whipdry

1 hour ago, Skipper Billy said:

What brand & length are your USB cables ??  Are you using a USB hub - if so what brand and is it powered?

USB cable that came with camera plus another from Atik 0.8 & 0.6m also tried another that that came with various equipment Canon Camera, Motorola Phone plus one other new...  connected directly to 2x NUC both i5, through an Atik One9.0 also tried both USB 3.0 & 2.0 StarTech 12v powered industrial hubs. 

I had given up on the GP & have been using an old SXVh9 but saw Atik had a beta of the Core Software that mentioned something about the GP... 

On 08/10/2021 at 12:12, astrognosis said:

Tomato,

I'm having problems trying to get a hold of anybody at Moravian to confirm the situation and arrange repair.  I'm prepared to be impressed, not so far though.

I'd go back to your UK dealer as they had a bundle of money when you bought it... give them a chance to earn it! 

Peter

17 minutes ago, Skipper Billy said:

Hello Peter

I used one for a season without any issues - other than I needed bigger pixels so I changed it for a Lodestar.

Are you using the latest driver package from Atik ??

Might be worth having a chat with Atik - I have always found them very helpful and knowledgeable.

https://www.atik-cameras.com/#footer

 

Thanks for your reply... Software is all upto date, Atik are aware of the issues but as yet haven't been able to help!

Hi, Has anyone here tried to use an Atik GP as a guide camera? 

My experience is as follows... I've tried it with PHD2 using the Atik ascom drivers on a Windows 10 NUC & found it randomly drops frames, also tried removing & reinstalling software as well as numerous USB cables but the issue persists!

Atik have been aware of my issues for more than 2 years but so far have not been able sort this... anyone here with a similar issue or has the Atik GP working as a guide camera please make would you make yourself known by adding a reply. 

Many thanks, 

Peter 

On 22/09/2021 at 12:15, centroid said:

As I am now over seven years out of date with astro software, having left the hobby in 2014, are any of the current software packages capable of running two ASCOM cameras (one imaging, and one guiding) from a single application.

Back in the day, I used Maxim DL 4, to control a two SX camera simultaneously, but it seems that much of the software now, is single camera operable, and some folk are either using two instances of the same program, or capturing with one program., and guiding with another, such as PHD.

Any thoughts?

AA5 & the latest release AA8 are both capable of running 2x Ascom cameras for guider/imaging in a single instance without issue... for AA5 downloads are still available Camera Interface 5 & the Ascom plug-in Version 2.20 can be found here;

www.msb-astroart.com

add to find 1st;   /aasupp.htm

add to find 2nd;  /ccd_en.htm

Peter

I have a copy on a CD, if you PM your details I'll post it to you. 

Peter

I think most people reading this would be more interested in the goto/platesolve & guiding accuracy... not so much in the pictures as they only tell part of the story leaning towards the scopes performance! 

Peter

Glade you've found a replacement, did you try Bernard at Modern Astronomy? 

With mine I've found the cable to be the must troublesome... bought a shorter one & needed to remove part of the plastic sleeving to enable a good connection!

I'm sure QHY had user manual on the old website... gone now but possibly available if you contact them. 

The DC-101 was originally supplied with the early QHY8 but it was realised the DC-102 had the advantages of controlling the TEC... with the opportunity of set-point temperature control with the appropriate modifications within the camera. 

Did you have any issues with moisture formation on the CCD sensor during use? 

Peter 

From reading this see PDF attached, the QHY8 camera requires both 18v & 5v supplies plus the separate 12v for the fan. 

Peter 

QHY8_modification.pdf

Not sure if this is an actual file! QHY8_modification.pdf

52 minutes ago, centroid said:

All downloaded ok Peter, but no joy when trying to install. Windows 'flags up' the message as below. I'll have another go later.

Another link sent... last try!

Peter

7 minutes ago, centroid said:

Found it ok Peter, but its an update version which when you try to install it, it looks for the original Sky 6 program, which of course isn't there. Worth a try though, so thanks again. I guess I will be using Carte Du Ciel. 🙂

sent you another link that should have a zip of the .exe file required.

Have sent you a PM with a link to a Dropbox folder.

Peter

This image is a combination of data from this year & last... unfortunately there was a misalignment between the two sessions therefore not able to utilise the full frame of my Atik One9.0. 

This is a total of 16 hours of data using Astrodon SII/Ha 5mn & OIII 3nm filters, assigning SHO as RGB a false colour was created in AstroArt where the three stacks were combined for the Luminance... further colour & other adjustments in PS CS2.

Peter

Recently contacted RisingCam about imports into the UK, in reply they stated the price did not include VAT or any Import Duty payable... seems UK customers would also face currency conversion charges as payment is either in the Dollar or Euro!

If anyone on here living in the UK has recently had an actual experience of a purchase please post a reply... BTW they offer stating a lower price on the customs paperwork, not sure that's a good idea!

Peter

1 hour ago, tomato said:

I must have the JTD version then, the ADM saddle does look more substantial.

I guess you could have one of the others seen on this page;

https://www.admaccessories.com/product-category/miscellaneous/altaz-aiming-devices/

Absolutely engaging image, fits my mobile format so well it's like I'm looking into space through the screen! 

Peter

This one is still showing on the ADM website;

https://www.admaccessories.com/product/tgad-tandem-guiding-aiming-device-altaz-aiming-device-for-side-by-side-systems/

Looks like a Robin Casady copy... 

Peter

For anyone interest found some info/pictures of earlier Mesu mounts... 

http://www.astro-imaging.com/Equipment.html

13 minutes ago, BlueAstra said:

Do you know the polarity of the orange terminals (12v dc IN) on the side of the PSU? There's nothing marked on mine. I like your modification, but its probably too much of an irreversible mod for me. I'll probably compromise and just run the PSU off 12V rather than the mains. I can place the PSUs at the base of the pier and run the camera power cable through the mount, but its not what I originally intended. I can't get confirmation of what voltages it uses for the two feeds, or what the pinout configuration is. If it was 12V and 5V, both these voltages could be supplied by the power box using the cable you suggest. If its more than 12V then the power box cannot supply it.

Here's what I did, opened up the box  de-soldered the low voltage board frm the mains transformer & reboxed it... now its 6x6x5cm weighs just 76grams! 

I think the camera requires 5v & cooler 12v as already suggested ask SX... Here's a link to a suitable cable if you don't want to cannibalise powerbrick or cables;

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/industrial-automation-cable-assemblies/1951784/

Peter

Don't have maxim or this camera... what happens when you hit Less<< in the top window? 

A small contribution on park position. 

With the Mk1 you have the option to align your park position with the locking hook mechanism, if for any reason the mount was moved while unpowered you have a reference point for your park position... 

 With the Mk2 this addition keeps it simple & blu-tack is easily removed once you think of something better! 

See attached photos... 

Peter

I'm on my second NUC i5, first one was onboard the mount running on a 12v supply it was the slim version with just the M2 ssd worked fine until 3months out of warranty... started using sleep mode before switch off as it just booted up when powered remotely, died in its sleep just didn't wake up one day! 

Now have the NUC8I5BEH it's a little taller with space for standard sized laptop drive... couldn't swap out the memory but put the old M2 ssd in & Windows 10 booted straight up!

Dicided to keep the NUC in the closed area of my observatory by using supplied power adapter always on that way I'm able to shut down & WOL remotely, l just run a single USB 3.0 cable to the industrial hub on my mount. 

Peter

https://elt.eso.org/

Peter

Hi Ed, 

Here's a link to the best place for info on the ETX;

http://www.weasner.com/etx/menu.html

Hope it helps, 

Peter