Anvil Basher

2 minutes ago, Cosmic Geoff said:

If you check some catalogs I think you will find that such things are already available - but they are not cheap. I would rather enter location myself than spend £150 on a module that plugs into a mount port.

Cheers. I see them now. I think it is handy.

3 minutes ago, Cornelius Varley said:

Something like this .

Yes, so there is one. Excellent. I have bookmarked that link page. I shall be a purchaser in the near future..............job sorted. ?

2 minutes ago, Cosmic Geoff said:

Some find it annoying that GoTo systems do not have RTC clocks, which one assumes would cost very little to incorporate.  One might say the same about GPS modules.  Mobiles incorporating GPS don't cost next to nothing - they may cost hundreds of pounds.  The GPS module does not cost much, but it's an added cost and potential headache - did you see the thread about a GPS rollover bug?  One of my mounts does have GPS, but it has a £2000 price tag.  If you dismantle a GoTo mount, it can be a surprise to see how little is inside.

The answer is that the makers could incorporate these things, but they would have to charge slightly more, and buyers would shy away and buy a rival product.  Also, their sales charts tell them that wifi enabled mounts sell well, and these allow the user to pull in GPS data from a device that the mount maker isn't paying for. ?

Good point.

The easy answer for these mount and goto companies is to offer a gps module as an extra or aftermarket buy. We can already buy gps modules for cars @5 notes, the pcb boards are cheap as chips, and adding a routine into the software should be a sinch. So the real reality of cost is not that high. They could do that very quickly, all the products are out there available. It does not need to be fitted, just put it on the ground..........a standalone item. The important part is writing in the new routine and adding an outlet on the handset for connection to mobile. Wi-fi can be another optional extra but not necessary.

They could even offer a deal to those with a goto system to upgrade the handset only, so they can still sell the ones without. I think most of us would take up such an offer of upgrade handset, even though we might initially not, it will become the norm. I also think that the cost would be affordable to all.

20 minutes ago, Rainer said:

Hi,

You are right. Call them and complain directly to the mount producers. Perhaps you can change their way of thinking ...

?

Right o.........I shall start calling.....not ?

Honestly.........are you serious? You have me cracking up right now with laughter. Why would I start phoning companies? This is a forum......I believe.......and my question was not to get a petition up or form a grievance committee, it was simply a question to start a chat about it. You may not like my questions, so you need not answer, but the question will not go away. I am sure there are others that enjoy a chat over something we have interest in, and give their opinions, not links to websites.

Why did you join this forum? to give answers such as above? To me, you are being sarcastic. You know you are being sarcastic. Anyone reading your answer knows. I joined to have a chat, talk about our hobby, ask questions..............did I do wrong thinking that?

11 hours ago, Rainer said:

If you have GPS you do not need to input your location, The only thing you have to input is your time zone and is Yes or No Summer or Wintertime ... as the GPS give the time in UTC ...

That is what I said. But it is no use if the goto does not have the ability of utilising gps.

Yes and the GPS in the mounts do cost nearly the same ?

Next to nothing then

The question is how was the firmware programmed and if this sends the data to your hand controller or not ...

This can only be answered by the company which builds the mounts ? without GPS ...

 

Again, this is not available.........but should be. I should easily be able to connect my phone to the controller via usb, and download the data. None of that is really going to cost much. I expect the usual reason is they have to sell all the ones without gps first, rather than be left with warehouses full of them. They will bring them out when stocks of the old are dwindling, because if it's available they would sell few without it.......and I bet they have the prototype already with updated software.

Hi all.

Just a question about the goto systems.

Why do we need to input our location into the handset when we have gps? Why are they all not set up with gps as standard? We can get gps on our mobiles that cost next to nothing, but not goto's........unless of course there are.

Lens for a refractor scope?

Another thing worth mentioning with the eq5 upgrade is to be very careful lining up the motors. The set comes with 2 new cogs. I noticed on the ra motor that if you tighten the long allen bolt too tight it locks up the cogs. Plus the cog supplied is nearly touching the mount. On the dec one, again the bolt should be carefully tightened, the motor has a bit of side play and if not held correctly it will mis-align the cogs causing them to either lock up or not catch sometimes. Apart from that, the only part I did not think clever was putting all the cabling in the 2 sided plastic mount where you connect those 2 din plugs, on the same side so you have to sort of squish the 2 sides together to screw them up.

Anyway.........any luck?

4 minutes ago, masjstovel said:

As i understand balancing, its balanced With one weight yes. Is it the 150 or the 200 you have?

the 200. So I assume you have the 150?........that clears it up.

You sure you have it balanced correctly? I did a test with mine tonight and put only 1 weight on. There is no way on earth it would balance, definitely needs 2. I think that would put strain on the motor.

16 minutes ago, masjstovel said:

Thats my favourite polar alignment video yes. This guy the polar scope reticule that you have though. Still, the result would be the same, just that i dont turn the reticule as mentioned.

If you are aligned, it has to be the goto system. I really cannot see any other reason. Either the info you put in is incorrect, the system needs a reset, or worst case....faulty. We have counted out many things, bringing us back to the goto system. It moves in the right direction, but not to where you want it...........maybe the psu will sort it, if not it is back to the drawing board.

I found this bloke helpful 

2 minutes ago, masjstovel said:

Ah, yes i know where the Big Dipper is, i meant the reticule the polar Scope, the "old" model With the ring for polaris and the Big dipper for turning the ring:)

I do not understand what you mean. When looking through your polar alignment scope you have a picture of the various stars, so you can line it up. You rotate the alignment scope in relation to what part of the year you are in, spring, summer, etc. All the corresponding stars line up. So you are now aligned. Even if the big dipper was on an outer ring you still turn it to the corresponding season, and it points to polaris.......the star you line up with. You can get all the info on your angle of elevation for the mount from the net using locator apps, or google.

The book, Page 14, shows where the bd should be according to the season. So if you have the north star at centre, the dipper where it should be, you should be aligned. 

I am getting confused myself with it all....lol......

If you have polaris at centre and the rest lined up, it is not your alignment that is causing the problems. The problem lies with the goto system somewhere.

page 14 of the manual

12 minutes ago, masjstovel said:

Yes, Its pretty steep, 60*25', so the axis is "laying" more on the mount than yours. Your look more like 30something?  I guess when i attach my DSLR (988grams) i would need the other weght as well. But since I'm new to this i get unsure - but its balanced. Lets say it was a little off, couldt that be the reason for my problems? 

Yes, you are in Norway........I am in Ireland but mine is low to get it through the door, once outside I set it up again. If the balance was a little off.......I doubt it. If you follow the instructions for polar alignment in the manual with the tripod/mount you should have no problem.....it really is self-explanatory. When I start to add the other bits I quickly balance it, just to make sure.

You must be looking at something other than the north star, my polar scope has an alignment image, plus the manual gives you exact locations of big dipper in relation to it. Once you have the scope aligned, the info put into the set, plus your time, minus an hour, plus an hour, etc, it should work.

I am new at all this also, but equipment is equipment....it needs a learning curve.........or a reset!.......wish I could get a reset to age 14 ?

6 minutes ago, masjstovel said:

Sure I'd like that. I also think its good that their tight, its just not what i imagined it would be before i got the mount and scope. I think the RA balancing was very simple. I feel it has better tolerance for small errors on that axis, but I worked alot on the DEC-balancing. 

I have the old motor controls on. Taking some pics so I can put them up for sale. But 2 weights, and it balances in every direction perfectly. What angle do you have yours looking up? Seems quite sharp. Mine is low in this pic because I need it at that angle to get through the door. I made up a stand with 3 heavy duty braked wheels, so I can just roll it around outside.

8 minutes ago, masjstovel said:

 

Its weighted 5.2kg each, and Yours? The scope is around 5kg too isnt it? I tried with both now but that was way too heavy.

When i losen the locks and do the balancing I imagined it would be like spinning a Bicycle wheel almost, but its much tighter than that. Its supposed to be a little tight? Also if i turn my Scope 90 degrees to the left it feels tighter the last degrees than if i turn it to the right. Is this a problem?

 

I did my plan now, turned the mount North by compass, and set it to my latitude, and calibrated the setting circles and went for the 2 star alignment. I chose Vega. Stellarium puts this at RA/DEC position 18h36m56.15s / +38* 47'07.9". The DEC axis was spot on but the RA showed 21h30m. Now the RA setting circle is very loose and seem a bit simple and i've seen it stuck itself from time to time but.. i dont know? 

I need the 2 weights. I can put up a pic if you like.

No, they are tight. I would rather have it the way it is than loose Turning mine either side is no different. The scope might weigh 5 kg, but add on lens, camera, the mount itself when rotated, (the top part is quite heavy).

1 minute ago, masjstovel said:

It's funny you mention it because when i looked at my own picture it seemed a bit odd, so i googled pictures of the scope on mount and adjusted its own axis. so that the eyepiece is paralel to the bracket-screws, and that puts the finder approximately on top.

Also, on top of one of the 2 mounting rings holding the scope, you have a black knurled screw for attaching cameras, electronic st4 type cameras, etc., so the spotter scope needs to line up with that...especially if you intend to use it.

1 hour ago, masjstovel said:

Is there a right and wrong way to mount the scope? 
 

 

 

I have my spotter scope dead centre on top, so when the scope turns I can get to the eyepiece . Are the eyehole or spotter scope hitting the legs like that at any stage? Without getting out the manual that came with mine, I am pretty sure they state to mount the spotter on top dead centre..........but I could be wrong.

45 minutes ago, masjstovel said:

@Anvil Basher I just dont understand that the alignment is so off given that @Robny's procedure is correct. That's what ive done every time, and feel quite satisfied that im on the right place.

With that said, i got this Mel/Maz message last time, and i don't know what would be acceptable Levels of Mel/Maz error?

The other photos are the setup in what i believe to be the home position. Does it look correct? 

I havent though about it before, but it may be important:
When press the slew buttons from parked position this happens:

Right key: RA sends the Scope to the left

Left key: RA sends the Scope to the right

Up key: DEC sends Scope to left

Down key: DEC sends Scope to right

 

Is this correct???

I also wonder about something on the dec axis. It seems a bit off topic, but there is a thought behind it. Lets say i dismounted the telescope, turned it 180 degrees and mounted it again. Would that have anything to say synscan-wise other then id have to redo the alignment and all? Is there a right and wrong way to mount the scope? I mean right is right and left is left on this axis no matter what, isnt it? I ask because at 60 degrees latitude the RA-motor cover and the DEC cover would "crash" if i want to observe something near the Northern horizon. Is this just how it is or am i far down in a hole with something here?
 

 

 

You have the exact same set-up as myself...........even the scope. How did you get away with one counterweight? I need 2 at that position. Or is yours twice the weight of one of mine? Just curious.

9 minutes ago, masjstovel said:

Thanks for the tip. If it turns out i have done both the polar alignment and the motor installation correct, i will try that! Would i have to reinstall the newest firmware then or is it kept with a factory reset?

It does sound like an issue with alignment. North leg on tripod facing north, get your polar alignment, sycset requires location, time, etc, and it should work. The part about the hand control working was just to see if it moved in every direction perfectly, showing it has enough power to move them. It is as if you are aligning from the south, especially as the scope points towards earth when looking at a star you can see in the sky from the north. A factory reset might just do it.

On 26/04/2019 at 17:35, masjstovel said:

The Box had the EQ5-sticker, and its the parts to the EQ5, im pretty sure.

When Scope is parked, the RA-cogs are on the left side and DEC-cogs are on the lower side. 
On the Picture that will be RA-cogs to the right as you view the Picture, and DEC cogs on the lower side.

Thats correct right?

 

Ok, So you think this is the problem? Any recommandations what adaptor to get? IMO its stupid that an adaptor with a socket to put in the wall didnt include in the box, but i dont know.. Only the 12v car-socket.

 

If the system is moving correctly with the handset then it must be your polar alignment. If this odd movement is only when using goto, but the hand controls work fine, it leaves your alignment. The psu at 5 amp is good. The psu you have currently might be under pressure, but if it is working the hand control on the pad fine then I would have thought that if the power being drawn was not enough using goto, it would slow down, maybe stop, maybe start smoking, spark........but not speed up and go in all directions. Maybe if the counterweights were off balance it may affect it, but I guess you have correctly balanced the mount. Maybe it is the psu, but my experience of psu's leaves me thinking if it does not supply enough power then the equipment normally does not work, slows, or starts smoking through seizure.

37 minutes ago, Dave Lloyd said:

Hi Bill, welcome. 

Thanks Dave ?

1 hour ago, Han Solo said:

Hi Bill from another noob, James

Cheers James......noobs rule ?

3 hours ago, des anderson said:

A warm welcome from Essex. Des

Cheers Des. ?