I would appreciate some guidance on how to set up APPM. I have an AP 1100GTO on an ATS pier that has been stabilized with three ratchet ropes attached to steel anchors imbedded 4 inches into a concrete slab.

I keep the mount and TAK f/7.7 TOA 130 covered with Telegizmos 365 covers when not in use.

Is this a stable enough platform to build reliable pointing models?

If so, can a reliable pointing model be obtained with illumination from the moon?

What is the maximum focal length recommended for use with APPM?

Thanks for your assistance and guidance.

Ted

I have my AP1600 with CP4 connected to the observatory computer using a Serial cable and USB to Serial adapter.  I use SkyTools to connect to and control the mount.  Occasionally I get an error indicating that connection to the mount has been lost.  I re-establish the connection and all is fine.
Would using a CAT5 or CAT6 connection from the CP4 to the computer provide a  more reliable connection to the mount?
Can I have the mount connected to the computer using both a CAT cable and a serial cable?
If so, which connection takes precedence?

Yours truly,

Jack Huerkamp 

Same problem happened last night.

Thanks to all for the help.

Yes, I'm using TCP.

Ray has looked at my logs and thinks it is a timing issue. My data goes from mount via Cat6 to LAN switch via fiber to another LAN switch and then via Cat6 to the computer.  I will advance the timeout setting from 100ms to as much as 500ms, a bit over time to fine the sweet spot. I'll also set up the backup COM port using a USB connection. I can also take the second switch out of the loop if needed.

I'm using the brick power supply that came with the mount.  I also have the Powerwerx power supply, for now attached to my 1100. If the problem persists I'll use that power supply on the Mach2 and see if that solves it.

Once again, my thanks to this great community for their support and good counsel.

Marty

I'm not sure I understand your question.  The clamp isn't threaded so I'm going to assume you're talking about the knob, in which case, it is one piece.

Robert

Hi Bob,

Thank you, Ray. What ASCOM client application would work?

Any ASCOM client would work, but the AP V2 driver comes with the AP Jog utility, which would be a good choice.

-Ray

-----Original Message-----
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Bob Gillette via groups.io
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2021 4:57 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Help Parking AP 900 in TheSky #ASCOM_V2_Driver #ASCOM_V2_Driver

Thank you, Ray. What ASCOM client application would work?

Bob

I usually control this from my warm room by opening Astro-Physics Jog Scope and then calling up the V2 driver
window (v5.30.10). Then to make fine adjustments to the pointing, while viewing an image on the screen, I set the
move rate to 1x or 0.5x.
A curious problem has started occurring today with my AP 1200GTO (GTOCP3, Firmware M).

With the older firmware, like what you are using, you should instead use v5.21.01 :

https://www.gralak.com/apdriver/AstroPhysics_V2_Setup_5.21.01.exe

-Ray

-----Original Message-----
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of David Arditti
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2021 2:59 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: [ap-gto] AP V2 Ascom driver slew speeds wrong #ASCOM_V2_Driver

A curious problem has started occurring today with my AP 1200GTO (GTOCP3, Firmware M).

I usually control this from my warm room by opening Astro-Physics Jog Scope and then calling up the V2 driver
window (v5.30.10). Then to make fine adjustments to the pointing, while viewing an image on the screen, I set the
move rate to 1x or 0.5x.

However, suddenly today this is not working. Setting the move rate to 1x or 0.5x or 0.25x results in the object
shooting across the display: the telescope is slewing much faster than the stated rate. 12x is not so bad, strangely.

Jog Scope still performs as expected.

I've updated ASCOM, switched everything off and on again, but still get the same behaviour.

Can anyone suggest what the problem is?

Thanks,

David

Thanks Robert That is good to know.

Are the section of the clamp with the female threads and the Allen head screw all one piece ?

Mike 

"From what I can tell, the Allen head in the clamp looks like the head of a standard 1/4-20 socket head cap screw that has been press fitted into the recess hole in the aluminum clamp. The knurling in the head helps to hold it into place."

This is not the case at all.  The knob is threaded and the screw is held in place with Loctite.  All that needs to be done to fix it is to remove the loose screw, clean the threads up a bit and re-apply some red 271 Loctite.

Robert

I was doing point mapping using APPM the other night, and it was going along well.  Then a couple of the images had this bright flare across them, although they could be plate solved, but one of them was completely saturated and was unable to be solved.  I was inside watching the process, which still fascinates me, via Remote Desktop, and I was getting ready to go outside to see what was shining down my OTA, but then I realized what the reason was.  It was our overbearing friend, the Moon. Something to keep in mind when you’re point mapping.

Thank you, Ray.  What ASCOM client application would work?

Bob

A curious problem has started occurring today with my AP 1200GTO (GTOCP3, Firmware M).

I usually control this from my warm room by opening Astro-Physics Jog Scope and then calling up the V2 driver window (v5.30.10). Then to make fine adjustments to the pointing, while viewing an image on the screen, I set the move rate to 1x or 0.5x.

However, suddenly today this is not working. Setting the move rate to 1x or 0.5x or 0.25x results in the object shooting across the display: the telescope is slewing much faster than the stated rate. 12x is not so bad, strangely.

Jog Scope still performs as expected.

I've updated ASCOM, switched everything off and on again, but still get the same behaviour.

Can anyone suggest what the problem is?

Thanks,

David

Hi Marty,

I had a similar problem and reported it here a while
ago. It took a while for me to isolate the issue.
It turned out, it’s a faulty power supply. Of course,
what happened on me may not be the same as
your issue, but it’s worth checking out.

Cheers,
Wei-Hao
--

Homepage:

http://www.asiaa.sinica.edu.tw/~whwang/

Astrobin gallery:
http://www.astrobin.com/users/whwang/

Thanks for all the kind comments. 

Hi Marty

one thing to confirm is you are using TCP and not UDP?

I found UDP to be unreliable and cause intermittent connectivity issues

Brian

Marty,

I emailed it to you (7MB) at what I think is a good email address.

I haven't received it yet, so it may be one of the email addresses I deleted recently. When I start getting spam on an email address I remove it and create another one. For this forum, I am now using iogroups at siriusimaging dot com. Please try emailing it to that email address.

-Ray

-----Original Message-----
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of mjb87 via groups.io
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2021 6:37 AM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Mach2 intermittent loss of connection

[Edited Message Follows]

Thanks, Ray.

I did try to select "none" for the backup connection but the setting didn't "stick" when I reopened the program. I must
not have saved the settings, or an earlier version was being loaded. I'll look into that.

I'll collect the log file. Don't have access to any dropbox, etc. places to allow you to collect it. I emailed it to you
(7MB) at what I think is a good email address.

I think I'll set up a COM port backup. Will need another USB-serial adapter.

Marty

--