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Re: High RMS values with PHD2
NEVER mark messages from Groups.io as SPAM. That creates massive headaches for many other users, for many group moderators and also for Groups.io in general. MUCH better to seek Groups.io customer support if you can't figure out how to modify your notifications settings. "My advice is always free and worth every penny!" Observatory Engineer Summit Kinetics Waikoloa, Hawaii
https://openphdguiding.org/logs/dl/PHD2_logs_wkhU.zip
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Re: Bad initial guiding on my AP600e
I used this mount when I was getting started in AP. I have since upgraded to a newer AP mount
This mount has significant stiction on the DEC axis. This appears as backlash when you calibrate with PhD or any other software. But this isn't backlash in the true sense of the term. This mount uses plane bearings on the DEC axis that are quite sufficient for the payload but unfortunately suffers from stiction. The mount will not move over several commands and then suddenly take off. It has overcompensated now and will again have to be guided back. And then it goes on oscillating. RA guiding is usually awesome but DEC guiding is a disaster. I do not know a good solution to the stiction issue, maybe a light lubricant on the DEC axis rather than a heavy one may help but it may introduce other issues. But there is a very easy workaround: Dont polar align too precisely. Set phD to guide in only one direction on the DEC axis. When it is moving in only one direction, there is very little stiction. You will see your problems go away.
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Re: High RMS values with PHD2
https://openphdguiding.org/logs/dl/PHD2_logs_wkhU.zip
Here is the link for the log. I see you also post on PHD. To tell you the truth, I had to mark notifications from that forum as spam, because they were coming through constantly, and I was unable to reset the notification. In any case somehow I got things back to normal last night, but I am not sure what caused the problem, and what fixed it.
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Re: Bad initial guiding on my AP600e
Emilio J. Robau, P.E.
Indeed,
If it ain’t broke, don’t broke it.
Emilio J. Robau. P.E. Professional Engineer Florida, Montana, North Carolina
Designs for Human Habitation and Environmental Conservation Civil Engineering - Project Management – Permitting – Consulting Ph: 239-206-8000 Direct: 239-204-4322 2770 Horseshoe Drive S, Suite 7, Naples, Florida 34104
This e-mail message is sent from Robau and Associates, LLC, and is intended only for the addressee. This message and any attachments may contain information that is confidential or privileged. Upon receipt of any electronic file/data from Robau and Associates, LLC, you are agreeing to the following: This file/data is for informational purposes only. It is the responsibility of the recipient to reconcile this electronic file/data with the actual project site conditions. Recipient agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Robau and Associates, LLC for any defects or errors in this file/data. Unauthorized use, dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail and any attachments is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender by reply e-mail and delete the message and any attachments.
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Re: Gtocp3
Roland Christen
It's on the side of the box.
Roland
-----Original Message-----
From: steve711614 via groups.io <steve.duck@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Tue, Jan 19, 2021 4:38 am Subject: [ap-gto] Gtocp3 Hello I am trying to find the serial number of the cp3 controller box
Steve -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics
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Re: Bad initial guiding on my AP600e
Roland Christen
Adding simple backlash compensation is not something I recommend. It can very easily cause system instability in Dec. PHD2 has a new adaptive compensation that might work well, but you would need to go to their user group to find out if this fits your needs. If your guiding is good then i would leave it be.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Emilio J. Robau, P.E. <ejr@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Tue, Jan 19, 2021 9:16 am Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Bad initial guiding on my AP600e Roland,
A follow up on dec backlash. So, I should be allowing PHD to measure backlash and then applying it accordingly? I thought the recommendation was not to do that. Even without it, I have excellent tracking. Thanks
Emilio J. Robau. P.E.
Professional Engineer
Florida, Montana, North Carolina
 Designs for Human Habitation and Environmental Conservation
Civil Engineering - Project Management – Permitting – Consulting Ph: 239-206-8000 Direct: 239-204-4322
2770 Horseshoe Drive S, Suite 7, Naples, Florida 34104
This e-mail message is sent from Robau and Associates, LLC, and is intended only for the addressee. This message and any attachments may contain information that
is confidential or privileged. Upon receipt of any electronic file/data from
Robau and Associates, LLC, you are agreeing to the following: This file/data is for informational purposes only. It is the responsibility of the recipient to reconcile this electronic file/data with the actual project site conditions.
Recipient agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Robau and Associates, LLC
for any defects or errors in this file/data. Unauthorized use, dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail and any attachments is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender
by reply e-mail and delete the message and any attachments.
-- Roland Christen Astro-Physics
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Re: Gtocp3
George
Steve,
It will be a sticker on the right side, unless it is an early CP3, which may not have one. It will be GTOCP3-xxxx.
Regards,
George
George Whitney Astro-Physics, Inc. Phone: 815-222-6538 (direct line) Phone: 815-282-1513 (office) Email: george@...
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io>
On Behalf Of steve711614 via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2021 4:38 AM To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: [ap-gto] Gtocp3
Hello I am trying to find the serial number of the cp3 controller box
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Gtocp3
steve711614
Hello I am trying to find the serial number of the cp3 controller box
Steve
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Re: Bad initial guiding on my AP600e
Emilio J. Robau, P.E.
Roland,
Thanks
Emilio J. Robau. P.E. Professional Engineer Florida, Montana, North Carolina
Designs for Human Habitation and Environmental Conservation Civil Engineering - Project Management – Permitting – Consulting Ph: 239-206-8000 Direct: 239-204-4322 2770 Horseshoe Drive S, Suite 7, Naples, Florida 34104
This e-mail message is sent from Robau and Associates, LLC, and is intended only for the addressee. This message and any attachments may contain information that is confidential or privileged. Upon receipt of any electronic file/data from Robau and Associates, LLC, you are agreeing to the following: This file/data is for informational purposes only. It is the responsibility of the recipient to reconcile this electronic file/data with the actual project site conditions. Recipient agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Robau and Associates, LLC for any defects or errors in this file/data. Unauthorized use, dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail and any attachments is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender by reply e-mail and delete the message and any attachments.
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Re: Bad initial guiding on my AP600e
Worsel
Tom
PHD2's adaptive backlash compensation MAY be able to mitigate (not eliminate) that amount. If not, you can try uni-directional Dec guiding. See pages 28 and 29 of the PHD2 documentation. Bryan
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Re: Bad initial guiding on my AP600e
Tom Blahovici
Ok,
I thought I had it adjusted well. I re-greased the mount a while ago, and used a dial indicator to determine the play. Ok, maybe I can set the direction of the final slew or delay Voyager for a longer period. Or just wait for my AP1100! Tom
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Re: Bad initial guiding on my AP600e
Roland Christen
If I look at the PhD guiding assistant it tells me I need 2300 ms of dec backlash compensation. So is this related to Dec backlash? Yes, this is exactly Dec backlash and is typical of this mount. You can try to adjust it out, but it's not an easy thing to do.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Blahovici <tom.va2fsq@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Mon, Jan 18, 2021 6:31 pm Subject: [ap-gto] Bad initial guiding on my AP600e Hi
I have run into something with PhD guider that I would like feedback here first before going to their forum. I use Voyager, and the way this works and the problem is : 1) It does a precise goto to an object. In other words it does a goto, then it plate solves and if the error is less than 18" it starts the PhD guiding. 2) On this first positioning, and the start of guiding, the dec axis plot is drifting down a lot. You can see that there is a lot of corrections being made. As the Dec drift gets worse than 2" of arc, Voyager aborts. 3) Voyager, restarts the guiding and then all is OK. The overall guiding is better than 0.5" over 20 minutes. If I look at the PhD guiding assistant it tells me I need 2300 ms of dec backlash compensation. So is this related to Dec backlash? I am using a CP4. Thanks for any insight. Tom -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics
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Bad initial guiding on my AP600e
Tom Blahovici
Hi
I have run into something with PhD guider that I would like feedback here first before going to their forum. I use Voyager, and the way this works and the problem is : 1) It does a precise goto to an object. In other words it does a goto, then it plate solves and if the error is less than 18" it starts the PhD guiding. 2) On this first positioning, and the start of guiding, the dec axis plot is drifting down a lot. You can see that there is a lot of corrections being made. As the Dec drift gets worse than 2" of arc, Voyager aborts. 3) Voyager, restarts the guiding and then all is OK. The overall guiding is better than 0.5" over 20 minutes. If I look at the PhD guiding assistant it tells me I need 2300 ms of dec backlash compensation. So is this related to Dec backlash? I am using a CP4. Thanks for any insight. Tom
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Re: APCC Pro v 1.8.8.15
Ron,
It is more correct to refer to the program in the control box and keypad as software than firmware, so we are changing the terminology in our documentation and website.
The most current version is VCPx-P02-08. I will deconstruct the version number. - VCPx is Version CPx (which stands for CP4 or CP5) - The production versions of the software begin with “P” and the engineering versions begin with “E”. I am not sure why your control box has an E version unless the title was not changed when it was released. I apologize for that confusion. We need to be more diligent to be sure that it does not occur. - Earlier versions began with P01 and we recently released a major upgrade to P02. This marked the transition that it could be used with the CP4 and CP5 and offered new features to the CP4 as can be found in the version history. - -08 is the minor number of the version. We will increment these numbers more frequently.
Our software updates webpage offers you the option of accessing the new software or the previous version in case someone wants to roll back for some reason. The version that is presently loaded in your control box precedes the previous version.
I am not sure where you found the instructions regarding a 2-pin power cord. I could not find it. All CP4s have a 2-pin power cord.
There are numerous links on the upgrade page with various headings: Download program to your PC, Upload Software to Your Control Box, GTOCP4 Manual and Version History and Bug Fixes. Please read the instructions carefully.
I will send a private email with the user name and password. Please write them in your CP4 manual for future reference.
Clear Skies,
Marj Christen Astro-Physics, Inc 11250 Forest Hills Rd Machesney Park, IL 61115 Phone: 815-282-1513 Fax: 815-282-9847 www.astro-physics.com
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io]
On Behalf Of Ron Kramer
Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2021 4:53 PM To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] APCC Pro v 1.8.8.15
I have this warning...see attached.
On Sun, Jan 17, 2021 at 5:22 PM Ron Kramer via groups.io <ronkramer1957=gmail.com@groups.io> wrote:
-- Ron Kramer
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Re: Problem with Sync
Roland Christen
You can use the Sync function in SkyX since there is no Recal wording in that program. In SkyX the Sync is really a Recal, so no worries. Basically you point and click an object in SkyX, center it with any buttons (keypad or SkyX buttons) then bring up the Sync menu in SkyX and press Sync. SkyX will ask you if you want to sync on that object which you sent the mount to. It works, absolutely.
Roland
-----Original Message-----
From: Worsel via groups.io <bryancashion@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Mon, Jan 18, 2021 11:25 am Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Problem with Sync There is a detailed explanation of Sync vs Recal on page 117 of APPC-Std and page 139 of APPC-Pro
Intro to above says "Sync and Recalibrate are often used as synonyms in everyday use, but to APCC and the GTO Control Box directing the movements of your mount, they are different and distinct. Understanding this distinction will aid you in enjoying your Astro-Physics GoTo system." Bryan -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics
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Re: Problem with Sync
Worsel
There is a detailed explanation of Sync vs Recal on page 117 of APPC-Std and page 139 of APPC-Pro
Intro to above says "Sync and Recalibrate are often used as synonyms in everyday use, but to APCC and the GTO Control Box directing the movements of your mount, they are different and distinct. Understanding this distinction will aid you in enjoying your Astro-Physics GoTo system." Bryan
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Re: RAPAS Polar Alignment App No Longer Available in Apple App Store
Derek K.
The Polar Scope Align app enables adjustments for atmospheric refraction plus “Aberration and Nutation” by default.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
It may be interesting to experiment with disabling each adjustment via selectors in the “Advanced settings” menu accessible from the gear-shaped icon on the bottom right in the iOS version, to gauge the impact on the estimated Local Hour Angle and North Celestial Pole distance. Derek
On Monday, January 18, 2021, 08:14, M Hambrick <mhambrick563@...> wrote:
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Re: Problem with Sync
Terri Zittritsch
Thanks for posting the problem and response, I was doing it wrong myself! Terri
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Re: APPM ActiveX Failed to connect
#APCC
Dale Ghent
This same situation was answered here earlier this week. You must start TheSkyX as Administrator once so that it can register its ActiveX components with Windows, then it will work running as non-Administrator afterwards.
On Jan 18, 2021, at 11:08, Claude Benoit via groups.io <Isphotoman@...> wrote:
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Re: RAPAS Polar Alignment App No Longer Available in Apple App Store
Thanks Jeff
I bought the Polar Scope Align Pro Watch app for my iPhone yesterday and I kept my old A-P Polar Align app as well. The Polar Scope Align app warns that the position of Polaris may not exactly match the year rings in the reticle. For example, I notice that Polaris is positioned closer to the 2030 ring than the 2020 ring. I also noticed comparing the position of Polaris in the Polar Scope Align versus the A-P Polar Align apps that Polaris is about 5 minutes "faster" in the Polar Scope Align app than it is in the A-P Polar Align app. In any case, I am assuming that the Polar Scope Align app is more up-to-date and I will align my mount as close as possible to where the app is telling me Polaris should be. Mike  
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