ServoCAT Softpot Encoder

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Where can you get a replacement for the Softpot US Digital encoder?

Tnx,

Tom Crowley

Re: Instructions for re-installing ServoCAT altitude cable

The method I came up with only requires a couple small 2X4 blocks and takes less than a minute or so to do. Just an FYI. Its a doc on the provided CD under "Other installations Instructions" ... I don't remember the title preciously but it talks about ALT cable for transportation.?

Gary Myers
StellarCAT

Re: Instructions for re-installing ServoCAT altitude cable

#6559

Jim

I too, have had many problems with the altitude cable coming off. I would have to disassemble my 18" UC and then reassemble and realign it. That took me 40 minutes. ?

I developed a very quick solution. I reattached the wheelbarrow handles, attached the straps holding the mirror and rocker boxes together, placed a 2" x 4" board in front of the wheels, rolled the scope on top of the 2" x 4" board, removed the mirror and rocker box straps, using the wheelbarrow handles - lifted the scope off of the rocker box an inch or two. A second person could then reinstall the cable. If you are alone, you could prop up the wheelbarrow handles at the raised position with a object (tool box, small step stool,etc) with another 2" x 4" board placed between the wheelbarrow handles.

Once the cable is in place, lower the mirror box back down onto the rocker box, replace the straps, move the scope off of the wheelbarrow wheels. And you are done. Approximately 5 minutes. ?

Practice this technic during the daylight?

I hope this helps.

Leary

Re: Instructions for re-installing ServoCAT altitude cable

#6558

Re: ServoCAT will continue this year

#6557

Regarding satellite tracking, you're better off doing this natively from the AN. Tracking rates vary too much and too rapidly with the TLE for objects so close to the Earth. It's technically doable with a direct connection to the AN, but it would best if the SC firmware provided more of an interface to control these things.

Bill, another option is to provide an escape command that passes sub-commands through to the AN. Then it would be up to the driver to react accordingly.

Re: ServoCAT will continue this year

#6556
Edited

When you're connected to the AN you can't command the mount to move. You essentially have to connect to both and coordinate commands, but I'm not even sure that would fully work.

Re: ServoCAT will continue this year

#6555

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Thank you for your effort, George. Can I ask you if you experienced problems in connecting the system with the nexus? The people that regularly use the driver seem to use Argo. But I experienced some connection problems with my nexus.

Thank you very much.

Show quoted text

Il giorno 7 mag 2023, alle ore 20:47, George Hilios <ghilios@...> ha scritto:

?At the moment just for slewing. Soon plate solve + sync as well. Since I implemented pulse guide, you could also attach a guider provided you do the calibration in PHD2. Both applications will be able to connect to the driver at the same time.

Future considerations:

After we add video capture natively, use pulse guide to keep planetary bodies centered
Track near earth bodies (comets, planets, asteroids) using custom tracking rates if that support is added to the firmware
Perhaps a plugin for alignment, if that functionality is exposed in the firmware

Re: ServoCAT will continue this year

#6554

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I will install the last version of the new driver. At moment it seems that it works very well with Argo. With my Nexus I have connection problems but I have not already installed the last version.

Thank you.?

Show quoted text

Il giorno 6 mag 2023, alle ore 23:19, George Hilios <ghilios@...> ha scritto:

?Congratulations Bill, that's fabulous news! Regarding the driver, I'm working out some kinks related to syncing coordinates following a plate solve. Bad weather, day job, and Hocus Focus have been taking me away from it but rest assured I will sort these last remaining issues out.

Re: ServoCAT will continue this year

Roger Greenwood

#6553

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Hey! Just curious, what about satellite tracking? Lots of hoops we have to jump through using the Argo Navis to make that happen.

-Roger G.

www.astrocrumb.com

Show quoted text

On May 7, 2023, at 2:47 PM, George Hilios via groups.io <ghilios@...> wrote:

?At the moment just for slewing. Soon plate solve + sync as well. Since I implemented pulse guide, you could also attach a guider provided you do the calibration in PHD2. Both applications will be able to connect to the driver at the same time.

Future considerations:

After we add video capture natively, use pulse guide to keep planetary bodies centered
Track near earth bodies (comets, planets, asteroids) using custom tracking rates if that support is added to the firmware
Perhaps a plugin for alignment, if that functionality is exposed in the firmware

Re: ServoCAT will continue this year

#6552

At the moment just for slewing. Soon plate solve + sync as well. Since I implemented pulse guide, you could also attach a guider provided you do the calibration in PHD2. Both applications will be able to connect to the driver at the same time.

Future considerations:

After we add video capture natively, use pulse guide to keep planetary bodies centered
Track near earth bodies (comets, planets, asteroids) using custom tracking rates if that support is added to the firmware
Perhaps a plugin for alignment, if that functionality is exposed in the firmware

Re: ServoCAT will continue this year

#6551

George Hilios,

would you please elaborate on how you are currently using N.I.N.I with servocat?

thanks

dave

Re: ServoCAT will continue this year

#6550

Hi,
This is fantastic news, I'd say there'll be high demand when the units
are available!!
As soon as you're ready I will be ordering a Gen3 unit + controller +
wireless controller :)

Thanks,
Dave.

Re: ServoCAT will continue this year

#6549

thanks for info Gary!? ?Good to know....haven't even tried or thought of connecting a computer to servocat until recently as astrophography as become more popular in the last few years with the new CMOS cameras and new software being available

dave

On Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 04:07:43 PM PDT, K9RX - Gary <amateurk9rx@...> wrote:

NOTE: PARK has been in the protocol since its release in 2015. You can see the status of PARK using the SCU (as well).?
[its been in the hardware, available through the REM jack, for approaching 20 years]

Gary Myers

Re: ServoCAT will continue this year

#6548

I already use my SC ASCOM driver with NINA. I just need to get the platesolve sync to work. I probably flipped a sign somewhere in the math

Bill - it would be great if you could update the firmware to include 2 features:

Set custom tracking rates. My Orbitals plugin on NINA would then be able to set the tracking rate for any comet, asteroid, or planetary body.
Set coordinates during alignment. You could manually slew the dob to 2 points on opposite sides of the sky and align via plate solve

Re: ServoCAT will continue this year

#6547

Re: ServoCAT will continue this year

#6546

here is my wish list? for a new/updated servocat driver: Park to home position (alt-az), able to sync a platesolve, support ascom with N.I.N.A

here is example of what i would like to do with servocat

Re: ServoCAT will continue this year

#6545

Congratulations Bill, that's fabulous news! Regarding the driver, I'm working out some kinks related to syncing coordinates following a plate solve. Bad weather, day job, and Hocus Focus have been taking me away from it but rest assured I will sort these last remaining issues out.

Re: ServoCAT will continue this year

#6544

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Here is the link to George’s new Servocat driver:

Show quoted text

On May 6, 2023, at 3:35 PM, Mike via groups.io <mklosterman1@...> wrote:

?
George Helios has built a new modern Servocat driver that works with all software I’ve tried it with. It is great because it can work with or without ASCOM and can support multiple software applications communicating simultaneously with it (kind of like how ASCOM Device hub works). I think he has posted on this forum with his GitHub repository location. For the download.?

Mike

On May 6, 2023, at 12:15 PM, Filippo Scopelliti <filiscoop@...> wrote:

?

I have personally to say that this is a very great announcement. I just kindly ask you to think about a new driver in order to let the system of working with the other astronomy softwares. This way everything will become amazingly nice for all the fut applications in astrophotography.?

Filippo

Il giorno 6 mag 2023, alle ore 17:57, Bill Conrad <wgconrad@...> ha scritto:

?It is time to formally announce that the ServoCAT product will continue to be manufactured by BRC Astro, LLC.

This is Bill Conrad of BRC Astro, LLC. My wife Robin and I are currently re-modeling our 1,440-sf facility located in the Chiefland Astronomy Village (Chiefland, Florida) to support the ServoCAT production. Please be patient while we order hundreds of parts required for us to begin. Some parts have up to a 16-week lead time. We hope to begin production of the Gen3 later this year.

Rest assured: Gary will be here supporting existing customers for the foreseeable future.

The servocat.com website is being re-modeled and updated. The sales and support links will be functional upon completion of this effort and your patience is appreciated.

As an early adopter of the ServoCAT system, my Gen 1 has been operating flawlessly on my 25" Obsession for over 20 years. Now I will be upgrading to the latest features.

I encourage everyone to attend the Chiefland Astrofest Star Party at the Chiefland Astronomy Village Nov 11-17, 2023. Information is available at https://chieflandastro.com. If you can attend, please contact us for a mini tour of the ServoCAT facility just down the street.

I want to thank Gary Myers for his 30+ years of excellent service to the astronomy community. With 2,300 ServoCAT systems delivered around the world, he has made a major contribution to the enjoyment of night skies. He has made the transition of the business exceptionally smooth and comfortable. Robin and I wish him and his wife Jean a happy and well-deserved retirement.

Bill and Robin Conrad

bill@...

BRC Astro, LLC
5071 NW 52nd Court
Chiefland, FL 32626