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I’d assume you’re doing medium-FL imaging, given the description of the telescope. ?With that, I really doubt you’d see a difference between the GM811GHD and G11G. ?In simple terms, the G11G is 20% heavier and has a 20% greater load rating, while costing 10% more. ?If portability is a factor for you, then the lighter GM811GHD might be worthwhile. ?Otherwise, the sturdier mount is a good investment and should serve you well if you go to a longer focal length setup.?

I will try the new 'Smart Meridian Flip' plug-in later today and post the results.??

I wish the sky was clear so actual testing can be done.? We have had smoke from wildfires and/or monsoon weather for the past 2 plus weeks.


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Jim W
Phoenix, AZ. USA

Losmandy GM811G, NINA 1.11, ASI2600MC Pro, Sky-Watcher Scopes

Yeah, those are nightly builds of 1.11 I listed and have used ... I just have not tried all of them ;-)? ?I have not done anything with the released version 1.10 because I needed dome control and wanted to use the advanced sequencer. I have had MF work with both the Simple and Advanced sequencer with my settings but have mostly used the Advanced sequencer.

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Edward

Thanks Chip, Alan, and Dwight for your input. This is pretty much what I expected to hear but it's nice to be able to confirm my suspicions with people who are much more experienced with these mounts. The general consensus from this post and my other research seems that the G8 (or G8 dec axis on the G811) can handle the 130 for visual fine but for imaging I'm giong to want the extra sturdiness of the G11.?As for the tripod, I am definitely going for the Losmandy HD tripod with whichever mount I get. I have heard excellent things about the Berlebach Planet tripods, however a G11 with all the bells and whistles is already getting to the high end of my budget so I can manage with the included tripod for now. Looks like I'll be on the hunt for a G11 now.?

Thanks,
Vishal

Things are working with NB 101 using the standard Sequencer.?

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Jim W
Phoenix, AZ. USA

Losmandy GM811G, NINA 1.11, ASI2600MC Pro, Sky-Watcher Scopes

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Perhaps it was the v1.11 version of NINA I was using when things worked, and then stopped when I went over to the nightly builds to use the new sequencer option.

Some photos. Please ignore the leveling - I image about 100 feet up the driveway and the tripod is set for that location. Did not feel like dragging it up there in 110F weather

Initially, the power and USB cords came off the back of the setup, directly down to the battery/PC
I have since added a bit of a cinch point (I probably need something a bit better) on the mount first, to try to minimize any friction creating vibrations. Regardles, it doesn't seem like having or not having that would impact PA like this

The mount is well balanced in both axes and nothing that I can obviously tell is snagging anywhere. The cabling on the OTA is a little "Ghetto" -> Eventually I will probably replace with anderson powerpoles or similar to clean up all the routing

On Mon, Jun 28, 2021 at 11:30 AM, Edward Plumer wrote:

The critical thing is to set the two orange factors as computed from the two green factors and to use a later version of 1.11.? I have flipped successfully on imaging runs with v1.11 builds #88 through #94.

What about the nightly builds?

On Mon, Jun 28, 2021 at 09:02 AM, Brian Valente wrote:

the spec of the G11 is 60lbs imaging, 75lbs visual

I know. But you and other are carrying more than that. So not very helpful there!

Vishal,?

I'll also mention that regardless of which mount you buy as an imager you really want the bigger heavier Losmandy FHD over the LWT. IME the LWT is not appropriate for imaging unless left collapsed as much as the scope and imaging train will allow. But I prefer to have the scope and imaging rig up out of the ground layer of dust and moisture which keeps it cleaner and makes it easier to assemble and check before a session. So I leave the Losmandy LWT setup on a Wheelie Bar in the garage and use the Losmandy FHD or the double clamped Berlebach Planet in the field.

I have used several different big tripods under the G11G and GM8G and all were really quite good. So if the FHD has a long wait time but you need a tripod they make a lot of sense as they are also easy to resell. The best I've tried under the G11G or GM8G is the Berlebach Planet with double leg clamps. This is a much more dampened tripod than the FHD. I bought mine used and it was a good deal, about the same cost as a used FHD in similar condition. They need a special Losmandy top to accept the mount head. I bought the first one I saw cheap and sold the top which paid for the Losmandy adapter. The other tripod I highly recommend is to buy a used Meade LX200 (this is important!) Standard Field Tripod and top it with the Losmandy MA (Meade Adapter) which is the top of a Losmandy LWT repurposed for this job. It is an easy 1 minute job if you are not crazy like me. I drilled and tapped a couple of holes to keep the MA aligned perfectly and spent $20 on nice knobs to make setting up the SFT smoother and to retain the MA on the SFT when the center rod is loosened for transport. A used Meade SFT in excellent condition and a new or used MA can be had for $200-$300, half of the cost of a FHD but still a solid tripod for imaging off of. Meade as I recall claimed a 300 pound capacity and that is probably about right. One caution thought, the original LX200 tripods if dropped just right can break off? one of the casting tabs which the legs are attached to. this is the only weakness I have see in these tripods. Later LX200 tripods are better designed and have diecast webs and stronger supports.??

IMO the Berlebach is as good for imaging as the FHD for anything up to 40+ pounds which is as much payload as I have used on the Planet while imaging so who knows, it may do 60+ pounds just as well but I have nothing that big to prove/disprove it. I have to also say the Berlebach is much faster to settle at the eyepiece than the FHD when used visually. IDK why but that is a fact and my most often used visual setup is the GM8G on the Berlebach Planet with the bespoke Parallax/AT130 apo, Takahashi FC-100DL or at the club cark site the Meade LX200 10" f/6.3 native SCT.?

My two cents, YMMV.

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Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?

? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?

Thanks Paul and Brian.

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Jim W
Phoenix, AZ. USA

Losmandy GM811G, NINA 1.11, ASI2600MC Pro, Sky-Watcher Scopes

The nudge is necessary if, for some reason, the mount DOES reach its WSL and go "beep". Without that setting, it cannot get out of the limit using a goto-slew. In theory, with parameters as set in the spreadsheet, you should not run into the mount's WSL

The critical thing is to set the two orange factors as computed from the two green factors and to use a later version of 1.11.? I have flipped successfully on imaging runs with v1.11 builds #88 through #94.

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Edward

Guilherme, Interestingly, your picture looks like a mount parked at a common "home" position. Any chance NINA just gave up on the centering, finished the sequence and went on to park the mount?? I don't know if NINA log files have enough information at the default logging level but you might check.

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Edward

On Mon, Jun 28, 2021 at 02:19 PM, <pcboreland@...> wrote:

I did not have the Nudge feature switched on as it turns out. How significant to the flip working is this?

If the mount tracks into the safety limit and stops there, then you'll need this feature ON to be able to continue working using automation.?

Regards,

? ? ?-Paul

On Mon, Jun 28, 2021 at 10:37 AM, Edward Plumer wrote:

I put a spreadsheet up on the group files that will allow you to compute consistent parameters based on my approach.

This is fantastic. Here are my settings:?



I did not have the Nudge feature switched on as it turns out. How significant to the flip working is this?

Peter

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On Mon, Jun 28, 2021 at 01:56 PM, Jim Waters wrote:

Where's this setting located???

Setup --> Advanced Gemini Settings... --> Set Safety Limits --> Set Arbitrary Safety and Goto Limits...

Look near the bottom of that window:


Regards,

? ?-Paul

Where's this setting located???


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Jim W
Phoenix, AZ. USA

Losmandy GM811G, NINA 1.11, ASI2600MC Pro, Sky-Watcher Scopes