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Hi Everyone!

I haven't been on here for a while, but I have decided to revive my old original Losmandy G11 with Gemini 1.

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Unfortunately I damaged the rj9 socket on my Gemini 1 rs232 port removing a cable that had corroded in place.

Does anybody know where I can find a replacement pc board mount rj9 socket?

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And/or is it possible to use one of the other ports on the board (like the feature port right below it) to connect to a serial port?

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Thanks!

Tom

My astronomy club has a Losmandy Titan mount, recently upgraded to Gemini 2 L6.02.? We are looking at purchasing a camera for our scope, and we're looking at the ZWO ASI 2600MC Air, with the built-in Air feature, that could wirelessly communicate with mount.

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I am used to using a laptop PC to control the mount via Ethernet.? I don't think ASI Air, or this camera, has an Ethernet port.? It does have USB, and I know the control board on the Gemini 2/Titan has a USB port.... which I've never used.

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Has anyone used ASI Air successfully to control a Gemini 2 mount?

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Thanks in advance.

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Dan

Thanks Paul.

Hi Jim, in case you didn't get my PM:

Thanks for sending the details. Feel free to post your items to the group.?

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Regards,

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? -Paul

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On Thu, Dec 12, 2024 at 02:06 PM, Jim Ribble wrote:

Yes,? the ST4 camera port connects directly to the mount. The camera USB to the ASIAir or wherever your guiding software resides. They all work basically the same way.

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Just to share my experience.

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With regards to Celestron AVX,

The CG-11 or G-11 are an entirely different and much better class of mount.?

AVX and similar are made from castings.

The Losmandy mounts are precision machined out of solid metal blocks.?

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The 1st GEM mount I owned was a Celestron CG5 Advanced GT which is the precursor to the AVX, and essentially the same. I rebuilt it and still have and use it.?

I found a second one cheap in a local ad and bought and rebuilt it too.?

For what they are, after rebuild they do a good job as long as you don't overload them. The AVXs were advertised to have a higher capacity, but from what I've seen the drive mechanics are worse. Maybe because the mechanics are not up to the listed capacity.

However,? you'll see similar in all the Celestron GEMs over time.? Not to say their bad,? is just the the drive mechanics wear out and castings are what they are. They'll never match a machined mount.

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In any case as a start, the Adv GTs were much cheaper and had much better capacity then the more recent Chinese lightweight portable mounts. I've always operated on a very limited budget and do repairs to fund the hobby, so going through and tuning the mounts was not a big deal for me.?

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The big step up in GEM for me was the G-11 with Gemini 1 I bought used. Even being quite old, all I've done really done is the easy take apart, clean and lubricate as detailed on YouTube, although I had to really clean more because some lubrication had dried up in the bearings.?

But no special tools or skills required.

A previous owner had upgraded the RA worm to high precision brass. It has a RA extension that is bolted in.?

Today's version easier to remove but I don't see much point. Nice for long refractors. It came with a GPS block that I've never used. The Gemini-1 controller and motors were probably an upgrade too since it was the latest version of the controller and the mount is older.? It had a polar scope but no illuminator. If I align near dusk I can see well enough. If you have a red light to shine in the opening that works too. You can still buy the illuminator from Losmandy. For visual, close enough.?

Most people use software methods or drift alignment for astrophotography.

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Just to say,? a CG-11 or G-11 is by a? large margin the way to go over anything else you've mentioned.??

Because they're so well supported you can always resell.

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On Thu, Dec 12, 2024 at 02:06 PM, Jim Ribble wrote:

Folks-

I don't want to veer out of my lane and misuse the group.? What is the procedure for posting info about some gear I have for sale? (apart from going to AstroMart, Cloudy Nights, etc.)? Thanks.

Hi Chip,?

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On the iOptron SGP (non-goto as well), there is a similar ST4 port. My assumption was that I would hookup the ST4 to the guide camera (ZWO). Then connect the camera to the ASiAir using the USB port. So the ASIAir does not directly connect with the mount, but does so via the guide camera.?

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Simultaneously, I also connect my main camera (Nikon Z7ii) to the ASiAir to collect image stacks.?

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I am assuming/hoping I can do the same thing with the CG11......no??

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On Thu, Dec 12, 2024 at 07:33 AM, <avishekaiyar@...> wrote:

Hi John?

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Good to know about guiding performance with the old G11s...I didn't know that. Future proofing is a big part of why I am interested in the Losmandy...if I cannot get that or if I need to spend considerable additional dollars to make it future proof, I will have to rethink.

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I have no intention of attempting OnStep or like conversions...at least not the next year or so.?

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For now I am just happy if I can get guiding using the Asiair, which is what I have.?

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The ASIAIR cannot be used to directly autoguide the #492 digital drive.? The #492 can be used with an ST4 port autoguider but the ASIAIR cannot connect directly to a #492 for autoguiding as the #492 is not a GOTO mount and lacks a USB port.? This is not to say you cannot use an ASIAIR to control your imaging camera and collect images while the #492 powers the mount and takes corrections from the guide camera ST4 port.? I have not done it but you may be able to use the ASIAIR to initialize the guide camera with guiding pulses sent to the #492 ccd/hc port to guide the mount.? ? ??

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On Thu, Dec 12, 2024 at 11:06 AM, Jim Ribble wrote:

Folks-

I don't want to veer out of my lane and misuse the group.? What is the procedure for posting info about some gear I have for sale? (apart from going to AstroMart, Cloudy Nights, etc.)? Thanks.

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AFAIK offering for sale here is not explicitly forbidden but I think it is not encouraged.? The pool of buyers and sellers is much larger on CN and AMart so I expect you will have a lot more success finding potential buyers in those spaces.? ?

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Folks-

I don't want to veer out of my lane and misuse the group.? What is the procedure for posting info about some gear I have for sale? (apart from going to AstroMart, Cloudy Nights, etc.)? Thanks.

Hi John?

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Good to know about guiding performance with the old G11s...I didn't know that. Future proofing is a big part of why I am interested in the Losmandy...if I cannot get that or if I need to spend considerable additional dollars to make it future proof, I will have to rethink.

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I have no intention of attempting OnStep or like conversions...at least not the next year or so.?

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For now I am just happy if I can get guiding using the Asiair, which is what I have.?

Get a straight thru Y-splitter for the RJ12 (6P6C) with male on one end and dual female on the other:

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Or, if needed to clear the IN power jack, a single female to dual female and make up a little cable, making sure to get the orientation of the wires right in the plugs.

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Available at retailers, Amazon, Ebay, or ShowMeCables.

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Just make sure it has 6 contacts, not 4. That's an RJ11 (6P4C), a common source of confusion.

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Enjoy,

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Mark C

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Terran Industries is here in the Chicago area, and you buy stuff directly from them, not AliExpress.

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Mark C

On Wed, Dec 11, 2024 at 12:05 PM, Mark Christensen wrote:

Terran Industries makes an OnStep conversion kit for it, I believe, for under $175, motors and all.

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Some caution is advised thinking the cheap OnStep kits on AliExpress will work with the old G11s. The motors are underpowered are not the same as the OnStep forum recommends. And AliExpress does not take items back without a major struggle.? ?You can get some more advice posting a question on their groups.io forum where G11 conversions have been discussed quite a few time. The older G11s also were not built for modern astrophotography and you may not get the necessary guiding performance without some mechanical revamping. Whatever control unit you choose, make sure it is ASCOM compatible. ST4 autoguiding is starting to go away and the latest cameras are omitting the ST4 port. OnStep allows direct drive guiding with PHD2 and all the communications necessary for ASCOM control. There is some difference between getting the mount operational and futureproofing for continued years of use.?

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John

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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

On Wed, Dec 11, 2024 at 02:56 PM, Brian wrote:

Do these people answer tech support questions? I get no responses to any questions.

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Of course they do.? But you will get the most responsive and widest range of experience right where you are now.??

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Hi George,

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This is very reassuring!

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Avi

Dear Mark,

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Thanks so much for all the valuable details.?

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The more I am getting opinions, the more I am getting swayed towards the CG11. I have ruled the Orion SVP out already. For me it's now down to the CG11 or a Celestron Advanced GT that someone on Cloudynights has kindly offered to sell.?

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John above mentioned $500 as a good price, but I that will likely not happen....The mount comes with the original heavy duty tripod, polarscope etc.....the only factor is the age.?

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For the ST4 port, I am assuming this is what you are referring to? I have a ZWO guide camera and an SVBony guidescope, so I guess I am all set for autoguiding with the ASiAir.?

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But the seller is also including the hand controller which also has an ST4 cable coming out of it.....which I am assuming plugs into the "CCD" port on the 492 panel? so where do I plug in the guide camera??

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On Wed, Dec 11, 2024 at 05:56 PM, Brian wrote:

Do these people answer tech support questions? I get no responses to any questions.

Do these people answer tech support questions? I get no responses to any questions.