Re: G1 on G-11 refuses to go to bright stars
Hi!
Yes, return to CWD works well (at least no problem with it so far). And yes, 1.04 level 5 (I'm at work now so cannot triple check but that's what is use to say). I upgraded to level 5 some 2 years ago. Bought a new EEPROM from some reliable place that I cannot recall right now - that is, not home made.
But I cannot slew without motors attached, can I? It typically says "Motor stalls" when I've tried to do that.
Best,
Magnus
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Re: G1 on G-11 refuses to go to bright stars
Hi Magnus,
Just looking at a sky chart for a Sweden location...?
It seems strange that your "forbidden" locations are very far North of Polaris (which for you is very high in the sky).
All your stars that are South of Polaris seem that you can GoTo them OK, but those North of Polaris at that time of night at your location seem "forbidden."
It almost seems like the Gemini thinks your Latitude is too far near the equator...and perhaps Gemini thinks they are below your horizon.? My guess is that this could be the source of the trouble.
So try and look at your Location information and especially the Latitude and see if that has got the right information.
The Gemini.net "Setup - Configure Telescope" will show the Longitude and Latitude entries.? You can also send that data to the Gemini from that applet.??
You can also choose "Gemini expects J2000" instead of the default "Jnow".? There seems to be about a 15 minute difference between the two in RA, though this cannot be your trouble.
Paul is correct in that a "Synch" only resets the Tick counter, and it does not actually change the Pointing model. When you did a Cold boot, your model values were all reset to zero, and that still should be OK.? You must press more buttons on the hand controller to register an "Align" that actually results in new model parameter calculations.? (And... for Gemini to get its calculations correct, you want to do 3 Align on one side of the Meridian first, then do 3 on the other side of the Meridian.? )
All the best, and hope your mystery clears up...
Michael
On Fri, Oct 27, 2017 at 12:20 AM, brenatlilydale@... [Losmandy_users] <Losmandy_users@...> wrote:
?
Magnus
Thanks Magnus, so it'll return to CWD on command ok and not interrupt from one of these goto slew fails?? I'm guessing yes this is ok.?? If ok kinda tells me the servo system is ok.
Which is wired.? I'm going to have to stop drinking booze to get a clear head to think about all this....Haaaaa!? Sorry bad joke!
If it was a com's error with spurious HC commands happening then this would occur when trying to slew to park!
You still on EPROM 1.04 and haven't changed it?? If you have changed EPROM...its a possible EPROM data fail?? Don't know really clutching at straws.?? I kinda get the feeling this could be the issue but still wouldn't rule out HC/main PCB spurious commands occurring somewhere not necessarily in the HC.? But this appears to occur when commanding via RS232 as well, so, then we now go back to servo loop or EPROM!
Real odd issue....that I am not sure of.?
Does this occur if if you disconnect the motors from the axes and do some fake setup cold boots and slews to known stars available at that time?? Yes I know you have no idea if the system actually completed the correct goto but I'm looking for "interrupted" occurrences.
regards and get back
Brendan
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Re: G1 on G-11 refuses to go to bright stars
Magnus,
I think there is some confusion in your statements.
Synching does not add to the model, only aligning does that.
Synching just says to the software that I am here.
Regards
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Hi all!
Thanks for all suggestions on this issue! I've now tried a lot, but unfortunately, the problem is still there.?
I measure the voltage from the battery: 3.09 V.?
I checked and checked and triple checked lat and long - correct. So is UTC time.?
I set the safety limits, first to default, then to how I'd like them. Checked and checked.?
And it is still there. Very systematically (which leads me to think not HC issue). Yesterday night, I did a cold start, Go To Bright star to Albireo and sync (first point in model). Then I tried Go To Bright Star Dubhe - and get Interrrupted. I tries Deneb - works OK! Sync - second point in model. Tried Dubhe - Interrupted. Tried Mirfak (which means a meridian flip) - Interrupted. Tried Vega - OK! Sync - third point.?
Then I used the HC to manually slew to Mizar in Ursa Major, did a sync there, and then tried Go To Bright Star Dubhe again. Interrupted.?
Then (only then) did I attach the RS232 cable and the computer. That is, shut the mount down and did a warm restart. I tried slewing with the computer (not ASCOM, but Ekos/Indi). And i works with the same stars, but refuses to slew to anything in Andromeda or Perseus. When using the computer to slew to Perseus, the HC reports Interrupted, and the computer says "Slew complete" (well...).?
I was going to image M33. So I used the HC to manually slew to somewhere around M33 (I could not use HC nor computer to GoTo M33). Then I used the computer to plate solve and "sync". I am not sure how that sync interacts with the point model in Losmandy though. Now I used the computer to slew to M33 - and it worked!! And I could plate solve and have it adjust postion to center om M33.?
So: first nothing in Andromeda is allowed for a GoTo. But after having the computer (Ekos/indi) plate solve very close to my intended target, it worked.?
It feels to me like there is something wrong with th e point model. But if I cold start, do I not build it from scratch? Could there be someting corrupting the point model, that I am not aware of?
Or is my G1 more severely ill.....?
Big problem with this, is that I cannot trust the scope to work automatically. That is, I'd like to use a scheduler and have it start in the middle of the night and image until dawn, for instance with M33. As it is now, I need to manually manipualte it to be able to reach the intended target. So it is a practical problem.?
Magnus
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Re: G1 on G-11 refuses to go to bright stars
Magnus Thanks Magnus, so it'll return to CWD on command ok and not interrupt from one of these goto slew fails?? I'm guessing yes this is ok.?? If ok kinda tells me the servo system is ok. Which is wired.? I'm going to have to stop drinking booze to get a clear head to think about all this....Haaaaa!? Sorry bad joke! If it was a com's error with spurious HC commands happening then this would occur when trying to slew to park! You still on EPROM 1.04 and haven't changed it?? If you have changed EPROM...its a possible EPROM data fail?? Don't know really clutching at straws.?? I kinda get the feeling this could be the issue but still wouldn't rule out HC/main PCB spurious commands occurring somewhere not necessarily in the HC.? But this appears to occur when commanding via RS232 as well, so, then we now go back to servo loop or EPROM! Real odd issue....that I am not sure of.? Does this occur if if you disconnect the motors from the axes and do some fake setup cold boots and slews to known stars available at that time?? Yes I know you have no idea if the system actually completed the correct goto but I'm looking for "interrupted" occurrences. regards and get back Brendan
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Re: G1 on G-11 refuses to go to bright stars
Magnus Thanks Magnus, so it'll return to CWD on command ok and not interrupt from one of these goto slew fails?? I'm guessing yes this is ok.?? If ok kinda tells me the servo system is ok. Which is wired.? I'm going to have to stop drinking booze to get a clear head to think about all this....Haaaaa!? Sorry bad joke! If it was a com's error with spurious HC commands happening then this would occur when trying to slew to park! You still on EPROM 1.04 and haven't changed it?? If you have changed EPROM...its a possible EPROM data fail?? Don't know really clutching at straws.?? I kinda get the feeling this could be the issue but still wouldn't rule out HC/main PCB spurious commands occurring somewhere not necessarily in the HC.? But this appears to occur when commanding via RS232 as well, so, then we now go back to servo loop or EPROM! Real odd issue....that I am not sure of.? Does this occur if if you disconnect the motors from the axes and do some fake setup cold boots and slews to known stars available at that time?? Yes I know you have no idea if the system actually completed the correct goto but I'm looking for "interrupted" occurrences. regards and get back Brendan
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Re: G1 on G-11 refuses to go to bright stars
Hi!
Yes, one motor was exchanged for a new, the other repaired, later also exchanged for a new.
And yes, it is that Doc Goerlich page I use to have the UTC, and I enter it exactly as displayed (at least that's what it looks like).
Best,
Magnus
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Re: G1 on G-11 refuses to go to bright stars
Magnus
I'm looking back thru threads trying to get a handle on this.? Previous you had motor issues but these have been resolved.? So atm I just want to confirm you have put in DTG as per Gemini fashion:
Gemini UTC display (yymm.dd: hh.mm.ss):
see link right at the bottom of Rene's site .
Also check you are or are not using daylight savings time and have gained or lost an hr.
Brendan
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Re: G1 on G-11 refuses to go to bright stars
Hi all!
Thanks for all suggestions on this issue! I've now tried a lot, but unfortunately, the problem is still there.
I measure the voltage from the battery: 3.09 V.
I checked and checked and triple checked lat and long - correct. So is UTC time.
I set the safety limits, first to default, then to how I'd like them. Checked and checked.
And it is still there. Very systematically (which leads me to think not HC issue). Yesterday night, I did a cold start, Go To Bright star to Albireo and sync (first point in model). Then I tried Go To Bright Star Dubhe - and get Interrrupted. I tries Deneb - works OK! Sync - second point in model. Tried Dubhe - Interrupted. Tried Mirfak (which means a meridian flip) - Interrupted. Tried Vega - OK! Sync - third point.
Then I used the HC to manually slew to Mizar in Ursa Major, did a sync there, and then tried Go To Bright Star Dubhe again. Interrupted.
Then (only then) did I attach the RS232 cable and the computer. That is, shut the mount down and did a warm restart. I tried slewing with the computer (not ASCOM, but Ekos/Indi). And i works with the same stars, but refuses to slew to anything in Andromeda or Perseus. When using the computer to slew to Perseus, the HC reports Interrupted, and the computer says "Slew complete" (well...).
I was going to image M33. So I used the HC to manually slew to somewhere around M33 (I could not use HC nor computer to GoTo M33). Then I used the computer to plate solve and "sync". I am not sure how that sync interacts with the point model in Losmandy though. Now I used the computer to slew to M33 - and it worked!! And I could plate solve and have it adjust postion to center om M33.
So: first nothing in Andromeda is allowed for a GoTo. But after having the computer (Ekos/indi) plate solve very close to my intended target, it worked.
It feels to me like there is something wrong with the point model. But if I cold start, do I not build it from scratch? Could there be someting corrupting the point model, that I am not aware of?
Or is my G1 more severely ill.....?
Big problem with this, is that I cannot trust the scope to work automatically. That is, I'd like to use a scheduler and have it start in the middle of the night and image until dawn, for instance with M33. As it is now, I need to manually manipualte it to be able to reach the intended target. So it is a practical problem.
Magnus
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Re: "Speed" to use when building a model
Somewhere in the Gemini1 manual it says something like...:
Align to 3 stars on one side (only) of the meridian? (go West of meridian and align to 3 stars).
Then, after those 3 on one side, align to 3 stars on the other side (say East of meridian).
Give that method a try and see if your pointing gets better.
Also be aware of the difference between the words "Align" and "Synch."? A "Synch" only adjusts the offsets of RA and DEC, but does not change the Model parameter values.? "Align" does not change the RA or DEC offsets, but instead adds new calculated Model parameter values.
On a cold boot, all Model parameters are 0.? After your first star Align/Synch, the values are still 0...only the offsets are adjusted.? Each "Align" after that Gemini actually does calculations of the Model.? You can watch the model values change after each step, if you use the Gemini.net applet for example.
I don't have the software source code, but the data fitting algorithm method must be why the 1st 3 "Align" stars must be on the same side of the Meridian....so the calculations come out right.
Other mounts do not have this requirement, or use triangulation rather than a sophisticated sky model.??
Anyway...see what your tests show.
Best, Michael?
On Oct 24, 2017 11:18 AM, " bill.krosney@... [Losmandy_users]" < Losmandy_users@...> wrote:
?
Thanks,?
This probably should be posted over in the Gemini-II forum.? So, just shut this down and I'll re-post over there.
Sorry....
... Bill
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Re: "Speed" to use when building a model
Thanks,?
This probably should be posted over in the Gemini-II forum.? So, just shut this down and I'll re-post over there.
Sorry....
... Bill
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Re: "Speed" to use when building a model
Bill
the speed has nothing to do with building the model. you just need to accurately center the goto target. it's tricky to do with slew or move, but it can be done. the more accurately centered, the better your model
it's just easier to just center, it's a slower speed. that's the only difference
B
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"Speed" to use when building a model
Took my relatively new GM811 out and tried my first attempts at building a model and doing GOTO's.
Have used the mount in the past, but never played with the GOTO capability or building a model.? All did not go well.
Had some issues, GOTO's were always out by a few degrees.? Familiar with GEM mounts, polar alignment and such, just new to GOTO's.? All the initial parameters; lat, long, time offset, date and time were all entered correctly.? And my CWD was set initially as best as I good visually set it.? A Polemaster was available, so we even used that for Polar alignment.
But, yes,?did not fully work my way through the Gemini-2.com website beforehand.
In hindsight, and working through the website, I found this comment ...
WARNING: ONLY USE THE CENTER OR GUIDE SPEED TO CENTER THE STAR. USING SLEWING SPEED WILL TAKE YOU OUT OF THE MODELING FUNCTION AND RETURN YOU TO NORMAL GOTO MODE.
To center the star to model I would use the "MOVE"? speed.? The comment above is explicit about NOT using SLEW because it takes you out of the modeling function, and explicitly says to use CENTER or GUIDE.? But what about "MOVE".? Would using "MOVE" not allow me to build a model?
Could this of been a source of my trouble?
Also to center a star, didn't use a cross-hair or anything like that, just did a visual "close enough to the center of the field of view" at about 80x magnification.? When you have to "center the star" how close is close enough?
Thanks in advance...
... Bill
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Re: Astro-Physics Right-Angle Polar Alignment Scope
Or a right angle adapter from a camera:
The Pentax unit is really deluxe, but inverts.? So?I'm making another for a Canon RA adapter that keeps everything upright. Simple and very effective, if all you're after is the right angle'ness.
My 2 cents...
Eric
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Re: Astro-Physics Right-Angle Polar Alignment Scope
Lawrence D. Hoffman, M.D.
Unfortunately, no it does not. Look at the PoleMaster instead.
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Does the Astro-Physics Right-Angle Polar Alignment Scopefit the losmandy mounts? ? Leroy
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Re: Target Unreachable Message?
I get these as well. Sent my logs off the last time it happens. I would be curious if there was any value in keeping a backup copy of the pointing models (assuming that is possible) as rebuilding the model is not a five second job.
greg latiak avalon observatory
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Astro-Physics Right-Angle Polar Alignment Scope
Does the
Astro-Physics Right-Angle Polar Alignment
Scope
fit the losmandy
mounts?
?
Leroy
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Re: G11 on JMI Wheeley Bars
For a low cost version ($25) I made my own and use it on my Meade LX200GPS-14", works so well, my 4yo boy can roll it out (under my supervision).
Simply a 2x6, drywall screws, 1/2 inch all thread, six 1/2 inch nuts, 3 casters. I had the scopebuggy and got tired of hand screwing the jack screws down and up, so I just lock two nuts together at the top of the all-thread (with point at bottom) and use my cordless screw driver to lower and raise them in ~30 seconds (hex drive to 1/2 inch drive with socket), works very well and saved about $275 clams.
You could add a little protection for the legs moving, but in 7 years I have not had any issues with the legs moving, you could add anti-vib pads under the legs or rubber mat pieces. Could add a small piece of plywood to add more stuff below the tripod, it's childsplay making this thing and low cost. Have fun, clear skies.
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Re: Target Unreachable Message?
Figured it out. Corrupted model.
John C Golden Valley, AZ
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Re: Target Unreachable Message?
I used my mount (Titan 50 - Gemini-2) successfully on 10/10/17. Tonight, I tried to go to several objects and repeatedly got target unreachable, one of them was M31 - well above the horizon. The only targets I could access were those near the zenith. I checked the site settings and date/time - still good. I tried a default site setting for a major city near me - no change. I parked and started the mount up several times. I went through the process of setting the safety limits again - no change.
I gave in up total frustration after several attempts.
Would this have anything to do with the battery?
John C Golden Valley, AZ
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Re: G11 on JMI Wheeley Bars
dlbeaman I have JMI's Wheely Bar under my G11 G2 with a Meade 10" SCT.? I roll the scope out about 30' to a place where I can do polar alignment (see Polaris).? Small bumps exiting the garage then crossing a patch of asphalt and onto a concrete pad.? Being lazy, I don't bother with the jack screws.? I just point approximately toward the pole and lock the casters.? Polar alignment is with Pole Master.? Seems to work fine for me but I am beginning to develop a desire for a permanent observatory to avoid the set up and tear down of all of the imaging? equipment mostly cabling connections and power cord. Dave... Franktown, CO
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Michael Herman
Bill Krosney
Eric Chesak
David Cochrun