Re: New G11 Question Concerning Stiction
THanks.
Sorry, yes, I mean the wavy washer.
Mark
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Re: New G11 Question Concerning Stiction
On either side if you rotate Dec past 90'degrees it should move freely. Just ate a bit further
On RA try the alt=0 trick mentioned
Re Belleville I think you may be thinking of the wavy washer?
Brian,
Thank you for your warp speed fast reply.
I have watched your excellent video on balancing.? For RA, there is no rotation position where the axis is free to move.? For DEC, only when the OTA is on the West side and the CWB is horizontal will the DEC axis move freely.? This is with my full rig ~32 lb using a 21 lb and an 11 lb counterweight.
Won't the Bellville washers reduce the resitance?
Mark
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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Re: New G11 Question Concerning Stiction
Brian,
Thank you for your warp speed fast reply.
I have watched your excellent video on balancing. ?For RA, there is no rotation position where the axis is free to move. ?For DEC, only when the OTA is on the West side and the CWB is horizontal will the DEC axis move freely. ?This is with my full rig ~32 lb using a 21 lb and an 11 lb counterweight.
Won't the Bellville washers reduce the resitance?
Mark
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Re: New G11 Question Concerning Stiction
Hi Mark
please watch the video on balancing your mount, including tips all the way to the end (and read description for update)
(and i recommend the entire setup tutorial series, of which this is a part)
Belleville washers won't impact this one way or another
I just received my new G11G system for astrophotography.? I set it up and everything functions properly in a basement test. ?
However, the RA and DEC axes are very sticky when the clutches are released, making it difficult to achieve a good balance.? Does the system need to wear in or should I consider the Bellevue (sp?) washer upgrade?
Mark Wetzel
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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New G11 Question Concerning Stiction
I just received my new G11G system for astrophotography. ?I set it up and everything functions properly in a basement test. ?
However, the RA and DEC axes are very sticky when the clutches are released, making it difficult to achieve a good balance. ?Does the system need to wear in or should I consider the Bellevue (sp?) washer upgrade?
Mark Wetzel
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image request for polar alignment tutorial
Hi folks ? I'm looking for a still image of the Ursa Major/ Cassiopeia/ Polaris sky area ? this is going to be used for the polar alignment via polar scope tutorial ? Do you have one i can use? if so please drop me a direct email, that would be great. doesn't have to be fancy, just need to see the stars ?
I could probably fake one but I¡¯d prefer to use a real one if someone has it
? ? Thanks ? Brian ? Brian Valente Losmandy Astronomical ? Losmandy.com Tutorials and vids at ?
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My
130mm triplet / 80mm doublet / G11G sits on a Meade Giant Field tripod quite
nicely..
?
Derek
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Re: Very odd polar align issue
Thank you so much Keith! I'm definitely still new at this kind of analysis and this is super helpful
15" peak to peak is a bit higher than I was expecting but I am definitely still getting things setup and dialed in here!
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Re: Very odd polar align issue
Hi Nick.? To use PECPrep, you need to give it 'clean' unguided data as the file you gave it has multiple sections, and to be honest I'm not sure what its analyzing when you open the file as is.? To create a clean file, do your calibration in PHD2, shut down the program, then re-start.? Go into the brain (Advanced Settings) and uncheck the box 'Enable mount guide output'.? Then go back and start 'Guiding' - no guide corrections will be sent to the mount but the star positions will be logged to be used in PECPrep.? After finishing the section, close PHD2 and rename the file accordingly.
That said, I edited your log file to include only unguided portion of log section 5 and fed into PECPrep, and got the attached results (about 15" peak to peak, with the 76s error at about 3").
An easier way is to open the log file in the PHD log viewer, select section 5, right-click on the graph and select 'Analyze unguided section'. This tells about the same story, except the displayed values are amplitudes and not peak to peak (so half of what PECPrep displays).
Yet a third way is to open the file in the PEMPro log viewer and select that section (now labeled section 4 since it doesn't include calibration sections, and it also says Guided=True since that section started out with a few guide commands before being disabled).? Again, similar results.
Keith
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Re: Very odd polar align issue
Much better tonight and so many thanks for the help!
Attaching the baseline PHD log.
Calibration, 20 or so mins of guiding and 20 or so mins of Guide Assistant
Much more stable
I'm now taking some test shots and guiding at
RA: 0.09px (0.5 arc sec)
DEC: 0.06 px (0.38 arc sec)
Total RMS: 0.1px (0.68 arc sec)
Given my skies and gear and that both are almost the same error, I dont think I can ask for more.
PA is also rock solid so far!
Thank you so much to all that have helped. Especially Brian
I did import the log into PEC Prep (I have not used PEM PRO yet because I have a DSLR and I dont think thats going to work out well)
It did show a peak at 76.2 sec (I think? I don't really know for sure) which was a bit worrying but honestly I dont really know if I have an issue or not.
If I am reading the PEC error correctly, this mount is working really well
Peak PE+:? ? 1.85 arcsecs
?
Peak PE-:? ? -2.45 arcsecs
Is that really a "peak to peak" value of just 4.3 ??
Attaching a picture of the PEC Prep (the peak on the graph is at "100" whatever that indicates)
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Re: Meridian Flips and NINA
OFF.? But I will try ON as soon as its clear and get back to you ASAP.
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Jim W
Phoenix, AZ. USA
Losmandy GM811G, NINA 1.11, ASI2600MC Pro, Sky-Watcher Scopes
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Re: Meridian Flips and NINA
Just making sure: did you get the successful runs with Gemini expects J2000 setting turned on or off? If off, that's not really using the changes I made to the driver to let it work with J2000 client applications...
Regards,
? ? ?-Paul
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Tue, Jun 29, 2021 at 10:45 PM, Jim Waters wrote:
I did manage to get two successful runs using the 1.0.82.0 driver but would like to do additional testing.? For the past 3 to 4 weeks the conditions have been poor at best.? Heat, not getting below 100 at mid-night, wildfire smoke, monsoons and the moon.? I didn't see any issues with the imaging I did.? I was able to plate-solve and center without any issues.? I make sure "Gemini expects J2000..." is OFF before each imaging session.? I used NINA nightly build 90 or greater and the current release of ASTAP.
?
--
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Jim W
Phoenix, AZ. USA
Losmandy GM811G, NINA 1.11, ASI2600MC Pro, Sky-Watcher Scopes
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Re: Meridian Flips and NINA
On Tue, Jun 29, 2021 at 07:05 PM, Paul Kanevsky wrote:
Did you ever test the updated ASCOM driver with J2000 setting and NINA? I'd like to know if that fixed the problem, and to see the logs if it didn't improve things. This change was based on your request, so I'd like to hear from you on this before I can recommend this driver version to others.
I did manage to get two successful runs using the 1.0.82.0 driver but would like to do additional testing.? For the past 3 to 4 weeks the conditions have been poor at best.? Heat, not getting below 100 at mid-night, wildfire smoke, monsoons and the moon.? I didn't see any issues with the imaging I did.? I was able to plate-solve and center without any issues.? I make sure "Gemini expects J2000..." is OFF before each imaging session.? I used NINA nightly build 90 or greater and the current release of ASTAP. ? -- ------------------------ Jim W Phoenix, AZ. USA Losmandy GM811G, NINA 1.11, ASI2600MC Pro, Sky-Watcher Scopes
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Re: Meridian Flips and NINA
On Tue, Jun 29, 2021 at 11:52 AM, "Guilherme V¨ºnere wrote:
One question: I had the option "Sync perform additional align" box checked. Could that be the problem?
?
Guilherme, With this checked, every time you sync you are adding another point to the model. Over time you will have a complicated multi-point model which may not be correct. I used to click Add'ln Align after each sync thinking I would keep developing a more accurate model across the whole sky.? The problem is one or more points could be off center or potentially on the wrong star (e.g. Castor or Pollux?). Then the model is distorted somehow and GoTo's or Solve and Centers are working on bad info. I now use only two points for a new model, one East and one West. The each new night I sync on a bright star; Vega is my current obvious choice, then perhaps Deneb if I get started later. With the aforehand in place, SGPro will Slew and then Center pretty well. John K.
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Re: Meridian Flips and NINA
On Tue, Jun 29, 2021 at 09:09 PM, Jim Waters wrote:
Not sure about "keep everything on JNow"...? Its my understanding that most / all planetarium uses J2000.
Hi Jim, Did you ever test the updated ASCOM driver with J2000 setting and NINA? I'd like to know if that fixed the problem, and to see the logs if it didn't improve things. This change was based on your request, so I'd like to hear from you on this before I can recommend this driver version to others. Regards, ? ? ?-Paul
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Re: Meridian Flips and NINA
Not sure about "keep everything on JNow"...? Its my understanding that most / all planetarium uses J2000.
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Jim W
Phoenix, AZ. USA
Losmandy GM811G, NINA 1.11, ASI2600MC Pro, Sky-Watcher Scopes
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Re: Meridian Flips and NINA
Thanks Jim, I have found other recommendations to keep everything on JNow but mostly to make sure Planetarium, mount, and imaging tool are all on the same page. Had not read about this sending the mount off to left field. Will keep an eye on that parameter on my system.
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Edward
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Re: Meridian Flips and NINA
Jumping back in...? I found that if "Gemini Expects J2000 Coordinates"?is ON everything goes to hell.? If you tell NINA to plate-solve / center your mount will move away from the target the majority of the time. This setting can and will 'Magically' change back to ON if you don't have things set up correctly.
I would also recommend using the new beta Gemini ASCOM driver.
EDIT - FYI
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Jim W
Phoenix, AZ. USA
Losmandy GM811G, NINA 1.11, ASI2600MC Pro, Sky-Watcher Scopes
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Re: Meridian Flips and NINA
OK so that may have been my problem last night. I had this option set for some reason and that's when the mount went crazy. I'll keep that off
thanks!
Guilherme
On Tue, Jun 29, 2021 at 12:47 PM Brian Valente < bvalente@...> wrote: yes that setting can create problems. i'd recommend turning it off unless you have a specific reason to enable it
as mentioned before, the vast majority (i'd guess 99% ) do plate solving with no modeling at all
Brian
On Tue, Jun 29, 2021 at 12:41 PM Edward Plumer < eplumer@...> wrote: >> One question: I had the option "Sync perform additional align" box checked. Could that be the problem?
Possibly, especially if the plate solve found the wrong location and now added a bogus alignment point into the model. I am not sure what the best practice is for that setting but I leave it off typically, even if it means recentering takes two rounds of plate-solve corrections.
--
Edward
--
Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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Re: Meridian Flips and NINA
yes that setting can create problems. i'd recommend turning it off unless you have a specific reason to enable it
as mentioned before, the vast majority (i'd guess 99% ) do plate solving with no modeling at all
Brian
On Tue, Jun 29, 2021 at 12:41 PM Edward Plumer < eplumer@...> wrote: >> One question: I had the option "Sync perform additional align" box checked. Could that be the problem?
Possibly, especially if the plate solve found the wrong location and now added a bogus alignment point into the model. I am not sure what the best practice is for that setting but I leave it off typically, even if it means recentering takes two rounds of plate-solve corrections.
--
Edward
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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Mark Wetzel
Paul Kanevsky
Edward Plumer