Bill,
How can we do this during the day?
Yea, can point the scope randomly in the sky. Set slew speed high, stop set slew peed to slow. But would be able to hear the motor running? When at the slow speed?
Or is there something else to watch for in the daylight?
?
Steve
On 02/01/2025 1:03 PM CST Bill Conrad <bill@...> wrote:
?
?
If you are near the telescope then do the testing ASAP. No need to wait for dark.
BC
On 2/1/2025 12:45 PM, Steve Goldberg via groups.io wrote:
Thanks Bill.
?
We didn't notice which direction it was drifting.
?
Today we'll try unplug / plug in all the cables to clean them. We don't have the Deoxit with us here. We may find some at a WalMart or hardware store near by.
?
We do plan to be here (Houston Astronomical Society Dark Site) for another 2 nights.
?
And a correction: She has Gen 2, the hand controller has the slide switch for the slew speed. I have the Gen 3 on my scope.
?
I'll let you know what we find out after tonight.
?
Steve Goldberg
On 02/01/2025 11:11 AM CST Bill Conrad <bill@...> wrote:
?
?
Hi Steve:
Which axis is running away?
The runaway indicates a disconnect of the motor encoder to the ServoCAT box.
1. It could be a broken cable - the lighter weight 4P4C cable between the motor and the ServoCAT box.
2. It could be dirty or corroded contacts at either end of the encoder cable.
3. It could be a failure on the circuit board mounted on the motor.
To test:
1. Dis-engage the latch for the problem axis.
2. Unplug and plug each end of the encoder cable (to clean the contacts).
3. Try running the motor for that axis using the hand-controller again.
If it is just dirty contacts, you may want to try using some Deoxit. If you do this be sure to allow it to dry before applying power again.
In the worst case - if your motor board is failed - you can return the motor/gearbox assembly to me and I can replace the board ($49.00).
Regards
BC
On 2/1/2025 11:31 AM, Steve Goldberg via groups.io wrote:
Hi,
We, well my wife Amelia, has a 15" Obsession with ServoCat (believe Gen 3) and Argo Navis.
Last night she did a GoTO to an object. No problem.
The object was slightly off center so she pressed one of the buttons to center. But the scope kept moving, faster than just tracking. Only way to stop was 3-button, which it did. Then pressing another button for 2+ seconds, the scope picked up continued to move again at the same rate.
?
We couldn't get it out of that mode. It was late, we were tired so just pulled the power to the scope, covered and shut down.
?
Any thoughts on how to stop this from happening again?
Thanks
Steve Goldberg
|
Gary and Bill,
You are making us think back a couple of hours after we have slept. ;)
?
This was the first GOTO of the night. The object was not in the field, too much power eyepiece. Changed to a lower power, then pushed a button to move the scope. She claimed it was moving too fast. So I moved the "speed button" down to the slower speed. She then pushed another button and the scope kept going at the same slower speed, Did the 3-button stop. Pressed a button for 2 seconds or more to reset, and when taking finger off the button the scope kept moving. We did several times.
?
Gary, you asked about the speed of the movement. The speed was the same as the last slew speed? button push. Don't think it was accelerating, we didn't let run that long to see.
?
That is where were stopped for the night.
?
Steve & Amelia
On 02/01/2025 1:19 PM CST K9RX - Gary via groups.io <amateurk9rx@...> wrote:
?
?
Hi Steve and Amelia,?
?
Questions for you... you said Amelia did a GOTO and had no issue... was that the first GOTO or was that later in the session (you mention you were tired indicating possibly it had been working for a while)??
?
When you say "the scope kept moving, faster than tracking" ... did it appear to accelerate to a stable speed - then continue at a (stable) speed OR did it continue to speed up going much faster than the SLEW rate (rate you'd see when doing a GOTO)??
?
Try unplugging the DSC cable from the front of the ServoCAT --- then see if the HC can control the scope for slewing. Push the button - does it accelerate up to speed, go at a constant speed as long as you are holding a button, then decelerate to a stop when you let go of the button??
?
Does it operate in JOG speed the same, only slower overall??
?
If the motor encoder were not being seen the motor would, due to lack of feedback from its encoder, speed up VERY fast with no perceptible acceleration and it would not stop with a 3 button stop (it MIGHT stop ?- but rarely and only randomly - and it would start up again pretty fast).?
?
Gary?
|
Hi Steve and Amelia,?
?
Questions for you... you said Amelia did a GOTO and had no issue... was that the first GOTO or was that later in the session (you mention you were tired indicating possibly it had been working for a while)??
?
When you say "the scope kept moving, faster than tracking" ... did it appear to accelerate to a stable speed - then continue at a (stable) speed OR did it continue to speed up going much faster than the SLEW rate (rate you'd see when doing a GOTO)??
?
Try unplugging the DSC cable from the front of the ServoCAT --- then see if the HC can control the scope for slewing. Push the button - does it accelerate up to speed, go at a constant speed as long as you are holding a button, then decelerate to a stop when you let go of the button??
?
Does it operate in JOG speed the same, only slower overall??
?
If the motor encoder were not being seen the motor would, due to lack of feedback from its encoder, speed up VERY fast with no perceptible acceleration and it would not stop with a 3 button stop (it MIGHT stop ?- but rarely and only randomly - and it would start up again pretty fast).?
?
Gary?
|
If you are near the telescope then do
the testing ASAP. No need to wait for dark.
BC
On 2/1/2025 12:45 PM, Steve Goldberg via groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Thanks
Bill.
?
We didn't
notice which direction it was drifting.
?
Today
we'll try unplug / plug in all the cables to clean them. We
don't have the Deoxit with us here. We may find some at a
WalMart or hardware store near by.
?
We do
plan to be here (Houston Astronomical Society Dark Site) for
another 2 nights.
?
And a
correction: She has Gen 2, the hand controller has the slide
switch for the slew speed. I have the Gen 3 on my scope.
?
I'll let
you know what we find out after tonight.
?
Steve
Goldberg
On 02/01/2025 11:11 AM CST Bill Conrad
<bill@...> wrote: ?
?
Hi Steve:
Which axis is running away?
The runaway indicates a disconnect of the motor encoder to the
ServoCAT box.
1. It could be a broken cable - the lighter weight 4P4C cable
between the motor and the ServoCAT box.
2. It could be dirty or corroded contacts at either end of the
encoder cable.
3. It could be a failure on the circuit board mounted on the
motor.
To test:
1. Dis-engage the latch for the problem axis.
2. Unplug and plug each end of the encoder cable (to clean the
contacts).
3. Try running the motor for that axis using the
hand-controller again.
If it is just dirty contacts, you may want to try using some
Deoxit. If you do this be sure to allow it to dry before
applying power again.
In the worst case - if your motor board is failed - you can
return the motor/gearbox assembly to me and I can replace the
board ($49.00).
Regards
BC
On 2/1/2025 11:31 AM, Steve Goldberg via groups.io wrote:
Hi,
We,
well my wife Amelia, has a 15" Obsession with ServoCat
(believe Gen 3) and Argo Navis.
Last
night she did a GoTO to an object. No problem.
The
object was slightly off center so she pressed one of the
buttons to center. But the scope kept moving, faster than
just tracking. Only way to stop was 3-button, which it
did. Then pressing another button for 2+ seconds, the
scope picked up continued to move again at the same rate.
?
We
couldn't get it out of that mode. It was late, we were
tired so just pulled the power to the scope, covered and
shut down.
?
Any
thoughts on how to stop this from happening again?
Thanks
Steve
Goldberg
|
Thanks Bill.
?
We didn't notice which direction it was drifting.
?
Today we'll try unplug / plug in all the cables to clean them. We don't have the Deoxit with us here. We may find some at a WalMart or hardware store near by.
?
We do plan to be here (Houston Astronomical Society Dark Site) for another 2 nights.
?
And a correction: She has Gen 2, the hand controller has the slide switch for the slew speed. I have the Gen 3 on my scope.
?
I'll let you know what we find out after tonight.
?
Steve Goldberg
On 02/01/2025 11:11 AM CST Bill Conrad <bill@...> wrote:
?
?
Hi Steve:
Which axis is running away?
The runaway indicates a disconnect of the motor encoder to the ServoCAT box.
1. It could be a broken cable - the lighter weight 4P4C cable between the motor and the ServoCAT box.
2. It could be dirty or corroded contacts at either end of the encoder cable.
3. It could be a failure on the circuit board mounted on the motor.
To test:
1. Dis-engage the latch for the problem axis.
2. Unplug and plug each end of the encoder cable (to clean the contacts).
3. Try running the motor for that axis using the hand-controller again.
If it is just dirty contacts, you may want to try using some Deoxit. If you do this be sure to allow it to dry before applying power again.
In the worst case - if your motor board is failed - you can return the motor/gearbox assembly to me and I can replace the board ($49.00).
Regards
BC
On 2/1/2025 11:31 AM, Steve Goldberg via groups.io wrote:
Hi,
We, well my wife Amelia, has a 15" Obsession with ServoCat (believe Gen 3) and Argo Navis.
Last night she did a GoTO to an object. No problem.
The object was slightly off center so she pressed one of the buttons to center. But the scope kept moving, faster than just tracking. Only way to stop was 3-button, which it did. Then pressing another button for 2+ seconds, the scope picked up continued to move again at the same rate.
?
We couldn't get it out of that mode. It was late, we were tired so just pulled the power to the scope, covered and shut down.
?
Any thoughts on how to stop this from happening again?
Thanks
Steve Goldberg
|
Hi Steve:
Which axis is running away?
The runaway indicates a disconnect of the motor encoder to the
ServoCAT box.
1. It could be a broken cable - the lighter weight 4P4C cable
between the motor and the ServoCAT box.
2. It could be dirty or corroded contacts at either end of the
encoder cable.
3. It could be a failure on the circuit board mounted on the
motor.
To test:
1. Dis-engage the latch for the problem axis.
2. Unplug and plug each end of the encoder cable (to clean the
contacts).
3. Try running the motor for that axis using the hand-controller
again.
If it is just dirty contacts, you may want to try using some
Deoxit. If you do this be sure to allow it to dry before applying
power again.
In the worst case - if your motor board is failed - you can return
the motor/gearbox assembly to me and I can replace the board
($49.00).
Regards
BC
On 2/1/2025 11:31 AM, Steve Goldberg via groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Hi,
We, well
my wife Amelia, has a 15" Obsession with ServoCat (believe Gen
3) and Argo Navis.
Last
night she did a GoTO to an object. No problem.
The
object was slightly off center so she pressed one of the
buttons to center. But the scope kept moving, faster than just
tracking. Only way to stop was 3-button, which it did. Then
pressing another button for 2+ seconds, the scope picked up
continued to move again at the same rate.
?
We
couldn't get it out of that mode. It was late, we were tired
so just pulled the power to the scope, covered and shut down.
?
Any
thoughts on how to stop this from happening again?
Thanks
Steve
Goldberg
|
Hi,
We, well my wife Amelia, has a 15" Obsession with ServoCat (believe Gen 3) and Argo Navis.
Last night she did a GoTO to an object. No problem.
The object was slightly off center so she pressed one of the buttons to center. But the scope kept moving, faster than just tracking. Only way to stop was 3-button, which it did. Then pressing another button for 2+ seconds, the scope picked up continued to move again at the same rate.
?
We couldn't get it out of that mode. It was late, we were tired so just pulled the power to the scope, covered and shut down.
?
Any thoughts on how to stop this from happening again?
Thanks
Steve Goldberg
|
Re: Pegasus SmartEye Camera
Maybe the views thru it will be similar to night vision ??
|
Re: Auto lock and imaging
Thanks Gary I think I understand now and appreciate the explanation. I am very interested in following your ST4 attempts. Please keep us updated once you have a process and settings that seem to work for that.
?
Mike
|
Re: Auto lock and imaging
Hi Mike,?
That was me. Here's the issue. When you do an alignment any errors caused by the user, not having the object perfectly centered for example plus mount errors, non-orthogonality in one or more planes, things like that WILL cause the 'model' to be incorrect. So although the ServoCAT will do a GOTO to where it is told to go and it will track according to the data provided to it - the path that is followed is not going to be necessarily accurate over time.?
What AutoLOCK does is it a) allows the user to set a new reference center point - say you're looking at M13... and the Argo knows this (it afterall is the only part of the system that 'knows' this)... and you do a GOTO. The object is slightly off center even though the GUIDE values read 0.00, 0.00 (or very close to that)... you center it using the HC. This HC action will tell the system to "reset" the center point FOR this object at that location in the sky as provided by the encoders on the telescope.?
If AutoLOCK is on any 'error' values that the AN sees in GUIDE values will be, through a closed loop correction system between the ServoCAT and the Argo Navis, driven to 0. So the AN will show GUIDE values that stay the same (remember that the encoders are incremental and thus there is always a non-actual drift or apparent drift in the numbers caused by the fact that the encoders are incremental). So if for example you recenter the object and the GUIDE values show 0.03> and 0.01^? .... these numbers will stay the same as it corrects to this position.?
That actually works extremely well - I dare say perfectly. As I've stated from the get-go?:?tracking ALL-NIGHT-LONG with zero accumulated error. This is true.?
But now we're back to the 'model' issue. The fact of the matter is is because of unresolved errors (mount, user) the object will still drift over time - but the drift will be much less. [also because of field rotation the object might rotate to a different place in the eyepiece view]
So - in theory this will help for imaging as well. And it does. But for the reason described above its not an be all to end all.?
I have been playing with adding a guide scope and using the ST4 system to control the scope for gross errors. I did this to cancel larger errors causing imaging to lose the ability to go longer because the object is pushed to one side... this is ongoing. This, I don't believe, will be compatible with AutoLOCK because I honestly don't remember considering it when designing and implementing AutoLOCK. So I don't think the inputs from the ST4 're-center' (and thus start from 0 reference) the object location. If not it will always be driven back to where it was 'locked' to begin with.?
Hope that helps.?
Gary?
------ Original Message ------
Date 1/28/2025 3:33:44 PM
Subject [ServoCAT] Auto lock and imaging
I thought I remember a post from someone that indicated not to use Autolock when imaging? Can anyone confirm whether that is true? I am tracking and live stacking in sharp cap and just wondering if Autolock is a factor or not¡
?
Mike
|
I thought I remember a post from someone that indicated not to use Autolock when imaging? Can anyone confirm whether that is true? I am tracking and live stacking in sharp cap and just wondering if Autolock is a factor or not¡
?
Mike
|
Re: Pegasus SmartEye Camera
Mike,
I too am looking forward to reviews. This might be the holy grail for using a tracking dob - being able to get benefits of a stacked image using a very sensitive, low read noise, camera. I thought about preordering one but then thought I'd wait for the reviews. HOPEFULLY it is relatively bug free from the get-go since it was announced almost a year ago and has been in development since then. Also the fact that they've teamed up with the people that make Sky Safari sounds promising.
Gary Myers StellarCAT
------ Original Message ------
Date 1/28/2025 1:24:24 PM
Subject [ServoCAT] Pegasus SmartEye Camera
I would be interested in getting your opinion of the Pegasus SmartEye camera to be released this Spring. ? The image can viewed with an iPad but would function as and used as an eyepiece. ?Because it could function as an eyepiece, ?it would give the viewer the experience of looking through a lens and not viewing a monitor - used during outreach would provide a more classic experience of looking into an eyepiece. ?The FOV when used with a DOB would depend on FL ?of the scope and the focal reducer (if used). ?It will be interesting to read users reviews when it released and hopefully if used by those with a DOB on a tracking ALT - AZ mount. ?It is currently priced at $1600!
?
Mike
|
I would be interested in getting your opinion of the Pegasus SmartEye camera to be released this Spring. ? The image can viewed with an iPad but would function as and used as an eyepiece. ?Because it could function as an eyepiece, ?it would give the viewer the experience of looking through a lens and not viewing a monitor - used during outreach would provide a more classic experience of looking into an eyepiece. ?The FOV when used with a DOB would depend on FL ?of the scope and the focal reducer (if used). ?It will be interesting to read users reviews when it released and hopefully if used by those with a DOB on a tracking ALT - AZ mount. ?It is currently priced at $1600!
?
Mike
|
Re: Starstructure/Servocat/Nexus Astro images since 5/12-24
|
Re: Starstructure/Servocat/Nexus Astro images since 5/12-24
That is why I gave you seti astro as the great alternative. Your laptop will work just fine with Seti Astro, it is fast and will work with whatever graphics card you have. Besides it is free so give it a try.
Mickey
My Laptop can't handle Neural networks but after i upgrade i could begin using SETI Astro since BXT only works with Pixinsight, or at least not with Siril yet. GraXpert is in the early stages of it?s own AI deconvolution tool, that will be interesting to follow as well!
?
/Gabriel
|
Re: Starstructure/Servocat/Nexus Astro images since 5/12-24
My Laptop can't handle Neural networks but after i upgrade i could begin using SETI Astro since BXT only works with Pixinsight, or at least not with Siril yet. GraXpert is in the early stages of it?s own AI deconvolution tool, that will be interesting to follow as well!
?
/Gabriel
|
Re: Starstructure/Servocat/Nexus Astro images since 5/12-24
Gabriel , do you own RC Astro's Blur Exterminator? Cost about 100 US dollars or If you download the SETI Astro Suite which is free and works very very well then click on Cosmic Clarity. Both Blur Exterminator and Cosmic Clarity are AI deconbolution sharpening and more tools which will take care of all those issues, period. Those are why my stats are basically perfect every time when the original image shows bloated out of round stars.
Mickey
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Jan 27, 2025, at 4:22?PM, Gabriel Wiklund via groups.io <gabriel.wiklundholeshot@...> wrote:
? Thank you Gary!
?
Some of it in some of the images could be low altitude and high humidity but the main reason is because i use even weighted luminance when stretching the images in Siril, for the simple reason that i have not found any other way to bring out color in Siril, regular stretching and increasing saturation does not bring out much information.
?
However when bringing out the color in Pixinsight it is not necessary to use? General Hyperbolic Stretch and even weighted luminance, i don?t even know if even weighted luminance exists in PI.
?
I was on the Pixinsight trial which has now ended and i have not purchased it yet. In fact no image from the 30" has been inside Pixinsight.
?
With that said, i could be wrong..there is a small possibility it is due to the Explore Scientific HR Coma Corrector, but i have searched and according to forums it does not have any chromatic aberration...
?
I am glad you brought this up since i would prefer to not purchase Pixinsight...
?
/Gabriel
|
Re: Starstructure/Servocat/Nexus Astro images since 5/12-24
Thank you Gary!
?
Some of it in some of the images could be low altitude and high humidity but the main reason is because i use even weighted luminance when stretching the images in Siril, for the simple reason that i have not found any other way to bring out color in Siril, regular stretching and increasing saturation does not bring out much information.
?
However when bringing out the color in Pixinsight it is not necessary to use? General Hyperbolic Stretch and even weighted luminance, i don?t even know if even weighted luminance exists in PI.
?
I was on the Pixinsight trial which has now ended and i have not purchased it yet. In fact no image from the 30" has been inside Pixinsight.
?
With that said, i could be wrong..there is a small possibility it is due to the Explore Scientific HR Coma Corrector, but i have searched and according to forums it does not have any chromatic aberration...
?
I am glad you brought this up since i would prefer to not purchase Pixinsight...
?
/Gabriel
|
Re: Starstructure/Servocat/Nexus Astro images since 5/12-24
These are all great images Gabriel.?
Thanks for posting.?
Its interesting however that they all suffer from a bit of chromatic aberration. Either they were all low to the horizon in which case refraction would have been different at different wavelengths ... or the camera used - lens? Not sure.?
Gary?
------ Original Message ------
Date 1/27/2025 12:40:08 PM
Subject [ServoCAT] Starstructure/Servocat/Nexus Astro images since 5/12-24
Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
?
Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
?
Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
?
Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
?
Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
?
Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
?
?
Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
?
?
Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
?
Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
?
?
NGC 3945: 204x13s (44 minutes).
Not uploaded anywhere, but same equipment as all of the above which is the following:
?
Camera:
Nikon D5300 DSLR (IMX193 sensor, same as QHY 247C Cooled Astrocam)?
Fullwell 39k
Read noise @ ISO 1600: 2.05e
QE: 55%
Pixelsize: 3.92
?
System:
Starstructure/Lockwood 30" f/3.4 (f/3.6 with cc)
Stellarcat ServoCat (gear ratios set carefully with test in manual)
Nexus DSC Pro
ZWO EAF
Explore Scientific HR Coma Corrector
?
Controlled remotely using the latest Meade Generic driver in NINA.?
?
/Gabriel
?
|
Starstructure/Servocat/Nexus Astro images since 5/12-24
Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
?
Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
?
Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
?
Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
?
Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
?
Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
?
?
Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
?
?
Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
?
Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
?
?
NGC 3945: 204x13s (44 minutes).
Not uploaded anywhere, but same equipment as all of the above which is the following:
?
Camera:
Nikon D5300 DSLR (IMX193 sensor, same as QHY 247C Cooled Astrocam)?
Fullwell 39k
Read noise @ ISO 1600: 2.05e
QE: 55%
Pixelsize: 3.92
?
System:
Starstructure/Lockwood 30" f/3.4 (f/3.6 with cc)
Stellarcat ServoCat (gear ratios set carefully with test in manual)
Nexus DSC Pro
ZWO EAF
Explore Scientific HR Coma Corrector
?
Controlled remotely using the latest Meade Generic driver in NINA.?
?
/Gabriel
?
|
Mike
Gabriel Wiklund