nakbrooks

I've started using the Discussion tab of each page for making suggestions for changes to pages where I think it might be a good idea to add/change something but I don't have the knowledge myself. I think it would be a good idea if we all use these Discussion tabs for making suggestions for new content if we're not able to create the content ourselves and also for discussing major changes to a page so that major changes are only made when a consensus is reached. This is the way it works on Wikipedia. Obviously this should not stop people making minor changes, creating new pages or filling in gaps in existing pages if they have the knowledge to do so.

My questions would be: 1. Are you supportive of the idea of an ASA Users Group to represent the interests of ASA users and provide a focus for interaction with ASA? 2. Are you supportive of the concept of a Knowledge Base (the wiki) and will you allow existing documentation to be used to help us author content? 3. On ASA's own web site there seems to be no single source of documentation (e.g. ACC does not asppear to be documented anywhere). Can ASA please put the latest versions of all their documentation in the "downloads" section of their web site so that we have access to it. This is particularly important if ASA are not willing to let their documentation be added to the wiki. 4. Does a plan (with dates) exist for updating and completing ASA's documentation? Are the 2 Beginners Guides recently released for Autoslew the start of a new wave of documentation or just one-offs? 5. Can ASA publish a "route map" showing the direction they are planning for both hardware and software? 6. Do ASA have a serious commitment to amateur users or is their strategic focus now on large-scale telescopes for professional users?

I see there is a Forum plugin for MediaWiki called WikiForum. I have no idea whether it is the best option or how stable it is but it might be worth considering for inclusion in our Wiki. Ideally we need two forum categories - one to discuss the evolution of the wiki and one to discuss the formation of a User Group. Maybe someone more knowledgable could investigate?

Reads well to me Ian.

This topic is getting very long with multiple sub threads. It is also a bit uncomfortable using the ASA forum to discuss the details of the WiKi and policy and legal issues concerning ASA. Should we have a separate discussion forum where we can exchange ideas on WiKi structure and content and also on how we might form a Users Group? Does MediaWiki have a discussion plugin that we could use? Those users who want to be active in building the WiKi could then use the MediaWiki discussion area and we could keep this thread on the ASA forum for informing the wider community about progress. (Obviously everyone can also register on the WiKi if they want to see the User Group discussions there).

Once we have a response from ASA on their attitude towards the WiKi then we can sort out the legalities. I'm also not a lawyer, but provided we don't durectly copy documentation owned by ASA without their consent I do not see that we are doing anything illegal. If we are providing "advice", not formal documentation, then we should be safe, although we probably need to have a very clear disclaimer on the WiKi saying that all advice is provided "as is" and the WiKi authors and operators are not responsible for any loss or damage caused by following it. Do we have a lawyer in our group who could suggest some wording that would work in at least the USA and Europe (and hopefully other major ASA markets)? This wording would need to be on the WiKi home page and also be part of the terms and conditions that users must agree to when they register on the WiKi.

I have created the Cassegrain/RC page - it is not complete. If we like the structure maybe someone could create a template "Hardware Page" so that we keep to a standard format for other hardware pages? Maybe someone else could create a similar Astrograph page (I have a Cassegrain myself so am happier doing the Cass/RC page).

If ASA manuals are complete and up to date then there is no problem at all - the manuals can be kept on the ASA web site and linked to from this WiKi. The problem is if ASA do not prepare proper manuals. I am hoping we will get a clear view from ASA soon about their documentation strategy.

ASA cannot stop us producing a WiKi. They can stop us putting their documentation on it, or copying content from their documentation. I hope they won't do that. Ideally ASA will bring all their documentation up to date, expand it to meet the needs of users with different levels of experience, and translate it into multiple languages. If they do this then the WiKi could focus on tips, tutorials, practical advice and user projects. The formal documentation would be held on the ASA web site and thd WiKi can just link to it. However I very much doubt if ASA will devote the resources to provide and maintain comprehensive up to date documentation. Therefore the best solution for ASA and the users is for ASA to support us in the WiKi project by letting us build on their existing documentation and by providing advice. Worst case, if ASA will not support the WiKi, we may have to reverse engineer the documentation from our own collective knowledge.

I'll look at that Luke.

Just checked the Astrodon and FLI specs. The filters are 3mm thick and the camera window 3.18mm so this implies a focus offset of around 2.2mm I think. So maybe the ASA-supplied adaptor is putting the flattener around 0.7mm too far away from the CCD. I doubt if that is enough to make a practical difference to the performance of the flattener so maybe this isn't the source of my ongoing focus problems.

I accidentally deleted my profile photo and can't seem to replace it. The jpeg uploads OK but doesn't appear in the cropping preview box and isn't there when I save my profile. Anyone know what I'm doing wrong (ASA Forum admin is on holiday at present so can't ask them).

I've moved this to the Correctors section as it is more relevant there.

The specification for the ASA 4CAKORRFL 4” field flattener (http://www.astrosysteme.com/download/4-cassegrain-field-flattener/?wpdmdl=2977) says that the field flattener should be placed so that its centre is 124.5mm from the CCD. The adapter supplied to me by ASA puts the centre of my field flattener 127.4mm from the CCD, 2.9mm more than the specification suggests. The filters and camera glass are in the light path so maybe their refractive index affects the calculation, but surely not by as much as 2.9mm. Is this difference likely to be critical to the performance of the field flattener? Should I insist ASA provide a revised adapter?

Thanks Luke. I'm trying to find someone with the same OTA configuration as me (400C, ASA rotator, 4" corrector) so I can work through some back-focus problems. I will post more details a bit later.

Is anyone else on the forum operating the 400mm Cassegrain (or 500C/600C - they are much the same) with the 4" corrector? I have a small problem I would like some help with if possible. Thanks.

I suspect a lot of hidden functionality is included in ASA software for professional observatories but not documented for amateur users.

I've just been sent these 2 new Autoslew Beginners Guides by ASA. We can't put them on our WiKi yet as we are still waiting for permission to use their documentation, however they have said I can put them on this Forum. I do not know if this is the start of a new comprehensive set of documentation (I wish) or just the latest manuals they are issuing with new mount sales. AutoslewSoftwareManual2016-beginners guide - incremental.pdfAutoslewSoftwareManual2016-beginners guide-absolut.pdf

We should continue to build our own WiKi for now. If ASA agree to host a WiKi themselves that the users can help, maintain then we can migrate ourt content over to that WiKi if we wish. However we need to maintain the momentum so we should continue with our WiKi until ASA offer a definite proposal (this waits for the return of their Forum admin from holiday). How does everybody feel about the revised menu structure I suggested a couple of days ago? Are we happy for Christer to make that change to the menu?

Dietmar has emailed me again to clarify. ASA would be willing to host a wiki alongside the existing Forum (content to be provided by users) or alternatively they seem to have no objection to a User Group maintaining our own wiki. They agree there should not be 2 wikis. It is not clear what technology an ASA hosted wiki would use (I don't think the hosted platform ASA uses for the Forum has a wiki capability). No reply yet concerning whether we can use their existing documentation.

There should only be one wiki. Personally I would not rely upon ASA to manage it so would prefer to keep our own. I suggest you register asa-users.org.

i have had the following response to my email asking ASA if we can use their documentation and logo on the wiki: ------------------ Dear Nigel, we check the possibilities, but I think we will find a solution for a WIKI. Our forum admin is on vacation the next two weeks, then we talk about a solution. Best regards, Dietmar --------------------- Looks like we will have to wait a couple of weeks for an answer.

Good idea. Maybe in the FAQ section that I suggested for each hardware or software page? If things like this get too long then maybe they can be linked to their own pages, or put in the Tutorials section? It's important we try and get the site structure right, otherwise we will end up with a random selection of pages that contain really valuable stuff but are hard to find/navigate. This is turning into the most positive step for amateur ASA users in many years. ASA seem to be focussing on high end kit for professional users so we need to take this into our own hands.

I think this is all a really great start. Hopefully we will hear soon from ASA whether we can use their manuals as a basis for more content. In the meantime I was wondering if the menu structure might need to be clarified a bit. There seems to be some overlap between Software, Documents, Setup and Technology. Maybe a structure something like this: Main Page News Hardware Mounts Astrographs Cassegrain / RC Software Autoslew Sequence ACC Accessories Correctors Focusers Rotators GPS Other Tutorials Quick start for beginners Polar alignment Collimation Mount tuning Pointing file etc, etc Integration with 3rd party s/w MaximDL The Sky X ACP etc, etc Technology Direct drive High res encoders Windows & drivers etc, etc Interaction Recent changes Help Categories (what is this, do we need it?) Community portal (do we need this, or do we use the ASA Forum?) ASA Users Group About Members Events Help Terms & Conditions Administrators (only visible to admins) Various admin tools I would suggest that all pages in the Hardware, Software and Accessories sections have a standard format that includes sub-sections for: - Overview (what does it do) - Specification (key characteristics) - Installation (how to physically install and configure it) - FAQs (common problems & gotchas, with answers)