
Any suggestions?
Magnus
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Re: G1 on G-11 refuses to go to bright stars
Magnus,
You could have had your "Limit" set incorrectly for East or West and that might also generate an "Interrupted" error. You can use your Gemini.net to set the limits to something sensible like 90? degrees.??
Best, Michael
On Mon, Oct 16, 2017 at 12:51 PM, bryancashion@... [Losmandy_users] <Losmandy_users@...> wrote:
?
Magnus
What is your location and what time were trying to go to these stars???
Bryan ---In Losmandy_users@..., < jfev5mnsvqiyzpq756wvokt55jve7s bg2esr5mip@...> wrote :
Hi! I thought I had posted on this problem before here, but cannot find my original post...so here is a new one. Problem: My G-11 seems to refuse to go to some locations, that should be unproblematic. For instance: Tonight I cold started the unit, and did a first alignment on Altair. Then choose to go to Mizar, which does not involve a MF and is far from any limits. I get the message **Interrupted**. The same for many stars. Deneb and Vega worked today, and even Mirfak, but still Mizar and Dubhe just gets Interrupted. I managed to do alignment with 5 or 6 stars, and the model seems to be fairly OK, with a polar alignment error of 7'. So how come it refuses to go to a number of stars (about half of the ones I tried)? And it's got a fresh 3 V battery. Changed today. Any suggestions? Magnus
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Re: G1 on G-11 refuses to go to bright stars
Magnus
What is your location and what time were trying to go to these stars???
Bryan ---In Losmandy_users@..., <jfev5mnsvqiyzpq756wvokt55jve7sbg2esr5mip@...> wrote : Hi! I thought I had posted on this problem before here, but cannot find my original post...so here is a new one. Problem: My G-11 seems to refuse to go to some locations, that should be unproblematic. For instance: Tonight I cold started the unit, and did a first alignment on Altair. Then choose to go to Mizar, which does not involve a MF and is far from any limits. I get the message **Interrupted**. The same for many stars. Deneb and Vega worked today, and even Mirfak, but still Mizar and Dubhe just gets Interrupted. I managed to do alignment with 5 or 6 stars, and the model seems to be fairly OK, with a polar alignment error of 7'. So how come it refuses to go to a number of stars (about half of the ones I tried)? And it's got a fresh 3 V battery. Changed today. Any suggestions? Magnus
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Re: G1 on G-11 refuses to go to bright stars
Hi!
Thanks for the suggestion! No, I am absolutely sure I did not press any buttons. And strangely enough, the error seems not random - in that I could not slew to Mizar, but to Mirfak. I mean, repeatedly trying Mizar, then Deneb (which was OK), then Mizar (Interrupted), then Mirfak (OK), then Mizar (Interrupted) and so on.
But I'll follow you advice and see what happens :) Will take a few days for update though.
Magnus
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Re: G1 on G-11 refuses to go to bright stars
Hi Magnus,
The "interrupted" message usually comes from the user pressing a button on the handset when the system is slewing to a target object.? ?Is there any chance you might have something pressing on a button during the system slew to your target star???
If there is no way a button could be pressed, I wonder if it is possible that you have an intermittent glitch from your hand controller?? To fix that, you might try cleaning the hand controller internal board of any corrosion or discoloration, using alcohol on a cotton swab.? The hand controller comes apart with 2 phillips screws on the back cover.??
All the best and good luck on tracing this issue, Michael
?
Hi!
I thought I had posted on this problem before here, but cannot find my original post...so here is a new one.
Problem: My G-11 seems to refuse to go to some locations, that should be unproblematic. For instance: Tonight I cold started the unit, and did a first alignment on Altair. Then choose to go to Mizar, which does not involve a MF and is far from any limits. I get the message **Interrupted**. The same for many stars. Deneb and Vega worked today, and even Mirfak, but still Mizar and Dubhe just gets Interrupted. I managed to do alignment with 5 or 6 stars, and the model seems to be fairly OK, with a polar alignment error of 7'. So how come it refuses to go to a number of stars (about half of the ones I tried)?
And it's got a fresh 3 V battery. Changed today.
Any suggestions?
Magnus
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G1 on G-11 refuses to go to bright stars
Hi! I thought I had posted on this problem before here, but cannot find my original post...so here is a new one. Problem: My G-11 seems to refuse to go to some locations, that should be unproblematic. For instance: Tonight I cold started the unit, and did a first alignment on Altair. Then choose to go to Mizar, which does not involve a MF and is far from any limits. I get the message **Interrupted**. The same for many stars. Deneb and Vega worked today, and even Mirfak, but still Mizar and Dubhe just gets Interrupted. I managed to do alignment with 5 or 6 stars, and the model seems to be fairly OK, with a polar alignment error of 7'. So how come it refuses to go to a number of stars (about half of the ones I tried)? And it's got a fresh 3 V battery. Changed today. Any suggestions? Magnus
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Re: Mount Clutch Tensions
Even I get tired of beating a dead horse.
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Re: Mount Clutch Tensions
I think anybody can measure the clutch bearing clearance in the mount using Plastigauge and It should be close enough to know if there is a problem or not. Using Plastigage has the advantage of showing you the clearance setup actually in the complete system. Using v-blocks and checking the surface with a dial indicator works for half the problem only but can tell you if the issue is in the mount body, the axle and plate or both when combined with the plastigauge.? ? Chip? ??
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Re: Mount Clutch Tensions
I hear ya on the AP mount Eric. but lucky for me ($) I'm a natural born tinkerer - Ha! So Losmandy is perfect.
Regarding the hammer, it helped in my case but I still have a .003" out of parallel condition that I can only attribute to machining error. Not a show stopper but less than ideal for sure
Jeff
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Re: Mount Clutch Tensions
I bead blasted the clutch surfaces of one of my G11's.? It did indeed grip well, at the expense of more difficult balancing.? The mount was used for astrophotography (30 minute subs).? The clutch held firm with little pressure but because of the increased friction of the clutch (even released) it was more difficult to balance.??
With regard to the axis binding when the clutch is tightened, Here's what I'd do and what I will do if I ever buy another used Losmandy mount.
Forget my posts about checking the gap between the bearings and the housing.? If you have binding or suspect some alignment issues, try this:
1.? Remove the motor, worm and shaft and the axis from the mount 2.? Place the bottom of the axis on a wood block 3.? Place a wood block on top of the axis 4.? Insure everything is sitting perpendicular and give a sharp rap to the top wood block (a dead blow hammer would be ideal, but I used a ball peen hammer).? If you have a press, you can do this in a press.? 5.? Reassemble the mount and re-check for binding.
This will help insure that you're, at least, starting with an orthogonal system.? This was the process I used to correct my alignment issues on my GM8 (after 2 unproductive trips to Losmandy for this problem).? Losmandy mounts are a very good value and are well built. Used Losmandy mounts are an even better value.? However, If you're looking for perfection in a mount, get an Astro-Physics.? My Mach 1 worked flawlessly from day 1.??
my 2 cents...
Eric
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Re: Mount Clutch Tensions
> The orthogonality of axes and parallelism of clutch surfaces . ( Michael Siniscalchi?
).
BTW, FWIW, this is definitely not the approach I would take to remedy the noted problem !??
-Jeff
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> I have the phone app, haven't tried it yet...Uh, what is CWD?
CWD == CounterWeight Down ? Dave
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I have the phone app, haven't tried it yet...Uh, what is CWD?
Rodney
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Like Les stated, for visual use, level is not critical and the NCP is a bit away from Polaris. I used to use a phone app called Polar Finder that shows where the NCP is relative to Polaris for your exact time and location. The level built into the RA axis is all you need to find your CWD position
Jeff
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Michael Herman
photon_trap
Eric Chesak
David C. Partridge