Re: Not keeping date up to date; + lunar tracking speed error:
OK,
Thanks to all who replied, for some reason I could not get back to or find this message...? Anyhow to get back to it....
I have used both the HC and the regular web interface to try to set the times, both in UTC and local, as for the lunar problem It seems to have "self corrected" for now.? This occurred again last night (the time error) and the time and date was still correct in the web interface while the HC was reporting the correct time, but the wrong date.? It had "Jumped" back to 01/01/2020 instead of the correct o1/14/2020 on the HC, the web interface was once again still reporting the correct date in its date format of 14-01-2020.? The HC behaved oddly along with the date error it was showing all but Venus as available to "goto" @ 18:30 EST-DST (23:30 UTC).? After manually correcting the date in the HC it then reported the correct planets available for the date and time here; Neptune, Uranus, and Venus.? The web interface when checked again still had everything (time, date, & UTC offset correct).? The other interesting thing about this whole time error thing is the mount has been powered up and on since the last outing.? I parked it CWD and left it on but parked in the observatory, which I do if I am not going to be out of town.? Just been a rather odd behavior,? I checked it again this afternoon while I was out there changing out a USB 3.0 hub and it was still holding the correct date set last night.? I also changed the HC cable out with a newer one I had this afternoon, I had upgrade the HC cable to a longer one when I first got the Titan in October of 2015.? That longer cable was getting kind of gnarled up from use when I am doing visual observation stuff.
Maybe I need to set a gremlin live trap or something!! ;^)? Anyhow I'll check it all out again in a couple of days to see if the correct time and date hold on the HC.
|
Re: Initial Setup of the Mount
Michael, that it the $1,000,000 question. Why is a cheep cell phone smarter than expensive telescope mounts?
Sent from my Boost Mobile Phone.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
-------- Original message --------
From: Michael Herman <mherman346@...>
Date: 1/15/20 1:19 PM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Initial Setup of the Mount
These days, you might get good luck using a cellphone GPS app.??
They are amazing for showing the correct orientation not depending on magnetic field lines at all.??
Also the app will give the correct Latitude and Longitude.? If the app is installed, it doesn't need cellphone network access to work (the phone has GPS detection off line).
Have fun,
Michael??
On Wed, Jan 15, 2020, 9:37 AM crocco1250 via Groups.Io <crocco1250= [email protected]> wrote:
Derek
I have an old manual that makes the fact that magnetic and polar north are not aligned everywhere.?? The earth's core generates a magnetic field that wanders (there was an article recently showing wandering at a rate of several feet a week,? if
I remember correctly) so you align your compass to magnetic north then make a correction based on the latest geomagnetic map.?? So,? in my area, I note magnetic north then move the compass left or right by the offset degrees for my area.?? If you want,? I'll
dig it out and and post it here
Chuck
On Wednesday, January 15, 2020 Derek C Breit <[email protected]> wrote:
This is for anyone who regularly ¡°goes mobile¡± to do Astrophotography.. How do *you* determine
how to initially place the tripod??
?
I envision putting the mount in the center of the Azimuth adjustment range, but when you
go to a location you have never been before, how do you determine where the tripod should be pointing?? I would be seriously bummed if I assemble the whole system, tried to polar align, and run out of adjustment so that I would have to disassemble and rotate
the tripod..
?
Can you just place a compass on the tripod and use that, taking magnetic declination into
account?? I would think the metal in the tripod would make the compass inaccurate??
?
Anywho.. I would like to know the various methods people use..
?
Derek
|
Re: Initial Setup of the Mount
These days, you might get good luck using a cellphone GPS app.??
They are amazing for showing the correct orientation not depending on magnetic field lines at all.??
Also the app will give the correct Latitude and Longitude.? If the app is installed, it doesn't need cellphone network access to work (the phone has GPS detection off line).
Have fun, Michael??
On Wed, Jan 15, 2020, 9:37 AM crocco1250 via Groups.Io <crocco1250= [email protected]> wrote: Derek
I have an old manual that makes the fact that magnetic and polar north are not aligned everywhere.?? The earth's core generates a magnetic field that wanders (there was an article recently showing wandering at a rate of several feet a week,? if I remember correctly) so you align your compass to magnetic north then make a correction based on the latest geomagnetic map.?? So,? in my area, I note magnetic north then move the compass left or right by the offset degrees for my area.?? If you want,? I'll dig it out and and post it here
Chuck
On Wednesday, January 15, 2020 Derek C Breit <[email protected]> wrote:
This is for anyone who
regularly ¡°goes mobile¡± to do Astrophotography.. How do *you*
determine how to initially place the tripod??
?
I envision putting the mount
in the center of the Azimuth adjustment range, but when you go to a location
you have never been before, how do you determine where the tripod should be
pointing?? I would be seriously bummed if I assemble the whole system, tried to
polar align, and run out of adjustment so that I would have to disassemble and
rotate the tripod..
?
Can you just place a compass
on the tripod and use that, taking magnetic declination into account?? I would
think the metal in the tripod would make the compass inaccurate??
?
Anywho.. I would like to
know the various methods people use..
?
Derek
|
Re: Losmandy G11G and Gemini2 with SGP
Hi Les
if you could, please start a new thread and we'll hash this out - if you can include in the title something about meridian flip and SGP that will help future viewers.?
Brian,
Not to drag this on, but I am still trying to sort this all out for myself so if this needs a new thread, apologies and I'll be glad to start another. No disagreements here, we are saying the same thing only you know how to put it. Totally agree on the "when a goto is initiated", in this case SGP is initiating the goto and if Gemini isn't ready to flip it won't as I understand it. Setting the Western Goto limit to zero or editing it out will make Gemini do the flip at Western safety limit - 90degs (When a goto is initiated). Lets say your Western safety limit was 100 degrees, this means Gemini will go until 10deg after the meridian before it will flip, and if SGP initiates a goto? at the meridian Gemini will say I can get there from this side of the pier, no need to flip and of course SGP won't ask it again in 10 more degrees. Now SGP does its flip request in "minutes" past the meridian not degrees to confuse the matter even more. So just to get a successful flip I entered 7:00 in the "Western GoTo Limit:" with a 97deg Western safety limit, in both the ASCOM driver and the Gemini hand controller/webpage and this told Gemini, if a goto is requested at the meridian (97:00 - 7:00) do a flip. SGP is set by default to 0 minutes after the meridian. This made everything work at the meridian. Some day I may try to adjust Gemini's Western goto limit so the mount can go past the meridian but I will first have to figure out how many minutes that will equal in SGP.
Bottom line, you need to adjust SGP's "minutes past meridian to flip" to be close enough to Gemini's ("Western Safety Limit" - "Western GoTo Limit") to have SGP's goto request force a meridian flip in Gemini.?
Correct?
Les
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
|
Re: Losmandy G11G and Gemini2 with SGP
Brian,
Not to drag this on, but I am still trying to sort this all out for myself so if this needs a new thread, apologies and I'll be glad to start another. No disagreements here, we are saying the same thing only you know how to put it. Totally agree on the "when a goto is initiated", in this case SGP is initiating the goto and if Gemini isn't ready to flip it won't as I understand it. Setting the Western Goto limit to zero or editing it out will make Gemini do the flip at Western safety limit - 90degs (When a goto is initiated). Lets say your Western safety limit was 100 degrees, this means Gemini will go until 10deg after the meridian before it will flip, and if SGP initiates a goto? at the meridian Gemini will say I can get there from this side of the pier, no need to flip and of course SGP won't ask it again in 10 more degrees. Now SGP does its flip request in "minutes" past the meridian not degrees to confuse the matter even more. So just to get a successful flip I entered 7:00 in the "Western GoTo Limit:" with a 97deg Western safety limit, in both the ASCOM driver and the Gemini hand controller/webpage and this told Gemini, if a goto is requested at the meridian (97:00 - 7:00) do a flip. SGP is set by default to 0 minutes after the meridian. This made everything work at the meridian. Some day I may try to adjust Gemini's Western goto limit so the mount can go past the meridian but I will first have to figure out how many minutes that will equal in SGP.
Bottom line, you need to adjust SGP's "minutes past meridian to flip" to be close enough to Gemini's ("Western Safety Limit" - "Western GoTo Limit") to have SGP's goto request force a meridian flip in Gemini.?
Correct?
Les
|
Re: Initial Setup of the Mount
Good question Derek, I have found that I use a compass on the ground then do a polar align.Anything I can do to help Gemini do it's job better. I find works. I am new to this and Lately I have been practicing drift alignment just in case I need to for
a back up plan.
Sent from my Boost Mobile Phone.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
-------- Original message --------
From: Derek C Breit <breit_ideas@...>
Date: 1/15/20 11:02 AM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: [Losmandy_users_io] Initial Setup of the Mount
This is for anyone who regularly ¡°goes mobile¡± to do Astrophotography.. How do *you* determine how to initially place the tripod??
?
I envision putting the mount in the center of the Azimuth adjustment range, but when you go to a location you have never been
before, how do you determine where the tripod should be pointing?? I would be seriously bummed if I assemble the whole system, tried to polar align, and run out of adjustment so that I would have to disassemble and rotate the tripod..
?
Can you just place a compass on the tripod and use that, taking magnetic declination into account?? I would think the metal
in the tripod would make the compass inaccurate??
?
Anywho.. I would like to know the various methods people use..
?
Derek
|
Re: Initial Setup of the Mount
Derek
I have an old manual that makes the fact that magnetic and polar north are not aligned everywhere.?? The earth's core generates a magnetic field that wanders (there was an article recently showing wandering at a rate of several feet a week,? if I remember correctly) so you align your compass to magnetic north then make a correction based on the latest geomagnetic map.?? So,? in my area, I note magnetic north then move the compass left or right by the offset degrees for my area.?? If you want,? I'll dig it out and and post it here
Chuck
On Wednesday, January 15, 2020 Derek C Breit <[email protected]> wrote:
This is for anyone who
regularly ¡°goes mobile¡± to do Astrophotography.. How do *you*
determine how to initially place the tripod??
?
I envision putting the mount
in the center of the Azimuth adjustment range, but when you go to a location
you have never been before, how do you determine where the tripod should be
pointing?? I would be seriously bummed if I assemble the whole system, tried to
polar align, and run out of adjustment so that I would have to disassemble and
rotate the tripod..
?
Can you just place a compass
on the tripod and use that, taking magnetic declination into account?? I would
think the metal in the tripod would make the compass inaccurate??
?
Anywho.. I would like to
know the various methods people use..
?
Derek
|
Re: Initial Setup of the Mount
I set the tripod up then set a compass on the ground more or less centered between the 3 legs and look down thru the top of the tripod at the compass and adjust accordingly...do account for the declination...always within the adjustment range of the tripod.
Stu
This is for anyone who
regularly ¡°goes mobile¡± to do Astrophotography.. How do *you*
determine how to initially place the tripod??
?
I envision putting the mount
in the center of the Azimuth adjustment range, but when you go to a location
you have never been before, how do you determine where the tripod should be
pointing?? I would be seriously bummed if I assemble the whole system, tried to
polar align, and run out of adjustment so that I would have to disassemble and
rotate the tripod..
?
Can you just place a compass
on the tripod and use that, taking magnetic declination into account?? I would
think the metal in the tripod would make the compass inaccurate??
?
Anywho.. I would like to
know the various methods people use..
?
Derek
|
Re: Initial Setup of the Mount
My first choice is to see where everyone else is pointing and mimic them :)
but usually i just use an iphone compass app. i don't sweat the initial setup too much because i'll use polemaster or sharpcap to fine tune the PA
This is for anyone who
regularly ¡°goes mobile¡± to do Astrophotography.. How do *you*
determine how to initially place the tripod??
?
I envision putting the mount
in the center of the Azimuth adjustment range, but when you go to a location
you have never been before, how do you determine where the tripod should be
pointing?? I would be seriously bummed if I assemble the whole system, tried to
polar align, and run out of adjustment so that I would have to disassemble and
rotate the tripod..
?
Can you just place a compass
on the tripod and use that, taking magnetic declination into account?? I would
think the metal in the tripod would make the compass inaccurate??
?
Anywho.. I would like to
know the various methods people use..
?
Derek
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
|
Initial Setup of the Mount
This is for anyone who
regularly ¡°goes mobile¡± to do Astrophotography.. How do *you*
determine how to initially place the tripod??
?
I envision putting the mount
in the center of the Azimuth adjustment range, but when you go to a location
you have never been before, how do you determine where the tripod should be
pointing?? I would be seriously bummed if I assemble the whole system, tried to
polar align, and run out of adjustment so that I would have to disassemble and
rotate the tripod..
?
Can you just place a compass
on the tripod and use that, taking magnetic declination into account?? I would
think the metal in the tripod would make the compass inaccurate??
?
Anywho.. I would like to
know the various methods people use..
?
Derek
|
Re: Loading Pempro PE Curve to GM811
Ah thank you guys for the help! I'll check the gemini controller to make sure that wasn't sending an incorrect value. I was able to push once I manually changed inside Pempro, but I'm going to check if this is why it had ended up 215 after using the Mount wizard.
Thanks again!
Ross
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Show quoted text
>>> ?and that the mount type is set correctly in the Gemini controller.
Ross - doublecheck this part in your gemini controller
On Sun, Jan 12, 2020 at 1:06 PM Ray Gralak < groups3@...> wrote:
Hi Brian and Ross,
PEMPro gets the worm period by interrogating the Gemini controller, so make sure you have the latest firmware installed and that the mount type is set correctly in the Gemini controller.
-Ray Gralak
Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center):
Author of PEMPro V3:?
Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver:
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian Valente
> Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2020 8:15 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Loading Pempro PE Curve to GM811
>
> That doesn't sound right - the default worm period for gemini 4/5 is 239 on my setup. I'm a little concerned that
> something else may not be set up correctly, even if you did adjust the worm period.
>
> you should be able to get the correct worm period setting up via the mount wizard. If not, you might want to
> ping Ray over ta the PEMPro user forum
>
>
> Brian
>
--
Brian?
Brian Valente
portfolio
|
Re: Loading Pempro PE Curve to GM811
>>>
?and that the mount type is set correctly in the Gemini controller.
Ross - doublecheck this part in your gemini controller
On Sun, Jan 12, 2020 at 1:06 PM Ray Gralak < groups3@...> wrote: Hi Brian and Ross,
PEMPro gets the worm period by interrogating the Gemini controller, so make sure you have the latest firmware installed and that the mount type is set correctly in the Gemini controller.
-Ray Gralak
Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center):
Author of PEMPro V3:?
Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver:
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian Valente
> Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2020 8:15 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Loading Pempro PE Curve to GM811
>
> That doesn't sound right - the default worm period for gemini 4/5 is 239 on my setup. I'm a little concerned that
> something else may not be set up correctly, even if you did adjust the worm period.
>
> you should be able to get the correct worm period setting up via the mount wizard. If not, you might want to
> ping Ray over ta the PEMPro user forum
>
>
> Brian
>
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
|
Whom besides ADM,? produces stainless steel counterweights for a G11?
|
Re: Loading Pempro PE Curve to GM811
Hi Brian, When I used the mount wizard, i was not connected to the mount, so I assume there is some default value? Yes, the default is 239.x seconds, which will update if needed once the mount connects. Once updated it will remember that value and only be updated if the value returned from the Gemini changes. -Ray Gralak -----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian Valente
Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2020 1:37 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Loading Pempro PE Curve to GM811
Thanks for clarifying Ray
When I used the mount wizard, i was not connected to the mount, so I assume there is some default value?
Brian
On Sun, Jan 12, 2020 at 1:06 PM Ray Gralak <groups3@...> wrote:
Hi Brian and Ross,
PEMPro gets the worm period by interrogating the Gemini controller, so make sure you have the latest
firmware installed and that the mount type is set correctly in the Gemini controller.
-Ray Gralak
Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center):
physics.com/index.htm?products/accessories/software/apcc/apcc
Author of PEMPro V3:
Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver:
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian Valente
> Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2020 8:15 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Loading Pempro PE Curve to GM811
>
> That doesn't sound right - the default worm period for gemini 4/5 is 239 on my setup. I'm a little
concerned that
> something else may not be set up correctly, even if you did adjust the worm period.
>
> you should be able to get the correct worm period setting up via the mount wizard. If not, you might
want to
> ping Ray over ta the PEMPro user forum
>
>
> Brian
>
--
Brian
Brian Valente
portfolio brianvalentephotography.com <>
|
Re: Loading Pempro PE Curve to GM811
Thanks for clarifying Ray
When I used the mount wizard, i was not connected to the mount, so I assume there is some default value?
Brian
On Sun, Jan 12, 2020 at 1:06 PM Ray Gralak < groups3@...> wrote: Hi Brian and Ross,
PEMPro gets the worm period by interrogating the Gemini controller, so make sure you have the latest firmware installed and that the mount type is set correctly in the Gemini controller.
-Ray Gralak
Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center):
Author of PEMPro V3:?
Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver:
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian Valente
> Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2020 8:15 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Loading Pempro PE Curve to GM811
>
> That doesn't sound right - the default worm period for gemini 4/5 is 239 on my setup. I'm a little concerned that
> something else may not be set up correctly, even if you did adjust the worm period.
>
> you should be able to get the correct worm period setting up via the mount wizard. If not, you might want to
> ping Ray over ta the PEMPro user forum
>
>
> Brian
>
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
|
Re: Loading Pempro PE Curve to GM811
Hi Brian and Ross,
PEMPro gets the worm period by interrogating the Gemini controller, so make sure you have the latest firmware installed and that the mount type is set correctly in the Gemini controller.
-Ray Gralak
Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center):
Author of PEMPro V3:
Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian Valente
Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2020 8:15 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Loading Pempro PE Curve to GM811
That doesn't sound right - the default worm period for gemini 4/5 is 239 on my setup. I'm a little concerned that
something else may not be set up correctly, even if you did adjust the worm period.
you should be able to get the correct worm period setting up via the mount wizard. If not, you might want to
ping Ray over ta the PEMPro user forum
Brian
|
Re: Loading Pempro PE Curve to GM811
That doesn't sound right - the default worm period for gemini 4/5 is 239 on my setup. I'm a little concerned that something else may not be set up correctly, even if you did adjust the worm period.
you should be able to get the correct worm period setting up via the mount wizard. If not, you might want to ping Ray over ta the PEMPro user forum
Brian
|
Re: Loading Pempro PE Curve to GM811
Ok great, mainly wanted to confirm Level 4/5 is what I should be using for GM811 (since my mount is not a granular option). The default worm period for that was 215 and since that didn't match my 239s curve, I was getting an error when trying to upload. I see
I can manually manipulate the worm period so hopefully it's as simple as correcting that.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
PS I just ran through the mount wizard in PEMPro using Gemini Level 4/5 and the default for my worm period was the correct?239.34
Maybe make sure to use the mount wizard?
On Sat, Jan 11, 2020 at 7:09 PM Brian Valente via Groups.Io <bvalente= [email protected]> wrote:
Hi Ross
I have a G11 and I've uploaded PEMPro curves to it many times.?
what seems to be the problem for you?
On Sat, Jan 11, 2020 at 7:08 PM Ross A < me@...> wrote:
Hi folks! Has anyone successfully loaded a Pempro PE Curve to their GM811? I see the option to direct upload if Gemini Level 4/5, but I don't believe this is what I have (and the default settings for that are a shorter worm period of 215 seconds).?
Thanks,
Ross
--
Brian?
Brian Valente
portfolio
--
Brian?
Brian Valente
portfolio
|
Re: Loading Pempro PE Curve to GM811
PS I just ran through the mount wizard in PEMPro using Gemini Level 4/5 and the default for my worm period was the correct?239.34
Maybe make sure to use the mount wizard?
On Sat, Jan 11, 2020 at 7:09 PM Brian Valente via Groups.Io <bvalente= [email protected]> wrote: Hi Ross
I have a G11 and I've uploaded PEMPro curves to it many times.?
what seems to be the problem for you?
On Sat, Jan 11, 2020 at 7:08 PM Ross A < me@...> wrote: Hi folks! Has anyone successfully loaded a Pempro PE Curve to their GM811? I see the option to direct upload if Gemini Level 4/5, but I don't believe this is what I have (and the default settings for that are a shorter worm period of 215 seconds).?
Thanks,
Ross
--
Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
|
Re: Loading Pempro PE Curve to GM811
Hi Ross
I have a G11 and I've uploaded PEMPro curves to it many times.?
what seems to be the problem for you?
On Sat, Jan 11, 2020 at 7:08 PM Ross A < me@...> wrote: Hi folks! Has anyone successfully loaded a Pempro PE Curve to their GM811? I see the option to direct upload if Gemini Level 4/5, but I don't believe this is what I have (and the default settings for that are a shorter worm period of 215 seconds).?
Thanks,
Ross
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
|
Michael Herman
Ross Abel