GeorgeCarey

I will try a different power supply and usb lead. Reluctant to send it back to ASA - it has been back several times already! George

How does that 6.62 equate to SQM? My best ever SQM was 20.11

It happens at any position, and I am sure is not a balance issue. I have tried pointing the scope in a certain direction, and then tweaking the balance to perfection. Also, once the error has occurred at a certain position the mount can then behave perfectly.

Hi Lukas, That error occurred very soon after switch on, before the mount did any slewing. I am having problems with the current in the DEC motor rising to 5 amps. When this happens the mount becomes unresponsive and I have to turn the motors off, move the mount by hand, and then turn motors on. Sometimes the mount then behaves well, other times the problem repeats. I am also wondering what the latest firmware is? Perhaps the mount fails in reading the firmware version number, and then defaults to zero? George

You need to ask ASA to become a beta tester. They saw my post above and made me a beta tester, so perhaps they will see yours and do the same.

When I consult the log file I see this. What are the blue lines all about? Balance Test Speed (degree per sec)=0.2 Balance Test Time before reversal (seconds)=5 13:19:47.483: ...End INI FILE 13:19:47.483: ************************************* 13:19:48.824: readInt16 read error 2x. Received error# from ftdxx.dll was 3072 13:19:48.824: Now trying ResetDevice, this returned 0 13:19:48.840: readInt16 after ResetDevice still not working, returned error# 3072 13:19:48.840: Firmware Version Number 0 13:19:48.918: Axis 1 synched to 0.00 13:19:48.980: Axis 2 synched to 0.00

How about reading the Azimuth and Altitude from Autoslew?

Installation of Autoslew worked OK. The only thing that seems different that I have spotted so far is the Red/Green hand for 'Manual Mode'. Is it Green for Manual mode ON or OFF? Is there documentation for the Beta Autoslew and Sequence? I could not see anything in the Beta forum. George

Thanks Gerhard, I will give it a try. George

Many thanks - I am now a beta tester! A few questions: Can someone remind me which files I need to keep so I don't lose my configuration? If I upgrade Autoslew will I need to do a new pointing model or will it use the old one? Can I upgrade only Autoslew? I seldom use Sequence other than to do pointing models. Sorry to ask these questions but it is about 3 years since I upgraded Autoslew.

Can someone please remind me how to get the beta Autoslew?

A question for those people who have beta tested the new Autoslew... Is it more stable than earlier versions? Even with excellent balance I still tend to get errors such as position errors and the dreaded 'Over current error'. There is no sign of ASA releasing an official new version so I wonder if I would be better off upgrading to the beta? George

The way I see it is that any counterweights need to be placed according to this diagram: M3 in red is the counterweight. Looking along the axis of the OTA, you need to consider any weight that is not symmetrical. In this case I have looked at the asymmetry of the camera, and the weights of the tube ring knobs. Weights on the left side of the central line should balance those on the right. Exactly where M3 goes is not important as long as it agrees with the balancing equation.

Thanks Waldemar, The first two posts resulted in a statement that there needed to be a counterweight equal and opposite to the focuser and camera for a Newtonian on the opposite side of the tube. This is what I am querying.

Before you shout at me, I realise I put the focuser on the wrong side. But the principle is the same.

I have a Newtonian telescope. I can see that the lateral balance of the focuser and camera system needs to be in line with the central axis of the telescope. But I am still finding it hard to accept that a similar weight needs to be on the opposite side of the scope for perfect balance. This diagram may help to show what I mean: The small red dot shows where the Centre of Mass of the OTA will be in a Newtonian. The fact that it is not in the centre of the tube (green dot) should not matter. Provided it is along the dotted line it should be perfectly balanced in all positions.

Is this what people really do? I can understand if the focuser and camera are 'off centre' then it might be necessary to add a weight to the side of the camera. If that is done does it really need another weight on the opposite side of the scope tube?

The weird spikes on Vega suggest something is wrong with the main mirror. That could also contribute to the egg stars. If you aim at Vega and defocus what sort of image do you get? Is the result a circular disc?

Are you guiding? Is the elongation of the star shapes always in the same direction?

No, it was replaced by this forum.

Hi Max. I am assuming you have done a good polar alignment and then a pointing model with stars in both hemispheres? You then align carefully on a known star and use your planetarium software to do a sync. Then go to the 'Mount' menu and scroll down to 'set new homeposition'. If I remember correctly you then go to the 'File' menu and click on 'Save parameter', although it is so long since I set my homeposition I am not sure this is needed. George

Thanks, Giu. Did they have it slewing around? What did the public think of it?

What is your current consumption like when tracking (using the data logging facility)? If the balance is out you should see a rising current. If the current stays fairly level and you are not getting round stars then balance may not be the cause. Errors in the pointing model are more likely. Pointing model errors are probably due to flexure or wobbles somewhere.

Is that an extending pier? Maybe that is the problem if there is some wobble in it?

This means that the central axis of the telescope is not parallel to the mounting plate. You could put a thin metal shim between the plate and the tube rings near the front end of the telescope. However, the software allows or this so you don't need to do anything.