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At the risk of sounding like an idiot, I hate to ask a question that may have already been asked... I recently bought the G11 with Gemini 2 at Level 6. I promptly updated the firmware with the firmware update program. In the HC menu is a high-resolution tracking mode for RA and Dec. I have tried to find out specifically what that means. I cannot find it. Maybe I am stuck on the word "tracking". Is it high resolution for slewing from object to object or is it high resolution tracking for guiding during astrophotography? I've been out under the stars with the mount exactly twice and I did two nights of photographing the Cocoon Nebula. A total of 10 hours. First night I had it turned off. Second night I had it turned on. I couldn't tell a difference. Using the ASIair Plus, my guiding error was .25". If anyone can explain this high-resolution tracking to me, I would appreciate it. Doug
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Hello everybody, I'm starting again astrophotography after 3 years of stop (kid was born - I needed to sleep) and I'm looking now for a new mount with adequate capacity. I was originally considering the iOptron CEM70, until I ended up in the Losmandy's page where I "found" the new G11. I have to confess, my heart has been stolen. But I still have to sort out a couple of questions before pulling the trigger. 1) Does anybody had the chance to use both mounts (CEM70 and G11) and can please provide a comparison to me? Specifically I'm looking into tracking performances. 2) Does the G11 have any sort of cable management feature? Like a through the mount cabling? In the Losmandy's page I see only few pictures and I can't tell too much from them. 3) Is the DEC axis equipped with at least 1x DC socket? Thank you in advance - Luca
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Does anyone know where I can buy the updated reticle for the G-11 polar scope? My G-11 mount is 30 years old and works fine, but I've outlived the reticle, which has no alignment marks after 2010. - Ernie
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So, after a few years of on/off use of an old G8 with Gemini 1 with the AsiAir, I¡¯m keen to up my game by moving to NINA and properly getting into guiding and PEC. Additionally, as my mount has steel worms and separate worm blocks, I have got replacement brass worms and single piece worm blocks. With the AsiAir and this setup with a Z61 OTA, I¡¯m getting between 1.5 -2.2 guiding in a bottle 5/6 back garden.I also plan to clean and re-grease. I also have an aging G11 with Ovision worm on RA which I¡¯m yet to put into service, but will need a clean and re-grease at least. So, before I do anything, I¡¯d like to get a baseline of the system performance so that I can compare it with the post upgrade performance. My question is, how do I get such a baseline using PHD2/NINA/something else? I¡¯ve only used the ASIAir, so all other software is new to me. But I do at least have some concept of PHD, but no actual experience of using the full product in anger (yet!). Any advice/guidance on what to do gratefully received. (I have checked out Michael Herman¡¯s approach in the documents area but not sure this is the best current approach?) thanks Bryn
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Been running my system for 2 years now, NINA and PHD2 and now for some reason, after a Meridan Flip, it appears PHD2 does not do a 'find new stars' to star guiding again. It appears PHD2 is trying to guide but it does not lock onto a guide star. Any help would be appreciated.
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Any Losmandy users capture the ISS and/or using SkyTrack?? Trying to decide whether to try this adventure.
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Balancing a G11G
8
G11G, new this year. One thing I've had a time with is balancing RA. I get a good feel in DEC even with lighter payloads, but I find both sides of RA are just sticky enough to make getting very good balance difficult. I am wondering how others deal with this. Is there such a thing as upgrading those bearings? What I have done a few times is lower the altitude to nearly parallel with the ground and then it's loose enough to get great balance. I messed with the idea of tilting the tripod temporarily because cranking the altitude that much is a bother, but yeah, bad idea. Did not manage to topple it if you are wondering. I do not believe it is the clutch per se.
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Here¡¯s the backstory: I purchased a Celestron branded G11 RA axis that I placed my GM8 DEC onto. The problem with the old RA is that there is no way to lock the altitude when polar aligning and there is a fair bit of play. My GM8 has the locking ability, but I cannot figure out how or if there is a way to separate the parts for exchange. See the photo. I¡¯m trying to remove the lower and upper rings so I can switch with the G11 pieces. Anyone have any ideas?
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Hi, I just redid my PEC training of my G11G mount with PemPro last night and got some odd results. I am not sure what to make of the results so hoping one of the Group could have a look at the attached logs and venture an opinion. The night sky was very clear and I had no issues with the mount (snags etc) that I know of. Thanks, Ken G11G ASI071MC main camera Mains power.
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Meridian flip problem i
4
I have a 23 year old G-11 with Gemini 2. Software is last version 5 release. using Gemini.net driver, the mount will not do a meridian flip. It hits the east limit, turns off tracking, and stops. Using the function menu on the driver panel did nothing. Triggering a meridian flip from Nina did nothing either. Any suggestions? thanks
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Uncontrollable RA drift after pier crash
3
I set a sequence in Nina last night to park the mount at dawn. And I went to bed. Woke up to find a pier crash. Tonight when I started imaging, I had a slow drift in RA. It¡¯s in the direction of the right button on the controller. I swapped motors. Same results. Checked clutch knobs. All tightened. not sure what to do.
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I've had a heck of a time understanding where I might be getting RA - and only RA - spikes from. My setup is a Celestron 9.25"Edge HD with an OAG, sitting on a Losmandy GM811 mount, using Gemini II, N.I.N.A and PHD2 to control everything. Calibration looks good (See the PHD2 log) and tracking is generally very good - nearly always within 1" ...except for occasional non-periodic spikes in RA which randomly occur a few times an hour, always in the same direction. All gearing and bearings have been thoroughly cleaned but I suspect something in the RA train is binding up, then suddenly releasing. I keep the clutches relatively loose. No real differences between East and West guiding. Alternatively, maybe it's the power supply (but then, why only RA)? Or a corrupted signal from PHD2? One of these days I'll try swapping motors but because tracking is generally really good I don't want to fool around with the drive train until I absolutely have to. Regardless, I should be grateful - I typically get at least 9 good images out of every 10 - but those spikes just bug me because I can't determine root cause. Have any of you dealt with this in the past, and if so, I'll take as many recommendations as I can get. Paul
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Hello all, My L6 G11 has been a dream for the past 11 months now. However, two nights ago, it was not so nice. I had these dec spikes that appeared to be periodic but I am not sure, and overall the guiding was messy. I did a worm adjustment just in case it was wrong, regreased the worm gear, and then back for round 2 last night. Last night was not much better. Usually the mount guides at around .4-.5 ish but last night it was more around .9. Here is an attached image of a section of my guide log. Does anyone know what I can do to improve my guiding? Maybe I need to replace the wavy washer? It's been two years. Maybe a clutch pad replacement? Worm bearings? Also to note, my polar alignment error was 1.5 arc minutes which is fine. I have been at 2.7 and still guided at .59 throughout the night. I will also attach a good guide log from a couple months ago. Good log: Bad log: Thank you so much for your help! Clear skies, Michael -- Gear: Mount: Losmandy G11G Gemini 2 Level 6, SkyWatcher Star Adventurer Gti w/ pier extension, Star Adventurer Pro Optics: Stellarvue SVX102T-R Raptor, Redcat 51 V2, Askar FMA180 w/ focal reducer, Canon EOS 18-135mm Zoom Lens Camera: QHY 268M, ZWOASI 533 MC Pro, Canon EOS 80D (Stock) Guiding: ZWO 290mm Mini + Askar FMA 180 w/ focal reducer, ZWOASI 120mm, ZWO 30mm f/4 Accessories: Optec Alnitak Flip Flat, TSE Prowler 3rd Gen Night Vision, QHY CFW, Stellarvue Diagonal - 2", Meade HD-60 Eyepieces. Focuser: EAF w/RC51 kit, PLL Sesto Senso 2 Brain: PrimaLuceLab Eagle 4S(spec'd out with upgrades), PrimaLuceLab Eagle 4, Asiair Plus(32 GB), Asiair Mini Filters: Antila V-Pro LRGB, Antila 4.5nm Edge Sii and Oiii, Antila 7nm Ha, Optolong L-Ultimate, Optolong L-eNhance, Astromania Luminance Filter, Thousand Oaks Optical Full Aperture (Solarlite Polymer) Solar Filter
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Just began working out how to use a new G11. Using an ASIair plus, carrying a 380mm f/3.8 telescope. ZWO cameras - 533MC and the 174MM mini for guiding. Polar alignment verified with iPolar and the air app. Less than half a minute both axis. I was unable to achieve decent guiding after a few hours of trying things. Seeing is reasonable. Guiding with 2 second exposures. It will track well for 10 or 15 seconds, then it wanders into 5 to 10" errors. Doesn't seem to be one axis or the other. Fairly certain of the mount being level and everything tight and balanced. Looking for ideas on things that could be causing this. I have no experience using a Losmandy mount prior to this one. I have good experience with several other mounts from Vixen, Software Bisque and ZWO. Next time I will trying using Nina and PHD2 and see how that goes. Using the air is a convenience but not necessary. Might also try TheSky Professional if I can create a model for this mount from that. I am hopeful I am just missing something. I have not done any model input nor PEC training. Looks like TheSky supports these mounts so maybe a TPoint model will help.
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UPDATE Hand Controller Frustration
4
Since my last posting on this subject, I have an update. During the Winter I was having the same issue, touch screen not responding, so I started unplugging the hand controller (HC) from the Gemini II and taking it inside house. When I plugged the HC back in and the touch screen responded. Now during the warmer months that touch response no longer worked so I reset the chip inside the HC and reseated the touch screen. Problem still existed because I continued to unplug the HC and taking it inside. One night the touch screen responded and I forgot to dethatch the HC and the next night again I had luck with the touch screen responding once again. So for the last two weeks I have left the HC plugged in and everything is 'fat and happy' with the touch screen responding. Fingers are crossed for my continued success with the touch screen responding. Kenn
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Thanks for the help re the router. I can access the server with my desktop, Netbook and Chromebook. As I said on that first post - I was getting a little ahead of myself. As far as I can see - my time - location and GPS coordinates are all fine. Although last week when I did a dummy run I could not see the moon, the scope did seem to goto the right place. Today, I tested it and the goto was way out - pointing way under the horizon. I am sure that UTC was correct - I think that is automatic. I am in the northern hemisphere so have -117 as the longitude Pacific time so I'm -7. Sorry to take up more bandwidth. It was hot today and within a few mins the Gemini was close on being too hot to handle and I brought it in. Any suggestion please. Dave Although I logged into the server yesterday - I did not knowingly make any changes.
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Losmandy Specific Version of PEMPro and Brian¡¯s Manual?
5
I got a new imaging laptop and would like to take the opportunity to run PEMPro on my G11G L6 mount. I downloaded release V3.10.09 from CCDWare. Isn¡¯t there a specific version for Gemini-2 L6 mounts? Also, where can I find the manual Brian put together. Thx ------------------------ Jim W Phoenix, AZ. USA
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File /Losmandy_PEC_Primer_for_L6.pdf uploaded
#file-notice
The following files and folders have been uploaded to the Files area of the [email protected] group. /Losmandy_PEC_Primer_for_L6.pdf By: Ryan Noonan <repast_twerps0r@...> Description: Brian Valente¡¯s PEMpro PEC reference
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Hello All, I've older version of G11G with OPWB (Prior to Spring loaded worm gear). I'm getting a sudden jump in PHD2 autoguiding calibration process when after moving by 25px in the west and as soon as it tries to move back towards east direction. This can be seen in my below uploaded video sharp at 31 seconds: https://youtu.be/2SW32UhU6v4 This calibration is closer to Meridian and East pointing West. But same observation is during calibration closer to Meridian and West pointing to East. I just re-greased the spur gears and the worm-wormwheel assembly with Liqui Moly in both RA & Dec axes. I then adjusted backlash to be minimum both in RA & Dec axes. Regardless of minimal backlash adjustment or not this behavior keeps repeating. I fairly balanced my Celestron C9.25 OTA with 1384 focal length after 0.63 reducer. I'm doing off axis guiding with this same focal length and have configured PHD2 as well with it. I made sure that the Dec motors are tightly screwed in. Anybody has any ideas on why this is happening then that would be really helpful. I can provide more details if anybody asks and can try suggestions the next night I get to imaging. Thanks, Nikul
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First visual use of my G11G
3
I've had the G11G for about a year now. Got it mainly for back yard imaging. Last weekend the club had an outreach event so we brought the G11G and dusted off our old C11 and used it to share some views with the public. A few observations: - It handles the C11 way better than the EQ-G mount I bought the scope with. That is the predecessor to the current Eq6 class mounts. I got a lot of good use out of that mount, but this one was much more confident with that load. - Go-tos were much more accurrate, once I got a model built. There was nothing that was outside of the eyepeice that had about a half degree field of view. - Model building for the first time was...interesting. I should have read up on it. It took me about 4 tries to get it to work. The first one everything was way off the initial go-to, and slewing over before syncing still resulted in a bad model. The second time, for some reason still unkown to me, it selected 3 stars all i Cassiopea. I knew that wasn't going to work. It was after that time that I figured out I still had the Lat/Long from our recent trip to an out of state star party. I fixed that, and it fixed the initial go-to pretty well. Then on the next try I figured out I could hit the East or West button again before go-to and it would select a different star to go to. That was when I nailed a good alignment - I don't have a ton of star names memorized so I could pick ones easy for me to find! 3 stars on each side. Did a great job all night after that. I really enjoyed it for visual use. Been happy with the imaging, though I need to improve guiding a bit for my 130mm refractor. But I think its just a matter of finding the time to mess with some settings a bit. Was good to be out there in visual mode! And not pushing around a big dob, not that I'm complaining about having a nice big dob. Brian
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Image Name
Sat 8:39am
Sat 8:39am