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Re: [ap-ug] RS-232
Peter Natscher
As stated earlier with trying to replace the corrupted database in my Keypad, I had problems connecting with a cable between my MacBook Pro (17" 2012) partitioned with Parallels running Win 10 Pro 64. I was using a TripLite RS-232 (9 pin)-to-USB(A) cable connector (with its own board inside). This required a driver. Win 7 and Win 10 couldn't find a driver for this cable, so I downloaded and installed a current one found online. After installing the driver, Win 10 still couldn't acknowledge the connection between the PC laptop and CP4. Could anyone please recommend a proven USB(A)-to-RS232 cable to me that will connect between USB(A) port laptop and the CP4?
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Re: [ap-ug] RS-232
Peter Natscher
Hi Howard,
That's good news about the P01-14. Will this software be able to be loaded into the CP4 and Keypad using my PC with Win 10 Pro 64?
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Re: [ap-ug] RS-232
HERE IS THE WHOLE THREAD FROM THE AP-UG.
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Re: [ap-ug] RS-232
Let me jump in. In Peter’s defence, his issue with the RS232 occurred when attempting to load the database back into the keypad after the battery had been replaced. For that activity, we do not yet offer a web-based loader, but it will be coming along with the next generation of keypad firmware.
PLEASE NOTE: We now have a version of CP4 software – P01-14 – that allows both RS232 ports AND the USB port to be used for keypad loading. Older CP4 versions and all earlier control boxes were top RS232 port only for keypad loads. P01-14 is not up on the website, yet, but I can provide a dropbox link to anyone who needs it. The only difference between P01-13 and P01-14 is this one feature. If you have P01-13, and you don’t need to load keypad firmware or the database, there is no need to rush out and get P01-14
Except for cameras, almost all astro-equipment is serial if you look under the hood. Manufacturers (our friends at Optec come to mind) do exactly what we did: they install an OEM USB to serial converter inside the device electronics. You may be plugging in a USB cable, but the communication is serial.
Serial may be old technology, but it has many advantages. Ray summarized them beautifully!
FINALLY I AM MOVING THIS TO THE AP-GTO GROUP WHERE IT BELONGS.
Mag. 7 Skies!
Howard Hedlund Astro-Physics, Inc. Phone: 815-315-7015 Please include this e-mail with your response.
P Consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
From: main@ap-ug.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-ug.groups.io]
On Behalf Of Steve Reilly
Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2020 12:53 To: main@ap-ug.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-ug] RS-232
Look at the CP 4 and you’ll see many options of which includes RS-232. Win 10 can easily run RS232 ports and the hardware is available. I use StarTech PCIe boards on new builds. As for laptops, I don’t even try to run an observatory on one especially if imaging. I use the Ethernet connection as primary with a RS232 backup.
-Steve
From: main@ap-ug.groups.io <main@ap-ug.groups.io>
On Behalf Of Peter Natscher
Why does Astro-Physics continue to use RS-232 in their CP mount electronics? This adds to the difficulty of upgrading the electronics with current computers, especially operating in Win 10. What other telescope mount maker uses RS-232? These plugs are not on current laptops, they are so old system developed in 1968! Today's electronics only need USB.
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Re: [ap-ug] Heavenly Flower
Richard Crisp
I shot that image at f/9 so it was slow: 38.5hours using a kaf8300 for all three filters
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
“Corrected” by my iPhone
On Jul 15, 2020, at 4:34 PM, Roland Christen via groups.io <chris1011@...> wrote:
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Re: [ap-ug] Heavenly Flower
Richard Crisp
It looks good to me
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
It’s a great tricolor narrowband object too Goodly amount of sulfur & oxygen in it This isn’t the best example but it’s one I could find quickly Kaf8300/ap180edt s2/Ha/O3 “Corrected” by my iPhone
On Jul 15, 2020, at 1:12 PM, Roland Christen via groups.io <chris1011@...> wrote:
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Re: [ap-ug] Heavenly Flower
Roland Christen
If I get another week of clear skies I will definitely go for it.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Crisp <rdcrisp@...> To: main@ap-ug.groups.io Cc: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Wed, Jul 15, 2020 6:29 pm Subject: Re: [ap-ug] Heavenly Flower It looks good to me
It’s a great tricolor narrowband object too
Goodly amount of sulfur & oxygen in it
This isn’t the best example but it’s one I could find quickly
Kaf8300/ap180edt s2/Ha/O3
“Corrected” by my iPhone
On Jul 15, 2020, at 1:12 PM, Roland Christen via groups.io <chris1011@...> wrote:
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Heavenly Flower
Roland Christen
I just uploaded my heavenly Flower, the Tulip Nebula:
https://www.astrobin.com/full/9ps5cx/0/?nc=Uncarollo&real=&mod=
Full resolution crop:
https://www.astrobin.com/full/0mmr9p/0/?nc=Uncarollo&real=&mod=
7 hours for H-a over a couple of nights. 160EDF refractor mounted on the Mach2 mount, unguided, using the keypad simple modeling routine (8 points along the object path). No field flattener, just straight thru from lens to the chip.
Rolando
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Re: Mach1 and GTOCP4 Yellow Light
Joe Zeglinski
Mikko,
There may be “oxidized connector pins” on the RA box,
and likely DEC as well. Disconnecting and reconnected the Y-cable probably
cleaned them up – a bit. Maybe try a contact cleaner spray on both cable plug
& socket, to ensure longer operation, since this seems to have been
the fix to the original problem.
Joe Z.
From: Mikko Viljamaa
Sent: Wednesday, July 15, 2020 9:42 AM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Mach1 and GTOCP4 Yellow
Light I
never opened the Dec gearbox so I don't know what's going on there. When I first
connected the Dec side of the cable to Ra and had the Ra box open, the quick
rotation I explained happened. After I jiggled and pinched the visible wires
inside the Ra gearbox, everything started to work. This with the correct Ra side
of the cable was connected. I don't remember ever trying again with the Dec side
after everything worked. I'll redo all the testing and record them step by step when the mount malfunctions the next time. That way we know for sure. Now I have currently three nights without a problem so I don't want to stir the status quo. Again, when I opened the Ra gearbox, I did the mentioned wire jiggle and pinch so who knows, maybe that helped. - Mikko
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Re: Mach1 and GTOCP4 Yellow Light
Mikko Viljamaa
I never opened the Dec gearbox so I don't know what's going on there. When I first connected the Dec side of the cable to Ra and had the Ra box open, the quick rotation I explained happened. After I jiggled and pinched the visible wires inside the Ra gearbox, everything started to work. This with the correct Ra side of the cable was connected. I don't remember ever trying again with the Dec side after everything worked.
I'll redo all the testing and record them step by step when the mount malfunctions the next time. That way we know for sure. Now I have currently three nights without a problem so I don't want to stir the status quo. Again, when I opened the Ra gearbox, I did the mentioned wire jiggle and pinch so who knows, maybe that helped. - Mikko
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Same path for me too. Mach1 + APCC-Srd to Mach2 + Std. I had the APCC-Pro key just before the delivery of the mach2, I installed APCC-Pro with APCC-Std still installed. So I have the 2 installed ... without this causing any problems ... but like that I also recovered the site parameters.
Dominique
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Marcelo Figueroa
Thanks, I'll do it that way.
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Re: Mach1 and GTOCP4 Yellow Light
Roland Christen
Maybe it was more, a couple of rotations. It was hard to tell as they did rotate very fast for a fraction of a second. Just to be clear: are you saying that plugging the RA cable into the RA motor produced quick rotation and stall with yellow light? Then plugging this same RA cable into the Dec gearbox produced quick rotation of the Dec gears and stall with yellow light. Is this correct?
Then you tried this same procedure with a new cable and got exactly the same result with RA cable plugged into the RA and then the Dec gearbox as above?
Then last night your mount worked ok and you did not get a stall and yellow light?
If not, please explain exactly what are the actions.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Mikko Viljamaa <mikko.viljamaa@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Tue, Jul 14, 2020 7:19 am Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Mach1 and GTOCP4 Yellow Light If both RA and Dec motors produce a yellow light then the mount is probably ok. It indicates that there's a loose connection between the controller and the mount gearboxes, most likely in the RA cable. Remove the cover on the cable and look for a loose wire on the pins.
Just to clarify, you are asking me to check the Y-cable, Ra side and see for loose wires or pins? This for both the old one and the new one AP shipped to me last week? As far as gears rotating 180 degrees, that statement is puzzling. The gearbox has a number of gears and they all rotate at different rates, so when you say gears, which one are you referring to/ The little gear on the end of the motor shaft, the white gear, the large center gear, or the final gear on the worm shaft? Maybe it was more, a couple of rotations. It was hard to tell as they did rotate very fast for a fraction of a second. Secondly, how fast did the gear rotate? Very quickly or slowly at the sidereal rate?
See previous. Thanks, Mikko
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Re: Mach1 and GTOCP4 Yellow Light
Mikko Viljamaa
If both RA and Dec motors produce a yellow light then the mount is probably ok. It indicates that there's a loose connection between the controller and the mount gearboxes, most likely in the RA cable. Remove the cover on the cable and look for a loose wire on the pins.
Just to clarify, you are asking me to check the Y-cable, Ra side and see for loose wires or pins? This for both the old one and the new one AP shipped to me last week? As far as gears rotating 180 degrees, that statement is puzzling. The gearbox has a number of gears and they all rotate at different rates, so when you say gears, which one are you referring to/ The little gear on the end of the motor shaft, the white gear, the large center gear, or the final gear on the worm shaft? Maybe it was more, a couple of rotations. It was hard to tell as they did rotate very fast for a fraction of a second. Secondly, how fast did the gear rotate? Very quickly or slowly at the sidereal rate? See previous. Thanks, Mikko
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Re: Suddenly stars are dashes with good guiding
Hi Roland,
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
it is hard to wait till we can read the handbook and find out all the news. ;-)) Grüsse Konstantin Konstantin v. Poschinger Hammerichstr. 5 22605 Hamburg 040/8805747 0171/1983476
Am 14.07.2020 um 01:11 schrieb uncarollo2 <chris1011@...> via groups.io <chris1011@...>:
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Re: Mach1 and GTOCP4 Yellow Light
Roland Christen
If both RA and Dec motors produce a yellow light then the mount is probably ok. It indicates that there's a loose connection between the controller and the mount gearboxes, most likely in the RA cable. Remove the cover on the cable and look for a loose wire on the pins.
As far as gears rotating 180 degrees, that statement is puzzling. The gearbox has a number of gears and they all rotate at different rates, so when you say gears, which one are you referring to/ The little gear on the end of the motor shaft, the white gear, the large center gear, or the final gear on the worm shaft?
Secondly, how fast did the gear rotate? Very quickly or slowly at the sidereal rate?
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Mikko Viljamaa <mikko.viljamaa@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Mon, Jul 13, 2020 10:06 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Mach1 and GTOCP4 Yellow Light On Mon, Jul 13, 2020 at 10:56 AM, uncarollo2 <chris1011@...> wrote:
Just plug the RA cable into the Dec gearbox This is what I did previously and the gears rotated 180 degrees and the Yellow light came on. I’ll verify this one more time but at the moment everything is working again and I don’t want to touch it as we have a rare clear nights string ahead of us and I would like to collect some data. But I have a hard time to believe that this would be a cable issue as that would mean that the original cable AND the new one I got last week would be both faulty. Mikko
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Re: Suddenly stars are dashes with good guiding
Cheng-Yang Tan
Hi Mike, That's a great idea, but doesn't work for me. I image on the concrete sidewalk outside my house. I think as the temperature falls, the sidewalk unbuckles. That's my theory anyway. cytan
On Monday, July 13, 2020, 08:29:52 PM CDT, Michael Hambrick via groups.io <mike.hambrick@...> wrote:
Hi Cytan
I have seen several pictures on the forum where people have set up their tripods or piers directly on the ground. This may be OK for visual use but not for imaging. With a fully loaded mount and scope there can be well over 100 pounds of weight concentrated at the points where the tripod or pier legs contact the ground. The only way to make sure that one of the legs does not sink into the ground is to have a solid base for them to sit on. For my portable setup I have had good luck using 2 ft long wood or concrete posts buried in the ground (see photo). They are spot-on level, absolutely stable, and the top one is pointing towards the pole. 
Best Regards Michael Hambrick ARLANXEO TSR Global Manufacturing Support PO Box 2000 Orange, TX 77631-2000 Phone: +1 (409) 882-2799 email: mike.hambrick@...
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Re: Mach1 and GTOCP4 Yellow Light
Mikko Viljamaa
On Mon, Jul 13, 2020 at 10:56 AM, uncarollo2 <chris1011@...> wrote:
Just plug the RA cable into the Dec gearbox This is what I did previously and the gears rotated 180 degrees and the Yellow light came on. I’ll verify this one more time but at the moment everything is working again and I don’t want to touch it as we have a rare clear nights string ahead of us and I would like to collect some data. But I have a hard time to believe that this would be a cable issue as that would mean that the original cable AND the new one I got last week would be both faulty. Mikko
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Re: Suddenly stars are dashes with good guiding
Michael Hambrick <mike.hambrick@...>
Hi Cytan
I have seen several pictures on the forum where people have set up their tripods or piers directly on the ground. This may be OK for visual use but not for imaging. With a fully loaded mount and scope there can be well over 100 pounds of weight concentrated at the points where the tripod or pier legs contact the ground. The only way to make sure that one of the legs does not sink into the ground is to have a solid base for them to sit on. For my portable setup I have had good luck using 2 ft long wood or concrete posts buried in the ground (see photo). They are spot-on level, absolutely stable, and the top one is pointing towards the pole. 
Best Regards Michael Hambrick ARLANXEO TSR Global Manufacturing Support PO Box 2000 Orange, TX 77631-2000 Phone: +1 (409) 882-2799 email: mike.hambrick@...
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Re: Strange behaviour when parking
Jos� Joaqu�n P�rez Guy
Thanks Howard. I' ll give you a call tomorrrow.
El lun., 13 de julio de 2020 20:34, Howard Hedlund <howard@...> escribió:
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