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Re: PemPro settings for G11T

 

On Tue, Nov 26, 2024 at 06:00 PM, George Stallings wrote:
Hi folks,
?
Does anyone know which mount or mount settings to use for PEMPro for the G11T? That specific mount doesn't show up on the list. Do I just input the settings manually??
?
George
?
Hi George, use the Gemini L4/5/6 tab and connect PEMPro to ?the ASCOM driver. Have Gemini turned on. PEMpro will get all the settings needed for your mount directly from Gemini.
PemPro settings for G11T

 

Hi folks,
?
Does anyone know which mount or mount settings to use for PEMPro for the G11T? That specific mount doesn't show up on the list. Do I just input the settings manually??
?
George
Re: East-Heavy Guiding With G11T?

 

Yes. ?I bias the load a small amount to the east and I see a clear difference on my G11T. ?Does not need to be much. ?Just a few lbs shifted to the east.?
?
JMD
Re: Different tripod for the heck of it

 

?
I really like the new style Losmandy FHD tripod that I ordered with a Covid GM8G.? The Berlebach Planet wooden tripod I bought maybe 10 years ago has turned out to be fantastic after I installed the double leg clamps.? I bought it a while ago and the new Planets all come with the second leg clamps now.??But IMO absolute best bang for the buck in a Losmandy compatible tripods is the classic Meade LX200 with a Losmandy MA on top.? I have used them for many years and and they are CHEAP, often under $100 and almost bombproof.? Okay the required Losmandy MAs can double the cost but that's still only $200 for a solid, stable, high capacity imaging capable tripod.? ? ??
?
--

Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?

Astrospheric Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
?
?
?
Re: Nextstar 8se & a G8 - need help with dovetail

 

Well, at least the bar has enough meat on it to be milled to the Vixen profile.
Re: Problem with PEMPro not drawing in all needed G11G (Gemini 2) Mount & Camera info for valid PE review and analysis

 

Hi Mike,

The debug log does not indicate the underlying cause, but there was a lapse in communication with the Gemini driver from about 20:38:08 to 22:12:00, resulting in some empty mount values. I'll put in a check for communication problems like this in the next build.

I also noticed that the selected star was saturated at 32,767.00 (the brightest pixel in the star) throughout the four logs. This indicates the star was saturated which can produce inaccurate star centroid locations. To fix this you should set the Max Star Brightness to 15,000 on PEMPro's setup tab.

-Ray

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mike
Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2024 7:02 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Problem with PEMPro not drawing in all needed G11G (Gemini 2) Mount &
Camera info for valid PE review and analysis

Hi Ray, thank you for getting back to me. I have attached a zip of 5 files, 4 are the log file data runs for Nov. 13th,
the 5th is the debug file for those runs.

Run 1 - File 210114 (Full 30 min, Log is missing needed info to properly analyze)
Run 2 - File 214144 (Ended after 23 min. due to approaching Meridian, Log is missing needed info to properly
analyze)
Repositioned scope using hand controller between Runs 2 and 3 to a part of the sky where I normally image, I
believe I ran the calibration wizard again)
Runs 3 and 4 - Files 221509 and 225519 (Both ran full 30 min., both have all needed log info and run fine in
Analysis and Log Viewer)

Also, if you can answer, what is the data element (Stepper Location) I described above and why would that also
be missing from those problem runs, seems to indicate that no information was communicated from Gemini or the
mount at all during those runs.

Thank you again for any help
Re: Detailed dimensions for D SERIES DOVETAIL PLATE FOR MEADE 14" OTA ?

 

Thanks, that profile will work.?
Re: Detailed dimensions for D SERIES DOVETAIL PLATE FOR MEADE 14" OTA ?

 

By the way, 10 seconds of Googling brought up an archived profile:
?
Re: Detailed dimensions for D SERIES DOVETAIL PLATE FOR MEADE 14" OTA ?

 

Greg,
?
First, if it was me, I'd follow Chip's advice: Buy it.
?
But if you must make it, then it isn't just the dovetail plate your interested in, it's the radius blocks. As to them, the radius and the (angled) mounting hole spacing can be derived from the OTA itself.
?
Optec Inc at one time had a drawing posted of the profile of dovetails. But their website has been revised and the drawing seems to have disappeared.
?
But take any standard dovetail and make a few measurements: the width of the dovetail itself (not the top plate) and the angle.
?
Mark Christensen
Re: Tripod leg carrier

 

On Tue, Nov 12, 2024 at 12:09 PM, Lloyd Merrill wrote:
Greetings to the group,
?
Has anyone considered building a carrier or caddy to organize and transport Losmandy tripod legs? This might seem trivial, but I'm just looking for the most efficient way to carry the legs around without banging them or nicking them up.? I have the older no-folding legs that are inserted into the tripod head.
?
Any ideas out there?
?
Lloyd
?
I had cut out some simple plywood cradles then glued and screwed them to a compact plywood base for car transport.? This protected them in transit but didn't make storing, moving or transporting the original HD tripod that much easier other than while in the car laid out flat.? The tripod was solid as monolithic granite but it was also a PITA to move and store.? So I bought a new FHD before the prices shot up.? Best money I spent on a Losmandy tripod.? Well other than the Berlebach Planet I bought LOL.?
?
?
--

Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?

Astrospheric Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
?
?
?
Re: Nextstar 8se & a G8 - need help with dovetail

 

On Thu, Nov 21, 2024 at 02:54 AM, Michael Ben-Yehuda wrote:
The simple answer here is to replace the saddle on the mount with the dual D /V saddle.?
You can move your C8 back and forth as it has a V style rail.? Any other scope will have one or the other.?
?
The slightly narrower plate that came with the G8 and its original saddle are relics of the past.
?
This is what I said in the second post of this thread, the rest is commentary.?
?
--

Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?

Astrospheric Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
?
?
?
Re: Detailed dimensions for D SERIES DOVETAIL PLATE FOR MEADE 14" OTA ?

 

On Fri, Nov 22, 2024 at 08:51 PM, Greg Owen wrote:
Hi, I'm looking for the dimensions(particularly the hole spacing) for the D Series Dovetail Plate for Meade 14" OTA. A cad .Step file would be best, but a pdf will work just as well.
?
I have to ask the obvious but why not just buy one and support the people who support your hobby??
?
--

Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?

Astrospheric Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
?
?
?
Re: Problem with PEMPro not drawing in all needed G11G (Gemini 2) Mount & Camera info for valid PE review and analysis

 

Hi Ray, thank you for getting back to me. I have attached a zip of 5 files, 4 are the log file data runs for Nov. 13th, the 5th is the debug file for those runs.?
?
Run 1 - File 210114 (Full 30 min, Log is missing needed info to properly analyze)
Run 2 - File 214144 (Ended after 23 min. due to approaching Meridian, Log is missing needed info to properly analyze)
Repositioned scope using hand controller between Runs 2 and 3 to a part of the sky where I normally image, I believe I ran the calibration wizard again)
Runs 3 and 4 - Files 221509 and 225519 (Both ran full 30 min., both have all needed log info and run fine in Analysis and Log Viewer)
?
Also, if you can answer, what is the data element (Stepper Location) I described above and why would that also be missing from those problem runs, seems to indicate that no information was communicated from Gemini or the mount at all during those runs.
?
Thank you again for any help

PEMPro-2024-11-23-093953.zip
PEMPro-2024-11-23-093953.zip

Detailed dimensions for D SERIES DOVETAIL PLATE FOR MEADE 14" OTA ?

 

Hi, I'm looking for the dimensions(particularly the hole spacing) for the D Series Dovetail Plate for Meade 14" OTA. A cad .Step file would be best, but a pdf will work just as well.
Re: Problem with PEMPro not drawing in all needed G11G (Gemini 2) Mount & Camera info for valid PE review and analysis

 

Hi Mike,

PEMPro reads the Gemini 2 settings using the Gemini ASCOM driver. It could be that communications failed intermittently between the Gemini driver and the mount, leaving some parameters missing when PEMPRo tried to read them.

I can look at your logs if you use the PEMPro Log Zipper (in the Wizards menu) to zip all of the logs and Debug logs. You can attach it to a post here.

-Ray Gralak
(Author of PEMPro)

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mike
Sent: Thursday, November 21, 2024 7:51 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Losmandy_users_io] Problem with PEMPro not drawing in all needed G11G (Gemini 2) Mount & Camera
info for valid PE review and analysis

Hi, I posted an issue over in CN Software, but I don't seem to be getting someone who may know the answer. I
decided to map out and see about improving the basic PE in my mount using PEMPro. I have solved an earlier
issue with connecting the mount and camera, but now, on the data gathering runs I have made o far, I can't get
the log files to consistently suck in all the complete mount/camera scale information and tracking data for that run
that allows proper analysis and follow-on PEC curving when reviewing the data. There has been a few
occurrences when it did get all the right info, but I can't figure out why on some runs and not on others, usually
the ones that worked are after I repositioned the scope, but I don't think it has anything to do with the
repositioning, but rather with the integration between the information coming from ASCOM on the mount and
camera, versus what is loaded into PEMPro directly or as default. Or maybe the way I connect the devices, but I
have tried different things and there is no consistency to when this happens and when it doesn't. I have run the
mount wizard and the calibration wizard, I get thru those ok, but it seems to have no affect. On the log files with
the missing info, PEMPro wants to use its default values (such as worm period of 10) to create the PE chart and
PEMPro Log Viewer will not properly run on those files at all because of the missing info (it doesn't have default
values) , if I cut and paste in the info from the runs that did work I can get Log Viewer to work on those files.



On the collected data side, on those data runs that have the missing mount/scope info, there is also a missing
data element that is seemingly important, it is the value in the column with the Controller Step for each exposure,
that seems to be important for curve loading, it puts 1's in there instead of the step location....below are examples.



I am sure this is something simple, like what I am connecting first, or how I set up for the runs, but can't figure it
out. BTW I do have to Bin 2 just to get it to work thru calibration due to the file size on Bin 1 on that camera. Any
ideas are appreciated.



A Data Run Log File Extract Showing some of the Missing Mount/Camera info:

# Gemini Firmware #

# Gemini PEC Status # 0

# Gemini Worm Teeth # -270

# Gemini Guide Rate # 0.5

# Gemini PEC Guide Rate # 1

# Gemini PEC Cells # 12800

# Gemini PEC Max # 25600

# Gemini RA Spur Ratio # 25

# Gemini RA Encoder Resolution # 256

# Gemini RA Multiplier # 1

# Gemini PEC Worm Cycles # 2

# Gemini PEC Table Period # 0

# Gemini Minimum Step Size # 0

# Gemini PEC Index # 1

# Gemini PEC Phase # 0

# Camera Software # ASCOM

# CCD Dimensions # 6280 4210

# CCD SubFrame # 50 x 50

# CCD Binning # 2

# Worm Period # 0.0000

# Rotation # 89.6270

# Reverse # False

# Invert Curve # False

# PEC State # PEC OFF



A Data Run Log File extract from the same area from a good data file:

# Gemini Firmware # 5.21

# Gemini PEC Status # 0

# Gemini Worm Teeth # 360

# Gemini Guide Rate # 0.5

# Gemini PEC Guide Rate # 0.5

# Gemini PEC Cells # 12800

# Gemini PEC Max # 6400

# Gemini RA Spur Ratio # 25

# Gemini RA Encoder Resolution # 256

# Gemini RA Multiplier # 1

# Gemini PEC Worm Cycles # 2

# Gemini PEC Table Period # 478.68939183834

# Gemini Minimum Step Size # 0.5625

# Gemini PEC Index # 1119

# Gemini PEC Phase # 41.8479241771174

# Camera Software # ASCOM

# CCD Dimensions # 3140 2105

# CCD SubFrame # 50 x 50

# CCD Binning # 2

# Worm Period # 239.3447

# Rotation # -89.7188

# Reverse # False

# Invert Curve # False

# PEC State # PEC OFF



Sample data line missing Stepper info (See 1's):

1 0:00:00.000 1606 198 26.024 26.347 32767.00 1
C:\Users\User\Documents\CCDWare\PEMProV3\Images\PEMPro_Ascom_0001.fit

2 0:00:03.191 1606 200 26.075 25.009 32767.00 1
C:\Users\User\Documents\CCDWare\PEMProV3\Images\PEMPro_Ascom_0002.fit



Sample data line with good Stepper info (See 1431, 1516):

1 0:00:00.002 174 734 24.303 26.228 32767.00 1431
C:\Users\User\Documents\CCDWare\PEMProV3\Images\PEMPro_Ascom_0001.fit

2 0:00:03.167 174 736 24.040 23.385 32767.00 1516
C:\Users\User\Documents\CCDWare\PEMProV3\Images\PEMPro_Ascom_0002.fit



I will explore all the info that is out there on analyzing, fitting a curve, the 76 sec issue, etc. I just need to get past
this operational stuff first.



Thanks
Re: Does G11G keep polar alignment when adding/removing heavy scope

 

Thanks all. ?Good advice.
Problem with PEMPro not drawing in all needed G11G (Gemini 2) Mount & Camera info for valid PE review and analysis

 

Hi, I posted an issue over in CN Software, but I don't seem to be getting someone who may know the answer. I decided to map out and see about improving the basic PE in my mount using PEMPro. I have solved an earlier issue with connecting the mount and camera, but now, on the data gathering runs I have made o far, I can't get the log files to consistently suck in all the complete mount/camera scale information and tracking data for that run that allows proper analysis and follow-on PEC curving when reviewing the data. There has been a few occurrences when it did get all the right info, but I can't figure out why on some runs and not on others, usually the ones that worked are after I repositioned the scope, but I don't think it has anything to do with the repositioning, but rather with the integration between the information coming from ASCOM on the mount and camera, versus what is loaded into PEMPro directly or as default. Or maybe the way I connect the devices, but I have tried different things and there is no consistency to when this happens and when it doesn't. I have run the mount wizard and the calibration wizard, I get thru those ok, but it seems to have no affect. On the log files with the missing info, PEMPro wants to use its default values (such as worm period of 10) to create the PE chart and PEMPro Log Viewer will not properly run on those files at all because of the missing info (it doesn't have default values) , if I cut and paste in the info from the runs that did work I can get Log Viewer to work on those files.?

?

On the collected data side, on those data runs that have the missing mount/scope info, there is also a missing data element that is seemingly important, it is the value in the column with the Controller Step for each exposure, that seems to be important for curve loading, it puts 1's in there instead of the step location....below are examples.

?

I am sure this is something simple, like what I am connecting first, or how I set up for the runs, but can't figure it out. BTW I do have to Bin 2 just to get it to work thru calibration due to the file size on Bin 1 on that camera. Any ideas are appreciated.

?

A Data Run Log File Extract Showing some of the Missing Mount/Camera info:

# Gemini Firmware #

# Gemini PEC Status # 0

# Gemini Worm Teeth # -270

# Gemini Guide Rate # 0.5

# Gemini PEC Guide Rate # 1

# Gemini PEC Cells # 12800

# Gemini PEC Max # 25600

# Gemini RA Spur Ratio # 25

# Gemini RA Encoder Resolution # 256

# Gemini RA Multiplier # 1

# Gemini PEC Worm Cycles # 2

# Gemini PEC Table Period # 0

# Gemini Minimum Step Size # 0

# Gemini PEC Index # 1

# Gemini PEC Phase # 0

# Camera Software # ASCOM

# CCD Dimensions # 6280 4210

# CCD SubFrame # 50 x 50

# CCD Binning # 2

# Worm Period # 0.0000

# Rotation # 89.6270

# Reverse # False

# Invert Curve # False

# PEC State # PEC OFF

?

A Data Run Log File extract from the same area from a good data file:

# Gemini Firmware # 5.21

# Gemini PEC Status # 0

# Gemini Worm Teeth # 360

# Gemini Guide Rate # 0.5

# Gemini PEC Guide Rate # 0.5

# Gemini PEC Cells # 12800

# Gemini PEC Max # 6400

# Gemini RA Spur Ratio # 25

# Gemini RA Encoder Resolution # 256

# Gemini RA Multiplier # 1

# Gemini PEC Worm Cycles # 2

# Gemini PEC Table Period # 478.68939183834

# Gemini Minimum Step Size # 0.5625

# Gemini PEC Index # 1119

# Gemini PEC Phase # 41.8479241771174

# Camera Software # ASCOM

# CCD Dimensions # 3140 2105

# CCD SubFrame # 50 x 50

# CCD Binning # 2

# Worm Period # 239.3447

# Rotation # -89.7188

# Reverse # False

# Invert Curve # False

# PEC State # PEC OFF

?

Sample data line missing Stepper info (See 1's):

1 0:00:00.000 1606 198 26.024 26.347 32767.00 1 C:\Users\User\Documents\CCDWare\PEMProV3\Images\PEMPro_Ascom_0001.fit

2 0:00:03.191 1606 200 26.075 25.009 32767.00 1 C:\Users\User\Documents\CCDWare\PEMProV3\Images\PEMPro_Ascom_0002.fit

?

Sample data line with good Stepper info (See 1431, 1516):

1 0:00:00.002 174 734 24.303 26.228 32767.00 1431 C:\Users\User\Documents\CCDWare\PEMProV3\Images\PEMPro_Ascom_0001.fit

2 0:00:03.167 174 736 24.040 23.385 32767.00 1516 C:\Users\User\Documents\CCDWare\PEMProV3\Images\PEMPro_Ascom_0002.fit

?

I will explore all the info that is out there on analyzing, fitting a curve, the 76 sec issue, etc. I just need to get past this operational stuff first.

?

Thanks
Re: Does G11G keep polar alignment when adding/removing heavy scope

 

Thanks all. ?Good advice.
?
Re: Nextstar 8se & a G8 - need help with dovetail

 

The simple answer here is to replace the saddle on the mount with the dual D /V saddle.?
You can move your C8 back and forth as it has a V style rail.? Any other scope will have one or the other.?
?
The slightly narrower plate that came with the G8 and its original saddle are relics of the past.
Re: Does G11G keep polar alignment when adding/removing heavy scope

 

On Tue, Nov 19, 2024 at 10:33 AM, <sctom1@...> wrote:
If I very accurately PA the G11G on a pier and then set my scope on it for the next session will the PA stay accurate for doing this many times? Avoiding PA most of the time is the main point.
This is the last question on which route to go. A permanent pier with a removable scope and a very small outhouse type of rolloff building (or even lift off) or the much bigger affair where I just turn the power on after rolling off the roof.
Many thanks

?

Reply
How long your mount holds PA really depends on how much you jar it with any one action. Just putting a scope on may or may not nudge it of place. I think for larger heavy scopes this would be more common than small lightweight gear. You can see in your guiding whether PA is off. All your Dec corrections going in one direction up or down is a PA issue. Also check how well your target stays centered over the course of a few hours. If it is constantly drifting toward one side of the sensor that is PA. Other incidents like walking into the scope in the dark, or hitting your head on it (happens to most of us at some time) can knock out PA. My G11 on a pier in my shed can stay aligned for months if I never take the scope off. Then one night I'll see drifting and I know something has finally worked loose. So, the answer is how fastidious do you wish to be. Do a PA every time and be sure, or just watch for drift issues to get so bad you need to take action.
?
Regards,
?
John
--
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Losmandy G11G2 on pier; refurbed Losmandy G11 with OnStep controller; SkyShed design roll-off observatory; ZWO ASI2600MM-P; ZWO ASI071MC; Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED with field flattener; Celestron C925 Edge HD with 0.7XFR, William Optics Zenithstar 61 APO; PHD2, NINA, Sequence Generator Pro and PixInsight user
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