Re: Upgrading from Half Hitch FTQ
Be careful. That poster has no ratings. Did you see it is "pick up only"??
-Karl
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Hi Franco
just curious, are you familiar with the clutch mechanism for each axis? it could be you need to loosen your clutches before moving by hand
Brian
I just received my brand new g11
The load is made by the following
Stellarvue 105?
sv60?
atik 314 + wheel
it should be a light load, but both Ra and dec are quite sticky and they don¡¯t move freely unless I heavily unbalance them
Even unbalanced the ra barely bounces
is it normal ??
i was used to my cgem that needed carefully balance and bounced like a pendulum for several seconds
thx
franco
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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Franco,
When you say ¡°sticky¡± are you referring to moving the telescope manually or using the hand controller?
Assuming you are using the hand controller it sounds like you are describing backlash rather than ¡°sticky¡±, might that be a fair assessment?
Does your mount have the new spring loaded worm option?
Any other details on how the problem is showing itself would be appreciated.?
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I just received my brand new g11
The load is made by the following
Stellarvue 105?
sv60?
atik 314 + wheel
it should be a light load, but both Ra and dec are quite sticky and they don¡¯t move freely unless I heavily unbalance them
Even unbalanced the ra barely bounces
is it normal ??
i was used to my cgem that needed carefully balance and bounced like a pendulum for several seconds
thx
franco
|
Nice
scope you got there..
?
My
SV 130mm and ASI Camera and my G11 has no idea it is even in the saddle.. The
G11 can handle a lot more.. That¡¯s why you bought it.. :-))
?
Derek
?
?
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From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of fbasti62
Sent: Saturday, September 28, 2019
2:12 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Losmandy_users_io] Quite
sticky mount
?
I just received my brand
new g11
The load is made by the following
Stellarvue 105?
sv60?
atik 314 + wheel
it should be a light load, but both Ra and dec are quite sticky and they don¡¯t
move freely unless I heavily unbalance them
Even unbalanced the ra barely bounces
is it normal ??
i was used to my cgem that needed carefully balance and bounced like a pendulum
for several seconds
thx
franco
|
Re: Upgrading from Half Hitch FTQ
An
alternative take..
For
an 80mm refractor, entry level photography, and an interest in Moon and
Planets, as long as ¡°it works¡±, as opposed to being a box of
bricks, it¡¯s a great deal and would serve well in the above role, and in
the future with a larger instrument.. Any ¡°issues¡±, usually
adjustment or ¡°tweaking¡±, can be worked out, usually rather easily,
as your experience increases..
?
Point
being, I image the moon and planets with a G11 w/ Gemini II.. I use an
exceptional 130mm triplet, and I have yet to guide because it tracks just fine
as it is.. I would have no need to ask the seller to provide guide logs, but
rather will it follow a planet at 250X for 30 minutes.. if it works perfectly
for Visual, it¡¯ll be fine..
?
When
I bought my G11, it was local. I met with the seller, who moved the scope in
all four directions, the motors sounded the same in all directions, and the
hand controller looked great.. I was headed home with it 30 minutes later.. My
biggest problem was in changing from a fork mounted SCT to a GEM.. I had to
sledgehammer my previous training into submission.. THAT took a lot of help
from this group.. :-))
?
Derek
?
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From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of scubaLee via Groups.Io
Sent: Saturday, September 28, 2019
1:45 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Losmandy_users_io]
Upgrading from Half Hitch FTQ
?
Hello all,
My first posting after several years of reading for information. I am
interested in upgrading to a losmandy gemini mount system. While I have the
encoders on the ftq, sky commander xp4, and sturdy manfrotto lightweight
tripod, I want a tracking system. I live in a suburb of Cleveland, OH,
and have light pollution always and clouds the majority of the time. I am
mostly interested the moon and planets, thinking about entry level photography.
I have a good dark site about a hour drive and super one in PA, Cherry Springs,
about 5 hours. I have a celestron C80 refractor with several televue eyepieces.
I also want to upgrade eventually to a larger scope as well.
I am interested in an used system and found one on Cloudy Nights with this
description:
Up
for sale is my Losmandy G11 with Gemini 2. I have all the latest updates
installed. It comes with one of the motors upgraded to the newer style high
speed type, and a Losmandy side by saddle. Also included are the upgraded
captain¡¯s locks. Everything works perfectly just as it should. Also
included is the GPS add-on and a non-illuminated polar scope.As a bonus I will
include many other Losmandy parts and pieces including extra D size cradles and
Vixen sizes as well.Comes with all the cables needed for operation as well as 3
20lb coutnerweights.Large CI-700 Tripod available for $75 + shipping extra if
interested.Asking $1600 + shipping and PP fees.
Is this a reasonable deal? What questions should I ask the seller? Is
the tripod worth getting? Thanks in advance!
?
|
Re: Upgrading from Half Hitch FTQ
What questions should I ask the seller?
***
Two
questions.. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with it¡± ?? You¡¯ll get a response.. Then ask ¡°What
else is wrong with it¡± and ask it *repeatedly* and get it in writing and
notorized, as for that price there has to be something wrong or the seller is
otherwise very unhappy they ever owned it, as that deal is ¡°too good to be true¡±
in my opinion.. As in I paid more for mine than that and it doesn¡¯t have all
the latest upgrades.. FYI.. I am quite happy with mine and the deal I made for
it..
?
Derek
Morgan
Hill, CA
?
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Show quoted text
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of scubaLee via Groups.Io
Sent: Saturday, September 28, 2019
1:45 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Losmandy_users_io]
Upgrading from Half Hitch FTQ
?
Hello all,
My first posting after several years of reading for information. I am
interested in upgrading to a losmandy gemini mount system. While I have the
encoders on the ftq, sky commander xp4, and sturdy manfrotto lightweight
tripod, I want a tracking system. I live in a suburb of Cleveland, OH,
and have light pollution always and clouds the majority of the time. I am
mostly interested the moon and planets, thinking about entry level photography.
I have a good dark site about a hour drive and super one in PA, Cherry Springs,
about 5 hours. I have a celestron C80 refractor with several televue eyepieces.
I also want to upgrade eventually to a larger scope as well.
I am interested in an used system and found one on Cloudy Nights with this
description:
Up
for sale is my Losmandy G11 with Gemini 2. I have all the latest updates
installed. It comes with one of the motors upgraded to the newer style high
speed type, and a Losmandy side by saddle. Also included are the upgraded
captain¡¯s locks. Everything works perfectly just as it should. Also included is
the GPS add-on and a non-illuminated polar scope.As a bonus I will include many
other Losmandy parts and pieces including extra D size cradles and Vixen sizes
as well.Comes with all the cables needed for operation as well as 3 20lb
coutnerweights.Large CI-700 Tripod available for $75 + shipping extra if
interested.Asking $1600 + shipping and PP fees.
Is this a reasonable deal? What questions should I ask the seller? Is
the tripod worth getting? Thanks in advance!
?
|
I just received my brand new g11
The load is made by the following
Stellarvue 105?
sv60?
atik 314 + wheel
it should be a light load, but both Ra and dec are quite sticky and they don¡¯t move freely unless I heavily unbalance them
Even unbalanced the ra barely bounces
is it normal ??
i was used to my cgem that needed carefully balance and bounced like a pendulum for several seconds
thx
franco
|
Re: Upgrading from Half Hitch FTQ
sounds like? good deal - perhaps too good of a deal?
i'd ask what are the latest installed updates, does it have spring-loaded worms, tucked in gearing and RA extension
ask why they are selling it
it's entirely possible this person is on this list as well :)
Brian
On Sat, Sep 28, 2019 at 1:45 PM scubaLee via Groups.Io <hfenner89= [email protected]> wrote: Hello all,
My first posting after several years of reading for information. I am interested in upgrading to a losmandy gemini mount system. While I have the encoders on the ftq, sky commander xp4, and sturdy manfrotto lightweight tripod, I want a tracking system. I live in a suburb of Cleveland, OH, and have light pollution always and clouds the majority of the time. I am mostly interested the moon and planets, thinking about entry level photography. I have a good dark site about a hour drive and super one in PA, Cherry Springs, about 5 hours. I have a celestron C80 refractor with several televue eyepieces. I also want to upgrade eventually to a larger scope as well.
I am interested in an used system and found one on Cloudy Nights with this description:
Up for sale is my Losmandy G11 with Gemini 2. I have all the latest updates installed. It comes with one of the motors upgraded to the newer style high speed type, and a Losmandy side by saddle. Also included are the upgraded captain¡¯s locks. Everything works perfectly just as it should. Also included is the GPS add-on and a non-illuminated polar scope.As a bonus I will include many other Losmandy parts and pieces including extra D size cradles and Vixen sizes as well.Comes with all the cables needed for operation as well as 3 20lb coutnerweights.Large CI-700 Tripod available for $75 + shipping extra if interested.Asking $1600 + shipping and PP fees.
Is this a reasonable deal? What questions should I ask the seller? Is the tripod worth getting? Thanks in advance!
?
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
|
Upgrading from Half Hitch FTQ
Hello all, My first posting after several years of reading for information. I am interested in upgrading to a losmandy gemini mount system. While I have the encoders on the ftq, sky commander xp4, and sturdy manfrotto lightweight tripod, I want a tracking system. I live in a suburb of Cleveland, OH, and have light pollution always and clouds the majority of the time. I am mostly interested the moon and planets, thinking about entry level photography. I have a good dark site about a hour drive and super one in PA, Cherry Springs, about 5 hours. I have a celestron C80 refractor with several televue eyepieces. I also want to upgrade eventually to a larger scope as well. I am interested in an used system and found one on Cloudy Nights with this description:
Up for sale is my Losmandy G11 with Gemini 2. I have all the latest updates installed. It comes with one of the motors upgraded to the newer style high speed type, and a Losmandy side by saddle. Also included are the upgraded captain¡¯s locks. Everything works perfectly just as it should. Also included is the GPS add-on and a non-illuminated polar scope.As a bonus I will include many other Losmandy parts and pieces including extra D size cradles and Vixen sizes as well.Comes with all the cables needed for operation as well as 3 20lb coutnerweights.Large CI-700 Tripod available for $75 + shipping extra if interested.Asking $1600 + shipping and PP fees.
Is this a reasonable deal? What questions should I ask the seller? Is the tripod worth getting? Thanks in advance!
?
|
Tim is correct. Connect a standard USB to the ASIair, then into the larger square USB port on the Gemini. The thin USB port does not have input/output, only supplies power. Boot up the Gemini first and choose Warm Start from the CWD position. After you start the ASIair and connect it to the mount, use either the ASIair or the HC to slew the mount to a bright star position. Take a Preview image 1 to 5 seconds, and Plate Solve. When the plate solve results come, sel3ct ¡°Sync & Goto¡± and the ASIair corrects the mount model coordinates then centers the bright star. Although I have been able to shift back and forth between the HC and the App to find objects, I always check with plate solve whenever I am going to image. So far works without a hitch.
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Re: New Gemini II upgrade kit
Thank you Brian for the fast reply. I've got reading to do.
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Re: New Gemini II upgrade kit
congrats on the upgrade?
you might try starting here:
?
also often people guide via ascom, so the guide camera connects to the computer, which then connects to the gemini. even if you guide via st-4 you still connect?the computer to the gemini
Brian
Today received new Gemini II upgrade kit for my G11 mount. Having a hard time finding meaningful instructions about the ports on the device. For example, the Auto Guider port. What happens when I plug my guide camera into it? Also, there are two USB ports and Ethernet port. Can I connect the device to my computer using the USB instead of Ethernet? Finally, what is the USB-A port for? If someone can point me to detailed setup instructions regarding the ports that would be very helpful. Thank you.?
I've been using my G11 with manual setting circles for years. This is a big upgrade for me to the Gemini.?
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
|
New Gemini II upgrade kit
Today received new Gemini II upgrade kit for my G11 mount. Having a hard time finding meaningful instructions about the ports on the device. For example, the Auto Guider port. What happens when I plug my guide camera into it? Also, there are two USB ports and Ethernet port. Can I connect the device to my computer using the USB instead of Ethernet? Finally, what is the USB-A port for? If someone can point me to detailed setup instructions regarding the ports that would be very helpful. Thank you.?
I've been using my G11 with manual setting circles for years. This is a big upgrade for me to the Gemini.?
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Re: Belleville washers and Oldham coupler
Michael,?
I'm distributing OnStep kits world wide. I use a 6 X 4 x 1.5" box and they usually come in 5.4-5.8 oz. I ship them USPS 1st class international small package for under $15. Delivery is usually 6-10 days. Over 8oz jumps to $23.
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Re: G11 RA motor is stalls when tracking but not when slewing
Thanks guys. I?ll try your suggestions when I get home again. I have to solve this cause it?s very irritating when it happens :) I?ll let you know how it goes. Cheers Erik Den s?n 22 sep. 2019 kl 21:27 skrev Erik Nordberg via Groups.Io <tierozi= [email protected]>:
Hi friends !
I have had a problem the last couple of years with the RA motor that stops working when tracking at star but when hitting the slew buttons on the hand controller the works as usual.
There is no stall warning in the display.
Often I can get it working again after pushing the buttons on the handcontroller but last night it did not work that way. I even shut down Gemini twice and after a restart the star was
OK and not drifting but when I center the star it immediatly starts drifting which means the RA motor has stopped. And never a stall warning in the display.
I know the that the stall warning does work when for example I adjust the wormwheel.
Is this a problem that any of you guys has encountered before ?
Rgds
Erik Nordberg
|
Re: G11 RA motor is stalls when tracking but not when slewing
Brendan's point of "motor drive energy is low" made me also think of this to check:
Make sure you are using a >12v power source for the gemini. it is rated from 12-18v but ideally you want 15-18v. 12v isn't going to be enough
[Edited Message Follows]
It¡¯s quote possible the motor is slightly bad for whatever reason.? Try swapping motors Ra to Dec etc
the reason it¡¯s bad at sidereal (I¡¯m assuming it¡¯s a G1) is the motor drive energy delivered is low.? At higher drive rates it¡¯s provided with more energy....it moves faster. it could be a bad ¡°H¡± bridge but I doubt it.? So try swap the motors over.?
If the system is a G2, you can enter the WEB interface and select¡±servos¡± page:
In this you can increase the servo motor tracking percentage ( increase energy) to the motor.? Try increasing it a little let¡¯s say 35%
it could also be as Michael said or a slipping motor pinion gear
If it is still failing....get back?
--
Brendan
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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Re: G11 RA motor is stalls when tracking but not when slewing
Erik
i also should have said.....take that bad motor off and start run system like it¡¯s installed. ?You can run it on a bench (non installed) it¡¯s just the axes won¡¯t move. ?
So start it up.....if it¡¯s a Ra motor, it¡¯s pinion should feel tight on boot right up till the HC displays ¡°cold boot at xxxxxxx¡± ?At this point the pinion will start rotating at its specified sidereal rate. ?It will have resistance to your finger pressure on the pinion aka ¡°not weak¡±. If it¡¯s a DEC motor it won¡¯t move till you command it but from start it will feel tight and resist rotating by fingers.?
Don¡¯t worry if you¡¯re fiddling causes a stall warning they¡¯ll clear next boot.?
Test the above
--
Brendan
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More on worm bearings... types, prices, testing...
Hi gang,
Quick report on the R4ZZ worm bearings from 2 different sources...
I finally received the ? ABEC-7 R4ZZ stainless steel ball bearings. I tried them with a magnet, and compared them to a few from?
I find them both about the same magnetically... weakly able to be attracted. ? Therefore I think they are all a stainless steel. ? The comment from Bocabearings to me that the McMaster ones were not stainless was... ? incorrect. ?
Of course, you can order all kinds of bearings from McMaster, and from boca. Some will be stainless and some will not.? It's stated clearly in the website what you are getting.
The new ones I just got from boca have no name printed on them.? They are in a plastic shipping sleeve and a paper label says they are ? R4ZZ ABEC-7. ? ? They cost ~$9.75 each.
The ones from McMaster-Carr are listed at $8.60 each.? The ones that I have are I think the same units.? They are stamped on the bearing "NHBB USA" ?? The plastic package of each bearing says: ?SSR-4ZZR
Spec A7P25LY75P Mfr 50294 ? MVCSD30 Date 1.26.2018 NHBB Chatsworth USA
Now:? what about testing them on a 1/4 inch diameter worm shaft?
The new ones from Boca the center rotating part can shift very slightly left to right (along the rotating axis). The side enclosures holding the balls in are not "tight," like the ones I got many years ago from Boca. ? None of the bearings seemed "rough" on rotation, but they must be compressed axially to keep the balls in the smooth races.?
?To prevent this axial movement, these bearings must have a Belleville spring washer to compress the balls into the races properly, and the bearings must be lined up with the worm axis so there is not a "pinched" ball that will cause PE issues.? (That is what the OPW worm system does: keep the worm blocks lined up with the worm so the bearings are co-linear with the worm). Without an OPW, you can line the blocks up with a metal straightedge, and this also works. ?
The bearings from McMaster seem as tight or tighter.? I cannot tell since they are still in their plastic envelope.
Bottom line: I think the stainless steel R4ZZ ABEC-7 from McMaster are likely as good as the ones from BocaBearings.com.? They are both stainless steel. ? With shipping considered the price may be essentially the same. ? The McMaster ones are stamped with a name, which I like over nameless units. ?
All the best, Michael --
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Re: G11 RA motor is stalls when tracking but not when slewing
It¡¯s quote possible the motor is slightly bad for whatever reason. ?Try swapping motors Ra to Dec etc
the reason it¡¯s bad at sidereal (I¡¯m assuming it¡¯s a G1) is the motor drive energy delivered is low. ?At higher drive rates it¡¯s provided with more energy....it moves faster. it could be a bad ¡°H¡± bridge but I doubt it. ?So try swap the motors over.?
If the system is a G2, you can enter the WEB interface and select¡±servos¡± page:
In this you can increase the servo motor tracking percentage ( increase energy) to the motor. ?Try increasing it a little let¡¯s say 35%
it could also be as Michael said or a slipping motor pinion gear
If it is still failing....get back?
--
Brendan
|
Re: G11 RA motor is stalls when tracking but not when slewing
Hi Eric,
The most common reason is a loose Oldham coupler part.
Look at the drive metal parts of the RA Oldham coupler...see if one end is loose. They can get loose over time, and it might be temperature dependent.? If one of those ends gets loose, the motor will tell Gemini it is still turning (so no Lags message), but the worm will not be driven..so the axis will not move.
-----
I was going to say:
Try swapping the cables from RA to DEC (...the RA is shorter...might be difficult).
However, if the cable were faulty, I think the Gemini would say "Lags" or something like that.? I think the Oldham coupler is the most likely trouble.
Best wishes, Michael
On Sun, Sep 22, 2019, 12:27 PM Erik Nordberg < tierozi@...> wrote: Hi friends !
I have had a problem the last couple of years with the RA motor that stops working when tracking at star but when hitting the slew buttons on the hand controller the works as usual.
There is no stall warning in the display.
Often I can get it working again after pushing the buttons on the handcontroller but last night it did not work that way. I even shut down Gemini twice and after a restart the star was
OK and not drifting but when I center the star it immediatly starts drifting which means the RA motor has stopped. And never a stall warning in the display.
I know the that the stall warning does work when for example I adjust the wormwheel.
Is this a problem that any of you guys has encountered before ?
Rgds
Erik Nordberg
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Karl Adlon
Robertson Miller
Michael Herman