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Re: servocat Argonavis configuration with Asiair zwo

 

Good morning Frederic! If the unit on the 15 is black in color that is a Gen2 which started production in 2005 and ended around the end of 2009.?

Thanks for the well wishes... we'll be here for support and service for the foreseeable future...?

Gary?


------ Original Message ------
From "Fr¨¦d¨¦ric Ruciak" <frederic.ruciak@...>
Date 11/21/2022 4:27:31 AM
Subject Re: [ServoCAT] servocat Argonavis configuration with Asiair zwo

Hi Gary,
thank you for your reply. I have two obsessions and my classic 15 is equipped with a gen1 I think, I got it well before 2010 :-) and it is this one I plan to drive with ASIAIR.
I take this opportunity to thank you for your products and most importantly for your support over all this years. I wish you the best for the next period coming for you.
Sincerely yours, Fr¨¦d¨¦ric

Re: servocat Argonavis configuration with Asiair zwo

 

Hi Gary,
thank you for your reply. I have two obsessions and my classic 15 is equipped with a gen1 I think, I got it well before 2010 :-) and it is this one I plan to drive with ASIAIR.
I take this opportunity to thank you for your products and most importantly for your support over all this years. I wish you the best for the next period coming for you.
Sincerely yours, Fr¨¦d¨¦ric
Re: servocat Argonavis configuration with Asiair zwo

 

Hello Frederic - I hope you are doing well sir!?
So ... you will need to switch the AN to "From Planetarium" to go GOTO's from a planetarium program. The command is read if you don't do that but since nothing has been established in the Argo Navis it can only assume that a GOTO command is to GOTO the current object selected IN the AN! As for the rest - I'll need to check it out. Not sure if others have. The statement about using RS232 seems dubious at best though since the ServoCAT hasn't had an RS232 port since 2010 (Gen2).?

Gary Myers
StellarCAT
servocat Argonavis configuration with Asiair zwo

 

Hello all,
I plan to configure my obsessions telescopes (AN/SC) with Asiair pro to operate remotely and try some astrophotography of planets with my DSLR (Canon EOS60).
Has anybody succeeded to let them work together (ASIAIR PRO / AN /SC). According to Asiair manual, I can use a USB to RS232 converter and use the SC PC cable between SC and the RS232 and it should work but with electronic you better check twice and trust someone who has done it for real.
I have read also that you have to establish communication BEFORE you switch AN catalog to "from Planetarium" in order to have GOTO op¨¦rationnel
Hope someone did it and will confirm.
Clear skies, Frederic.
Re: No red light

 

Cale,?
To whom are you replying??

Where are you seeing 2 green lights? There's only one on the - oh - newer unit possibly (the LED that was red over yellow was discontinued so for a while now we've been using, forced to use red over green). So you are seeing the SLEW and the HC lights correct? If you are not seeing the blinking red light on power up of the system, the system consisting of BOTH the ServoCAT and the DSC in use - then check these things:
1) was it working? And if so - what changed? Settings? Cables??
2) Checked to be sure the serial settings in the DSC are correct.
3) Check to be sure the serial cable is properly connected at both ends. If a stalk is involved run the cable direct to the DSC serial port eliminating the stalk and its cable as a test.?

If you still have issues you are welcome to contact me direct at :? ?techsupport at servocat dot com

Gary?
StellarCAT
Re: No red light

Cale
 

Hello Patrick
? ? ?Suddenly, I have no red light.? I have two solid green lights.? Did you ever figure out the problem as it seems I have the same issue.??
Thank you
Cale Shipman
Re: Stainless Steel cable?

 

We use 3/64" now on all sizes. It is McMaster Carr: 3458T22
Re: Stainless Steel cable?

 

Hi Gary,

May I ask the details of the 1x19 stainless steel 1/16¡± cable, what companies source it, what lubricant you use on this cable and how to apply the lubricant?

Thanks,

- - Greg

P.S. Here¡¯s some answers to your questions and background info:
We did use the ¡°7x7 stainless steel wire rope¡± 1/16¡± diameter¡± from McMaster-Carr
when we had the shredding issue.

We needed to replace the old altitude drive cable on the 30¡± Obsession because it was ¡°bent¡± and started binding/lost traction.

On Oct 27, 2022, at 7:41 AM, K9RX - Gary <amateurK9RX@...> wrote:

?There's no reason why the cable should shred! This suggests there is some serious mechanical binding going on. I've used the capstan drive since day one and with the expection of people not using it right it works wonderfully and the cable lasts for many years. Possibly you bought a 7x7 and not the 1x19? Also we use lubricated (although that in itself wouldn't cause it).

write to me direct and I can quote a cable.

Gary




------ Original Message ------
From "Greg Haubrich" <gregh104@...>
To [email protected]
Date 10/25/2022 11:22:53 PM
Subject [ServoCAT] Stainless Steel cable?

Need to replace the stainless steel altitude drive cable on a 30¡± Obsession with ServoCAT that the Minnesota Astronomical Society owns and operates.
Does anyone have an exact replacement cable please?

Note: I tried a McMaster-Carr ¡°1/16¡± stainless steel wire rope¡±. It didn¡¯t last one night before it shredded.

Thanks for your help in advance!

- - Greg
Re: Declination cable issue - 22" U.C.

 

"The dentist is not..." ???

Fernando

Re: Stainless Steel cable?

 

There's no reason why the cable should shred! This suggests there is some serious mechanical binding going on. I've used the capstan drive since day one and with the expection of people not using it right it works wonderfully and the cable lasts for many years. Possibly you bought a 7x7 and not the 1x19? Also we use lubricated (although that in itself wouldn't cause it).

write to me direct and I can quote a cable.

Gary

------ Original Message ------
From "Greg Haubrich" <gregh104@...>
To [email protected]
Date 10/25/2022 11:22:53 PM
Subject [ServoCAT] Stainless Steel cable?

Need to replace the stainless steel altitude drive cable on a 30¡± Obsession with ServoCAT that the Minnesota Astronomical Society owns and operates.
Does anyone have an exact replacement cable please?

Note: I tried a McMaster-Carr ¡°1/16¡± stainless steel wire rope¡±. It didn¡¯t last one night before it shredded.

Thanks for your help in advance!

- - Greg
Re: Declination cable issue - 22" U.C.

 

UC-22 and the servocat... don't get me started... :)?
Gary is the MAN. The dentist? Not so much!

---------------------------------------?
Jeff Gortatowsky - California
"Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy a telescope, which is pretty much the?same?thing!"
"Science flies you to the moon. Religion flies you?into?buildings



On Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at 08:00:28 PM PDT, K9RX - Gary <amateurk9rx@...> wrote:


I'm not sure what you mean about groove furthest from the mirror?




------ Original Message ------
From "Al Lamperti" <lamperti@...>
Date 10/23/2022 10:56:35 AM
Subject [ServoCAT] Declination cable issue - 22" U.C.

? After many years of owning Obsession telescope & ServoCATs, it wasn't too late to make dumb mistakes. The Alt cable on my 22" UC came out of the groove when I was moving the telescope minus the truss tubes & UTA a few feet to a more level ground (I neglected to secure the mirror assembly to the ground board before moving it with the wheelbarrow handles).
? I got the cable back in the daytime, but last night, despite 5 alignments, objects were still way off (not in the eyepiece), even though the AN did not read 0.00. The AN read 0.5-0.7 and 0.5 when it finished the GoTo.? It tracked fine after I slewed to the object. From what I read on a recent thread, the Alt cable going into the groove needs to be closest to the mirror, at least for the Obsession Classic. On mine the cable into the groove is furthest from the mirror. I assume that was the cause of my problem??? Any other possible causes??
?? I should have listened to my non-astronomy wife when we were testing the movement in the daytime and she said it seemed to move side to side. I do have 2 Teflon pads on both sides of the ground board to keep the mirror assembly from moving, especially when traveling in the car.?
?? Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Al
Re: Declination cable issue - 22" U.C.

 

I'm not sure what you mean about groove furthest from the mirror?




------ Original Message ------
From "Al Lamperti" <lamperti@...>
Date 10/23/2022 10:56:35 AM
Subject [ServoCAT] Declination cable issue - 22" U.C.

? After many years of owning Obsession telescope & ServoCATs, it wasn't too late to make dumb mistakes. The Alt cable on my 22" UC came out of the groove when I was moving the telescope minus the truss tubes & UTA a few feet to a more level ground (I neglected to secure the mirror assembly to the ground board before moving it with the wheelbarrow handles).
? I got the cable back in the daytime, but last night, despite 5 alignments, objects were still way off (not in the eyepiece), even though the AN did not read 0.00. The AN read 0.5-0.7 and 0.5 when it finished the GoTo.? It tracked fine after I slewed to the object. From what I read on a recent thread, the Alt cable going into the groove needs to be closest to the mirror, at least for the Obsession Classic. On mine the cable into the groove is furthest from the mirror. I assume that was the cause of my problem??? Any other possible causes??
?? I should have listened to my non-astronomy wife when we were testing the movement in the daytime and she said it seemed to move side to side. I do have 2 Teflon pads on both sides of the ground board to keep the mirror assembly from moving, especially when traveling in the car.?
?? Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Al
Re: Stainless Steel cable?

 

Apologies for the late replies - we took a rare few days off to visit family in the NE. Just back in - give me tomorrow morning to answer. If you've emailed me direct (I had been checking direct emails) then I'll respond that way.

Gary Myers
StellarCAT
Re: Stainless Steel cable?

 

Apologies for the late replies - we took a rare few days off to visit family in the NE. Just back in - give me tomorrow morning to answer. If you've emailed me direct (I had been checking direct emails) then I'll respond that way.

Gary Myers
StellarCAT
Re: Declination cable issue - 22" U.C.

 

Apologies for the late replies - we took a rare few days off to visit family in the NE. Just back in - give me tomorrow morning to answer. If you've emailed me direct (I had been checking direct emails) then I'll respond that way.

Gary Myers
StellarCAT
Stainless Steel cable?

 

Need to replace the stainless steel altitude drive cable on a 30¡± Obsession with ServoCAT that the Minnesota Astronomical Society owns and operates.
Does anyone have an exact replacement cable please?

Note: I tried a McMaster-Carr ¡°1/16¡± stainless steel wire rope¡±. It didn¡¯t last one night before it shredded.

Thanks for your help in advance!

- - Greg
Re: Declination cable issue - 22" U.C.

 

WHAT? It fell off because the furniture glides pulled out??

Gary is the man. The dentist is not.
Declination cable issue - 22" U.C.

 

? After many years of owning Obsession telescope & ServoCATs, it wasn't too late to make dumb mistakes. The Alt cable on my 22" UC came out of the groove when I was moving the telescope minus the truss tubes & UTA a few feet to a more level ground (I neglected to secure the mirror assembly to the ground board before moving it with the wheelbarrow handles).
? I got the cable back in the daytime, but last night, despite 5 alignments, objects were still way off (not in the eyepiece), even though the AN did not read 0.00. The AN read 0.5-0.7 and 0.5 when it finished the GoTo.? It tracked fine after I slewed to the object. From what I read on a recent thread, the Alt cable going into the groove needs to be closest to the mirror, at least for the Obsession Classic. On mine the cable into the groove is furthest from the mirror. I assume that was the cause of my problem??? Any other possible causes??
?? I should have listened to my non-astronomy wife when we were testing the movement in the daytime and she said it seemed to move side to side. I do have 2 Teflon pads on both sides of the ground board to keep the mirror assembly from moving, especially when traveling in the car.?
?? Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Al
Re: Coordinate Epoch for ServoCat/Argo Navis

 

Hi Bernhard,

With the ServoCAT protocol, Argo Navis transmits and expects object coordinates as ICRS and airless.

Sky Safari should do the same and the last time I tested it, it appeared to be doing that correctly. Perhaps it has changed.

Whether they both happen to internally do the transformations to/from catalog mean place to observed place then matters not.

Part of the babble in coordinate spaces between planetarium programs and amateur telescopes historically came about from the fact that legacy DSC's and telescope controllers did not perform the transformations from catalog to observed and back. In other words, they didn't do the transformations for precession, nutation, refraction, etc. A classic example of this are the early Meade computerized telescopes and the Sky Commander DSC. There were limitations in their hardware, such as not supporting time of day clocks and limitations in their software, in not supporting observed place to catalog place and back transformations. To make matters worse, different planetarium programs would make assumptions about what coordinate space these devices were sending o expecting and sometimes writers would get it wrong.

Argo Navis was named a Digital Telescope Computer (DTC) rather than Digital Setting Circles (DSC) in direct acknowledgement that DSC's, like their mechanical counterparts, did not perform the additional transformations.

Going forward I would encourage all software practitioners to transmit and expect positions as catalog mean ICRS and airless.

Planetarium programs should purge out of date notions such as JNow.

On another note, I don't know if it changed but I recollect ASCOM use to have two separate commands for fetching RA and fetching Dec. There should have been a single command that fetch both. They are coordinates and go hand-in-hand like peas in a pod.

One thing to note when interfacing with planetarium programs is the finite resolution of the encoders. One test is to dial up MODE ALIGN STAR and align on a star. At that very instant Argo Navis aligns to the catalog position and when a program such as Sky Safari requests the position at that instant, you should see the cross-hairs very nearly on the star. With the progression of time, Argo Navis will keep updating the position the scope is pointing to on the assumption it is not tracking. If in fact it is tracking. when it sees the next encoder step the computer position will go back to the original alignment star. For example, a 10,000 step encoder has a resolution of around 2.1 arc seconds a step. So their is a radius of uncertainty corresponding to that. This is normal.

--

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place
Mount Kuring-Gai NSW 2080
Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
sales@...
https://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au
Re: Coordinate Epoch for ServoCat/Argo Navis

 

Hi Garry and other particpiants?

sorry for involving me.
You mentioned Argo Navis supports precession and notation (and takes perhaps further corrections).
The SkySafari program also allows some adjustments concerning these corrections.
Even though I do a correct Argo Navis alignment? the cursor in SkySafari differs a bit from object position on display.
I wonder If it is not productive to make double adjustments in both programs and if this even perhaps worsens the pointing accuracy.
Which adjustments suggest you to do in the SkySafari program??

best regards
Bernhard
1061 - 1080 of 7540