Hi yes Gary I have a Gen 2 that you helped me upgrade to version 7 back in March of 2021 so I think it applies to me and explains a lot of the poor tracking I have had.

?

Mike

?

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of K9RX - Gary
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2023 4:59 PM
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: Re: [ServoCAT] Bug found: Gen2 ServoCAT and ServoCAT-Sky file when upgrading to version 7

?

I'm not a windows programmer. I had someone create the program for me way back in 2001 when I was developing the ServoCAT... and it has been worked on since by Pete Eschman. Although in his defense I wasn't aware of that bug and thus he wasn't looking for it. So the short answer is no. I might see if Pete has time to look at it.?

?

But to stress again - this only applies to the specific condition of Gen2 being upgraded to version 7. The reason why is there is an I/O pin that version 7 uses that was not used in previous versions. Since that pin was not used on a Gen2 it was grounded to keep it from introducing any issues, a common practice. What that means is that the (motor) encoder value is multiplied by 2 which is easily compensated for by entering a value of 1000 instead of the long used 2000 value. The bug appears to be associated with the change in that value and was never needed in the past or by Gen3.?

?

g.

?

?

?

?

------ Original Message ------

From "Mike" <mklosterman1@...>

To [email protected]

Date 3/20/2023 4:24:22 PM

Subject Re: [ServoCAT] Bug found: Gen2 ServoCAT and ServoCAT-Sky file when upgrading to version 7

?

Gary could you fix the bug in ServoCat Sky??

On Mar 20, 2023, at 4:06 PM, K9RX - Gary <amateurK9RX@...> wrote:

?I'm embarrassed to say this but I just discovered a bug when using ServoCAT-Sky to download parameters to an upgraded version 7 Gen2 ServoCAT. This ONLY applies to Gen2 and only applies if an upgrade to version 7+ has been done (which would require a download of the parameters).

I thought in the past that there was a bug where when you enter the required change in the ServoCAT-Sky motor "ENCODER" value - changing it to 1000 (this is due to a hardware difference between Gen2 and 3)... that documentation suggested to enter that value - then the ratio to be downloaded - and then repeat entering the 1000.? I had seen where in entering the ratio alone it corrupted the value.?

But today I discovered that the actual ratio value is converted to the nearest lower 1000 value! So for example I was entering a value of 3254.... but when I later went back and checked it, it was actually 3000 that was downloaded! I subsequently did an upgrade on another Gen2 and found the same thing - value entered 7254, value in the ServoCAT was 7000. So if this happened to anyone else:? this can mean a pretty severe inaccuracy in tracking. GOTO might not be impacted as the algorithm tries to resolve any differences... but tracking for sure.?

So - first apologies for not seeing this before. If anyone had me to the upgrade you are welcome to schedule to send it back for me to confirm the correct values and to re-load them if incorrect. There's an easy way to confirm the right values using Pete Eschmans excellent SCU program to read out the parameters ---- but of course that does require the originally supplied serial cable/adapter and a good quality USB adapter.

For those that have done it on their own I'd recommend you check the values using SCU.?

Note this is not a bug in the ServoCAT, rather it is a bug in the utility to download parameters to the ServoCAT.?

Gary Myers
StellarCAT

I'm not a windows programmer. I had someone create the program for me way back in 2001 when I was developing the ServoCAT... and it has been worked on since by Pete Eschman. Although in his defense I wasn't aware of that bug and thus he wasn't looking for it. So the short answer is no. I might see if Pete has time to look at it.?

?

But to stress again - this only applies to the specific condition of Gen2 being upgraded to version 7. The reason why is there is an I/O pin that version 7 uses that was not used in previous versions. Since that pin was not used on a Gen2 it was grounded to keep it from introducing any issues, a common practice. What that means is that the (motor) encoder value is multiplied by 2 which is easily compensated for by entering a value of 1000 instead of the long used 2000 value. The bug appears to be associated with the change in that value and was never needed in the past or by Gen3.?

?

g.

?

?

?

?

?

Gary could you fix the bug in ServoCat Sky??

On Mar 20, 2023, at 4:06 PM, K9RX - Gary <amateurK9RX@...> wrote:

?I'm embarrassed to say this but I just discovered a bug when using ServoCAT-Sky to download parameters to an upgraded version 7 Gen2 ServoCAT. This ONLY applies to Gen2 and only applies if an upgrade to version 7+ has been done (which would require a download of the parameters).

I thought in the past that there was a bug where when you enter the required change in the ServoCAT-Sky motor "ENCODER" value - changing it to 1000 (this is due to a hardware difference between Gen2 and 3)... that documentation suggested to enter that value - then the ratio to be downloaded - and then repeat entering the 1000.? I had seen where in entering the ratio alone it corrupted the value.?

But today I discovered that the actual ratio value is converted to the nearest lower 1000 value! So for example I was entering a value of 3254.... but when I later went back and checked it, it was actually 3000 that was downloaded! I subsequently did an upgrade on another Gen2 and found the same thing - value entered 7254, value in the ServoCAT was 7000. So if this happened to anyone else:? this can mean a pretty severe inaccuracy in tracking. GOTO might not be impacted as the algorithm tries to resolve any differences... but tracking for sure.?

So - first apologies for not seeing this before. If anyone had me to the upgrade you are welcome to schedule to send it back for me to confirm the correct values and to re-load them if incorrect. There's an easy way to confirm the right values using Pete Eschmans excellent SCU program to read out the parameters ---- but of course that does require the originally supplied serial cable/adapter and a good quality USB adapter.

For those that have done it on their own I'd recommend you check the values using SCU.?

Note this is not a bug in the ServoCAT, rather it is a bug in the utility to download parameters to the ServoCAT.?

Gary Myers
StellarCAT

Gary could you fix the bug in ServoCat Sky??

On Mar 20, 2023, at 4:06 PM, K9RX - Gary <amateurK9RX@...> wrote:

?I'm embarrassed to say this but I just discovered a bug when using ServoCAT-Sky to download parameters to an upgraded version 7 Gen2 ServoCAT. This ONLY applies to Gen2 and only applies if an upgrade to version 7+ has been done (which would require a download of the parameters).

I thought in the past that there was a bug where when you enter the required change in the ServoCAT-Sky motor "ENCODER" value - changing it to 1000 (this is due to a hardware difference between Gen2 and 3)... that documentation suggested to enter that value - then the ratio to be downloaded - and then repeat entering the 1000.? I had seen where in entering the ratio alone it corrupted the value.?

But today I discovered that the actual ratio value is converted to the nearest lower 1000 value! So for example I was entering a value of 3254.... but when I later went back and checked it, it was actually 3000 that was downloaded! I subsequently did an upgrade on another Gen2 and found the same thing - value entered 7254, value in the ServoCAT was 7000. So if this happened to anyone else:? this can mean a pretty severe inaccuracy in tracking. GOTO might not be impacted as the algorithm tries to resolve any differences... but tracking for sure.?

So - first apologies for not seeing this before. If anyone had me to the upgrade you are welcome to schedule to send it back for me to confirm the correct values and to re-load them if incorrect. There's an easy way to confirm the right values using Pete Eschmans excellent SCU program to read out the parameters ---- but of course that does require the originally supplied serial cable/adapter and a good quality USB adapter.

For those that have done it on their own I'd recommend you check the values using SCU.?

Note this is not a bug in the ServoCAT, rather it is a bug in the utility to download parameters to the ServoCAT.?

Gary Myers
StellarCAT

?

I actually designed a box that has build in super capacitors totaling I believe if I recall 2F. It is enough to ride through a momentary drop out. Of course one should put the effort in to find what the actual cause is and solve it. Usually, if it is my system, something loosened up over time. The box also had (high current) shottky diode isolation so one could have an internal battery as well that would instantly be 'in circuit'.?

Gary Myers

StellarCAT

------ Original Message ------

From "Richard" <rmille64@...>

To [email protected]

Date 1/19/2023 8:58:04 PM

Subject Re: [ServoCAT] AN Reinitializing in Middle of Session

I have considered that adding a bank of capacitors in the rocker box would provide fault tolerance to the rotating contacts.

Richard

I have considered that adding a bank of capacitors in the rocker box would provide fault tolerance to the rotating contacts.

Richard