Re: next up: polar alignment tutorial
Hi Les,
This is REALLY helpful. I was in the dark on the ref ticks and what was represented by the numbers.?There was a concern that my scope may have been ¡°expired¡±, but I see it¡¯s not. This seems to be one of the things you learn quickly and move on. I wanted to make sure I wasn¡¯t missing anything.?
Thanks so much!?
-Nick
|
Re: Notes on setting up an optical polar alignment scope
Will do Brian. I hope the is a definitive software solution, especially since PoleMaster would be used most frequently by those with portable setups away from home.
|
Re: Notes on setting up an optical polar alignment scope
>>>
We'll give it another try the next clear night.?
let us know how it goes John
You might also doublecheck you have your Windows 10 on the latest updates
On Tue, May 25, 2021 at 6:53 PM John Kmetz < jjkmetz54@...> wrote: On Tue, May 25, 2021 at 11:14 AM, Chip Louie wrote:
AFAIK the driver glitch was a power related timeout issue and the work around was to leave a video running in the background while using the Polemaster app. This has been fixed since though I am not certain which thing fixed it, Windows 10 updates or the PM app itself.?
Well I have now downloaded the Polemaster driver and app (for the fourth time), which looks like previous download version. I see nothing on their download page addressing this issue. We'll give it another try the next clear night. This started happening for me in late 2019 after replacing my seven year old Windows 7 machine with a Windows 10 one.
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
|
Mac....don't cross post the same question subject between differing forums.....you will be heard no need to post in 2.
--
Brendan
|
Re: Notes on setting up an optical polar alignment scope
On Tue, May 25, 2021 at 11:14 AM, Chip Louie wrote:
AFAIK the driver glitch was a power related timeout issue and the work around was to leave a video running in the background while using the Polemaster app. This has been fixed since though I am not certain which thing fixed it, Windows 10 updates or the PM app itself.?
Well I have now downloaded the Polemaster driver and app (for the fourth time), which looks like previous download version. I see nothing on their download page addressing this issue. We'll give it another try the next clear night. This started happening for me in late 2019 after replacing my seven year old Windows 7 machine with a Windows 10 one.
|
I make these EPROM chips for Gemini-1 in the Americas.
Contact me privately at
...if interested in a replacement chip ($25) or Gemini-1 repair ($200) or Gemini-1 bulletproofing ($100)
Best regards, Michael
On Tue, May 25, 2021, 6:16 PM Paul Kanevsky < yh@...> wrote: Is there a reason you don¡¯t want Level 4 v1.05 (latest available for Gemini-1)?
On Tue, May 25, 2021 at 08:57 PM, macdonjh wrote:
I did a quick search, but didn't find the answer, so I'll ask (perhaps again): can somebody point me to a source of Gemini I chips?? Ideally, I'd like to get a Level 3 chip.
|
Is there a reason you don¡¯t want Level 4 v1.05 (latest available for Gemini-1)?
On Tue, May 25, 2021 at 08:57 PM, macdonjh wrote:
I did a quick search, but didn't find the answer, so I'll ask (perhaps again): can somebody point me to a source of Gemini I chips?? Ideally, I'd like to get a Level 3 chip.
|
I did a quick search, but didn't find the answer, so I'll ask (perhaps again): can somebody point me to a source of Gemini I chips?? Ideally, I'd like to get a Level 3 chip.
|
Not Losmandy specific, but maybe someone can help? The mount seems to be behaving very nicely, so I'm working on other issues. I've been having a devil of a time trying to adjust the tilt on my Hyperstar system. Gory details here:?
There's so many things that can be out, if only I could isolate the components and adjust them individually. Is there a way to do that??
Jamie
|
Re: Notes on setting up an optical polar alignment scope
The slow PM issue happened with me also but it went away after I changed the Intel graphics driver to an older version - maybe the one supported on your PCs download site. I found the latest Intel drivers do something odd with DirectX.
It is particularly nasty for Starry night Pro software which complains it will not run with the latest Intel graphics drivers.
Good luck with it.
|
Re: Notes on setting up an optical polar alignment scope
AFAIK the driver glitch was a power related timeout issue and the work around was to leave a video running in the background while using the Polemaster app. This has been fixed since though I am not certain which thing fixed it, Windows 10 updates or the PM app itself.?
My own PM and PM app seems to work fine now. I was one of the people who had this issue years ago and reported the workaround here and elsewhere on the net. But I have been using SharpCap for quite some time now rather than the original Polemaster app to polar align the RA axis of my mounts.?
Also you absolutely do not need to use the RA cap PM adapters to mount the PM camera. I have been using an adapter with a dovetail clamp to hang below or clamp above the main scope for PA. This has been my usual practice since early on allowing use of the PM camera across several mounts without buying an adapter for every different mount.?
--
Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?
? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
|
Re: next up: polar alignment tutorial
Terry,
There are several places on the mount that I recommend you install Belleville spring washers.??
For the G11 and GM8 worm bearing, there are bearing springs in the size "R4" made specially for the R4 size worm bearing.? For it's dimensions, look on the website .? I tried but did not find any other sized springs suitable.?
For the AZ and EL bolts pretension, I use Belleville springs made for 3/8 inch bolts.? There are several thicknesses (when flattened the max force goes up of course).? I also get the flat stainless steel washers to put above and below the Belleville springs.
The G11T RA has a Titan worm drive.? That worm bearing requires another special Belleville spring.? I have those also.??
Shipping a thick package abroad can be expensive and requires US customs forms that are complex and time consuming to fill out.? However the Belleville springs are very thin and can fit in a letter envelope, and are a few dollars to mail international.? If you need a few of these washers, let me know with a private email.? ?
Very best, Michael
I would like to try using the Belleville washers, suggested by Michael, on my G11's Alt / Az PA adjusment knobs, I am in the UK and have located a source [Belleville Springs in Redditch uk].
Can someone please confirm what internal diameter and thickness do I need for these washers? Many thanks
Brian - I use Sharp Cap for PA on my ppermanent pier mounted G11. I had problems when tightening down the ajustment bolts after calibrating PA in that an excellent result would be made 'poor'.
The way I reduced the change in PA result, caused by tightening down these adjustment bolts, was to adjust PA using SC then measure the change in value between loose and tightned bolts which seemed a near consistant value of shift.
I then re-did the PA calibration deliberately overshooting by the measured 'shift' caused by the tigtening of the bolts, this seemed to help.
I am hoping the Belleville Washers will prove a better solution.
Terry [uk]
|
Wow, that¡¯s amazing, drift align is history!
***
Good
Luck with that..
?
Derek
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bill Grogan
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2021 5:41 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io]
Hi
?
Mostly
astrophotography. ?Study is exactly what I¡¯ve been doing. ?I did a
lot of study and learning as part of my research into which mount I wanted so I
feel I have a good handle on things for starting out. ?I¡¯ve run the
tutorial beginning to end several times again since I placed my order.
?I¡¯m going to run through computer. ?Been using a dslr and apt for a
while with old setup and everything is already on a nuc. ?Ive disassembled
my old rig and reconfigured for the G11 intending on using the Ethernet port
and it¡¯s already connected to micro router and home network. ?I¡¯ve tested
it about as much as I can without an actual mount. ?Just waiting on the
mount for that last connection. ?I¡¯ve had a guide scope and camera for
about a year now to polar align with sharpcap. ?Wow, that¡¯s amazing, drift
align is history! ?I have to learn to use it as a guider still but I think
I¡¯ve researched that well too. ?The camera and scope are already sized to
my OTA based on best practices I¡¯ve read. ?We¡¯ll see how that goes.
?I¡¯m not going to bother with guiding at first, relying on the mount while
I learn Gemini inside and out. ?Then I¡¯ll learn guiding.
No doubt I¡¯m not as prepared as I think I am and there will be moments when I
think WTF? ?I¡¯m looking forward to it.
|
Locked and loaded would be from a previous life, but I always am.? Semper Fi.
|
Re: next up: polar alignment tutorial
I would like to try using the Belleville washers, suggested by Michael, on my G11's Alt / Az PA adjusment knobs, I am in the UK and have located a source [Belleville Springs in Redditch uk].
Can someone please confirm what internal diameter and thickness do I need for these washers? Many thanks
Brian - I use Sharp Cap for PA on my ppermanent pier mounted G11. I had problems when tightening down the ajustment bolts after calibrating PA in that an excellent result would be made 'poor'.
The way I reduced the change in PA result, caused by tightening down these adjustment bolts, was to adjust PA using SC then measure the change in value between loose and tightned bolts which seemed a near consistant value of shift.
I then re-did the PA calibration deliberately overshooting by the measured 'shift' caused by the tigtening of the bolts, this seemed to help.
I am hoping the Belleville Washers will prove a better solution.
Terry [uk]
|
Re: Notes on setting up an optical polar alignment scope
On Tue, May 25, 2021 at 01:11 AM, Jim Waters wrote:
For the fun of it make sure you are running the current DirectX release.? I think its 12.
Looks like Direct X 12 is what is installed, Jim. It says all features enabled and no problems found. This is without the PoleMaster connected or app running. Thanks.
|
Re: Notes on setting up an optical polar alignment scope
For the fun of it make sure you are running the current DirectX release.? I think its 12.
------------------------
Jim W
Phoenix, AZ. USA
|
Re: Notes on setting up an optical polar alignment scope
Will need to check that next time out Brian. I should check it out on my laptop too and see if the fix is good for field trips. I should also turn off Wifi to make sure the fix holds.
Thanks.
|
Re: Notes on setting up an optical polar alignment scope
John does that workaround fix it for you?
On Mon, May 24, 2021 at 9:07 PM John Kmetz < jjkmetz54@...> wrote: Never tried that Bob. I don't know if the app matters, or it the YouTube player is the fix. I usually pick a long music rendition so I don't run out on time. Perhaps a downloaded vid might serve the same purpose. I was stuck on this for awhile and saw the fix somewhere on Cloudy Nights.?
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
|
Re: Notes on setting up an optical polar alignment scope
Never tried that Bob. I don't know if the app matters, or it the YouTube player is the fix. I usually pick a long music rendition so I don't run out on time. Perhaps a downloaded vid might serve the same purpose. I was stuck on this for awhile and saw the fix somewhere on Cloudy Nights.?
|
Michael Herman
Paul Kanevsky
Jamie Amendolagine
Chip Louie