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sloz1664

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Posts posted by sloz1664

    Atik 460 Disconnecting Problem

    in Discussions - Cameras

    Posted

    Hi Steve, I know it's obvious but have you tried changing your usb lead, I've changed a couple this year and supposedly good quality ones too. Also, a while back I had issues with my Atik 460 not connecting and had to change usb ports, although the original usb port connected to other equipment.

     

    Steve

    • Like 1

    My new Observatory

    in DIY Observatories

    Posted

    18 hours ago, Tomatobro said:

    Correction. My NINA is the 64 bit version not 32 bit as stated earlier. Its also interesting to compare our two experiences with Pulasr controller issues.

    I could not get any sense out of the induction charging unit and found Pulsars support very lacking. Requests for help were met with "I will speak to the developers and get back to you" which they never did. In the end I built my own charging system which connects when the dome is in the home position and it works ok. Also produces sensible charging data as to what is going into the batteries.

    Don't get me wrong, the rest of the system is good so overall I am content.

    Look into solar charging, which is what I have done on my Pulsar mark one dome.

    Steve

    Automating a 2.1 metre Pulsar Dome. Phase One - Dome Rotation

    in DIY Observatories

    Posted

    On 26/08/2022 at 11:22, Mark Henthorne said:

    Hi Mark

    Sorry for not responding earlier as I grabbed a late Summer break.

    On 26/08/2022 at 11:22, Mark Henthorne said:

    Having long-admired your efforts and the end result in automating the dome rotation on your observatory, I will shortly be in a postion to replicate this process on my own 2.1 Pulsar.

    I have a couple of questions to ask of you please, before I dive in.

    Firstly, looking at the shelf construction, did you in any way join together each of the 16 segments to each other or are they simply butted against one another, or was that  achieved solely by glueing the drive belt in place, resulting in one unified piece then? (Supplementary question, was it the shelf parts alone, or the inclusion of the belt that made the dome feel more solid/rigid  to you?)  They were butted against each other. Each piece was clamped in place to it's neighbour and screwed into place with stainless steel screws through the exterior shell of the Dome. I'm sure once all the segments are in place and the drive belt fitted it will be more rigid. I never checked before or after.

    Secondly, in constructing the shelf and adding the drive belt, this effectively seals off ready access to the support bearing wheels, which should they need cleaning, lubrication, or replacement, poses something of a challenge. I am considering using a holesaw to cut a single hole above the door inside the dome, centred a little higher than axle height, and slightly over the wheel diameter size, so that in theory would facilitate all of the above.  The hole, because it is over the door, should allow access by just myself, with spanners either side on both the inside and outside of the dome. Is this a solution that you have used, or have you elected to take another approach. I really want to get the shelf and drive belt arrangement that you have, but without shutting the door on maintenance of the support bearing rollers. As we all know, these are old obsevatories, and as far as I know, the source of the original bearing wheels is something of an unknown to us all. As the dome wheels are situated in the centre of each segment I manufactured each segment with a cut-out so I had access to each Bearing wheel (see photo attached)

    Before undertaking this project I removed each bearing, in turn, refurbished them and lubricated with silicone grease and all securing bolts replaced with stainless steel replacements.

    Cheers,
    Steve

    IMG_20220901_191305.thumb.jpg.0bec98c0b6f41666a30a5e727f7fbe76.jpg

     

    Done with being cheap. Pix advice

    in Discussions - Software

    Posted

    2 hours ago, dan_adi said:

    I thought I was the only one finding PI made for mathematicians :)).

    I even complained on their forum about making the software more user friendly, but the moderators didn't take it very well :)

    My opinion is that software needs to be user friendly and automated as much as possible. If you have to take paid courses like those by Adam Block in order to use it, the design is simply bad, like in the old days in Linux when you had to use a terminal and learn commands to copy a file from one place to another.... 

    I can understand the frustration on the steep learning curves of either PS or Pixinsight. It's not just learning on how to use the software, to a degree where you start feeling comfortable with it, you have to keep using it on a regular basis or keep a precise journal of the techniques used in your processes, Because, if you do not, you will forget what you have done. In my past working life I used many 3D computer aided design software programmes, some with complex rendering software and vastly more complex than either PS or Pix. I was paid for getting results so you had to learn very quickly that you learn from your mistakes. Even a two week holiday set me back a few days to get back to the level I had before my holiday. I soon realised that keeping a journal of the processes, commands and steps needed to attain the desired results.

    Regards to automating processes have you looked at the EZ processing suite by Dark Archon. It automates quite a few of your processes to make using Pixinsight a lot easier. There a quite a few tutorials on YouTube on how to install and use the software and it's free.

    Steve

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

    Failed meridian flip with NINA

    in Discussions - Software

    Posted

    The areas around M101 & M51 are not a great area of sky for stars. PlateSolve needs around 30 stars to work correctly. I am currently using a f/l of 1700mm and a PlateSolve 50s. Any lower and it fails. To prove you are obtaining the amount of stars to PlateSolve successfully take an image with your 2s exposure and check the amount of stars you can see, if needed, increase your exposure until thr required star count is met. With regards to your excessive star trailing, increasing the mount settling time should help.

     

    Steve 

    Park Position in NINA

    in Discussions - Software

    Posted

    I use a vbs script to custom park in EQMod. I my case to slew to my light panel for taking fllats as Park 3. Set up your EQMod custom park and replace my "park 3" with your version by copying my "yellow"  vbs script in Notepad and saving it as as a vbs file ie Custom_Name.vbs

    Custom park script

    Dim Telescope
    set Telescope = CreateObject("EQMOD.Telescope")
    Telescope.Connected = True
    Telescope.Tracking = False
    ret = Telescope.CommandString(":PARK,3#")
    Telescope.Connected = False


     To return to your standard park position copy and  paste the following,vbs script in Notepad and saving it as as a vbs file ie Custom_Name.vbs

    Dim Telescope
    Set Telescope = CreateObject ("EQMOD.Telescope")
    Telescope.Connected = True
    Telescope.UnPark
    Telescope.Park
    Set Telescope = nothing 

    I use these scripts in both SGPro & Voyager. I know you certainly can add scripts in Nina.

    Steve

     

     

    JWST Countdown To Terror 😳

    in The Astro Lounge

    Posted

    17 minutes ago, kirkster501 said:

    ^^^Hope you are right guys, it makes sense what you say.

    I've captured it again this evening.  Will share tomorrow.

    Nice one Steve. I was really impressed with your first effort & especially with the Nottingham weather of late.

    Mesu mount (all versions) owner's thread

    in Discussions - Mounts

    Posted

    16 hours ago, Xsubmariner said:

    I hear you jonk, but them there is the 3rd party focus controller, mount controller, sequence generator I.e Nina or Apt or SGP that doesn't function correctly without the necessary software updates.  Boy this hobby is fun with plenty of software tinkering. 

    I've had enough with SGP and their promises. I needed my Obsy to be 100% trouble free and that didn't always happen and confidence in this game is paramount. I have moved over to  Voyager and once I got my head round Dragscripts relating to my equipment it just works, it's safety events scripts boost your confidence, that in any emergency it make your equipment safe whether it's just pausing for clouds or shutting down for adverse weather. I now have my two scope rig running with Voyager's Array software which let's me run both scopes independently. Something SGP has had in the pipeline for years.

     

    Steve 

    • Like 1

    Mesu mount (all versions) owner's thread

    in Discussions - Mounts

    Posted

    2 hours ago, Xsubmariner said:

    Hi dan-Asi, may I enquire what application you used to create the Seeing and star elongation graphs?

    This week I acquired a Mesu 200 non MK2, from a very nice gentleman who stored the mount for 5 years having acquired another premium mount prior to the Mesu delivery.  I was unsure if a “never used” Mesu stored for that time would have some stiction problems, I needn't have worried. Commissioning the mount yesterday with a 12” Meade ACF load everything is working as it should. I will never tire of watching these mounts move large loads so effortlessly, smooth and quiet. Now looking forward to seeing how this mounts operational performance compares to my 2 Mk2 mounts.

    After the challenges of my first premium mount, CEM120EC2 and then the PEC, T Point, re-greasing and worm drive adjustment demands of a Paramount MX. I love the fact that the Mesu needs no more than an initial plate-solve on startup and then it centres on DSOs to within 3 pixels in 2 or less plate-solves.  The guiding is excellent with the apparent limiting factor being the PA and seeing. If my Mesu’s deliver the long reliability experienced by Olly I will be a very contented man. Bring on the longer nights.

    You'll get bored. Every man has to tinker.... 😉

     

    Steve

    • Like 1
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