Hi everyone,

There have been a few issues reported within the last couple days in APCC having to do with the encoder status and the missing option for setting a custom slew rate. All of the reported issues should be fixed in the new builds below. If you see anything else that looks like a bug please don't hesitate to report it on this forum.

APCC Standard v1.8.0.4:
http://www.apastrosoftware.com/apcc_download/APCC_Standard_Setup_1.8.0.4.exe

APCC Pro v1.8.0.5:
http://www.apastrosoftware.com/apcc_download/APCC_Pro_Setup_1.8.0.5.exe

-Ray Gralak
Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/accessories/software/apcc/apcc
Author of PEMPro V3: https://www.ccdware.com
Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver

Hi Yves,

I really don't know what happened but now the custom field appears as it should in the Rate Settings tab section
on my home computer (the same computer model as observatory ; same HD backup image). I've uninstalled
APCC 1.8.0.3 and went back to version 1.7.2.5 and reinstalled version 1.8.0.3 after a reboot but impossible to
reproduce the behaviour I saw last night.

However, the slew rate custom field is still missing from the optional initialization window.

There was a problem but it should be fixed in the latest builds, 1.8.0.4 Standard and 1.8.0.5 Pro.

-Ray Gralak
Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/accessories/software/apcc/apcc
Author of PEMPro V3: https://www.ccdware.com
Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver

-----Original Message-----
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Yves Laroche
Sent: Saturday, March 7, 2020 9:07 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re : [ap-gto] APCC 1.8.0.3 : Custom Slew Rate missing

Ray,

I really don't know what happened but now the custom field appears as it should in the Rate Settings tab section
on my home computer (the same computer model as observatory ; same HD backup image). I've uninstalled
APCC 1.8.0.3 and went back to version 1.7.2.5 and reinstalled version 1.8.0.3 after a reboot but impossible to
reproduce the behaviour I saw last night.

However, the slew rate custom field is still missing from the optional initialization window.

Regards,
Yves



Le 06/03/20 18:40, Yves Laroche <yves.laroche@videotron.ca> a écrit :

[Edited Message Follows]

Hi Ray,

The custom slew rate fields are no longer available in the drop-down list menus. Please refer to the
Optional Initialization window and also to the Rate Settings tab.

Regards,
Yves

Hi Terri,

Besides the pointing model aspect of APCC/APPM I’m not very clear on what this software does for the user, but
I’ve only read the setup so far so need to dive into it more.

APCC provides numerous features. Here is a link to a list of some of them:

https://www.siriusimaging.com/Help/APCC/features.htm

-Ray Gralak
Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/accessories/software/apcc/apcc
Author of PEMPro V3: https://www.ccdware.com
Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver

-----Original Message-----
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Terri Zittritsch
Sent: Saturday, March 7, 2020 7:19 AM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Notified!😍 #mach2gto #mach2gto

Thanks guys, I have received the mount and it’s all together and up and running. I’ve installed the v2 ascom
driver and gotten that working with cartes du ciel. This was all pretty fast and no troubles. I use EQMOD so it’s
all pretty similar. I’ve yet to try SGP but expect that will work fine.

I followed the setup instructions for the v2 driver which made that all pretty simple.

Where things get a bit confusing is with the APCC setup. I’ve read Ray’s instructions for APCC after having
already installed And setup the V2 driver and think they imply a different setup of the v2 driver with virtual ports
instead of the com port I used with the built in FTDI chip In the GTOCP5. I’m sure it’s not a huge deal to resolve,
it’s just confusing. Right now I’m thinking my first outside work will be with the V2 driver and SGPro and just
seeing how well it tracks and runs. Given I use an ASI 1600 cmos camera my exposures are typically 5 minutes
or less.

Besides the pointing model aspect of APCC/APPM I’m not very clear on what this software does for the user, but
I’ve only read the setup so far so need to dive into it more.

In general the mount is very solid and has zero play that I can feel, so it exudes quality craftsmanship.
The counterweight bar is heavy and balances my stowaway, without a weight, when it has no accessories or
imaging setup. I’m wondering if I need a 5 lb weight to tune the balance for the light scopes. So far I have only
purchased heavier weights.

So far, very happy with what I have, the real smiles will come when I can experience very good tracking. I just
need some cooperative weather now.


Terri

Yes, mine is also off when I startup. But also, I noticed both yours and mine show the home positions as -100H
(HA) and -100 degrees (DEC). Does that mean the AE function needs to be initialized or calibrated? Also, seems
like those numbers are a bit extreme and should be limit checked in the software to something like +/- 6 hours for
HA and 0 degrees for DEC.

Those are the default uninitialized values which just weren't getting updated. The new builds, 1.8.0.4 and .5, fix this.

-Ray Gralak
Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/accessories/software/apcc/apcc
Author of PEMPro V3: https://www.ccdware.com
Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver

-----Original Message-----
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Craig Young
Sent: Saturday, March 7, 2020 1:45 AM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Does APCC 1.8.0.2 update disable encoders?

Yes, mine is also off when I startup. But also, I noticed both yours and mine show the home positions as -100H
(HA) and -100 degrees (DEC). Does that mean the AE function needs to be initialized or calibrated? Also, seems
like those numbers are a bit extreme and should be limit checked in the software to something like +/- 6 hours for
HA and 0 degrees for DEC.

Craig

Hi Stacey,

I just updated to the newest version of APCC and the driver. I park at Park-2, which is basically azimuth=90,
altitude=0. When parked the altitude sometimes dithers a few arcseconds. With the new update I've noticed that
when the altitude dithers to a very small negative value (just a few arcsecs less than zero), the azimuth display
jumps from 90 to 270. I don't recall seeing this before the upgrade. Because of the weather, I haven't see whether
this has any effect on the dome slaving when the dome is sitting open at startup (cool down), the scope is at 90/0
and the dome is slaved to the scope. I hope doesn't try to do a 180 with each dither.

Alt/Az is being calculated from site latitude, RA, Dec and local sidereal time. When the mount is stopped RA is changing so depending on exactly when RA and sidereal time is polled there might be appear to be a slight change in Alt/Az. This was not changed recently.

-Ray Gralak
Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/accessories/software/apcc/apcc
Author of PEMPro V3: https://www.ccdware.com
Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver

-----Original Message-----
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Stacey Mills
Sent: Friday, March 6, 2020 6:59 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: [ap-gto] Azimiuth Display around Park Altitude = 0

I just updated to the newest version of APCC and the driver. I park at Park-2, which is basically azimuth=90,
altitude=0. When parked the altitude sometimes dithers a few arcseconds. With the new update I've noticed that
when the altitude dithers to a very small negative value (just a few arcsecs less than zero), the azimuth display
jumps from 90 to 270. I don't recall seeing this before the upgrade. Because of the weather, I haven't see whether
this has any effect on the dome slaving when the dome is sitting open at startup (cool down), the scope is at 90/0
and the dome is slaved to the scope. I hope doesn't try to do a 180 with each dither.

Hi Yves,

The custom slew rate field in no longer available in the drop-down list menu. Please refer to the Optional
Initialization window and also from the Rate Settings tab.

This should be fixed in 1.8.0.4/5, which is available now.

-Ray Gralak
Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/accessories/software/apcc/apcc
Author of PEMPro V3: https://www.ccdware.com
Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver

-----Original Message-----
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Yves Laroche
Sent: Friday, March 6, 2020 3:34 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: [ap-gto] APCC 1.8.0.3 : Custom Slew Rate

Hi Ray,

The custom slew rate field in no longer available in the drop-down list menu. Please refer to the Optional
Initialization window and also from the Rate Settings tab.

Regards,
Yves

Hi Michael,

This seems to happen occasionally with users - it would seem a nice enhancement and reduce the support load
for AP if APCC checked for the minimum version of firmware required for a given APCC release and report a
warning if the firmware is too old.

We are discussing this option. Thanks for the suggestion!

-Ray Gralak
Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/accessories/software/apcc/apcc
Author of PEMPro V3: https://www.ccdware.com
Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver

-----Original Message-----
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Michael Fulbright
Sent: Friday, March 6, 2020 2:28 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Does APCC 1.8.0.2 update disable encoders?

This seems to happen occasionally with users - it would seem a nice enhancement and reduce the support load
for AP if APCC checked for the minimum version of firmware required for a given APCC release and report a
warning if the firmware is too old.

Michael Fulbright



On 3/6/20 3:53 PM, Brian Valente wrote:


Hi Cytan

i believe you need to be on the latest GTOCP firmware, you might want to check that out



On Fri, Mar 6, 2020 at 12:48 PM Cheng-Yang Tan via Groups.Io <cytan299=yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:


Hi guys,
I'm wondering whether upgrading to APCC 1.8.0.2 disables encoders from an older version?
Please see screen capture:


I didn't realize the encoder was disabled until I looked at the AE tab. And that was after the upgrade.
Which then begs the question as to whether my encoders were disabled before the upgrade.

Is there an obvious way to know whether the encoders are enabled *without* going to the AE tab?
When I look at the bottom right window the "ENC" rectangle is in yellow, and so I thought that the encoders were
on.

Thanks!

cytan




--

Brian



Brian Valente
portfolio brianvalentephotography.com <http://brianvalentephotography.com>

Hi Cytan,

I didn't realize the encoder was disabled until I looked at the AE tab. And that was after the upgrade. Which then
begs the question as to whether my encoders were disabled before the upgrade

The encoders were never disabled. The tab controls just weren't being updated.

I made a fix available yesterday, v1.8.0.4 Standard and v1.8.0.5 Pro.

You can get the update via check for updates. I'll post direct links in a different post shortly.

-Ray Gralak
Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/accessories/software/apcc/apcc
Author of PEMPro V3: https://www.ccdware.com
Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver

-----Original Message-----
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Cheng-Yang Tan via Groups.Io
Sent: Friday, March 6, 2020 12:47 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: [ap-gto] Does APCC 1.8.0.2 update disable encoders?

Hi guys,
I'm wondering whether upgrading to APCC 1.8.0.2 disables encoders from an older version? Please see screen
capture:


I didn't realize the encoder was disabled until I looked at the AE tab. And that was after the upgrade. Which then
begs the question as to whether my encoders were disabled before the upgrade.

Is there an obvious way to know whether the encoders are enabled *without* going to the AE tab? When I look at
the bottom right window the "ENC" rectangle is in yellow, and so I thought that the encoders were on.

Thanks!

cytan

Hi Wayne, you are free to e-mail me directly as well, I'm theresamarie11@....     Might be good to compare notes.   I haven't figured out how to do a polar alignment during the day yet.  Is that a feature of APCC?    

Also curious if you installed the 5.30.08 V2 driver?  I did my day one testing with 5.30.7 which went fine and yesterday installed 5.30.8.    I saw some strange behavior where Cartes du Ciel thought the mount pointing around Deneb when it was clearly pointing at the pole.   The V2 driver coordinates were consistent with where it was pointing in cartes du ciel, but the mount was in a park 3 orientation (pointing at pole).   I did various resets, restarts to no avail, the driver coordinates would not align to where the mount was pointing.     So I uninstalled the 5.30.8 and reinstalled the 5.30.7, which did nothing.   But given some of my experience with ascom and how it may store things, I went to the telescope selection screen in cartes du ciel and selected EQmod (to presumably force a refresh of wherever ascom puts the code) then then re-loaded the V2 driver and this seemed to do the trick and all was back to normal.

At this point, not sure if this was an issue with the 5.30.8, or even the way I updated the driver (which was error free).  I'll stick with 5.30.7 for now until I get some clarification.   I also need to figure out how to report such things formally.   I'm sure a totally new mount will have a few glitches.

best,
Terri

Thanks Terri, mine is #0015. Got through the Daytime polar alignment. A little simpler with the Mach2, just go to Park 4 and level the scope with the Altitude adjuster. I did a goto the Moon and waited til it broke through the clouds enough to center it as close as possible  with the Azimuth adjuster. Hope to refine it with the Polemaster tomorrow night, forecast looking ok.

Ray,

HI Wayne, there is a white sticker on the back, above the azimuth knobs.     The last digits on mine are the same as the controller.. which might imply I have mount #14.

Terri

I already live that feature in the Mach2 even though I’ll I’ve done is set it up a couple times. Now I won’t hesitate to fine-tune my balance or manually move the scope to find something quickly. Or just to hand-tighten the clutch knobs to protect equipment in case of hung cables or pier collision. 

Let's put this thread to bed. Clearly I need to learn more about what
my system is doing.

Good news! I just finished a PEMPro backlash analysis, and the triangle wave looks perfect -- no flat tops and no overshoot.

So there is no need for me to set any backlash compensation in MaxIm or in the ASCOM driver.

I'm very pleased. My old 1200 is still at the top of its game.

--- Mike

Clearly a lot of thought went into the design features of the next generation A/P Mach2 GTO mount.  They need to stay ahead of the competition.  

Thanks! I can verify through my experience with the Mach2 that it does retain its position. This is a nice feature given how many times on my Mach1 I had to loosen clutches, manually park and resume from park , and then goto and reposition and recalibrate. 

It is my understanding the location in the drive train of the Encoders is different between the  AP1100 and the Mach2 GTO.   The Mach2 has them located so that you can move the scope by hand and not loose calibration with the sky model,   The AP 1100 Encoders are in a location with the relation to the clutches that, if moved by hand you do loose calibration with the sky model.   

I was unable to find the text in the description of the new Mach2 Gto, however it's in there somewhere.

aruckle

I was curious for anyone familiar with the AP1100with AE. Does that mount allow you to move the axes by hand and not lose position as with the Mach2? My friend that bought the 1100 was asking.