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ServoCAT Drifting
6
I have a ServoCAT fitted on a 18 inch Starmaster scope with a Nexus DSC. I have been having the scope drift off target fairly consistently, lately. I have tried realignment and cycling the power off and on several times. The only thing that seems to work is to reload the scope¡¯s parameters into the ServoCAT with my PC running the Sky software that was provided with the unit. This, however only seems to work sporadically. Has anyone had a similar issue, and, if so, how did you resolve it.
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Dear all After having updated servocat to version 7 and ArgoNavis to version 3.04. I have for the first time succesfully observed ISS with AN/servocat . Ssssooooo happy ! I have made some optimisation of the gear ratio but the follow up of ISS is average and I would like to try the Autocal procedure. I will also use it to adjuct backflow. On my 36" the altitude encoder is a litlle bit far from Servocat. I will have exact necessary lenght in the next days For those who have this special cable, could you tell me what is the lenght of the Autocal cable ? Regards Rapha?l
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I think I killed my ServoCAT. I believe it's a Gen 3, purchased 02/2011. The power in is 13.2v, the fuse on the PCB is good, and the voltage reads 13.2v on both sides of the fuse. The power LED does not come on. I was investigating a runaway AZ issue (see long history description below) and I found that disconnecting the small cable (encoder?) from the SC would let the AZ motor spin up to high speed. It was suggested that I clean the cable ends and jacks with DeOxit (the small bottle with the brush). After putting everything back together there is no life. And I've checked and rechecked all connections. Is there anything further I can test with a multimeter? Do I have a brick or is there a diagnosis that someone can do? Thanks! Now for the description that got me to where things are at today... Last fall I had a few incidents where the aligned and tracking dob just started slewing clockwise in azimuth - max slew. Flipping the 'stop' switch did not help, I was able to disengage the AZ clutch and then turn off the power at the battery. After turning all was good - no slewing. I was able to re-align and keep observing. In a second occurrence, the dob started slewing for a couple of rotations and then stopped and behaved normally - no loss of alignment. A third time I had aligned the scope and did a goto. I disengaged the AZ clutch and then went away for about an hour to give a presentation. When I returned the battery was too low for the scope to operate.
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Super program autocal cable
4
Does anyone know if Bill has any autocal cables for sale? I looked on the website but didn¡¯t see anything and I emailed him about a week ago but didn¡¯t ever get a response. mike
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Have been meaning to post this in the group for a while now. Designed this cover in TinkerCAD. I wanted to provide some protection for the ALT motor, but also decided to put one on the AZ motor. Just slips over the motor. The .stl file is downloadable from Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6117144
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Imaging, sensor size, secondary size
6
Ok... so making progress, I think, in my mind how camera selections. But something just hit me. The secondary size. Obsession intentionally used smaller secondaries as the intent of the scope was visual work. So knowing this - will I even illuminate a full field if I go with a larger sensor size, say a 294 vs. say a 533 camera? Anyone have any experience in this area that can report please? NOTE: I know the sensor size matters re finding objects ... but if one uses plate solve to locate where you are (and it is properly aligned with the center of axis visually) then I don't know that that is a valid constraint on the selection process. Gary Myers
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Auto lock and synch
4
I know I asked a similar question back in 2021 but I am trying to better understand auto lock and use of synch. I have read the instructions in the pdf file for the latest firmware but it isn¡¯t clear if auto lock can only be switched on and off for an object using the local synch button on the handpad or if you can use a synch command from planetarium program. When doing EAA using Sharpcap, I often use the ¡°platesolve and recenter¡± feature to get my object centered before I begin a livestack. I then like to go into Cartes du ciel or astroplanner to and use the synch command on the object after it was platesolve and re-centered so I can tell Argo the correct offset. Does using the synch command in a planetarium program also turn on auto lock? And if I use the synch command a second time on the same object does it turn it off? thanks Mike
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Conversion to a Smart Telescope
38
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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I have setup my 15¡± F4.5 Obsession with ServoCAT and AN for imaging. To achieve enough back focus I have a separate set of truss poles shortened by 2¡±. My imaging setup is a MallinCam 2¡± Coma Corrector with the .5X Universal focal corrector connected to a DS10c camera that gives me an F3 or less. After I focus the camera I lock down (tighten) the focuser. If needed, my eye piece is 13mm TeleView Ethos that has an TeleView extension ring attached to which I have added 2¡± parafocalizer ring so when I drop in in the focuser it is in focus (I can easily switch between the eye piece and camera for viewing). My camera is not cooled and with these images I did not use any calibration frames or filters. I post process my TIFF images with Photoshop Elements to which I have Topaz DeNoise and AstroFlat Pro (the latter for gradient removal). These images are stacks of 10 10sec exposures. You can see that because M104 is lower in the horizon I am getting some field rotation. Generally i can get my target in the FOV after the initial 2 star alignment or if I align on a nearby star. If not if not I have added PiFinder which will plate solve and locate my target. This setup has been working quite well for me and it can be easily wheeled out into by my back yard. Mike
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Hello all... so - there are a few guys on here that have done imaging using their Obsession or similar dob. I'm curious what I should expect to have to do with the truss tube length. I have heard, anecdotally, that the length has to be shortened, that there isn't enough 'range' in a typical system/focuser to accommodate a normal CCD system. Anyone have an idea what to expect? Also I'm thinking of the ZWO 533 as a starter... I want to stay away from amp glow. Note I'm not looking for outstanding images that require hours of post-processing. Just looking to do EAA work for outreach but want a decent enough camera that I can do some longer term (short exposure, lots of stacking) imaging. Thoughts here as well would be welcome. Gary Myers 12" F5 Obsession
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HELP! MY MESSAGE HAS BEEN LOCKED!!
4
Hi All. I just found out that my message has been locked. Probably something I did??? Anyway, I tried to find out how to unlock it, but to no avail. Can anyone help? Please! Steve
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Tickled pink...
2
Its been some time since I had the 12" set up... it's now sitting in our "smallish" living room... as a test for it - while waiting for a clear night. When I get up in the morning I'll find a galaxy rising in the east (AN MODE IDENTIFY) - GOTO it - turn on AutoLOCK ... it just brings a smile on my face when I look at the AN readout sitting at 0.00 0.00 for hours on end. It goes to 0.01 occasionally ... but the average is right at 0.00! On this scope, using 20000 count (S1, smaller body) encoders, that is just a hair over 1 arcmin! For those that haven't used the latest firmware - and haven't used AutoLOCK... just a heads up. It really works extremely well. Gary Myers
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Locked
Has anyone connected AsiAir Plus 256gb to AN/SC?
19
I have an obsession 15"UC with AN/SC and can't get it to connect properly. I have AsiAir connected directly to USB-B port on SC. Iphone to WIFI to AsiAir Plus. Asi533mc Pro connected directly to AsiAir. AN and SC HCs connected to Obsession. Prior to connect the AsiAir, I was able to use Sky Safari7 pro using SkyFi III to connect with my iPhone wirelessly. Any help would be appreciated. Steve
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ServoCat Controller (new or used)
2
Hello Gary, I am looking for a complete set of ServoCat controller (including motors, cables,¡) for a new telescope project. I am already operating an 18" and a 22" with your Gen3 controller very successfully. Some time ago I read that it is no longer possible to order from you. Is that correct? Is there still a small chance of getting hold of a remaining item (also used)? I am looking forward to a positive reply. Thank you a lot. Best regards Werner from Leonberg, Germany Gesendet von Yahoo Mail f¨¹r iPad
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LiFePO4 batteries
4
Any problem running my ServoCAT from a 14.4v battery? Thanks, Eric
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altitude spring
3
Hi, Ive a quick questions, I lost the altitude tension spring for my goto system. Can I ask whats its length /specs?, so I can get another one off amazon maybe ? This is for a 15" classic obsession. Thanks, Dave.
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Alt drive cable. What is needed?
2
My club has a 30¡±Obsession scope. The altitude drive cable is frayed and needs to be replaced. What size and type of cable do we need? thanks!
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Guys I need to make a holder for the wireless hand pad for our club scope. Every time I am at the site I forget to measure the one that is there. Could someone be so kind as to supply those dimensions? Thank you very much. Bob Rose
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Wow. The Veil nebula mosaic . That is next level. Nice one. I havent got my head around the hardware software interface but it looks like folks are actively pursuing this great development over and above sC and Argo to include plate solving /go to centre. etc For now I¡¯ve gone (part time) to Full AP but when I was doing AP with ZAMAR 20¡± F5 SDM pimped /rebuilt Obsession Classic # 305 . I peaked with thus Top Pick nomination on Astrobin. Pillars of Creation https://astrob.in/v5lqaa/0/ I believe stickion is my greatest limiter . ¡. I do like this one a lot too https://astrob.in/a8g137/0/ And not to forget ??? The Great Orion Neb https://astrob.in/5n19l3/0/ Planetary is where our rigs should blast any sct /refractor with small to medium aperture¡¯s. Unfortunately by default good seeing limits the outcome in my part of Gods green Earth .. My best Saturn to date . https://astrob.in/31i65m/0/ I can post images if requested but a little reticent due to file size. Cheers Wes Smith
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Just curious how many ServoCAT users are creating Astro Photos. Here is my UC18 Obsession telescope and my DS287m camera making a mosaic of the Witch's Broom via the optolong LeNhance filter. Richard
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Image Name
Sat 8:39am
Sat 8:39am