Fellside

Nebula The Mesu is pretty accurate without a Sky model and a lot of users just do a plate solve, an offset init then get on with there imaging. Once you have run the PointXP script a few time and you know what to expect it pretty easy. You do need to generate a horizon file for you site. This only needs to be generated for use by Sitech.exe. You can generate a file for use by your Planitarum software so you can "see" where the scope is in relation to the local horizon. Only the Sitech horizon file is required to run PointXP. Hope this helps graham

Hi I got fed up with the very nicely turned and knurled Mesu Alt/Az adjusters and replaced them with Stainless nuts. Easy to do micro adjustments with the leverage of a spanner. There is no need to "take the weight" off the nuts to adjust the Dec either. Almost had the skin off my fingertips with the originals. I used the double greased washers as mention here. That helps a lot. I will have a look a retrofitting the Dec motor protection bars. That could save a lot of expense Graham

Just as a follow up to my post on PXP Sky model. I gave AA4 trial version a try but I could not get it to work so I would recommend the trial version of Nebulosity. as mentioned in the Sitech manual. I now have a model with 58 points I have found that when Nebulosity drops out of listening mode I was restarting from the beginning with a new run. This is not necessary. Hit the abort button in Nebulosity and restart the Script to go back to listening mode. Then in Sitech move the cursor on the list of pxp points (its small and I missed it at first) to the next point in the list after the one that failed. Then hit the Courser Play button and the mount should move to the next point and the sequence should continue. As with most thing its easy to do once you've done it. Hope this helps Graham

Tom Yes the jumper is pushed onto one pin, not bridging the pins. For a remote/automatic setup I decided to sell my Pegasus and go for an industrial powered USB hub on the mount and run Switching, Weather etc with the Dragonfly which I already had. At the time it wasn't possible to control the features of the Pegasus using scripts (it may be possible now) so I didn't see the point. Maybe the Eagle is different. Keep it Simple St!!!! (as you Can) Hopefully SiTech may have an answer. Graham

Tom If you are looking at moving to a RS232 input to the SiTech 2 board SiTech can supply a cable. I had some issues early on with USB cables and soldered up a Serial cable myself but I could not get it to work. Taj at Sitech made one up to the length I required and it worked first time and there has not been a glitch since. There are different types of chip-set in the USB to Serial converters, some work and some don't. When using the RS232 input there is a jumper that needs to be made on the PCB board to activate 232 mode. It is to the left of the three LED`s at the top of the board. See diagram. It may be worth contacting Sitech direct as they may be able to give advice as to if they have come across your problem before. They are usually pretty quick to respond to queries. Graham

Hi There have been a few mentions of the benefits of having a PXP sky model on the Sitech Yahoo forum recently so last night I thought I would give it a try. It was pretty easy, just follow the manual. I have already setup an horizon file and that is loaded by Sitech at startup. This needs to be fairly accurate as Sitech does send the Mesu right to the edge of what is visible above "your horizon" The Sitech manual shows how generate the model from page 80. The Scripted PxP Operations procedure is from page 83. There are three options for the camera operation software MaxIm (at least 4.11) AA4 (at least CCD GUI 4.40) Nebulosity I went for Nebulosity (trial version) as its use is mentioned in the manual. I did have a problem with Nebulosity dropping out of listening mode twice. I was a bit ambitious for my first run as I selected 40 cal points. It stopped after 15 with the listening problem mentioned above. I had also selected Plate solve 2 in Sitec and this was unable to solve a some of the images it was sent. Press stop in PS2 moves the script on to the next cal point. On the third attempt I set Sitec to use Plate solver 3. This solved all the images it was sent, all in under 2 seconds. Very impressive. This built a 25 point model. The minimum number of points is 16. On the next good night I have I will try the script with AA4. Although I`m not sure it will work with the trial version as it does with Nebulosity. So running the PXP script is easy to do and its great to watch the Mesu moving around the sky. Defiantly amazing. Maybe tonight I will be able to see if the sky model has improved the mesu`s already great pointing. Graham

Yes from the picture it is the tilt plate version. That means the mirror is not connected the imaging train. That was a problem with the original design. Graham

John, The plain of my CCD is 247mm from the back plate. This maybe a little different on your scope as yours has a flat rear plate. TS quote 250mm for your scope. TS also state that removing 1 25mm spacer should bring the scope to focuse when using the focal reducer. I did not find this. So a little more experiment is required. Hope this helps Graham

John Telescope services list two versions of the 10" truss scope. One with and one without the tilt plate. I thought all the new Truss version had moved over to the Tilt plat version. So yours should have three sets of push-pull screws outside the diameter of the fans for Collimation and three sets of push-pull screws around where the imaging train enters the back of the scope for tilt adjustment. I fitted the Moonlite tilt plate to my scope (solid tube) and it works great but when I tried the Astro Physics 0.67 Focal Reducer I cannot quite reach focus with the adapter rings removed. As the reducer fits inside the focuser I am going to try adding a spacer to move the reducer further forward. I will have to remove a spacer from between the filter wheel and the focucer to keep the spacing correct. It was a very deep frost here last night. No sign of condensation on both mirrors, the Kendrick dew heater secondary woks well. This morning (I know its Christmas) I popped into the observatory to check and there was a bit of condensation on the primary. Running the fans for 10 minute clears it. I have never had the need to run the fans during imaging. A Great scope your will enjoy it a lot. Happy Christmas Graham

John It looks like you have a very nice setup there. I have the RC10C (solid Tube). I needed an additional balance weight as well as moving the Sharpsky focuser controller to the front of the scope. There is a lot of overhang at the back of the scope. Does your scope have the tilt collimation plate fitted to the rear plate. Graham

Hi My Lodestar 2 refused to connect last week using the SX driver I changed to Ascom and it worked so I carried on without to much thought until I saw your post. I wonder there is a common issue. Or just a coincidence. Graham

Great to see you over that hurdle As PhotoGav said The simple problems are always the best. The switch, never thought of that. Now you can move on with the rest of the setup. Graham

Please do tell... Graham

POTH was needed to allow multiple applications to connect to your mount but software that uses later versions of Ascom doesn't need it (mostly) Graham

I would give it a try without POTH. I never use it but say that I think Stepenwolf uses it . If you look at Steves guide. His picture of Sitech Config has the Red address bar the same as your pic. Graham