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Re: worm turn with MUCH difficulty
Hi Tom,
If you are up for it my advice is to determine what is causing the stiffness. Chances are the grease has melted and migrated all over the place and left behind the clay used in the grease which mucks up the works. I tell most people to simply.clean are reline the mount, it is not hard and you will gain a familiarity with you gear not possible any other way.? ? Doing it yourself saves a huge bill for shipping and service and will have you back under the stars in a day or two depending on you free time. It only takes a few hours if you know what you are doing but if you have never cracked it open before you need to go slower. I suggest snapping phone photos as you go to capture correct order of parts assembly.? The usual problems include stuck bearings due to contamination or old lube. The result is usually also that the clutches slip and you cannot get them to stop no matter how hard you crank down the adjusters. This is where the oil from the grease migrated to, your clutch discs. Once you get the mount apart you can see if you need new discs or not. Only order them if they are scratched up from contamination, the grease will wash off with soap and hog water.? If you are game order a small tube or tub, of Synco Super Lube with Teflon, about $10 on Amazon. This is a pure synthetic based grease that won't melt or run off, it also never get hard or stiff in the hot or cold and the Teflon makes it outperform just about any commerical grease you can buy. It is also a food grader lube. Look at the data sheets for test results, nother can touch it for wear and low temperature starting torque, important for imagers in the cold.? Once you decide if you are ge to DIY and have the grease in hand let us know and we will help walk you through it.? -- Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware? ? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA? |
Re: First successful tryout of my G11T mount
¿ªÔÆÌåÓý
Isn't it amazing how many lights recently built structures have? Even single family houses out in a rural area where my sister lives, have 3 or more bright lights in the front and 2 or more
in the back and they are always on. They are all doing their very best to turn a decent dark site into downtown. When did so many people become afraid of the dark??
I don't have the filters and the types of cameras that can be set up with them without a lot of hassle. I use full frame, Sony mirrorless, cameras, I also take on vacation and hikes with me. The only
things I use a computer for are internet, email, processing photos, and autoguiding. Maybe I will get the automated urban astronomy kit, someday, but I haven't come close to getting the best images out of the equipment I have now.?
I am going to go get some paving bricks, or stones, or whatever they are called, for my tripod legs. I am going to have to buy a bigger pickup truck to haul all my stuff around.
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Sonny Edmonds <sonnyedmonds@...>
Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2020 2:18 PM To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] First successful tryout of my G11T mount ?
On Thu, Aug 27, 2020 at 09:28 AM, jeff marston wrote:
It would be nice to have a permanent observatory, where I could just turn everything on and image or view. I would much rather travel and do modeling every night than fightWell, you can add thickness to your plywood pads to help stiffen them. Even with an observatory, there is the labor of love with Modeling (Alignment). I'm a backyarder, and use a Light Pollution filter, because my entire thing is imaging. I keep my Tripod set up much of the time, and cover it. That allows me to keep the tripod Polar orientated, but I still do a PA of sorts. (everything above the tripod gets brought inside. Bosses orders.) I think it is prudent because, after all, the Earth has moved, and the ground vibrations have some minor effect I'm also in my habit of doing the Quick Start just to check my numbers. They're always right, but it's one of my habits. Today a fence extension is being added to my back wall.? It will replace the towering ivy plant that used to be growing there. The ivy became a rat haven. My loverly Condoland neighbors. NOT! ? -- SonnyE (I suggest viewed in full screen) |
Re: New user - newbie question
Smidsy
that HC is basically a set of switches that as low you to move the mount Ra & DEC directions at what ever rate had been set. It plugs into the top left ¡°Hand Control¡± port via a 6 pin RJ Jack. ? The main HC (with display) plugs into the side DB15 serial port. ?Some people like to have and the extra ¡°dumb HC¡±. ? You kinda get used to the buttons like the main HC. Anyway you need a straight through 6 pin RJ 11 (or RJ12 depends upon hour country) to connect this. It¡¯s not necessary but some users like it. ?You can make your own cable if you buy an RJ crumpet, 6 core flat cable and RJ plugs, easily. Or you can probably buy one. The pin config is the same as the except on the Gemini 1 the 3.3V is 5V. ?As long as it¡¯s wired straight thru it¡¯s ok. ?The 5V is just for LED . There used to be layout pics of it all in the files section. ?Cannot find it atm. I can send drawings etc if you want Cheers -- Brendan |
Re: G11 Gemini 1 control over ethernet
Smidsy?
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Re: G11 Gemini 1 control over ethernet
Hi Smidsy,
Gemini-1 didn't have support for Ethernet. RS232/Serial is the main interface mechanism. The Feature port, with some additional hardware, could be used as an extra serial port, but not for Ethernet. If you want to control it over Ethernet, you'll need some Serial over Ethernet (or Wi-Fi) adapters that can convert between the two, but only serial should be connected to Gemini-1. Regards, ? ? -Paul |
New user - newbie question
Hi all, just been lucky enough to buy a G11 Gemini 1 level 4 mount, obviously have the main hand set, it also came with a simple 4 directional button hand controller but without a cable, please can someone advise what this cable is called? I would like to get this working to save wearing out the buttons on the main hand set.
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Re: First successful tryout of my G11T mount
Sonny Edmonds
On Thu, Aug 27, 2020 at 09:28 AM, jeff marston wrote:
It would be nice to have a permanent observatory, where I could just turn everything on and image or view. I would much rather travel and do modeling every night than fightWell, you can add thickness to your plywood pads to help stiffen them. Even with an observatory, there is the labor of love with Modeling (Alignment). I'm a backyarder, and use a Light Pollution filter, because my entire thing is imaging. I keep my Tripod set up much of the time, and cover it. That allows me to keep the tripod Polar orientated, but I still do a PA of sorts. (everything above the tripod gets brought inside. Bosses orders.) I think it is prudent because, after all, the Earth has moved, and the ground vibrations have some minor effect I'm also in my habit of doing the Quick Start just to check my numbers. They're always right, but it's one of my habits. Today a fence extension is being added to my back wall.? It will replace the towering ivy plant that used to be growing there. The ivy became a rat haven. My loverly Condoland neighbors. NOT! ? -- SonnyE (I suggest viewed in full screen) |
Re: First successful tryout of my G11T mount
Sonny Edmonds
On Thu, Aug 27, 2020 at 06:59 AM, Michael Herman wrote:
You are most Welcome Michael! The antics of Team Viewer got to be a royal PITA for me. Mine would drop out a lot! So I went hunting and found Tight Vnc. It just works. I think it works as well as a Losmandy mount. It does change it's address (http:) now and then. So I check the running programs window to see what address it tagged onto. Usually only the last two digits change. That is the only thing I can complain about. But I learned to check so I don't have to walk back and forth and look as dumb as I sometimes think I am. ;^) ? -- SonnyE (I suggest viewed in full screen) |
Re: First successful tryout of my G11T mount
You guys are right about the plywood pads. They aren¡¯t ideal, but they do keep the legs from sinking into the ground with my big scope and three 22 pound counterweights.?
I am learning to find my way around the menu on the hand controller. It all seems intuitive, and setup isn¡¯t complicated, so it is pretty fast.? It would be nice to have a permanent observatory, where I could just turn everything on and image or view. I would much rather travel and do modeling every night than fight the light of my neighborhood. Jeff |
Re: First successful tryout of my G11T mount
Brian,
The focal length of my C14 is 3910mm. A .7 reducer brings it down to a mere 2700mm, which is about the same as a C11 without a reducer.? I have had some success autoguiding while using a C14 mounted on my Celestron mount, but any deviation from ideal conditions can make it a real challenge. For years I did astrophotography without autoguiding, so getting round stars with exposures longer than 45 seconds is still a novelty to me.? Jeff |
Re: First successful tryout of my G11T mount
HI Jeff that's a great report - Small problems like that Regarding autoguiding, the 14" is a really challenging scope. what is the focal length again? I know a handful of 14" owners and they have only guided successfully with an OAG, so i am hoping for good results for you, but might keep that in mind :) On Thu, Aug 27, 2020 at 12:30 AM jeff marston <jeffmarston@...> wrote: When it got dark I tried some modeling. I don¡¯t know the names of hundreds of stars but I know Dubhe is not hanging around the northeast at ten pm. I went back and double checked all the data I had put into the mount. --
Brian? Brian Valente portfolio |
Re: worm turn with MUCH difficulty
These were my thoughts as well. Interestingly, last evening I remounted the original stepping motors and found they operate just fine. High torque maybe? The connector on the RA motor is electrically sound, just a mounting clip broken. Regardless, tonight I'll tackle the bearings. Thanks for your input. Tom
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Re: First successful tryout of my G11T mount
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýTeamViewer is nice for remote support ... but when both devices are on the same local network, VNC is much better.On Aug 27, 2020, at 9:59 AM, Michael Herman <mherman346@...> wrote:
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Re: First successful tryout of my G11T mount
Thanks for the pointer to TightVNC, Sonny.? I'll have to try that out! I also am tired of the ads from TeamViewer, and worse it dropping off at around midnight requiring a new login from both computers.? I know I am a person stuck in habits...and TeamViewer became one. Time to upgrade....thanks again. Michael On Thu, Aug 27, 2020, 5:55 AM Sonny Edmonds <sonnyedmonds@...> wrote: In addition to Michael's advice about ground vibrations, and flex of wooden pads, I've always used pavers when going remote. In fact, I have 3 in the basement of our RV where I normally carry my equipment. |
Re: worm turn with MUCH difficulty
Sonny Edmonds
I would concur with Paul's advice.
After a few years... I would expect things to have taken a set and have become stuck or sticky. If you are not mechanically inclined, it might be best to seek help or return to Losmandy for service to freshen up your mount. You don't want to damage your new servos or Gemini II. -- SonnyE (I suggest viewed in full screen) |
Re: First successful tryout of my G11T mount
Sonny Edmonds
In addition to Michael's advice about ground vibrations, and flex of wooden pads, I've always used pavers when going remote. In fact, I have 3 in the basement of our RV where I normally carry my equipment.
I do remote operation of my mount (GM811G HD), but use Free and Open Sourced?.? I started out with TeamViewer, but quickly tired of the program dropping back to its nag screen (Buy Now! Only $820.00), and requiring restarting. Very annoying! Bare in mind we are on a giant mudball flying through space. So I always do a fresh Modeling every night. Glad you have everything working smooth now. -- SonnyE (I suggest viewed in full screen) |
Re: First successful tryout of my G11T mount
Hi Jeff, Wow...your experience with that longitude - sign triggers a few other things to watch for: Yes....the East/West longitude entry is confusing.? The unit boots up and describes E or W longitude.? So you'd think that when you enter that value on the handset, you would see a toggle of E or W.? But you do not... you enter a number only.? ? ?The Gemini-1 manual does not clearly state that you just use a - sign for West hemisphere Longitude.? I think if you change the value in Gemini.net on the Telescope entry panel, it might be clearer.? If you do use Gemini net to make any changes, be aware that you must always? "Send to Gemini"?the PC made entries because that is not automatic.? The Gemini has its own memory and the PC has its own memory and they must be manually synched (though a few checkboxes exist for automatic setting of UTC on connect and ...maybe automatic turn on of PEC on connect.? ).? In general you must Download from Gemini to see it's settings like the Model data, and you just Upload to Gemini also when you make changes.? ?I'll add: the tiny Upload/Download arrow button on the Model area of the Advanced panel does not work. Instead use the big buttons on the bottom right of the Advanced panel to change or reset the Model data.? You can zero the values of the Model, but the Upload tiny button does not work to send that data up to the Gemini.?? Also note that the "." in the location entries is not a decimal point....it is a European punctuation.? That is, consider it a comma "," so you are really entering:? ? ? ? degrees, seconds? Not: ? ? ? ?degrees.fraction Also check the UTC time against a good website, and ensure that is correct.? ? Do not bother with any local time setting.?? Finally, after you make any key location or time entry changes, turn off the Gemini and reboot as Cold Boot to get the new values to take hold in the software.? Your location changes will require a new model anyway. Your RA Titan section has a larger ring gear than the G11 so it's RA pointing accuracy and tracking should be quite dead on after polar alignment.? The G11 DEC section and RA on G11s is similarly excellent.? I'd think your RA PE should be very low too, but perhaps you can someday measure it and report it.?? You should have no fear of autoguiding.? I autoguide my C14EdgeHD on a G11 with no trouble....the Titan should offer even less trouble.?? Final note: walking around.? ?My buddy in the next town away had put a plywood floor in his domed observatory, on which he put his C14 on a Celestron tripod.? He was able to detect optical movement when he'd shift his weight on the plywood.? He eventually drilled holes in the plywood fur the tripod legs and put heavy flagstones under the tripod feet.? When you mentioned plywood pieces under the feet I thought they'd be as good as flagstones.? But anyway...ground can get soft and does transmit vibration so just be in the lookout.? You might just use something like TeamViewer and remotely operate your laptop to start deep sky acquisitions...well away from those tripod legs.?? Enjoy yourself! Michael On Thu, Aug 27, 2020, 12:30 AM jeff marston <jeffmarston@...> wrote: When it got dark I tried some modeling. I don¡¯t know the names of hundreds of stars but I know Dubhe is not hanging around the northeast at ten pm. I went back and double checked all the data I had put into the mount. |
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