iapa

@Garethr @Davey-T focus masks, power tanks, dust covers come in PT II - the implementation stages.

Following on from @D33P's thread 'what else could go wrong' it felt like an idea to put together a check list of what to look at before you start your session. I wasn't sure whether to make this a checklist or a list of 'what went wrong and why'. I opted for a checklist to printout, and draw a line through each item as you do it. I was thinking I'd print it an laminate it, then use a wax crayon (I am not allowed sharp objects any more) to score of each item.These will be available in sets of three for £30 along side Craig Starks design for a rig to align your laser collimator. Before you even start make sure that you have your location written down in all formats - some software uses hours minutes seconds, others hours in decimal only e.g. a previous location for me was 58º 49' 40.6" N, 002º 54' 33.8" W; some software needed me to enter as 58º 49.67' N or 58.83º Assembly checks tripod is secure, level and facing North. mount is securely attached to the tripod clean lenses and filters - flats will help reduce dust 'bunnies', but it it best not to have them in the first place of possible filters are in place )particulalryof you are solar imaging) , filters are in the slots you want them to be in; you do not want to be using red when you thought it was OIII. light pollution filter in place if you are using one e.g. OSC (One Shote Colour camera) guide camera is secure in guidescope guide scope securely mounted - use clamshell type rings if you must use rings. imaging 'scope secure imaging camera secure, not is a good time to have guide and image cameras oriented to both are same way 'up' is this can make guiding easier. filter wheel is secure balance the rig align finder scope if fitted. Cabling - label all cables when assembling Guide camera connected Imaging camera connected focuser for guide scope connected USB focuser for imaging scope connected to USB power to guide camera if required (you nay be using a cooled device) power to imaging camera if required (you nay be using a cooled device) power to mount rebalance the rig - the cables will have put it out slightly. Power- label all cables when assembling Guide camera connected Imaging camera connected focus controller for guide scope connected focus controller for imaging scope connected to USB power to guide camera if required (you nay be using a cooled device) power to imaging camera if required turn each item on one at a time confirm date and time of the mount is correct; most common mistake is to incorrectly allow for GMT/BST (Jonny Forener will have a different name LOL) check current location on the mount is correct; most common mistake is to transpose latitude and longitude entries Computer hardware Power on the computer and check that OS is upto date and that no updates are scheduled to occur during your imaging session; Microsoft just love to provide updates that auto install and auto restart. do NOT start to update any applications, ASCOM drivers etc. at this stage. You do that during the day check power saving will not shut down your PC after a period of idleness - this is usually based on user interaction i.e. keyboard/miuse rather than if any applications are actively processing image camera driver is loaded; just use supplied software to check you get an image guide camera driver is loaded; as above 'scope control driver loaded; use to slew in DEC and RA then return to home/park position Compute software plate solving software is working; use a previously solved image plate solving software has correct observing location, date and time plate solving software parameters include the correct imaging 'scope and/or camera details plate solving software reference files cover the correct range of files of view rack guidescope in an out using focus software; this is a good time to check focus of the guide scope. rack imaging scope in an out using focus software; again, a good time to check focus is about correct. guiding software has correct location guiding software has correct time stellarium software has correct location stellarium has correct time and GMT offset. Here endeth Part I, The First.

My first 'scope actually SLT130 - as a package it included original Celestron SkyQ wifi adapter. The software (the original s/w) and hardware worked perfectly over WiFi; as long as I was no more then 6' away. SkyPortal came later, and was a great improvement being based on V4 of SkySafari, and was superb with the SkyQ adapter - as long as I was less than 6' away. One thing to bear in mind is that the app and the hand controller do not share data - so, if you use the app to align, use it to do your gotos. Ditto if you align with the handset, otherwise you could be off centre.

Following a recent rapid connection of mount, OTA et al with Terra Firma (not via tripod feet) I contacted FLO to arrange examination of various components. The response was both prompt and sufficient for the insurance company to provide compensation for the repair, and replacement of items beyond economic replica. In addition, I ordered a replacement OTA and field flattener early PM yesterday, and items arrived before 11:15 this am - Essex to Central Scotland. Well done that team.

That's definitely not right. Windows does it's own patching FoC.

LOL I did mention my certificate Oh, one thing to watch for, CAT5e can be wound round corners quite tightly, CAT6 has a larger radius requirement for going round corners - it's not massive, but worth watching for.

CAT5e and CAT 6 will both support 1Gigabit per second transfer rate at up to 100m lengths. (CAT6 is actually rated for 10GBit per sec). Remember to divide by 10 to get a better approximation for Byte per second rate (there's normally a couple of extra bits added to the each Byte for error correction. 100MByte per second should transfer a couple of images per second. If you use some of these ethernet over power devices they may have additional correct and/or compression which will also reduce the over all transfer rate. Don't forget to make sure the Network Interface Cards and any hubs/switches also support Gbit speeds (yes I have a certificate 'teaching granny to suck eggs 101')

I know where you are coming from. ant fine work, I get some one (often well overpaid) to do it nowadays. Just need to find some one local(ish) to debater a 700D for me

Part of the thread I posted a link to t'other day LOL It's in my 'book of fixing stuff' which I may publish sometime next century

I think I have something to try - when the AVX is out of warranty. There a detailed list of steps for cleaning down an AVX. Worm Gear Upgrade for Lower Periodic Error https://ca.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/celestronVX/conversations/topics/1607 Given it's a bank holiday weekend, I may settle down to looking for more info a a more systematic way.

@Thalestris24 Thing is, you can get something like this single 60s unguided image with an 8" reflector on the AVX. @PeterCPC One of the site i looked as was Dark Frame Optics http://www.darkframeoptics.com/page/tuning in Hampshire who say they do tuning on their own mounts then will do yours based on their experience, as against Deep Space Products who will sell you a kit to do it yourself - with DVD instructions. I'd like to get my hands on a copy of that DVD - without spending the $400 for the kit.

I've been skimming the hinterweb over lunch and one thing that I've seen a couple of times is that the AVX is a difficult mount to work on.

Extract from a thread on CN. (http://www.cloudynights.com/topic/489346-celestron-avx-ra-axis-issue/) Under the RA covers are two spur gears. The top one is attached to the worm gear drive shaft. The bottom is attached to the drive motor. If these spur gears are meshed to tightly they will cause the motor to speed up and slow down at tracking speed due to binding. So I would check that first. With the covers off in a quiet room you can hear it speed up and down and the motor start to labor when the mount is tracking. There are three motor adjustment bolts to allow you to move the motor in and out to adjust the spur tightness.. Second... even if the spur gears are not binding your RA could still be speeding up and down, or even stalling and this could be a result of your top spur/worm gear engagement to the RA drive ring. If you look up and behind the motor you will see two socket head screws and a small recessed allen head screw in the middle. The allen head screw is a standoff screw that adjusts the housing depth holding the worm gear drive shaft. If the worm gear drive shaft is held too tightly or is not level to the RA drive ring it can periodically stall the motor. Or speed it up and down from the resistance, leading to bad tracking. If it is too loose you will get a knock and bad tracking as well due to the gears skipping.. There is a fine balance to getting it just right. I adjusted the middle recessed allen head screw to get things just right and then just barely snugged the two socket head screws. Barely snugged means tightened them to just touch and no more.. The two socket head screws play off the middle allen to adjust depth.

I remember seeing a Youtube video of someone correcting backlash on the AVX - it you haven't already seen it. Celestron Advanced VX gearbox adjustment

I'll be watching this thread with interest as mine is back for 2nd repair, and the 2yr warranty is up in a few months.