Brian,
Is your router and pc mounted on the OTA deck (moves with slews) or stationary ?
(I have my router velcro'd to the back of my Gemini-2 mini) and have not seen connectivity losses caused by slewing,
but rather I believe that some app's appear to perform lenghty ASCOM calls on the main UI thread. Some apps are better than others in this regard. I believe this coincides with the dropouts for me, likely that the UI thread appears to freeze and either RDP perceives this as trouble (a guess) or the UI thread is just unable to keep up and drops (another guess). A slightly similar (but 'significantly' different) condition test is used by the OS to determine when to display "... The application is not responding..." in the task manager.?

You can observe this condition by manipulating the app in question's ASCOM connectivity/functionality and observing if the UI 'freezes' while the ASCOM function is occurring. Some apps seem to have no effect in the UI Thread, others effectively 'lock up' the UI briefly while the activity is occurring. You may be surprised at the results. I can provide more information and specific reproducible examples if desired.?

Modern, well written programs really should not affect the UI thread at all, while these calls are occurring.

Consider what happens when an automation program is managing multiple other programs, each with their own ASCOM connectivity performing some of these tasks at near the same times...

Also, the RDP connection profile is just a text file with a paticular file name extension.
It is well documented, there are numerous additional parameters that may be useful. To see them, just use the "save as" in the RDP applet, then "open with" the file using fav text editor and customize...

Thanks,
Astronut Tim

开云体育

Hi!

One option, perhaps, if I understand your question and aimed for setup correcly, would be the Stellarmate. It is a Raspberry Pi that sits on the mount and controls everything, and then you access it via VNC, typically, from you desktop or laptop, on any OS you like. Cheap, very stable, very very capable.

Best,

Magnus

--

Hi James,

I use RDP for remote telescope control just as you mentioned all the time. Never looked back.

I have found it useful to save a RDP profile shortcut that includes credentials so you can just click and connect from the desktop.?

Rarely, from time to time, the RDP connection can fail, causing the remote session desktop to no longer refresh.??Just close and reopen the RDP session and the remote visibility is restored in a few seconds.

I use the Gemini-2's Ethernet port for mount connectivity. This makes it so you can directly connect to the mount.
I actually have Stellarium running on the more powerful inside computer and use the 'mount' computer for imaging.

I usually open the Gemini web site on the inside computer displaying the hand controller, so that in case the RDP connection fails, I can still have quick mount control.

I also use a remote video camera pointed at the mount and a good portion of the sky (I actually use an old StellaCam, which has hardware integration, which results in daylight like views of the telescope, while still getting a good view of the stars and sky conditions without the infrared emissions of modern 'night vision security cameras'.
It is a comfort being able to see the equipment while it is moving.

I also added a camera to my finder scope and use a reasonably fast update rate, like 300mS in Sharpcap, to get a EAA view of "what the main scope's looking at" at any time, regardless of the state of the imaging camera.

I did negotiate a pitfall the first time I went portable (without internet). I had to reconfigure my networking to compensate. If you are going to be taking your rig mobile, make sure you test your scenario ahead of time.

Like many others, I use SGP, PHD2 & Sharpcap for imaging workflow.

More depends on the specific software you use in your workflow, as well as specifics on how your networking is configured.?

Hope something in here may be useful,
Astronut Tim

I am in the process of going from a laptop near the mount configuration of controlling my imaging set up, to a mini computer on the scope, and controlling through my home network. I will be using Remote Desktop and a mini router, and want to configure the set up so that it can be portable.

The above description is the future state I am striving for. My current state is barely being able to connect my laptop to the mini computer with Remote Desktop. I had trouble initially with credentials being recognized by RDP, and had to configure a local user account to by pass that issue.?

Brian, has a good video for the mini router set up, but there is much more involved in getting the whole rig set up and bullet proof. Anyway, Brian and anyone else who has succeeded with this type of set up, I would love to read how you set up and maintain your remote control imaging apparatus, and any other advice or pitfalls to avoid.

Clear ones,

James

On Wed, Aug 26, 2020 at 08:01 AM, Mark Christensen wrote:

Regards,
Mark Christensen

Thanks, Mark. I did get a used Hurst motor and with a WEMOS D1 R32 board and a CNC shield and driver, I made a simple full featured OnStep controller. Full ASCOM control. Here is a link to the project pictures so far.?


JoAnn

Hi Mike,

Well that's good to hear, it is usually just old dried up dirty grease that messes up the works. But once you have SuperLubed you just have to worry about contamination as it will never gum up on you.??

Did you get some dirt or maybe corrosion in the little post hole that goes through the top plate to make it tight? I would not sand it without knowing the cause as if you get spring loaded worms in the future you don't want that hole to be oversized. McMaster Carr has ABEC-7 bearings for $8, this is relatively cheap for reliable supplier.?

--

Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?

? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?

Marc,?
I really like your Moon pics of a couple weekends ago, so much detail.? It was a good night down here near Canberra too.? I am very new and attached is my first ever prime focus pic - Mewlon 180/Canon EOS RP (I am just new to the hobby, having received my new G11 the week prior) .

Hi Glenn1
Welcome to the group.

This is the Group,
Where you'll get the straight poop,
From devotees all around the Globe!

I'm a GM811G HD owner. I've wow'd mine up a bit. One of the very attractive things was how I could make mine a semi-Pier configuration with the 12" extension.
Later I realized I needed the RA EXT so I could stop unscrewing the counterweight shaft all the time. I found a huge bonus in that I could continue to image through the meridian without doing a Meridian Flip.
That night I had no trouble staying awake until 03:00 Hrs. I was fascinated!

My passion is Deep Space Objects, Nebula specific. I use an Orion ED80T CF as my telescope, Atik Infinity OSC as my camera, and an Orion guide scope and camera for guiding.
I have to bring mine in and take it out. So I have mine in 4 manageable "Chunks". Tripod, RA section with 12" riser, Dec section with CW shaft and weight, and on top is the telescope and all the electronics.

I hope you get to enjoy your new 811 soon. I'm under the same poopy skies. When mine came home in February, I kept it hidden for 2 weeks. But the inevitable happened. One tiny little dark cloud came by and stopped looking down on me in my backyard.
That little brat told all the clouds and it rained or was cloudy for about 6 weeks! I was sure we wouldn't have an Brush Fire Season because surely all the brush had drowned.
Maybe your new 811 will bring some rain to put the fires out?

Scott told me, "Don't mess with it. Just use it."
Because even though a Losmandy mount invites tinkering, if left alone it will stay in the precise "State of Tune" Scott put it in before it was boxed for shipment.

--
SonnyE


(I suggest viewed in full screen)

Hi Chip,
I think everyone here was right, looks like it just needed a very, very thorough cleaning. I got both axis cleaned up and applied some super lube. After getting the axis re-assembled, they move smoothly. I then put my 10" schmidt cass (LX200, about 40 lbs with the moonlight focuser) and about 50 lbs of counterweights on and I was able to balance it pretty well. So that is one thing solved. Axis both moved very smoothly after all the cleaning.?

Next thing to deal with is I could feel some roughness in the RA worm bearings, so I will order some high precision versions on those, and the worm block closest to the motor on the dec axis is very tight, was impossible to remove without some tapping, and will barely rotate in its place. I'll lightly sand the post on it and see if i can't get it to fit better - it will be hard to adjust the worms without the block rotating freely.

Mike

While doing the cold start alignment of 3-4 stars the display shows the offset of the polar axis from the NCP in altitude and azimuth. The manual says these are in units of arc-seconds. Is that really correct? Or is it giving the offset in arc-minutes?

Russ

Welcome to the Losmandy Group and GM811G ownership club. I have a GM811G.? If you have any questions feel free to post a message.

Mount Equipment
- Stock GM811G - DEC spring loaded worm
- PoleMaster
- Upgraded AMD saddle??
- Losmandy Polar Scope
- AC to DC 15 volt @ 5 amp power supply
- DC to DC 12 volt to 15.3 volt @ 5 amp converter (home made)
-?Tripod knob set

Software
- N.I.N.A. 1.10 HF01 RC001
- TheSkyX Pro
- PHD Guide 2
- PixInsight

I’m a new G811G owner as of last week. I upgraded from a Celestron AVX mount which I used for 2 years for visual and EAA and many years prior with a CG5.?

I own an 8” Celestron SCT and a Vixen ED80sf. I image with a ZWO ASI294 Pro and operate mount and camera remotely with an Intel NUC at the mount and Remote Access over WiFi to my in-house computer.

I upgraded to Losmandy to try my luck at AP, which I haven't been all that successful doing before. ?So far, I’ve been able to assemble the mount, set up Gemini 2 and connect to my NUC over direct Ethernet.?As soon as the heat and smoke over my Southern California skies subside, I'll attempt to align the mount and guide.

I expect that to take awhile and will need all the help I can get.?

Thanks guys. Yes it does some sense of depth when you seen the moon motion and shadows projected.

Here's a picture of the rig on one of the nights imaging Saturn:?
You can see Jupiter, Saturn and the Milkyway center just passing the zenith at about 19:00. I'm at -33.5 latitude.

And here's two moon shots annotated:

Sonny,

I already posted to do a factory reset a few weeks ago.?

--

Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?

? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?

Hi Mike,

When you cleaned the worm did you actually disassemble the aluminum clutch discs with the translucent plastic clutch disc sandwiched in between? The plastic clutch discs and both aluminum clutch discs must be totally free of grease or you get sticky movement even with the clutch knobs loose AND you cannot get the clutches to lock well no matter how tight you make them.?

Other problems I've seen on people's mounts are the aluminum clutch disc on the axles are not perpendicular to the axles which causes a slip, grab slip grab with the clutch knobs free. The ever popular damaged or contaminated bearings, the slightest dirt can cause havoc, misaligned or not fully seated bearing caps and bent axles.?

I would suggest inspecting the bearing caps to see that they are seated, you can check them by using a feeler gauge and confirming that the gap between the main mount body and the bearing caps is perfectly even all around the mount. If not you will need to reseat them to square the bearings on the axle.?

You can verify the axle is not wobbly by using a couple V-blocks and a dial indicator. Support the axle on the ends and place the indicator in the center, zero and rotate the axle. Swap the indicator with one of the V-blocks and check again, if it is out of true this is one issue you can check off. There may be more than one problem and in my experience it pays to check all potential issues before reassembly.

Just a few more things that are easy and quick to check out.?

Keep us posted.?
--

Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?

? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?

I’m just freely spinning the saddle with my hand. If the ring gear spins with the saddle, I.e the worm gear is removed, everything spins freely. If I replace the worm gear, and have the clutch loose, the ring gear can not spin anymore bc it is engaged with the worm. How’re when I try to spin the saddle freely it sticks in a couple spots. ?So that is why I suspect the clutch

hopefully that makes it more clear. ?I noticed it was sticky trying to balance my telescope and I have been messing with it trying to figure it out. I don’t think it’s the bears as it spins nice when the worm is out.?

the other thing I note is if the clutch knob is really loose, it is almost like the RA shaft wants to unscrew itself out of the. Oh that’s, like the bottom threads are engages in the bearing. Maybe it has something to do with it?

mike

Going back to bone simple...
Have you tried a Factory Reset?
(I'm assuming your G11 has a Gemini II. Because I am ignorant if this is available with a Gemini I.)
Just thought I would through that in there. (Not that I'm ignorant. That maybe a Factory Reset could help flush any turds out of the controller.)

One other thing I've made a habit of is to use the Quick Start. It gives me a review of my settings, then drops me at a cold start.
But with the assurance my settings are hunky-dory, before I start. ;^)
--
SonnyE


(I suggest viewed in full screen)

Possibly a bit of a tight spot in one of the needle bearings. You can rince them with WD40, then turp, dry thoroughly and regrease lightly. Sliding the RA axis in the other way (knob side) can help re-aligning them as well, if you have three. Or maybe your end plate is not square to the axis anymore (sag) or the shaft is slightly bent, although I doubt it.

Hi Mike

I"m not sure at what point of re-assembly you found the RA is a bit sticky. did you put your telescope back on??

>>>When I put the worm back in the RA assembly would have that stickiness again

this sounds to me like it could be a worm gear meshing too tight. i'm not sure what else you saw the leads you to the clutch

Brian