Re: Conversion to a Smart Telescope
First Two things you need, SharpCap 4.1 which will take care of the plate solving and I use a laptop on a stand attached to my 22" starstructure dob. I use stellarium with in my case Nexus DSC (which the new ascom driver will be ready soon) none the less currently I control my target acquisition and tracking using stellarium. I connect all programs and hardware to the scope laptop and then connect my control laptop (at the desk I am sitting) via Remote desktop. Once I have the ascom driver I shoud be all set for better tracking and centering than I am currently (i have to use the servocat remote hand control via line of sight for centering) luckily it works through glass windows.?
Argo Nav users can do this now and if using ZWO cameras have slightly different hardware but the end result is the same (i think) right Richard?
Mickey
On Thursday, December 21, 2023 at 03:22:09 PM EST, david w pearson via groups.io <p.davidw@...> wrote:
Hi Servocat forum!
I am asking for insight into the operation of Servocat, Argo-Navis and the new ASCOM driver.
My goal is to make my 20” dob with Servocat/encoders/Argo-Navis able to operate like the new smart telescopes.???
Questions
1)? ? ? ***Does Servocat or Argo-Navis require completion of star alignment, before go-to is allowed?
a)????? If Servocat, what does it require to get around that limitation?
b)????? If Argo-Navis, what does it require to get around that limitation?
2)? ? ? ***Where is the sky-to-scope transformation Matrix or quaternion computed: Servocat or Argo-Navis?? Guessing Argo-Navis?
I have written a windows app to control my astro-physics equatorial mount using ASCOM to move mount, focus, take a picture, perform plate solve, sync and then go to user defined RA/DEC.
Of course, this won’t work for this application, but I am somewhat knowledgeable with ASCOM and computer programming.
My current thinking as to how this would work in its simplest form, is as follows.
1)? ? ? ****Start with scope in its vertical orientation at power-up as we do now.
2)? ? ? ****At initiation, scope would go to a lower altitude and take a picture
3)? ? ?****?Perform all-sky plate solve to determine first star alignment RA/DEC using the corresponding Elevation/Azimuth
4)? ? ? ****Slew to another part of sky (60-90 degrees away: of course, can’t be only in altitude)
5)? ? ? ****Perform all-sky plate solve to determine second star alignment RA/DEC using the corresponding Elevation/Azimuth
6)? ? ?****??Compute transformation matrix or quaternion to complete the 2-star alignment.
7)? ? ? ****Use Argo-Navis and Servocat as before
I know this won’t work today, but is it possible to plug in a computer that uses a windows app to do the missing operations and use Argo-Navis as just a planetarium????
I am guessing that the answer is probably no, as Servocat driver may have to be a hub (don’t know outside my knowledge base).? Also, as Argo-Navis was designed many years ago, may not have capability to communicate with an app using ASCOM?? Although, been seeing on forum, folks talking of ASCOM communication with Argo-Navis, but I am completely ignorant on this topic.
It may be that Argo-Navis needs to be treated as a planetarium program, and the computer/app replaces it?
If anyone is interested in further discussion on this topic or can answer some of my questions, I would appreciate it.
Thanks…Happy Holidays!
?
dave
?
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Conversion to a Smart Telescope
Hi Servocat forum!
I am asking for insight into the operation of Servocat, Argo-Navis and the new ASCOM driver.
My goal is to make my 20” dob with Servocat/encoders/Argo-Navis able to operate like the new smart telescopes.???
Questions
1)? ? ? ***Does Servocat or Argo-Navis require completion of star alignment, before go-to is allowed?
a)????? If Servocat, what does it require to get around that limitation?
b)????? If Argo-Navis, what does it require to get around that limitation?
2)? ? ? ***Where is the sky-to-scope transformation Matrix or quaternion computed: Servocat or Argo-Navis?? Guessing Argo-Navis?
I have written a windows app to control my astro-physics equatorial mount using ASCOM to move mount, focus, take a picture, perform plate solve, sync and then go to user defined RA/DEC.
Of course, this won’t work for this application, but I am somewhat knowledgeable with ASCOM and computer programming.
My current thinking as to how this would work in its simplest form, is as follows.
1)? ? ? ****Start with scope in its vertical orientation at power-up as we do now.
2)? ? ? ****At initiation, scope would go to a lower altitude and take a picture
3)? ? ?****?Perform all-sky plate solve to determine first star alignment RA/DEC using the corresponding Elevation/Azimuth
4)? ? ? ****Slew to another part of sky (60-90 degrees away: of course, can’t be only in altitude)
5)? ? ? ****Perform all-sky plate solve to determine second star alignment RA/DEC using the corresponding Elevation/Azimuth
6)? ? ?****??Compute transformation matrix or quaternion to complete the 2-star alignment.
7)? ? ? ****Use Argo-Navis and Servocat as before
I know this won’t work today, but is it possible to plug in a computer that uses a windows app to do the missing operations and use Argo-Navis as just a planetarium????
I am guessing that the answer is probably no, as Servocat driver may have to be a hub (don’t know outside my knowledge base).? Also, as Argo-Navis was designed many years ago, may not have capability to communicate with an app using ASCOM?? Although, been seeing on forum, folks talking of ASCOM communication with Argo-Navis, but I am completely ignorant on this topic.
It may be that Argo-Navis needs to be treated as a planetarium program, and the computer/app replaces it?
If anyone is interested in further discussion on this topic or can answer some of my questions, I would appreciate it.
Thanks…Happy Holidays!
?
dave
?
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Re: Nexus DSC and Argo Navis Encoders
Hello everybody,
I would like to give you some updates about what I have done over the last couple of nights. First of all I have to say thank you to Serge because he gave me the very last version of the Nexus DSC firmware so now it is possible to nicely connect
The StellarCat with the computer through the George Hilios Ascom driver, so not necessary to have the Argo Navis anymore.
Everything works well except of an important function I am looking for, which is to plate solve and go to automatically with the last version of SharpCap 4.1. ?Unfortunately I am not sure if it depends on the plate solve which is not correct
or if it depends on the command to the mount to reach the correct coordinates. I am going to try more extensively because I had not much time because I have to sleep for reasons related to my job.?
I just have a question. I would like to be sure what is the best format to insert coordinates and elevation in the Servocat settings. They are natively set to 0.
Thank you very much.?
Filippo
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Il giorno 18 dic 2023, alle ore 23:14, Paul Abel <pabel0418@...> ha scritto:
?Mike, thanks for your response to my inquiry.? It appears that you and I are in the same place.
George, I am very pleased to read that you are moving forward with your ASCOM driver.? I collected our emails from last year discussing the issues I noted and just sent the collection to your gmail address.? Also, I am hoping to be able to do an observing session
tonight and I will try your driver under my new setup (Sharpcap 4.1 and no more wireless com ports using VirtualHere) and let you know what I find out.? Like Mike, I am happy to keep working with you to knock all the bugs out of your excellent driver.
Paul
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Re: Nexus DSC and Argo Navis Encoders
Mike, thanks for your response to my inquiry.? It appears that you and I are in the same place.
George, I am very pleased to read that you are moving forward with your ASCOM driver.? I collected our emails from last year discussing the issues I noted and just sent the collection to your gmail address.? Also, I am hoping to be able to do an observing session tonight and I will try your driver under my new setup (Sharpcap 4.1 and no more wireless com ports using VirtualHere) and let you know what I find out.? Like Mike, I am happy to keep working with you to knock all the bugs out of your excellent driver.
Paul
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Re: Nexus DSC and Argo Navis Encoders
Hey all, I am looking forward to figuring out the last of the issues with the ascom driver. I am expecting to have some spare time over the holidays.
Paul, let's chat. I want to make sure I correctly remember the list.
On Mon, Dec 18, 2023, 12:08?PM Mickey Huffman via <finman42= [email protected]> wrote:
I am very hopeful Richard. My limited information and speculation is from multiple sources over time. The one thing I am sure of today that concerns my rig is that Astro Devices is in the process of doing an Ascom update so that the current versions of Nexus & Nexus pro will work with the ServoCat Gen 3. As for the other things I mentioned who knows when or where. The sooner the better, I have no preferences for any company and no axe to grind with anyone. The more and better astronomy moves affordably forward for us amateur's the better. I will be thrilled to not be bound by line of sight, a clicker and 150' through a window waiting for the object to center.
Mickey
On Monday, December 18, 2023 at 09:53:18 AM EST, Richard < rmille64@...> wrote:
Mickey,
I am delighted to hear that you have a plan to achieve remote control of your DOB!? I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do.
?
Richard
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Re: Nexus DSC and Argo Navis Encoders
I am very hopeful Richard. My limited information and speculation is from multiple sources over time. The one thing I am sure of today that concerns my rig is that Astro Devices is in the process of doing an Ascom update so that the current versions of Nexus & Nexus pro will work with the ServoCat Gen 3. As for the other things I mentioned who knows when or where. The sooner the better, I have no preferences for any company and no axe to grind with anyone. The more and better astronomy moves affordably forward for us amateur's the better. I will be thrilled to not be bound by line of sight, a clicker and 150' through a window waiting for the object to center.
Mickey
On Monday, December 18, 2023 at 09:53:18 AM EST, Richard <rmille64@...> wrote:
Mickey,
I am delighted to hear that you have a plan to achieve remote control of your DOB!? I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do.
?
Richard
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Re: Nexus DSC and Argo Navis Encoders
Mickey,
I am delighted to hear that you have a plan to achieve remote control of your DOB!? I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do.
?
Richard
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Re: Nexus DSC and Argo Navis Encoders
Mickey, Could you clarify this statement. “Also in the near future there is no plans for an Argo Nav (nexus killer) Astro Devices Nexus Pro killed that and as for the Servocat Gen 4, I wouldn't hold my breath to wait for it.” What do you base this on? Yesterday I also sent Serge some information on what I think is a bug(privately). We will see what he does with it. The next generation of DTCs will be based on plate solving. So, in MHO the controllers based solely on encoder will be phased out. Bob ? ?
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From: [email protected] < [email protected]> On Behalf Of Mickey Huffman via groups.io Sent: Monday, December 18, 2023 5:17 AM To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [ServoCAT] Nexus DSC and Argo Navis Encoders ? Hello everyone who is wanting to to know what to do about using ascom drivers with the Nexus/Nexus Pro DSC. I had a long conversation yesterday afternoon with Serge (owner Astro Devices). Thanks to all the email chatter the last few days about this (which I forwarded to Serge) he will have an update by the end of the month to use George's ascom driver with the Nexus which will solve the issue. ? Also in the near future there is no plans for an Argo Nav (nexus killer) Astro Devices Nexus Pro killed that and as for the Servocat Gen 4, I wouldn't hold my breath to wait for it. ? ? Paul, ? I am using Peter’s 32bit ASCOM driver.? ? Richard ? ? As Bob mentions above, I had to replace my Nexus DSC with the Argo Navis in order to control my Dob with either ASCOM driver.? My scope has the 40k step encoders and I can confirm that the AN works just fine with those encoders.? There is a special setting in the AN to allow it to work with 40k encoders, I don't remember what it is but it is explained quite clearly in the AN user guide.
By the way, for the other people reporting using the ServoCat ASCOM driver, which driver are you using -- Peter's or George's?? I was beta testing George's driver for him and in the last version I got from him, the scope moved in the wrong direction when I did a Plate Solve/Sync/Center in SharpCap 4.0 (Sharpcap 4.0 was not able to move the scope at all after a Platesolve/Sync/Center with Peter's driver).? Now that I have upgraded to SharpCap 4.1, Peter's driver appears to work correctly -- SharpCap 4.1 is able to move the scope in the right direction after a Platesolve/Sync/center.? I have not yet gotten around to testing George's driver in SharpCap 4.1.? I would be interested in learning about the experiences of the other ASCOM users.
Paul
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Re: Nexus DSC and Argo Navis Encoders
Paul, I had been helping beta test George’s new Servocat driver and had the exact same problems as you with his latest version (I think 0.8). I too noticed that Peter’s Servocat driver now works as expected with latest Sharpcap release. I do really prefer the feature-rich version of George’s driver and look forward to continued troubleshooting with him. Mike
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On Dec 17, 2023, at 5:40?PM, Paul Abel <pabel0418@...> wrote:
?As Bob mentions above, I had to replace my Nexus DSC with the Argo Navis in order to control my Dob with either ASCOM driver.? My scope has the 40k step encoders and I can confirm that the AN works just fine with those encoders.? There is a special setting in the AN to allow it to work with 40k encoders, I don't remember what it is but it is explained quite clearly in the AN user guide.
By the way, for the other people reporting using the ServoCat ASCOM driver, which driver are you using -- Peter's or George's?? I was beta testing George's driver for him and in the last version I got from him, the scope moved in the wrong direction when I did a Plate Solve/Sync/Center in SharpCap 4.0 (Sharpcap 4.0 was not able to move the scope at all after a Platesolve/Sync/Center with Peter's driver).? Now that I have upgraded to SharpCap 4.1, Peter's driver appears to work correctly -- SharpCap 4.1 is able to move the scope in the right direction after a Platesolve/Sync/center.? I have not yet gotten around to testing George's driver in SharpCap 4.1.? I would be interested in learning about the experiences of the other ASCOM users.
Paul
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Re: Nexus DSC and Argo Navis Encoders
Hello everyone who is wanting to to know what to do about using ascom drivers with the Nexus/Nexus Pro DSC. I had a long conversation yesterday afternoon with Serge (owner Astro Devices). Thanks to all the email chatter the last few days about this (which I forwarded to Serge) he will have an update by the end of the month to use George's ascom driver with the Nexus which will solve the issue. ? Also in the near future there is no plans for an Argo Nav (nexus killer) Astro Devices Nexus Pro killed that and as for the Servocat Gen 4, I wouldn't hold my breath to wait for it.
Mickey?
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On Dec 17, 2023, at 6:30?PM, Richard <rmille64@...> wrote:
? Paul, ? I am using Peter’s 32bit ASCOM driver.? ? Richard ? ? As Bob mentions above, I had to replace my Nexus DSC with the Argo Navis in order to control my Dob with either ASCOM driver.? My scope has the 40k step encoders and I can confirm that the AN works just fine with those encoders.? There is a special setting in the AN to allow it to work with 40k encoders, I don't remember what it is but it is explained quite clearly in the AN user guide.
By the way, for the other people reporting using the ServoCat ASCOM driver, which driver are you using -- Peter's or George's?? I was beta testing George's driver for him and in the last version I got from him, the scope moved in the wrong direction when I did a Plate Solve/Sync/Center in SharpCap 4.0 (Sharpcap 4.0 was not able to move the scope at all after a Platesolve/Sync/Center with Peter's driver).? Now that I have upgraded to SharpCap 4.1, Peter's driver appears to work correctly -- SharpCap 4.1 is able to move the scope in the right direction after a Platesolve/Sync/center.? I have not yet gotten around to testing George's driver in SharpCap 4.1.? I would be interested in learning about the experiences of the other ASCOM users.
Paul
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Re: Nexus DSC and Argo Navis Encoders
Paul, ? I am using Peter’s 32bit ASCOM driver.? ? Richard ?
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From: [email protected] < [email protected]> On Behalf Of Paul Abel Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2023 5:41 PM To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [ServoCAT] Nexus DSC and Argo Navis Encoders ? As Bob mentions above, I had to replace my Nexus DSC with the Argo Navis in order to control my Dob with either ASCOM driver.? My scope has the 40k step encoders and I can confirm that the AN works just fine with those encoders.? There is a special setting in the AN to allow it to work with 40k encoders, I don't remember what it is but it is explained quite clearly in the AN user guide.
By the way, for the other people reporting using the ServoCat ASCOM driver, which driver are you using -- Peter's or George's?? I was beta testing George's driver for him and in the last version I got from him, the scope moved in the wrong direction when I did a Plate Solve/Sync/Center in SharpCap 4.0 (Sharpcap 4.0 was not able to move the scope at all after a Platesolve/Sync/Center with Peter's driver).? Now that I have upgraded to SharpCap 4.1, Peter's driver appears to work correctly -- SharpCap 4.1 is able to move the scope in the right direction after a Platesolve/Sync/center.? I have not yet gotten around to testing George's driver in SharpCap 4.1.? I would be interested in learning about the experiences of the other ASCOM users.
Paul
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Re: Nexus DSC and Argo Navis Encoders
As Bob mentions above, I had to replace my Nexus DSC with the Argo Navis in order to control my Dob with either ASCOM driver.? My scope has the 40k step encoders and I can confirm that the AN works just fine with those encoders.? There is a special setting in the AN to allow it to work with 40k encoders, I don't remember what it is but it is explained quite clearly in the AN user guide.
By the way, for the other people reporting using the ServoCat ASCOM driver, which driver are you using -- Peter's or George's?? I was beta testing George's driver for him and in the last version I got from him, the scope moved in the wrong direction when I did a Plate Solve/Sync/Center in SharpCap 4.0 (Sharpcap 4.0 was not able to move the scope at all after a Platesolve/Sync/Center with Peter's driver).? Now that I have upgraded to SharpCap 4.1, Peter's driver appears to work correctly -- SharpCap 4.1 is able to move the scope in the right direction after a Platesolve/Sync/center.? I have not yet gotten around to testing George's driver in SharpCap 4.1.? I would be interested in learning about the experiences of the other ASCOM users.
Paul
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Re: Nexus DSC and Argo Navis Encoders
Hello Filippo,
I have emailed you a new firmware for Nexus DSC that should solve your problems using the ASCOM driver for ServoCAT written by George Hilios.
Best Regards, Serge Antonov, Astro Devices.
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On 17 Dec 2023, at 8:48 pm, Filippo Scopelliti <filiscoop@...> wrote:
Hello everybody,
it seem that there is no way to let me control via Ascom my SC/Nexus DSC (not pro). People that can do that they use Argo Navis. It is OK for me to replace my Nexus with the Argo Navis to control the system with Ascom but in my current system I have the 40.000 steps encoder. If I replace my Nexus with the Argo Navis is it necessary to change the encoders also?
Thank you for your help.
Filippo
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Re: Backlash which is probably not backlash :)
Filippo,
If the wheel moves snd the structure does not you must have a problem. ?That was the same symptom I had when I discovered the broken gear. ?The wheel would move and not turn the shaft it was mounted on. ?I confirmed the gear would turn and the brass wheel (and the steel shaft) would not turn. ?I exaggerated the problem when i over tightened the set screws. ?I must have had multiple degrees of backlash before i noticed cracks in my gear. ?Please confirm that both the gear and the brass wheel move at the same time.
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Re: Making mosaics with the aid of the ServoCAT ASCOM virtual hand pad
Thank you Richard in fact a gigantic thank you. Now I can moved forward because I'm another ServoCat email chain it seems that the 40k DSC work with either Argo or Nexus. I will be leaning on you in the near future.
Thanks again
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On Dec 17, 2023, at 9:03?AM, Richard <rmille64@...> wrote:
?Mickey,
i think your suspicion is correct. ?The combination of the Argo Navis + ServoCAT + the ASCOM driver enables the connection. ?When I load Stellarium the ASCOM virtual hand pad then loads automatically. Stellarium then places a fudical type cursor overlay on the map indicating where the scope is pointing. ?Argo Navis is the source of information that is fed to Stellarium via the ServoCAT ASCOM driver.
I am guessing you need Argo Navis.
Richard
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Re: Making mosaics with the aid of the ServoCAT ASCOM virtual hand pad
Mickey,
i think your suspicion is correct. ?The combination of the Argo Navis + ServoCAT + the ASCOM driver enables the connection. ?When I load Stellarium the ASCOM virtual hand pad then loads automatically. Stellarium then places a fudical type cursor overlay on the map indicating where the scope is pointing. ?Argo Navis is the source of information that is fed to Stellarium via the ServoCAT ASCOM driver.
I am guessing you need Argo Navis.
Richard
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Re: Nexus DSC and Argo Navis Encoders
Filippo, The Argo Navis will work fine with 40K encoders. My scope has 40K encoder and I have both the Nexus and Argo Navis. I regularly switch between them. I no longer have a Servocat so I can’t test the driver myself. There was a thread with Paul Abel a while back concerning the ServoCat driver and the Nexus. What it came down to that Paul finally broke down and bought an Argo Navis to control his scope and the ServoCat driver works well with Argo Navis. He is doing astrophotography. He showed me some of his photos a few days ago. If you get the Argo, check to see if you still get the delay when changing directions. That has me interested. I am doing a project the involves using the RS232 ports. On the Argo Navis comms work well. On the Nexus there are some communication problems when using the actual RS232 on the Nexus. The USB>Serial seems at this point to work fine. Just throwing that out there in case anyone want to investigate. Bob ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Filippo Scopelliti
Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2023 2:48 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [ServoCAT] Nexus DSC and Argo Navis Encoders? Hello everybody,
it seem that there is no way to let me control via Ascom my SC/Nexus DSC (not pro). People that can do that they use Argo Navis. It is OK for me to replace my Nexus with the Argo Navis to control the system with Ascom but in my current system I have the 40.000 steps encoder. If I replace my Nexus with the Argo Navis is it necessary to change the encoders also?
Thank you for your help.
Filippo
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Re: Making mosaics with the aid of the ServoCAT ASCOM virtual hand pad
Hello Richard, are you able to use the ascom driver in servocat because you have the Argo Nav and not the Nexus? If this is not the case please describe how you are connecting to the Ascom driver in the ServoCat Gen 3. You know I have been trying to figure this out.?
Thank you
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On Dec 16, 2023, at 9:23?PM, Richard <rmille64@...> wrote:
?Hi all, My Obsession UC18 telescope is able to be remote controlled via the ASCOM driver for the ServoCAT. For mosaics of large objects (>5x my field of view) I use the virtual hand pad of the ASCOM driver to bump over to the next part of the target (by about a half of the field of view to provide overlap from one frame to the next). The Rosette required 30 or so frames (and I still need more) using my Mallincam DS10cTEC camera. I really enjoy my ServoCAT gen3 and the ASCOM driver remote control of my DOB. <Rosette4.jpg> Richard
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Nexus DSC and Argo Navis Encoders
Hello everybody,
it seem that there is no way to let me control via Ascom my SC/Nexus DSC (not pro). People that can do that they use Argo Navis. It is OK for me to replace my Nexus with the Argo Navis to control the system with Ascom but in my current system I have the 40.000 steps encoder. If I replace my Nexus with the Argo Navis is it necessary to change the encoders also?
Thank you for your help.
Filippo
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Backlash which is probably not backlash :)
Hello Gary and everybody,
I would like to ask a question about a problem I described in the past.
I tried to optimize my system for astrophotography. I recognized some backlash in my system. Gary gave me some very important advices so the problem is less important than before but there still is something wrong. The gears have no backlash and also the reductions, in my opinion they work well. When the system is still and I try to move the shaft with my hands everything seems strong with a very small amount of backlash, absolutely acceptable, so I could not explain the reason why when at low speed I change the direction, I have to wait 15 or more seconds to see a changing in the directions. The .dat file has been updated as Gary told me so the problem does not depend on it. I have a theory and I want to share it with you.
I show you a video (please let me know if you can see it properly). When I change direction (here is at high speed) the gear moves in the other direction quite quickly with a very small amount of backlash. The problem is that even if the gear starts to move in the opposite direction the structure starts to move after a certain amount of time. This “angle” when the roller rotates but the structure is still, is the reason that let me wait several seconds before I see in the ocular or in the camera the movement. In the video the roller starts to rotate in the opposite direction but the telescope starts after a while. I really don’t know what is the reason of that but in my opinion this is something that I believed was backlash of the gears, but actually it is not. Probably it depends on my structure. There is a sort of delay between the movement of the roller and the action on the structure. What do you think about it?
Thank you for your help.
Have a good day.?
Filippo
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Filippo Scopelliti
bobrose500
Mike