|
Re: AP1200 wont slew correctly
Roland Christen
You need a new battery and re-load the database.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Luke Dodd <lkdodd@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Thu, Apr 15, 2021 7:04 pm Subject: [ap-gto] AP1200 wont slew correctly Hi
I have returned to astrophotography after a 10 year break and dragged out
my AP1200. Its running the GTOCP3 version. Problem I am having is the mount wont
slew to objects correctly.
For example I synch on sirius and when I do a Goto command to M42 the
keypad states object 30 degrees below horizon?
If I synch on Canopus it wont slew to Eta Carinae, it slews but the the
scope is pointing about 20 Degrees off?
Even after I have refreshed the lat/long and time zone, coordinates of
objects seems way off.
Do i have corrupted database? any help appreciated.
regards Luke
-- Roland Christen Astro-Physics
|
|
|
|
Re: Newbie needs APPM software advice
#APCC
Jil Tardiff
Exactly - I'm an experimental biophysicist by trade, and one of my senior grad students adores fiddly new gear. He now knows that before he even tries to talk me into buying something for the lab he better have a darn good reason for why it will move things forward without making everyone stay up nights messing with it or having to learn yet another proprietary piece of software.
When it comes to my beloved astro hobby, I have learned to really appreciate fine gear (OK, I've always loved mechanical excellence) and well-executed, coupled software. Probably why I zeroed in on AP. Oh, and outstanding support is an enormous benefit. Jil
|
|
|
|
Re: Newbie needs APPM software advice
#APCC
Worsel
Jil
I wanted to progress towards un-guided imaging...as a way to just make things work more simply. I upgraded to APPC Pro, which includes APPM, specifically to achieve this as a lower cost alternative to encoders, which would also have met my objective at a higher cost. I know have a model that allows me to image un-guided for up to 15 minutes most of the time (I can't quantify "most"). The additional cost of encoders that would mean un-guided ALL the time is not economical. To be honest, I have not met the objective of 'simplify,' since I still have the guiding equipment and software available, when needed. That said, I do know that the model improves goto and tracking at a low cost. So, I am still glad I went the APPM route. AS far as which software to pair with APPM, I tried the trial versions of both SGP and PinPoint. At the time a couple years ago, their costs were similar and more than Maxim. I chose SGP, since it had several plate solving engines available. I do not use its imaging functions except during model building. My logic for this is no longer valid (change in cameras, etc). I am considering PinPoint again, but am also keeping an eye on when Ray is able to integrate plate-solving into APPM . This is not an easy enhancement, since APPM is not meant to be an imaging application. Bryan
|
|
|
|
Re: Starting with counterweight up in SGPro
#Mach2GTO
Ray Gralak
Hi Eric,
Would you say it is best practice to just reflect theNo, that might cause a pier collision if the West limits exceed the East limits. Instead, since you want East limits for both pier sides, you should: 1) Click "Reflect East". 2) Click "More" -> "Copy East to West" This will set the East values for both East and West meridian limits. Also, you might want to save the meridian limits to disk first, which would allow you to start from the original data in the future. -Ray -----Original Message-----
|
|
|
|
Re: 2021 production plans for the 1600GTO?
fernandorivera3
OPT is not the same company it used to be, when Craig Weatherwax <I think I got the last name right> was still the owner. OPT has gone down the toilet since new couple took over.
BTW, yes I know I am replying to a message/comment posted almost 3 weeks ago! Fernando
|
|
|
|
Re: Newbie needs APPM software advice
#APCC
Software packages are no different than hardware. One has to decide what they want to accomplish with this hobby and get the equipment and software that does the job. It's so easy for the tools to become an end in themselves. Don Anderson
On Thursday, April 15, 2021, 09:09:48 p.m. MDT, Jil Tardiff <jtardiff@...> wrote:
Thanks, Don. At this stage I am a huge fan of things that just work (a sign of aging?) , but this is exactly why I skipped all the way from an EQ6R-Pro to the 1100GTO. The last thing I want to do on a nice night is "fiddle" with my mount... JT
|
|
|
|
Re: Newbie needs APPM software advice
#APCC
I hear ya! Don Anderson
On Thursday, April 15, 2021, 09:09:48 p.m. MDT, Jil Tardiff <jtardiff@...> wrote:
Thanks, Don. At this stage I am a huge fan of things that just work (a sign of aging?) , but this is exactly why I skipped all the way from an EQ6R-Pro to the 1100GTO. The last thing I want to do on a nice night is "fiddle" with my mount... JT
|
|
|
|
Re: Newbie needs APPM software advice
#APCC
Jil Tardiff
Thanks, Don. At this stage I am a huge fan of things that just work (a sign of aging?) , but this is exactly why I skipped all the way from an EQ6R-Pro to the 1100GTO. The last thing I want to do on a nice night is "fiddle" with my mount...
JT
|
|
|
|
Re: Newbie needs APPM software advice
#APCC
I use Pinpoint with MaximDL6.11 and The Sky6. I have had this software suite for many years and I know it is old but it is solid stable and just works. Don Anderson
On Thursday, April 15, 2021, 01:20:46 p.m. MDT, Jil Tardiff <jtardiff@...> wrote:
Hi all, New and very excited owner of a 1100GTO (no encoders) and getting ready to start. Unfortunately (?) with this big step up in mount I decided it was time to migrate from ASIAIR and so I'm in the process of changing my entire setup including moving to a NUC with Win 10 and, importantly still struggling with what imaging suite to land on (NINA vs Voyager at present, leaning towards Voyager, but not set in stone). So lots of things in flux, but I'm trying to not change too many variables at once. Basic question is this: I really want to use APPM though I'm a bit concerned re: the learning curve. Regardless, my issue is that I do not own the requisite plate solver. So that's another purchase and I am just hung up on which way to go. I would appreciate some input from users. The options from my perspective are: 1. Pinpoint 2. SkyX I know I could go with SGP, but I am definitely not going to use it for my imaging / sequencing software. So it seems rather cumbersome to use it alongside either NINA or Voyager. If this is not a big deal or an unnecessarily cumbersome approach , please let me know and I will re-consider. Obviously I would prefer to keep the costs down but that is not the primary driver here. And please, I know this discussion can devolve into the lack of support for other options like ASTAP. I'd appreciate not having that issue raised at this point, I'd really just like to get started. Any and all advice appreciated! Jil
|
|
|
|
Re: Newbie needs APPM software advice
#APCC
marsh.family
Thanks, that's good to understand. Sent from my Galaxy
-------- Original message -------- From: Christopher Erickson <christopher.k.erickson@...> Date: 2021-04-15 10:11 p.m. (GMT-05:00) To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Newbie needs APPM software advice #APCC The factory curve is a perfect fit when the mount comes from the factory. After a number of years, the gears will polish up a bit more and the curve should be re-done. On Thu, Apr 15, 2021, 3:57 PM marsh.family <marsh.family@...> wrote:
|
|
|
|
Re: Newbie needs APPM software advice
#APCC
The factory curve is a perfect fit when the mount comes from the factory. After a number of years, the gears will polish up a bit more and the curve should be re-done.
On Thu, Apr 15, 2021, 3:57 PM marsh.family <marsh.family@...> wrote:
|
|
|
|
Re: Newbie needs APPM software advice
#APCC
marsh.family
Just a clarification, the factory PE curve can be improved upon?
Thanks,
Chris
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> On Behalf Of Roland Christen via groups.io
Sent: April 15, 2021 5:07 PM To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Newbie needs APPM software advice #APCC
APPM and all its functions can be used with the 1100 non-encoder mount. All you need to do is make a good PE curve using PEMPro and you should be set for some decent unguided imaging. PEMPro came with the mount.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
APPM is very easy to use, I use it with SGP/ASTAP without any problem. I guess with Pinpoint it should be no different.
However I am not sure if the investment in APCC Pro/APPM is worth it for a mount without encoders, that is, if the modeling to be really effective needs encoders or not.
Here the AP folks are best suited to answer.
|
|
|
|
Re: Newbie needs APPM software advice
#APCC
Jil Tardiff
Roland, Marcelo brings up a good point. My impression was there was some benefit to building a model even when guiding or without encoders, is this not true? I will likely add encoders at some point in a year or two.
Thanks, Jil
|
|
|
|
Re: Newbie needs APPM software advice
#APCC
Jil Tardiff
Thank you Brian and Linwood - exactly the info / reassurance I was looking for, Pinpoint it is. Especially appreciate your insight re: TSX, Linwood - it seemed like overkill for my use, but wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything.
Jil
|
|
|
|
Re: AP1200 wont slew correctly
Jeff B
If you are using the key pad, a dead battery can certainly corrupt the database for the M objects but, as I've experienced, stars and planets will slew to just fine. So it's odd that you got errant slews from stat to star. Are you off in just one axis? Jeff
On Thu, Apr 15, 2021 at 8:05 PM Luke Dodd <lkdodd@...> wrote:
|
|
|
|
Re: AP1200 wont slew correctly
richard payne
Battery in Pendant is dead
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
On Apr 15, 2021, at 5:05 PM, Luke Dodd <lkdodd@...> wrote:
|
|
|
|
AP1200 wont slew correctly
Luke Dodd
Hi
I have returned to astrophotography after a 10 year break and dragged out
my AP1200. Its running the GTOCP3 version. Problem I am having is the mount wont
slew to objects correctly.
For example I synch on sirius and when I do a Goto command to M42 the
keypad states object 30 degrees below horizon?
If I synch on Canopus it wont slew to Eta Carinae, it slews but the the
scope is pointing about 20 Degrees off?
Even after I have refreshed the lat/long and time zone, coordinates of
objects seems way off.
Do i have corrupted database? any help appreciated.
regards Luke
|
|
|
|
Re: Newbie needs APPM software advice
#APCC
Roland Christen
APPM and all its functions can be used with the 1100 non-encoder mount. All you need to do is make a good PE curve using PEMPro and you should be set for some decent unguided imaging. PEMPro came with the mount.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Marcelo Figueroa via groups.io <marfig1970@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Thu, Apr 15, 2021 3:27 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Newbie needs APPM software advice #APCC APPM is very easy to use, I use it with SGP/ASTAP without any problem. I guess with Pinpoint it should be no different.
However I am not sure if the investment in APCC Pro/APPM is worth it for a mount without encoders, that is, if the modeling to be really effective needs encoders or not.
Here the AP folks are best suited to answer.
-- Roland Christen Astro-Physics
|
|
|
|
Re: Newbie needs APPM software advice
#APCC
Marcelo Figueroa
APPM is very easy to use, I use it with SGP/ASTAP without any problem. I guess with Pinpoint it should be no different.
However I am not sure if the investment in APCC Pro/APPM is worth it for a mount without encoders, that is, if the modeling to be really effective needs encoders or not.
Here the AP folks are best suited to answer.
|
|
|
|
Re: Newbie needs APPM software advice
#APCC
ap@CaptivePhotons.com
I have TSX as part of a Paramount MyT, and am waiting on an AP1100 and wondering about the same thing, but I would strongly suggest that TSX is like swatting a fly with a sledge hammer. The plate solving in TSX works very nice and fast, and tPoint and polar alignment are some of the best parts of it. But it’s like 5% of it. The rest of TSX is loved by some, but to me it’s very old software, which has not been well integrated and updated. It’s like engineering software from the 1990’s, not well designed GUI software from the 2020’s. For me I have reached a peace agreement with it and can make it work well, but my first couple months it would crash time after time, give bad results because I didn’t re-enter the same data 5 times I only did it 4 times (you won’t believe how often you have to re-enter image scale, rather than just entering your focal length and ratio in your imaging profile – which you also enter).
So from my personal experience I’m going to try anything else that’s available before I would re-purchase MyT for the AP1100.
I’m a fan of NINA, though Voyager is very similar in some ways. I’m hopeful ASTAP will be supported by the time I get mine, but my fallback plan is just to buy Pinpoint.
Linwood
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io]
On Behalf Of Brian Valente via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2021 3:24 PM To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Newbie needs APPM software advice #APCC
HI Jil
i have excellent results with Pinpoint. we do unguided imaging at 0.63" so APPM is vital for what we do
yes it costs a bit and it's not free like ASTAP, but given your requirements i think that is a good option for you
ASTAP will be added to APPM in the future (from what I know), so consider that upgrade path as well
Brian
On Thu, Apr 15, 2021 at 12:20 PM Jil Tardiff <jtardiff@...> wrote:
--
|
|
|