Hi,
The serial numbers for G11 and GM8s are found under the round base of the mount head.?
Chip
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Where can I locate the serial number on the Losmandy mount. I'm trying to register this. Thank You
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Update: I believe that the problem is solved. It appears that it was a faulty network cable. Because of your comments, I had a lot of options to consider, now and in the future with other problems. Thanks to you, I have examined for the first time my safety limits and realzed that Gemini 2 default limits are way off from what I need for my telescope and camera,. Man, am I ever grateful for clutches.
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Re: G11 Polar Alignment hole
Mine don’t appear egg-shaped, so I’m not sure what that’s about either. ? ? ? Thanks ? Brian ? ? Brian Valente Brianvalentephotography.com ?
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From: Losmandy_users@... [mailto:Losmandy_users@...]
Sent: Thursday, October 5, 2017 7:20 PM
To: Losmandy_users@...
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users] Re: G11 Polar Alignment hole? ? Very interesting... and puzzling.? My CG11 has round holes up the RA axis, but (as another owner just wrote) the holes through the counterweight shaft are not lined up with the RA axis at the CWD position.... it requires a slight rotation of DEC from CWD to get the polar scope bore-sight hole to line up.? ?But the holes and RA axis bore are not egg-shaped.?? I can't imagine what the egg-shaped hole could be from.... normally machine-shop equipment does not make such holes!? ? Please post a photo of that in the group's Files sections... then let us know the path to that photo... I'd call Losmandy and ask about that (better if you have your mount's serial number if you can get to that).?? ? On Thu, Oct 5, 2017 at 7:07 PM, f4chief73@... [Losmandy_users] <Losmandy_users@...> wrote: ? The Polar scope has one black cap, and one silver knurled plug covering the mounting hole for the scope.
Take off those two caps and the hole is not true. It's egg shaped not round... I really don't need the Polar scope, but if a person did, it would never fit in that egg shaped hole. I have a photo of it, but don't know how to post it here. That's the best I can explain it. It doesn't affect the scope performance, but I was just wondering why it was like this.
RB
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Re: G11 Polar Alignment hole
Very interesting... and puzzling.? My CG11 has round holes up the RA axis, but (as another owner just wrote) the holes through the counterweight shaft are not lined up with the RA axis at the CWD position.... it requires a slight rotation of DEC from CWD to get the polar scope bore-sight hole to line up.? ?But the holes and RA axis bore are not egg-shaped.??
I can't imagine what the egg-shaped hole could be from.... normally machine-shop equipment does not make such holes!? ?
Please post a photo of that in the group's Files sections... then let us know the path to that photo... I'd call Losmandy and ask about that (better if you have your mount's serial number if you can get to that).??
Best, Michael
On Thu, Oct 5, 2017 at 7:07 PM, f4chief73@... [Losmandy_users] <Losmandy_users@...> wrote:
?
The Polar scope has one black cap, and one silver knurled plug covering the mounting hole for the scope.
Take off those two caps and the hole is not true. It's egg shaped not round... I really don't need the Polar scope, but if a person did, it would never fit in that egg shaped hole. I have a photo of it, but don't know how to post it here. That's the best I can explain it. It doesn't affect the scope performance, but I was just wondering why it was like this.
RB
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Re: G11 Polar Alignment hole
The Polar scope has one black cap, and one silver knurled plug covering the mounting hole for the scope.
Take off those two caps and the hole is not true. It's egg shaped not round... I really don't need the Polar scope, but if a person did, it would never fit in that egg shaped hole. I have a photo of it, but don't know how to post it here. That's the best I can explain it. It doesn't affect the scope performance, but I was just wondering why it was like this.
RB
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Re: Imaging west of the meridian - suggestions.
I would not expect any trouble.? Just be sure to set your western limit so in case of unattended operation, your scope will not crash into your mount.??
Best, Michael?
On Oct 5, 2017 16:16, " f@... [Losmandy_users]" < Losmandy_users@...> wrote:
?
Any suggestions for imaging on the west side of the meridian? Things to look out for? Any recommended mods for my G-11?
For years I have used my G-11 to image east of the meridian to about 1-1/2 hours west of the meridian. I have trees and other obstructions so going any further west and/or meridian flips were never needed. Also, as a result, I was always able to keep the east (counterweight) side heavy.
Fast forward to next year. I will be moving my observatory to a site a few miles SW of Cody, WY. So Cody's light dome will be in the north east (which is the azimuth where I start my night long runs today), however to the south and west there is just back sky where the Milkyway runs down into the horizon. That is where I intend to image after the move... So, my imaging runs will most likely start ≈1-1/2 hours east of the meridian and end just above the western horizon.
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Imaging west of the meridian - suggestions.
Any suggestions for imaging on the west side of the meridian? Things to look out for? Any recommended mods for my G-11? For years I have used my G-11 to image east of the meridian to about 1-1/2 hours west of the meridian. I have trees and other obstructions so going any further west and/or meridian flips were never needed. Also, as a result, I was always able to keep the east (counterweight) side heavy. Fast forward to next year. I will be moving my observatory to a site a few miles SW of Cody, WY. So Cody's light dome will be in the north east (which is the azimuth where I start my night long runs today), however to the south and west there is just back sky where the Milkyway runs down into the horizon. That is where I intend to image after the move... So, my imaging runs will most likely start ≈1-1/2 hours east of the meridian and end just above the western horizon.
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Re: G11 Polar Alignment hole
AFAIK all polar scope holes in the RA axis are normally drilled with the saddle turned sideways for head clearance. At least this is how it has been on all of the GEMs I've owned anyway.?
Chip
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Re: G11 Polar Alignment hole
Anon,
Can you more clearly describe what you mean by “twisted and misaligned”.
If you mean that the scope is at an angle when the hole is completely open then that is deliberate as it ensures the scope is not hitting you on the head while using the polar scope.
Regards
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I used my scope, and the Losmandy G11 for the first time tonight. I noticed when I took the caps off of the Polar Viewing hole in the mount that the hole is not true. Looks twisted and misaligned. Is this a normal thing with these? I wouldn't think so. I have a photo of it, but not sure how to post it here.
Thanks
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Re: G11 Polar Alignment hole
That's normal. YIUBHABE to rotate the Dec to align and use the pa scope.?
Brian
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On Oct 4, 2017, at 10:04 PM, f4chief73@... [Losmandy_users] < Losmandy_users@...> wrote:
?
I used my scope, and the Losmandy G11 for the first time tonight. I noticed when I took the caps off of the Polar Viewing hole in the mount that the hole is not true. Looks twisted and misaligned. Is this a normal thing with these? I wouldn't think so. I have a photo of it, but not sure how to post it here.
Thanks
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I used my scope, and the Losmandy G11 for the first time tonight. I noticed when I took the caps off of the Polar Viewing hole in the mount that the hole is not true. Looks twisted and misaligned. Is this a normal thing with these? I wouldn't think so. I have a photo of it, but not sure how to post it here. Thanks
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Rob, all sounds good.... the rest is experimentation.??
(I think you are saying your Gemini model shows all parameters at value 0.? This is what you get with a cold boot up.? There is no reason I can think of for your Gemini to go way off kilter from that.)
Good luck!
On Oct 4, 2017 7:43 PM, " sactowriter@... [Losmandy_users]" < Losmandy_users@...> wrote:
?
Thanks everyone, Wish me luck tonight. I have reinstalled the firmware--it appears that I already had the most current, but I reinstalled anyway. I went line by line through every setting in Gemini to make sure that they were all correct--to the best of my knowledge. I confirmed that there is plenty of power in the battery.?I installed the latest version of the Gemini.net ASCOM driver. I am going to reinstall SGP, just to make sure it isn't the culprit. I had one other thought that maybe the network cable between my computer and Gemini might be faulty. If what I have done so far does not solve the problem, I will try changing that.
As far as the model goes, I'm not using modeling. I have for some time been letting the plate solving software in SGP direct the mount. This is why I suspect a communication problem, though PHD2 has performed flawlessly through all of this and it uses Gemini.net also...we shall see.
What are good safety settings for the mount. I have 124degrees on the?right and 114 on? left. These give left side safety position of 1881600 and right side of 365800. The Western goto limit is 2 degrees 30minutes. This does not seem to be working, as the camera hit the mount.
I really appreciate your responses.
Rob Fink
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Thanks everyone, Wish me luck tonight. I have reinstalled the firmware--it appears that I already had the most current, but I reinstalled anyway. I went line by line through every setting in Gemini to make sure that they were all correct--to the best of my knowledge. I confirmed that there is plenty of power in the battery.?I installed the latest version of the Gemini.net ASCOM driver. I am going to reinstall SGP, just to make sure it isn't the culprit. I had one other thought that maybe the network cable between my computer and Gemini might be faulty. If what I have done so far does not solve the problem, I will try changing that.
As far as the model goes, I'm not using modeling. I have for some time been letting the plate solving software in SGP direct the mount. This is why I suspect a communication problem, though PHD2 has performed flawlessly through all of this and it uses Gemini.net also...we shall see.
What are good safety settings for the mount. I have 124degrees on the?right and 114 on? left. These give left side safety position of 1881600 and right side of 365800. The Western goto limit is 2 degrees 30minutes. This does not seem to be working, as the camera hit the mount.
I really appreciate your responses.
Rob Fink
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I’ve had a similar behavior. ? This appears to happen when I’m pointing east, and the G11 doesn’t swap the meridian on the way to parking. I go out there and the weights are 30 degrees up in the east and the scope is 30 degrees buried in the west. It hits the safety limit. Not the park position. The park request is initiated from SGP after a sequence is completed. ? Another incident: Last week while trying out a 3 hour run, a meridian auto flip was executed half way through, and a plate solve done, but then the mount went back to the west side again and hit the safety limit. ? Doug Bock
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Rob
Is this a Gemini-2, if so make sure you have the latest .
Tom H
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?
Hi everyone,
For two nights, I have had exactly the same thing
happen. I am taking a four plate mosaic of M31. The
first plate goes flawlessly, but when the command to
move a small distance to the next plate comes, there has
been a problem both nights. The slew takes an abnormal
amount of time but finally ends. When the plate solving
picture is taken there are star trails, indicating that
the mount is still moving. After trying to resolve it my
connecting and disconnecting the software, both nights I
have finally had to resort to parking the mount at CWD
and turning Gemini off and then back on. When I go out
to the mount it is not at exact CWD position. The RA is
off about 20 degrees.
When I correct the CWD and restart Gemini,
everything works fine for the remaining three plates,
including a meridian flip. I can find nothing binding on
the mount that might have caused this problem, but to me
that seems to be?the most likely culprit.
Does anyone have any other ideas?
Rob ?
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Re: Mount refuses to go to Vega....?
Hi! Thanks! OK, I'll try replacing the battery - it's been there a year I think. Since this happens also with the HC, not only when using the computer, the USB-R232-converter issues could hardly be the culprit, could it? It feels like a pointing model error to me, but when I do a cold start - there is no pointing model, right? Magnus ---In Losmandy_users@..., <chiplouie@...> wrote : Hi Magnus,
How fresh is your battery? If you have not changed it out in the last few months put a DVM on it and check the voltage. The other issue I have had when my Gemini 1 acted weirdly like this was resolved by replacing the USB to RS232 serial converter with a new ATEN USB to RS232 converter. IF this works you may have a bad or at least failing I/O ship in your Gemini 1 controller. Contact Michael Herman on this list and see if he can work you into the schedule for a repair.?
Chip ??
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Rob,?
Here are some initial thoughts: - Reset your Gemini by taking out the internal 3v battery for a few minutes. Replace it with a fresh one, just in case
- Make sure you set all correct settings, including time zone and time, geo location, mount type?
- Make sure you start as close to CWD position as you can
- Double-check that your motor cables are plugged in well, making good contact.
- Check that your oldham couplers are not slipping and the set screws are tightened down
- Check that your clutches hold well and do not slip
Regards,
? -Paul
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Rob,
my guesses ...follow:
1. Use Gemini.net to look at the values of your Model (the "T-model").? When the errors occur, write down the parameyers and their values.? ?Then "reload model from PC" which should be your hood stored model from when you reboot your PC connection.? Compare the values:? do you see any whacky values there when the system misbehaved?
2. How can pointing errors come sbpit? If you left "Synch performs additional Align " checked on the Gemini.net then perhaps your simple slew could have resulted in a pointing model error.??
I'd further guess that when you rebooted the Gemini, it can reload you good stored PC model back and made everthing work swell.... til the next slew and synch...
3. My reasoning was:?
Physical cable snags, or clutch slips, are possible,? but your "long time to slew" was a clue the mount went somewhere else far away, as you discovered.? So it's a Gemini calculation error.? That error comes from bad model values...
best regards, and good luck,? Michael?
On Oct 4, 2017 02:42, " sactowriter@... [Losmandy_users]" < Losmandy_users@...> wrote:
?
Futher update. Tonight it did the same thing on the third frame. This time I went out to check the mount before I sent it to CWD. I found that it had tried to "bend over backwards" or in other wards it had been sent looking for something in the Western sky?without?meridian flipping. The leg?of the mount stopped it, and, yes, I had put in safety limits. I believe this is what is happening every time.?On this particular time it had slewed to the new position fine and was only 97 pixtels from being centered. On the next move to bring it to within 50, it went flying off to the west.
For the last month and a half and through literally hundreds of subs, I have cold started the mount and let the plate solving software of SGP tell it where to go. This has gone on flawlessly until I left on a 5 day trip. When I came back, this problem began.?
I have gone line by line through the Gemini settings and found nothing amiss. I have no idea where to go with it now.
Thanks in advance for a suggestions you can offer.
Rob
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Futher update. Tonight it did the same thing on the third frame. This time I went out to check the mount before I sent it to CWD. I found that it had tried to "bend over backwards" or in other wards it had been sent looking for something in the Western sky?without?meridian flipping. The leg?of the mount stopped it, and, yes, I had put in safety limits. I believe this is what is happening every time.?On this particular time it had slewed to the new position fine and was only 97 pixtels from being centered. On the next move to bring it to within 50, it went flying off to the west.
For the last month and a half and through literally hundreds of subs, I have cold started the mount and let the plate solving software of SGP tell it where to go. This has gone on flawlessly until I left on a 5 day trip. When I came back, this problem began.?
I have gone line by line through the Gemini settings and found nothing amiss. I have no idea where to go with it now.
Thanks in advance for a suggestions you can offer.
Rob
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Michael Herman
Doug Bock
Paul Kanevsky