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Posts posted by AllanJ
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Great to watch, live (almost), impressive.
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Having been getting used to using Affinity Photo 1.8, it suggested updating to 1.9. However, I could not get it to work. I started a post on the Affinity forum, had a reply with somebody with the same problem, then another post gave the solution which said it seems to be a rather common issue on notebooks with integrated Intel graphics cards. You have to make sure you have the latest (Jan 2021) driver from Intel installed. So I discovered Intel's Driver and Support Assistant (very straightforward to use), and now version 1.9 appears to work fine.
Allan
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I haven't been to any star parties since I sold my old motorcaravan and decided that after hiring twice that I didn't like these new fangled vans with all their lights. But I have been thinking about making a visit to Shrewesbury for non-astronomical reasons sometime, so if your get-together goes ahead I might be able to join you for a short catch-up.
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Getting back to basics on this thread, here's my experience of venturing into Linux for the first time, which may or may not help other potential new users. I did have some slight acquaintance with Unix years ago. I have an old Samsung N150 netbook, Atom processor that I used to use for browsing, TeamViewer (indoors) linking to my laptop connected to imaging kit (outdoors), and for occasional HEQ5 mount control and DMK41 solar imaging. It could never be called speedy, but with Windows updates it made watching paint dry a quick fire pursuit. Rather than send it to recycling, I gave Linux a go.
I found a recommendation that Lubuntu would be optimal for my N150 netbook, so after a test booting from usb I went the whole hog and wiped out Windows to give Lubuntu a clean install. It works a treat, boots up quickly and doesn't use up half the CPU just existing. It came bundled with Firefox, also Software Center is handy.
I put TeamViewer on successfully, that justifies the netbook's continuing use.
I installed Stellarium from Software Center, but the recent versions use OpenGL which is not supported by my Atom-based netbook, so I uninstalled it.
Next was KStars with INDI (I had never heard of INDI before). It took a bit of effort – including a fresh Lubuntu install when I cocked up somehow, but I got it running. I am able to control my HEQ5 mount – although it did go a bit wild at first.
I also installed Skychart / Cartes du Ciel, which I normally use for mount control. However, it was unable to connect to the INDI server, and its recommendation to launch INDIstarter was not helped by my being unable to install INDIstarter.
Camera control so far has been hopeless. In KStars nothing has connected except the netbook's inbuilt camera. I have tried ATIK Titan and 314 , Canon DSLR and DMK41 (I have read about problems with Imaging Source drivers). Incidentally, if anyone knows what the KStars Device Manager icon that looks like a blue telephone means, I'd like to know.
I also tried CCDCiel, but couldn't get anywhere with that.
I have no idea if these problems are to do with the limitations of the netbook, or if I have failed to install something or another.
I did manage to have some success with a DSLR using the Entangle app, but doubt if I'll want to use it.
One minor achievement was writing a small script for the screen. Various packages have window panels that are not adjustable. The netbook's resolution is 1024x600, and while in Windows I could change this to 1024x763 for Skychart, etc, I found a better solution in Lubuntu with a .sh script to allow panning across the screen to give me 1040x763 without compressing the display. I just click the script to execute it. The command is:
xrandr --output LVDS1 --mode 1024x600 --rate 60 --fb 1024x763 --panning 1024x763
(a second script reverts it to normal)
GIMP works fine.
Conclusion so far – limited success, could do better.
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I'm booked, so I can get out into the sunshine now.
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This could be because Windows 10 and Prolific don't get along. I changed to FTDI cables, and replaced my existing eqdir with an FTDI eqdir from Astronomiser. Worked out of the box, no problem.
http://astronomiser.co.uk/eqdir.htm
Allan
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Thanks, Skipper,
I have used these instruction sets via FLO's site several times. My understanding is that when you select "Never Install driver software..." that applies to all devices, not just the Prolific driver. Am I wrong here?
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I contacted Hitecastro support when I was struggling to get mine to work with Win 10. I received an email which included "There is an old chipset which we have long since discontinued which will not work with windows 8 and upwards under any circumstances." Anyway, I have got my Prolific cables working, mostly - sometimes I have to roll back the driver again.
I'd like to know how to protect an individual driver from update - as far as I can see it is all updates across the computer (?)
Allan
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Just a follow up. I just downloaded the beta version of CdC and used the PHD link in the new Toolbox to send Lovejoy's rates to PHD, then simulated tracking. Worked a treat. The link to Patrick's post was messed up in the previous post but an easy route to information is
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I use Cartes du Ciel & ASCOM for directing my HEQ5 and PHD2 for guiding. CdC's comet download was very handy for Lovejoy. I have just been delving into PHD2 functions a bit more in the last few days, and it has a Comet Tracking tool, which I played with in the simulators. I also found a note about the beta version of CdC where Patrick Chevalley says "I add a function to Cartes du Ciel planetarium to interface with PHD2. The main function is to send to PHD2 the offset rates for moving objects such as comets or asteroids. After the setup and connection between the two software, you can click on a comet on the map, send the displacement rates to PHD2 and enable the displacement." [https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!topic/open-phd-guiding/UPpGanZS5xQ]. I guess this will be in the new Tool Box currently in beta. Very handy I imagine. Hope it comes out soon!
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I just like the thing that such a small caravan has a front door and a back door!
Allan
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Have a look at Rob Willett's website, linear strip section. Not free, but inexpensive.
http://settingcircles.robertwillett.com:8000/index.php?cmd=linear_screen
Allan
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FLO's usual excellent service: I ordered a set of narrowband filters online at the weekend, dispatched Monday, arrived Tuesday morning. Can't ask for better than that. Thanks FLO.
Allan
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Recently, FLO has been very helpful with getting me a new dob, then they brought one of those chairs all the way to SGL5 for me, and then they sent a Quikfinder in the post for next day delivery. Thanks, Steve and James
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Here's my very first DSO effort (M13 afocal) from June 3rd. Telescope is Celestron NexStar 4SE, with a Canon Powershot A85 (4megapixels, jpgs only). I stacked 14 shots in DSS, and tweaked the result with Gimp. The telescope was quite steady when I was viewing by eye, but I think the weight of the camera caused a drift which resulted in star trails. I've subsequently messed about with offsets in Gimp, but this image is the "real" first output.
Allan
Does this mount sound normal? EQ6 with my new scope!
in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
Posted
The clicking might be a balance problem - try moving your counterweights to see if that helps - it solved it for mine when I changed the scopes, etc but didn't re-balance properly. Mine seemed to be worse when counterweight axis was about horizontal.