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Re: Initiate tracking without 2 star alignment?
Hi Gary,
Thanks for the directions. ?AN and SC have been great additions to my very durable 15¡± Obsession. ?With those additions I now have a telescope on steroids - I should add the stalk made by Charles Stark has made these additions ¡°plug and play¡±. ?For example, 2 nights ago after my 2 star alignment of Polaris and Altair using a cross hair eyepiece to minimize pointing errors, and linking to SkySafari on my iPAD, for the next 2 hours I slewed to about 10 targets in several constellations all of which were in the FOV only requiring minimal adjusting to center the target. ?Finding a target under urban skies when a limited number of stars are visible from which to star hop to your target is truly a luxury. Mike |
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Re: No GoTo in southern part of sky
hmmm... that is odd.... drop me a line, direct please techsupport@... and let me know when you're back. g. ------ Original Message ------
From "Doug Brown" <ddbrown4565@...>
Date 9/3/2022 4:28:03 PM
Subject Re: [ServoCAT] No GoTo in southern part of sky
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Re: No GoTo in southern part of sky
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýGary, still no luck on the docs. We are in the northern
part of Wisconsin and high speed internet has only recently arrived so maybe
there is a problem at my end.? Maybe you could resend at a later date when
we are back in Indy.? Really appreciate your quick responses.? Looking
forward to the upgraded ServoCat.
?
Doug
From: K9RX - Gary
Sent: Saturday, September 3, 2022 7:40 AM
Subject: Re: [ServoCAT] No GoTo in southern part of
sky Also note it along with all documentation is on our supplied CD.? Gary Myers StellarCAT |
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Re: Initiate tracking without 2 star alignment?
Hey Mike! Long time no hear ... I hope you are doing well.? So - you can use EasyTrack. But that too involves alignment (the NCP).? The best way is to have it set up the night before - if possible. If you are out for several nights if you just leave the AN aligned from the first night - and on - you can continue to do things like daytime finding of Venus (CAUTION re the SUN!) - possibly Jupiter(?).? Otherwise indeed you can do a daytime alignment. I have a procedure to do this - detailed below.? Before you do this you have to
-make sure the encoder signs are correct on the Argo Navis -make sure the encoders are reading properly on the Argo Navis (go to MODE ENCODER, enter, move scope around and confirm encoders always change as you are moving, especially in ALT where it is more often an issue)
-have programmed your location/date/time accurately in the Argo Navis
-have access to a planetarium program that accurately reflects your
location/date/time
-know what your latitude is (roughly is all that is needed)
?
?
Point north and straight up (this assumes the ALT REF value is
+90.0).
?
Turn on ServoCAT and Argo Navis.
?
Confirm the beep comes from Argo Navis, ServoCAT red DSC led is
blinking
?
Push ENTER to get into the mode FIX ALT REF and ENTER again to accept the
value.
?
Push EXIT and the turn the dial to MODE ENCODER, ENTER.
?
The right hand readout is the ALT and reads +90.00 ¨C move the ALT axis down
until the value equals your LATitude as programmed in your LOCATION
setting
?
Push EXIT and turn the dial to MODE ALIGN STAR, ENTER
?
Turn the dial backwards until you see Polaris, ENTER
?
Push EXIT and turn the dial to MODE ENCODER, ENTER.
?
Using a planetarium program that is properly set for your location and your
date and time find a second star? that is up at this time ¨C
a bright one.
Using the program determine what the stars ALT and AZ value is (most if not all
will show you the ¡®info¡¯ related to an object and in that is the ALT/AZ values).
Write this down.
?
Now move the scope in AZ and in ALT to give you those positions on the
encoders. A rough alignment is usually fine ¨C i.e. within a degree of each.
Don¡¯t wait too long from when you get the position above and when you go to it.
If it is more than a minute or so you can go back and confirm the ALT/AZ value
again.
?
Push EXIT, turn the dial to MODE ALIGN STAR, ENTER
?
Find this star, when found hit ENTER.
?
Push EXIT, turn the dial to MODE CATALOG, hit ENTER several times until you
get the GUIDE values for this star.?
Confirm the red DSC light on the front panel of the ServoCAT is now solid on. If so it is now tracking.? You can if you want move away from the last (2nd) star by say 10 or 20¡ã in one or both axes .... then with the axes engaged hit the GOTO and it should go back to the same location as indicated in the GUIDE number on the Argo Navis (less than 0.05¡ã).?
?
This completes the daytime alignment.?
? ------ Original Message ------
From "mm Bars" <mmbars@...>
Date 9/3/2022 1:04:03 PM
Subject [ServoCAT] Initiate tracking without 2 star alignment? There are time where it would be nice to initiate tracking, for example early evening when viewing the moon, before any alignment stars are visible with my AN/SC setup? ?One method I have thought about is too roughly estimate the position of Polaris then guess the position of another alignment star. ?Even if only fair tracking was achieved, it would still be helpful. ?Does anyone have another method. |
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Initiate tracking without 2 star alignment?
There are time where it would be nice to initiate tracking, for example early evening when viewing the moon, before any alignment stars are visible with my AN/SC setup? ?One method I have thought about is too roughly estimate the position of Polaris then guess the position of another alignment star. ?Even if only fair tracking was achieved, it would still be helpful. ?Does anyone have another method.
Mike |
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Re: No GoTo in southern part of sky
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýGary,
?
For sure I would like you to do the upgrading.? We
will be in northern WI for awhile longer but when we get back to Indy?I
will ship unit to you.? We will make two trips to Indy from WI because of
all the stuff that we have here for the summer.? I have a 10 inch LX200 in
addition to the 15 inch DOB and it is hard to get both scopes in the car at the
same time?with all of our other stuff.? We will be traveling back and
forth on the last of September and the 2nd week of October.? Does?it
matter when you get the?SC boxes?? Also, I will have to do the second
upgrade to the AN as I had only downloaded the first. It will
be?really?nice having these updates.
?
I did not receive any information about the beep tones,
I suspect that groups IO may have stripped any attachments.
?
Again, many thanks for your service.
?
Doug
?
?
From: K9RX - Gary
Sent: Friday, September 2, 2022 1:09 PM
Subject: Re: [ServoCAT] No GoTo in southern part of
sky Doug,?
I sent you a list of the beep tones - it is the last page of the "setup and
startup" doc. Note it only applies to use with the Argo Navis and the complete
list is only used in the latest version firmware ServoCAT (version 7 released
Jan 2015) and AN version 3.?
Assuming you have a black box ServoCAT (main box) then yes it can be
upgraded, either by yourself or I can do it for you. For the former you would
need the cables (and adapter/USB converter if Gen2). The program is not a text
editor - its a little bit more than that. I can create a dat file for you as you
would need to re-download that after having upgraded. Likewise the cable and USB
converter would be needed for the AN. For the latter, we do it here, the price
is $45 if I do both units here, plus return insured S&H. Drop me a line
direct if you have more questions on this. Note that the latest version has some
really cool features and functionality. Including "AutoLOCK 'which will lock on
a point in space with ZERO accumulated error all-night-long! As well as native
tracking for the Planets, the Moon, the Sun (CAUTION), asteroids, comets and
even man-made satellites like the HST or ISS or the hundreds of junk boosters
out there...?
Gary Myers
StellarCAT
------ Original Message ------
From "Doug Brown" <ddbrown4565@...>
Date 9/2/2022 12:11:25 PM
Subject Re: [ServoCAT] No GoTo in southern part of sky
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Re: No GoTo in southern part of sky
Roger Greenwood
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Sep 2, 2022, at 1:09 PM, K9RX - Gary via groups.io <amateurK9RX@...> wrote:
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Re: No GoTo in southern part of sky
Roger Greenwood
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýHi Dave!
I didn't hear from you about your attempt at calibration and observing the other night. I hope it went well.
You may want to consider joining this group. It's still a wealth of information and Gary is actually still doing a lot of support in it as you can see below.
-Roger
On Sep 2, 2022, at 1:09 PM, K9RX - Gary via groups.io <amateurK9RX@...> wrote:
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Re: No GoTo in southern part of sky
Doug,? I sent you a list of the beep tones - it is the last page of the "setup and startup" doc. Note it only applies to use with the Argo Navis and the complete list is only used in the latest version firmware ServoCAT (version 7 released Jan 2015) and AN version 3.? Assuming you have a black box ServoCAT (main box) then yes it can be upgraded, either by yourself or I can do it for you. For the former you would need the cables (and adapter/USB converter if Gen2). The program is not a text editor - its a little bit more than that. I can create a dat file for you as you would need to re-download that after having upgraded. Likewise the cable and USB converter would be needed for the AN. For the latter, we do it here, the price is $45 if I do both units here, plus return insured S&H. Drop me a line direct if you have more questions on this. Note that the latest version has some really cool features and functionality. Including "AutoLOCK 'which will lock on a point in space with ZERO accumulated error all-night-long! As well as native tracking for the Planets, the Moon, the Sun (CAUTION), asteroids, comets and even man-made satellites like the HST or ISS or the hundreds of junk boosters out there...? Gary Myers StellarCAT ------ Original Message ------
From "Doug Brown" <ddbrown4565@...>
Date 9/2/2022 12:11:25 PM
Subject Re: [ServoCAT] No GoTo in southern part of sky
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Re: No GoTo in southern part of sky
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýYou were right on target!? The time had been
incorrectly set--12 not 24hr.? Sort of surprised that it didn't mess up the
northern GoTo's since it thought it was late morning and not late evening.?
If you have a list of the beep tones and their meaning I would appreciate that
information.? I do have an older list -- I think.
?
On another note--are you selling replacements for the
pushbutton box?? My CW button tends to stick and I have to be careful when
using it.
?
On another note--I have never updated the software for
the SC box and I am not sure that I can even update the parameters for the
telescope.? The laptop I used when I built the DOB and installed AN-SC
hasn't been used for years (not even sure where it is).? I still have the
interface cables but as I remember you had to use a basic text editor? to send
the numbers to the SC.? Is that still the way to go?
?
We have been having great skies here in northern WI and
it is really great getting the 15inch working again. We live in Indianapolis so
dark summer skies in WI are a real treat.
?
Many thanks,
Doug
From: K9RX - Gary
Sent: Thursday, September 1, 2022 3:14 PM
Subject: Re: [ServoCAT] No GoTo in southern part of
sky Hi Doug,
?
Yes indeed I did get this - my apologies for not getting back to you
sooner.?
?
The beep tone that you describe is one that indicates that one of the
following is not set correctly: DATE/TIME/LOCATION. These are all needed to be
accurate in order for a GOTO to work properly. The reason why is that the
software in the AN/CAT system has 'knowledge' of the local horizon. This is only
based on the alignment and critically the date/time/location. With this it will
prevent a GOTO to an object that it believes to be below the horizon. This does
not say that an alignment failed - you can indeed 'find' things - it only says
that the computed local horizon is not what it is in reality and those settings
will determine it. I'd guess that you changed something. Check these out and
remember/note that the time is 24 hour format so if it is after 1PM local time
the time will be 1300 or higher.?
I sent you a list of the beep tones as well.? Gary?
?
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Re: No GoTo in southern part of sky
Hi Doug,
?
Yes indeed I did get this - my apologies for not getting back to you sooner.?
?
The beep tone that you describe is one that indicates that one of the following is not set correctly: DATE/TIME/LOCATION. These are all needed to be accurate in order for a GOTO to work properly. The reason why is that the software in the AN/CAT system has 'knowledge' of the local horizon. This is only based on the alignment and critically the date/time/location. With this it will prevent a GOTO to an object that it believes to be below the horizon. This does not say that an alignment failed - you can indeed 'find' things - it only says that the computed local horizon is not what it is in reality and those settings will determine it. I'd guess that you changed something. Check these out and remember/note that the time is 24 hour format so if it is after 1PM local time the time will be 1300 or higher.?
I sent you a list of the beep tones as well.? Gary?
?
? |
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No GoTo in southern part of sky
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýGary, I tried sending a note to your old email address
at ServoCat.? You probably did not get it.? I got an email from you
through the [email protected]?which was about
another problem, not mine.? Not sure if I am a member -- although if I got
the email maybe I am.
?
?
I purchased a ServoCat Junior from you a number of years
ago for my 15 inch DOB.? I have had been very happy with it until a problem
this summer.? (I did not use it for 2 years because of the pandemic). I did
replace the button battery in the Argo Navis as a precaution?last
month.
?
The problem is doing a GoTo to the southern part of the
sky and this has occurred on several nights.? Last night I aligned on
Altair and Mizar.? Did GoTo to nearby M101 and M51 with no problem. Then
tried to go to M11 in the south and the telescope did not move. It gave 3
beeboops followed by a final two tone beep.? I then manually moved
telescope until Argo Navis had (0,0) and I had the cluster in sight.? I
then engaged the drive and it tracked successfully.? Same problem with
M27.? Manually moved to the Veil Nebula and tracked it.? From there
did a GoTo to M31 which worked perfectly.? Then tried
to?GoTo?back to the Veil from M31 but no
luck.? I can do GoTo's in northern half of sky but not southern but the
tracking is fine in the south. My altitude limits are set to 10deg and 80deg
which I thought the 3 beep-beep indicated might be a problem. I feel this is
something minor like a setting that got miss set.
?
Any help would be appreciated.
?
Doug Brown |
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Re: No response from keypad
Dean, My apologies for not seeing and answering sooner.? OK - please a little info re the type and size of scope for my reference.? Also is this a Gen2 black box ServoCAT with the blue FUNCtion button on the handpad?? What does it do or not do?? What lights are on on the front of the ServoCAT?? Gary Myers StellarCAT ------ Original Message ------
From "Dean S" <dean@...>
Date 8/26/2022 8:56:06 AM
Subject [ServoCAT] No response from keypad
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No response from keypad
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýHi Gary, ? After many years of great operation, 1 of my ServoCats has stopped responding.? Worked fine last weekend but tonight nothing. ? All lights are on, cables have been replugged many times, tried a different cord and handpad from another scope. Still nothing.? Handpad works fine on other scope.? Today I may try moving the working Servocat unit itself to other scope to test, even though it is not programed for it.? ? The Skycommander is working and showing encoders are good.? Light comes on when plugged in to ServoCat.?? All other lights are same as the working unit. ? Is there any kind of reset or anything to try? ? Thanks for any help, Dean ? ? |
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Re: Interference between two AN/SC with wireless handpad
On Fri, Aug 26, 2022 at 03:54 PM, K9RX - Gary wrote:
?Hi Gary sorry if you still have the @bbox.fr address can you retry with frederic.ruciak@.... Thanks again and clear skies. ¹ó°ù¨¦»å¨¦°ù¾±³¦ |
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Re: Interference between two AN/SC with wireless handpad
We ship the wireless (and wired) HC's in their individual boxes - and instructions are in those boxes. OEM's are suppose to send you that.? The docs are on the CD under "Manuals/Other Instructions" and I sent them to you using the email address I have here - it came back with a fatal non-delivery notice.? Gary? ------ Original Message ------
From "¹ó°ù¨¦»å¨¦°ù¾±³¦ Ruciak" <frederic.ruciak@...>
Date 8/26/2022 9:35:43 AM
Subject Re: [ServoCAT] Interference between two AN/SC with wireless handpad Hi Gary,? |
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Re: Interference between two AN/SC with wireless handpad
Hi Gary,?
thanks for you reply but I have to say that having received it completely installed from Obsession, I do not have "the instructions included in the box with each unit" that you refer to. If you have a pdf version of it, it would be wonderful. Thanks in advance, ¹ó°ù¨¦»å¨¦°ù¾±³¦ |
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Re: Interference between two AN/SC with wireless handpad
The instructions on how to change the channel were included in each box with each unit. The instructions for the base unit being slightly different from the HC unit. I'll send you a copy of it directly (also these docs are on the CD as well). Gary? ------ Original Message ------
From "¹ó°ù¨¦»å¨¦°ù¾±³¦ Ruciak" <frederic.ruciak@...>
Date 8/26/2022 2:17:20 AM
Subject Re: [ServoCAT] Interference between two AN/SC with wireless handpad Hi Gary my wireless HP is definitely this one ?in the picture, so most probably a Generation 3. |
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Re: Interference between two AN/SC with wireless handpad
Hi Gary my wireless HP is definitely this one ?in the picture, so most probably a Generation 3.
Is there somewhere in the manual indicating how to change the channel? If yes I most probably missed it. Thank you for your help. Clear skies Frederic |
¹ó°ù¨¦»å¨¦°ù¾±³¦ Ruciak
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