Finally get a clear night after some real gully washer rains (1.3" here at my house), and wouldn't you just know....
My ASCOM is AS-SCREWED as it could be after Windoze did its recent downgrades.
So I spent some time shivering out in the cold trying to fix everything.
I downloaded ASCOM's Platform 6.5SP1. It didn't fix things but, hey, I'm up to date there. ;^) The Service Pack removes the old version, then installs Ver: 6.5 SP1 Nifty! (Requires a restart. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Start over.) But ASCOM's writers know how to do an upgrade! Thumbs Up!

If you find yourself with messed up ASCOM, try these little tidbits to unjam what Windoze done. Mine were my Focuser, my Gemini Controller, and SharpCap, that were or seemed problematic.

What did work, for me, was to go into my Settings>control panel>Apps and Features>ASCOM Platform (your version)>Modify>repair. It fixed those funky blues that the Ver: 6.5 SP1 didn't fix.
I found my ASCOM Gemini Telescope Driver needed Modified also (Thank You Windows!) So I ran that also, to get any hackers finger prints out of my upgraded hair.
All I can say about my focuser was it worked again. Smile. Big Smile!
After that, and a complete shutdown-restart, just for good measure, with my USB from my mount disconnected, when I began again things worked as I expected them to. In fact, better I think. Things now open faster, and work "crisper".

If I've learned anything, it's that the code writers cannot cover every aspect of everybody's computer. There are just too many variations we do to these wonderful Creations of Frustrations.

By the time I got my poop grouped, and got my PA done and Model built, Mr. Moon was glaringly high in the sky and I almost couldn't make out any stars I was being told by Stellarium were there. I was blinded by the light.
My ass was froze. So I picked up the now Neutered Brass Monkey and packed it in. Then spent a few hours thawing out under the covers. Holy Macadamia's Windoze! It was 41° F! (That's -19° in California, because everybody sez "It's Freezing!" when the temperature hits 60°F here.

I've been beating a keyboard since before Al Gore invented the Internet. So I just smile and fix my scattered poop. But I'd prefer to do it in where it is warm.
Tonight is supposed to be sucky again. Thanks Windows!
Never a dull moment! I think my bloods a little thicker now.
Happy New Year!



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SonnyE


(I suggest viewed in full screen)

You may be able to plug in the time and date to skysafari and see if satalites show up.?

On Wed, Dec 30, 2020 at 08:24 AM, Tom wrote:

I guess they could be satellites but I'm still leaning the other way.

OK... But try not to fall down, Tom. ;^)
?
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SonnyE


(I suggest viewed in full screen)

Yeah i'd say satellites as well.?

meteors have a different signature (the have a bulge in the middle) and they are so fast they aren't usually visible across frames

I think it's probably starlink, since most other satellites are individual

Still, it's very cool even if it ruined your M42 :)

Well, in about 30 frames, there are almost 100 trails and none on the following night and none a week later. I guess they could be satellites but I'm still leaning the other way.

Hmmmm starlink

Worst thing ever....should be banned. but oh noes, there's money to be made.



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Brendan

I would say Satellites, too.
Reason being, I've capture the same thing about 5-6 years back. If I remember right, there are 5 that cross The Great Orion Nebula.
Unfortunately, it's going to get worse and worse as we fill the sky with space junk.

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SonnyE


(I suggest viewed in full screen)

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开云体育

Tom,

开云体育

Neverfox:

The RA never does swing completely freely as there is a fractional inward vector force of the downward weight of the mount pressing on the clutch. The wavy washer helps but does not eliminate it. This is normal. If you want the best free wheeling motion, you can crank the altitude down to near zero and make the RA axis horizontal (careful you don't tip over!). That way you have minimal pressure on the clutch disc. This is a pain since your lose your latitude setting and you need to redo polar alignment. If you never change your rig setup this could be a way to go. The Losmandy video shows the Titan mount which may be a bit different. My G11G never rotates that freely.

But if you just loosen the the clutch knob and go for telescope east heavy (this is for the Northern Hemisphere), this should be sufficient. By swinging RA lightly with your hand, you should be able to see where it feels the best. But never a free swinging motion like some other mounts.

My GM811GHD was "sticky" like that as well when brand new. The Wavey Washer fixed it.
One of the biggest improvements I made was when I installed the on my 811.
I have to move most of my mount out, and back in, each night that I use it. (which is a LOT!) If the weather is going to be clear, I leave my tripod set-up, covered, and it stays near perfectly aligned. (But I always PA, and build a new model.)
But the RAEXT allowed me to make "Chunks" out of my mount. In doing so, my balance weight (1 - 11 pound) stays where it is on the CW shaft bar, and the whole Dec axis with the CW is one sub-assembly. So it is in balance when mounted to the RA.
My telescope assembly, likewise, is a "chunk" that when it mounts in my saddle I have a ?clamped as a stop that indexes my D-bar in the clamp and it lands in balance every time. The DVA is underhung on my , and it stops against the front of the clamp.
By doing this, dismantling and reassembling my mount all the time has become a breeze, and it assembles in balance each time. (When I have checked it, it is boringly in balance!)
Incidentally, I balance mine with my wiring harness attached so it is factored in to the over all balance.
(I'm also the guy who uses a digital level to make sure my tripod is plumb to the Earth before assembly. ;^) )
--
SonnyE


(I suggest viewed in full screen)

Brian,

Thanks. I tried the lower altitude trick and that gave me a less sticky experience on the stickier side (while actually making the less sticky side more sticky). In any case, I was able to get enough free movement that I could find a balance point I believed. So as long as what I'm experiencing isn't abnormal, I'm satisfied. It's a little frustrating to have to take the mount out of the usual altitude setting if I need to rebalance, but hopefully a few pieces of tape will work more often than not.

FWIW, before trying the hack, I did make just to demonstrate how sticky it was at first, which seems a lot more than the mount in the Losmandy video.

Did you try plug the HC into the other serial port? ?Remember to increase the baud?

if that fails ....and sorry I think it will. ?.....the HC Is bad. ?Yes Thursday did have old boards ....or early version PCBs but they are not available. ?The manufacturer has changed designs more than once.?

That ?HC was was the first there have been 3 differing displays you cannot just use a new one the display controllers are different. the OEM buys them by thousands the manufacturer changes designs like they change underwear. ?This is the pace of modern manufacturing. ?

I don’t think those original displays are available anywhere I’ve tried. ?

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Brendan

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On 12/28/2020 3:32 PM, neverfox@... wrote:

With the clutch knob loosened, the axis doesn't swing freely like I've become accustomed to with other mounts.

and.....

seems to be on older mounts not fitted with a wavy washer, but mine has said washer. Is what I'm experiencing normal or should I be reaching out to Losmandy? If it is normal, how do I balance in RA with that much tolerance?

I'll let Brian weigh in on whether that is normal or not. However, my new(ish) GM811 is the same. The RA axis never becomes fully free like the DEC axis.

To balance, I just nudge RA in both directions with the clutch fully loose and see how long it coasts after I let go. Adjust the counterweight until it coasts about the same in both directions for the same amount of force.

Paul

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Paul Goelz
Rochester Hills, MI USA
pgoelz@...
www.pgoelz.com

Hi Hermant

usual cause of this is the case is putting pressure on the display somewhere long it’s edge usually called the “gasket”. ? You need to clean the display and gasket to stop this.?

Power off the unit take apart he HC case halves apart. ?Gently clean the Display with an alcohol wipe or eye glasses spray. ?Just a small amount. ? ?

Do the same with the edge of the case upper half. ?The half the display is see thru. ?While apart check the SD card is seated ok. ??

Reassemble but do not tighten the case screws too much as said, pressure from the case/gasket edge can cause this.?

I have seen similar multipule display presses not responding and it’s usually the display/gasket pressure or dirt dust caught between them.?

When you have the case apart you will see 4 small dedicated icons at the base of the display. ?These are because the display was a multipurpose display. ?Do not touch these with power on it can put the display into modes you cannot recover from.?

Finally clean the HC plugs/sockets ? Get back how all this goes ?

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Brendan

First of all, glad to be part of the group, as I just received my GM811G today, which is also my first Losmandy. Everything is set up but I'm a bit perplexed by the RA axis.

With the clutch knob loosened, the axis doesn't swing freely like I've become accustomed to with other mounts. I can pretty much get it to stay put in any position unless I move the counterweights a good deal. I can move the weights 4-5 inches with no apparent change in the balance. That just doesn't seem right to me as I'm not sure how I would verify when or if I've actually achieved proper balance. I have about 25lbs of payload and two 11lb counterweights (works with one, but it just ends up further down the shaft and doesn't change what I'm describing).

I've come across mention of this issue when poking around but it always seems to be on older mounts not fitted with a wavy washer, but mine has said washer. Is what I'm experiencing normal or should I be reaching out to Losmandy? If it is normal, how do I balance in RA with that much tolerance?