Re: Astronomy software & capture software
Maxim Dl runs my G11, Titan, and G8 and all cameras and the observatory.
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leroy
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From: Tony Gabriele via groups.io
Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2020 2:51 PM
Subject: [Losmandy_users_io] Astronomy software & capture
software
?
I
would like to hear from my fellow Losmandy users as to what they deem the best
astronomy software that is most compatible with Gemini 2 to control the
telescope, and which capture software is also the most compatible.
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Astronomy software & capture software
I would like to hear from my fellow Losmandy users as to what they deem the best astronomy software that is most compatible with Gemini 2 to control the telescope, and which capture software is also the most compatible.
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Re: Planetary software & capture software
Hi Tony
i have done very limited planetary. I used sharpcap and liked it a lot. I also hear a lot of people like Firecapture.
Gemini works with all of them. Planetary is usually a ton of very short exposures (think like video: many tens of frames a second), so tracking is less critical than for long exposure DSO
On Wed, Oct 7, 2020 at 12:29 PM Tony Gabriele via <tgabriele73= [email protected]> wrote: I would like to hear from my fellow Losmandy users as to what they deem the best planetary software that is most compatible with Gemini 2 to control the telescope, and which capture software is also the most compatible.
Thanks
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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Ditto. My G11G on order and expecting soon.? Been dreaming of this mount for 10+ years!!!
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Hey Stosh,
Welcome to the club!? As you have found there are mounts that are similar in quality and maybe manufacturer's support at much higher price points. There are mounts at similar price points but overall lower in quality and manufacturer's support. But if you are like many of us you bought a Losmandy after finding exactly ZERO mounts with the level of support that owning a Losmandy offers and not just from the mount maker but also from an open community of real world users not afraid to get their hands dirty if need be. With your new mount it is unlikely that you will need to get your hands dirty, maybe a small adjustment after shipping but if you need help we're here for you. So keep us posted and don't hesitate to ask questions.?
Cheers!??
--
Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?
? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
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A loop of Mars taken last Friday in very average seeing, but still some interesting details at times.
Takahashi CN-212 + Baader FFC x3 ~8m FL with ASI462MC (~45000 frames in 3min segments)
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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Thanks everyone. ? Called Tanya about the price idiosyncrasies on the new order page, asked her some questions and placed my order for a G11G with the RA extension and some extra counterweights. ?I’ll be a full family member in a few weeks. :)?
For most people, a quality mount is a significant investment and I did a fair share of reading through the CN forums, watching ?YouTube videos and searching through 20+ years of posts on this site, as well as asking questions that the community here happily answered. ?
The community here is one of the reasons I decided a G11 was the best choice for me, if there were forums dedicated to the other mounts in my price range, I could not find them. ?Technically, the Ethernet port was a major selling point for me. ? Being a networking guy, knowing that I can leverage that interface for wired and wireless control without having to depend on finicky USB ports or serial ports that have been old PC tech for 15 years is nice.
I’m sure I’ll have more questions in the coming days. ?Thank you again for your help.
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A loop of Mars taken last Friday in very average seeing, but still some interesting details at times.
Takahashi CN-212 + Baader FFC x3 ~8m FL with ASI462MC (~45000 frames in 3min segments)
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Stosh,
Don't buy exactly what you think you need in counterweight! You will ALWAYS need more than you think!?
Second while possible to hang all weight as far out as possible it is preferable to center as much weight as possible at approximately the same distance from the RA axis as the mass in the saddle.?
For example my 30+ pound 130mm imaging rig sits about 12" from the RA axle so I will put most of the counter weight about 12" from the RA axle.? For the C11 that center of mass is quite a bit further from the RA axle so I place most of the mass roughly centered the same distance but any overage in counterweight gets pushed up the shaft.?
For a visual payload I follow the same rules with a twist. When observing visually I am usually changing eyepieces in and out and most are close enough to not require a weight change. But when swapping 2" eyepieces in for 1.25" this will usually need a slight rebalance. So to make this easier if?possible I try to add the little 7 pounder on the outer end to use as a fine tuning weight as it is easier to move and balance with a smaller weight as it takes larger movements on the shaft.?
Hope this helps!
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Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?
? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
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Hi Chip
Oh yes I know that, those were the before pictures, I re-greased everything with superlube and put just a small layer this time.
Btw i just noticed is my setting circle upside down? :D
Guilherme
Guilherme Vênere,
Not only is the grease drying out but that is just WAY TO MUCH GREASE! The clutches must have had grease on them and slipping too.?
I'm sure the mount will operate much better once cleaned up and lubed correctly. Keep us posted.
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Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?
? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
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>>>
Of course if you get the dedicated Losmandy adapter you can always just tell your observing friends they can only use your PM if they have a Losmandy mount and to buy one. Hmm, maybe that's a better way to go LOL!
i like the way you're thinking there Chip! ;)
I personally have 2 Losmandys, and i test a lot of other ones, so the dedicated adapter to me is much faster and easier to use. But I'm an unusual case :)
Stosh,
Don't use the mount specific PoleMaster camera adapter, they are only good for the one mount. Buy an ADM universal PoleMaster mount and clamp it to your top or bottom dovetail. Works with any scope with a D or V dovetail. This allows you to PA other mounts with the same PoleMaster camera! This is way more flexible and you will not need to buy more adapters to share with friends and convert non-PoleMaster users.?
Of course if you get the dedicated Losmandy adapter you can always just tell your observing friends they can only use your PM if they have a Losmandy mount and to buy one. Hmm, maybe that's a better way to go LOL!
--
Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?
? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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Stosh,
Don't use the mount specific PoleMaster camera adapter, they are only good for the one mount. Buy an ADM universal PoleMaster mount and clamp it to your top or bottom dovetail. Works with any scope with a D or V dovetail. This allows you to PA other mounts with the same PoleMaster camera! This is way more flexible and you will not need to buy more adapters to share with friends and convert non-PoleMaster users.?
Of course if you get the dedicated Losmandy adapter you can always just tell your observing friends they can only use your PM if they have a Losmandy mount and to buy one. Hmm, maybe that's a better way to go LOL!
--
Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?
? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
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Michael, Les,
Thanks for your advices. I conclude that it is enough to use a cable DB9 (side camera) - RJ11 (side autoguider port mount). In this case the figures of the "Application Note Relay Box" will be:
El mar., 6 oct. 2020 a las 2:32, Les Niles (< les@...>) escribió: The??is also useful. Starting on p. 40 it discusses connecting a camera to the auto guider port, and specifically references the ST-8 camera. ?
With the round DIN connectors, you should have the newer version of the Gemini 1.? It has TTL-level inputs (open collector to ground) for guiding so you don’t need the relay box.? See section 4.2.4 on p. 42 of the Gemini 1 manual.? It even discusses the SBIG cable needed to connect the camera, though it’s easy to make one yourself.
On 5 Oct 2020, at 16:56, Luis Barneo < lbarneo@...> wrote:
My mount is a Losmandy G11, Gemini 1 level 4, with servomotors 6 pin DIN connectors.?Recently I got a second hand ST-8XE USB SBIG camera attached to CFW8A filter wheel with many accesories,?The problem is that I'm confused how to connect the camera-filter wheel to the autoguider port of Losmandy.?I think that? my mount does not require the "relay adapter box"?(page 42 Gemini User Manual? 2006: 4.2.4 Connecting an Autoguider to a new Gemini (with DIN connectors): "...The SBIG relay box can be used , but is not necessary..."
But the "Application Note Relay Adadter Box"? ()? recommend the use of realy box with all Losmandy mounts even with the Gemini GOTO electronics (pag 1), and in the page 3 clarify (?) when it is no necessary to use the Realy Adadter Box if:
1. You are using the camera with LX-200 telescopes.
2. Your telescope/drive corrector uses "Open Collector to Ground" inputs for guiding.
3. You are using a Losmandy mount running both the camera and telescope? off the 110V AC wall transformers where the camera and drive corrector do not share a common ground.
I'm a layman in electronics. Someone can help me? Thanks
Luis
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Guilherme Vênere,
Not only is the grease drying out but that is just WAY TO MUCH GREASE! The clutches must have had grease on them and slipping too.?
I'm sure the mount will operate much better once cleaned up and lubed correctly. Keep us posted.
--
Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?
? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
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Dave,
The problem is that wheel bearing grease generally is not meant to be used the way mounts are used.
The best grease will use a pure synthetic based oil with a high drop point and very low separation and evaporation rate. An ideal mount grease must not dry out and leave any hard material behind as most clay based greases do, think lithium bearing grease. An ideal grease must also stay as soft as yogurt below freezing and add minimal to no additional torque while working in a sub zero temperature. And yet the grease must also be super slippery and have a high resistance to wear and lubricant shearing.?
So far I have only found one grease that does all of this, SuperLube with Teflon. SuperLube does all of the above and it is food safe to boot. Cool huh?
--
Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?
? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
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Stosh,
The scope I have on a G11G is a C925 EdgeHD topped with an 80mm guidescope, plus focuser, filter wheel, camera, dew shield, dew heaters, etc. (The accessories add up fast :). I use 21, 11 and 7 weights all together, heaviest on the bottom, with about 6 inches of shaft remaining. This combo of weights gives me a lot of flexibility for changing out to smaller rigs. For yours, you may wish to get 2 more 11 pound weights for the increased payload. It's better to use more weight higher up, than less weight at the end of the shaft due to the moment arm torque factor, which you can research. Plus with smaller weights you can more easily fine tune balance than with bigger ones that require more fiddling with exact placement.
Good luck,
John
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From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dave_Kentsbeer
Sent: 05 October 2020 21:33
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] GM8 lubrication ? When I got my G11 the gears were dry so as a temporary measure I cleaned off the grime I could get to without stripping the whole thing down, so cleaned the worm gears and the large gears they drive, also the motor gearbox and re-greased with high melting point bearing grease that I used for my car repairs as that was all I had, it does not run or clog, when I strip the Ra and Dec and clean it would it be ok to use the same grease or is this too thick for long term use?
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They make an extension tube for the Polemaster to clear the tucked motors. One 21 pound weight will not be enough to balance the C11.
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On Oct 5, 2020, at 8:16 PM, Stosh <mike@...> wrote:
?Thanks again.? ?I'm going to try to order tomorrow or Wednesday, and I'm down to just a couple last questions.
Is the one counterweight going to be enough for an 11 inch Celestron SCT?? ?This is my visual OTA, and it would be sad if I had to wait while I ordered another counterweight before I could use the mount.? Guaranteed to have clear skies if I don't have enough counterweight.? ?I figure 30 to 32 pounds with the finderscope, 2 inch diagonal and eyepieces.? ? I believe the G11G comes with 1 21lb counterweight.
Second, I see that Losmandy offers a PoleMaster in the accessory store, but referenced non tucked motors.? ?The pictures of the tucked motors appear to block the opening for the polar scope where the PoleMaster adaptor would go.? Is that the case???
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Re: Counterweight bar safety screw
I think a Grade 5 is a better choice, they are more resilient and will bend long before breaking.?
--
Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?
? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
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Thanks again.? ?I'm going to try to order tomorrow or Wednesday, and I'm down to just a couple last questions.
Is the one counterweight going to be enough for an 11 inch Celestron SCT?? ?This is my visual OTA, and it would be sad if I had to wait while I ordered another counterweight before I could use the mount.? Guaranteed to have clear skies if I don't have enough counterweight.? ?I figure 30 to 32 pounds with the finderscope, 2 inch diagonal and eyepieces.? ? I believe the G11G comes with 1 21lb counterweight.
Second, I see that Losmandy offers a PoleMaster in the accessory store, but referenced non tucked motors.? ?The pictures of the tucked motors appear to block the opening for the polar scope where the PoleMaster adaptor would go.? Is that the case???
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Chip Louie
Luis Barneo
David C. Partridge