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Waldemar

Beta Tester
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Posts posted by Waldemar

  1. 53 minutes ago, MichiP said:

    Thank you all for your responses :)

    I thought it might be easy like a plug and play replacement. There is no certain reason for the upgrade to USB 3. Most stuff is still USB 2 but I made the experience that USB 3 is more stable than USB 2 and since my CCD is running on USB 3 and I have dismounted my RC for doing some improvements, I thorough it could be a good idea to use this chance to upgrade.

    @Waldemar I think I will go with your solution. Have you also connected the mount directly into the DS600 so that your PC is controlling the your DDM?
    What are you connecting with the Lumberg 8 connector?

    Regards
    Michael

    PS: @Vaud welcome :) 

     

     

    Hi Michael

    My DDM85 has an USB-out  port for the HUB, but the mount control is done through a RS232 to USB converter. That RS232 connector is not the normal type, but a Lumberg DIN screw connector Three more of those type of connectors are available: 1 for powering the mount, 1 for auxiliary power (for example 2 x12v, galvanically separated) and 1 data port. The connectors on the DEC part are 3 x USB, 1x regulated ventilator connection, 1 data port and of course the aux. power connector
    I used the data port on the DEC part for making an ethernet connection to the SilexDS600, which I pickup at the data port on the RA. (the Lumberg 8 pole connector)

    With the DDM60, the connectors are a bit differently arranged, but you also have a data port as I remember, so you can use that to connect to the Silex.
    I seem to remember there are 2 USB outlets on the RA. 1 for mount control and 1 for the hub...so I do not understand why you could not change the internal hub.
    You may need to change the cabling, though. Some soldering skill is needed, the 8-pole connectors are not very forgiving ...

    So in short: the 8-pole connectors are used to make an ethernet cable with rj45 connectors on the other side.

    Be aware there are two kinds of 8-pole connectors: 1 straight with 240° for the DEC connection and one with 270° 

    left pic shows the different pole arrangement; middle is the DEC cable; right the RA cable (I kept it short)

    Regards,

    Waldemar

    IMG_3641.jpg

    IMG_3642.jpg

    IMG_3643.jpg

  2. I did exactly that: I used the mount's data transfer sockets, to connect a Silex DS600 USB-Ethernet extender with ethernet connections. 
    I made my own cables with Lumberg 8 point connectors. Using the data cables which are supplied with the mount works as well of course.
    The Silex DS600 has 1 USB2 port and 1 USB3 port which both can handle a 4 port hub. This solution answers any USB demand.

     

  3. Hi Thomas,

    I use an Icron Ranger 2304, which is an 4-port USB-Ethernet converter with two units, one at the scope and one at the computer with an ethernet cat6 cable connecting the two units to each other. Maximum distance between the two is 100 meters with cat6 https://www.icronshop.com/icron-brand/icron-ranger-2304 A set for fiber optics interconnection is available as well. That can cover 300 meters distance.

    Another one is the Silex DS-600 which has a USB2 and a USB3 port. It can handle a 4 port hub on both connections. This is a single unit with a cat6 cable to the ethernet port on your computer or a server: https://www.silextechnology.com/connectivity-solutions/device-connectivity/ds-600

    Both work well without problems. The Silex DS-600 is the cheapest of the two. Because these units are used at the mount and then with a cat cable to the computer or laptop inside the house, I treated them with NanoProtech Electric spray to prevent problems  with condensation.

    To be clear:  no computer at the mount, just connect your USB equipment to the Icron Ranger or Silex DS-600 and from there to your computer in the house.

    BR
    Waldemar

  4. Hi Thomas 🙂

    The software for the second camera does not need to be related to the mount. For example Nebulosity, without mount connection. Dithering will automatically be the same as the main camera, because it is on the same mount. The camera's will need to be in exactly the same imaging sequence in order the dithering to work and not ruining the images of the second camera... Or no dithering ...

  5. Hi Chris, 

    This update was available for the beta testers a couple of months already. It appears to be stable, so now it is available for everybody.

    After installing, you can find the upgrades normally in:  OS(C) > Program Files (x86) > Autoslew > Autoslew upgrade report.
    Of this version I do not see a report, though... 5247 is the last documented one

  6. On 4/15/2020 at 3:21 AM, MarkS said:

    The ASA10N/3"Wynne does not vignette noticeably with a KAF8300 size sensor.

    I see no vignetting with a similar set-up, but I use 36mm filters. The adapter is 42mm i.d.

    When checking for ray path obstructions remember that the rays are converging. I suspect the filters may be too small.

    Mark

    Or not close enough to the sensor...

  7. 2 hours ago, admin said:

    Bugs solved:
    Sorry, you have not been able answer to this post. Settings are corrected now so you can directly reply to the post in this board.

    New feature:
    We have activated star rating in the imaging board (Deepsky and Solar System).

     

    I thought that was just a smart move... 🙂

  8. Hi,

     

    We want to let you know that we have to do a major update on this forum.

    This update will be performed on the live system, therefore, we want to excuse any problem which is occurring during the update process.

     

    We try to do the changes as fast as possible and also trying to keep the downtime as short as possible.

     

    Best regards,

    Michael

     

    Hi Michael,

     

    When will this happen?

  9. The second cable is the one that fits the GALV connector on the mount and is used for auxiliary equipment like camera, filter wheel, or whatever.

    That connection corresponds with the connector on the DEC plate via through the mount cabling.

     

    The difference is not about the absolute encoders... the whole system is different. You need to forget what you learned about the mount you had before.

    This is a new chapter. Just do not assume you already know, for you don't ...

    Read the file thoroughly and do as it says.

     

    Sorry if this sounds rude... 

     

    If you pm me your email address, I will send a bundle of files with WeTransfer if you like.

  10. Hi everybody,

     

    Is there anybody out there using one of the new mounts?

    If so, what do you think of it? What software is used, AutoSlew and Sequence as well?

    I am very curious about them... I think at this moment not a lot of amateurs are willing to take the plunge and buy one,

    especially when looking at ASA's past in the amateur market... I hope I am wrong about that, though...

     

    It would also be great to see some pictures of a fully operational one.

     

    Thanks in advance!

     

     

  11. Hi.

    I am having problems with my no.2 park position.

    No 1 (zenith) works fine, but the second one, which i have set to -1.0 degree Alt and 178 degree Az should be pointing south with the counterweight bar towards east. 

    When i slew, it will flip and point south with the counterweight bar pointing west. 

     

    Has the setting which i can choose how many degrees over the meridian i can track something to do with this?

     

    /Daniel

     

    Yes, like Mac said: just tell it to park west and it will do the opposite ... problem solved!

  12.  

    I hope my less than classical English comes through the translation OK. Your "French written in English" is quite understandable  :)

     
    If the program crashes tonight, expect more info, and possibly rude words  ;)

     

     

    Those will probably not been translated...  :lol:

     

    For an Englishman your English is not that bad. :rolleyes:

     

    I am glad you are getting some help. I am sorry my programming skills are sub zero.

  13.  

    What I'm saying here is not necessarily the same problem as you... But near...
     
     
    AutoSlew uses a PID (proportional, integral, derivative controller) to quickly move the mount, then slow down when approaching its target, without exceeding it.

    This PID must be adjusted (with difficulty) according to the load of the mount, and the position of its barycenter.

    For me it's almost impossible!

    Almost in the direction of the North Star, the mount starts to rumble, shake, jump. I can hear it all the way into the house.

    Bearings, encoders?

    I have to permanently slow down the mount to 25% of its "commercial" speed to limit the problem.

    This is at the origin of loosening the primary mirror by the violence of vibrations.

     
    AstroSystem was informed in writing in October 2018. Answer "I'm on a trip abroad".

    Maybe for Christmas 2019?  Or 2020???

    These vibrations, blockages, cause the PID to "stall" (like 737-Max :( ) about once a night. He can't move the mount to his target. This also results in a stop of tracking and the stars become long lines. A image losted.

     
    But when it comes to moving to a star, the mount stops along the way.

    When it comes to the realization of MLPT, often from the first view, the plot of the curve is impossible, and so is MLPT. All the images in the series are then lost.

     
    It is necessary to monitor at the top of AutoSlew if the sidereal tracking indicator remains active, otherwise it becomes a terrestrial tracking.
     
    But I don't have any unmanaged exceptions. Sequence continues as if nothing happened.
    I don't know if it's the same problem as you?

    If some of the terms I use are mistranslated, don't hesitate to ask me to clarify their meaning.

    La Cebra

    (Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator)

     

     

    Hi La Cebra,

     

    That may be caused by radial imballance. If that is the case the mount starts vibrating and making noises on unexpected positions.

    The orriginal balancing position is ok, though. Another possible cause maybe the use of a 'rat-cage' which introduces a resonance frequency in some positions. 

     

    Best regards,

  14. Many thanks La Cebra.

     

    When we get a clear enough night that Sequence via MLPT can make the plate solving exposures etc I'll try running it again.

     

    As Waldemar has suggested it's probably something in the Settings that either I've missed, or is causing a conflict.

     

    These things should be in the manual. People (Especially those, like me, who aren't programmers) can make mistakes that lead to puzzling results. I'm sure Dr Keller knows where the problem lies, he just neglected to document it.

     

    Documentation is ASA's weak spot. They are kind of used to deal with professionals I guess and apparently do not understand the need of good documentation for amateurs... I must say though, it is a lot better then in the past already   :rolleyes:  

  15. Thanks both

     

    I tried deleting Sequence, and all it related program data files then re-installing, and re-setting my location and hardware, but the problem persists, and now I cannot even try with the exposure settings ans I get the unhandled exception error.

     

    ATM the weather is wet, and as the computer kit is in a box on a platform with the telescope I will have to wait a while before going out. RDM from my office computer is throwing up access permission issues which I just cannot be bothered to work through as my blood pressure is already too high and my hair too thin!

     

    Dave...!!! don't let this get under your skin! This must be some weird wrong setting. I am sorry I cannot help you out with this  :(

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