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Re: AP1100 voltage
M. Collins
There's not much to fear from good switching supplies. I've tested many under load, and rarely see more than a few millivolts of AC measured either with a meter or on an oscilloscope. Some cameras, particularly older designs, may couple noise of that amplitude through to the images they produce, but a GTOCPx will not be adversely affected in the slightest.
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Re: Off Topic-NUC Computer
Mark Striebeck
On Tue, Jul 13, 2021 at 9:38 PM W Hilmo <y.groups@...> wrote:
Agreed on that one. I had way too many instances where something works perfectly at home and then not at all in the field - and all you need is to download something... I actually use an ethernet switch and a separate access point to connect to our wifi (plus static IP addresses). At home, I can connect through the wifi. In the field, I connect my laptop via ethernet to the switch and everything works exactly the same. One thing I had to remember is to turn off wifi on the NUC's just to make sure that all connection is only through ethernet.
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Re: Off Topic-NUC Computer
M. Collins
On Mon, Jul 12, 2021 at 11:13 AM, Dale Ghent wrote:
If you bundle all of the cables from the telescope and route them to a strut extending beyond the back plate 200 mm or so, then allow the bundle to form a loop to a point on the south side of the mount, it's quite easy to ensure that nothing will snag no matter how the telescope is oriented or moved from one position to another. This was described in an article I found on A-P's website several years ago. On my A-P 1200/RCOS system, I used a piece of 1/4 x 1 lattice to form the strut, so if a snag ever developed the strut would break before anything valuable was damaged. After at least a year of operation without a single issue, it was obvious that the precaution was unnecessary. A not-very-good picture (disregard the loose end on the left -- photo was taken during a camera swap):  You can almost see that I used a Losmandy 'D' clamp to secure the strut to the back end of the dovetail. We chose the same same strategy to route cabling and optical fibers to a solar telescope on a G11 last year.  Despite having far less free space to work with, we've had no issues with that configuration either. That mount has run pretty much all day, every day since October, so if anything was going to go wrong, it almost certainly would have by now. Perhaps not a good solution for folks who are setting up and breaking down between sessions, but it works well for fixed installations. As a counterpoint, we've seen issues with through-the-mount cabling on mounts which are in nightly operation, due to abrasion leading to shorts and opens.
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Re: [ap-ug] Astronomy in the Islands
Jeff B
Looks and sounds great. Marj and you deserve a break now and then....hopefully more of the now. Yes, there can be moments of Heaven on Earth. Well done and enjoy! Jeff
On Wed, Jul 14, 2021 at 5:48 AM Harley Davidson <astrocnc@...> wrote:
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Re: Off Topic-NUC Computer
Jeffc
On Jul 14, 2021, at 12:38 AM, W Hilmo <y.groups@hilmo.net> wrote:Sure. Sounds good. Same here. Mostly enterprise datacenter work here. And over the years I have learned how flakey/buggy the consumer stuff can be (not to mention insecure). If the stack is so reliable then why does your windows install complain about connecting “to a network for first time”? Just sayin. Btw, it’s not just bandwidth but also latency. Within the single router the latency should be negligible, but with multiple hops , over WiFi, etc there is going to be some latency — it would be interesting to measure the latency to see what it is, tho i wxpect negligible. USB otoh seems to me to be more isolated and appropriate for realtime applications. For this application it honestly probably doesn’t matter. USB to the mount works 100% for me at home or in the field. Windows networking is just not reliable enough FOR ME to depend on it for a critical link. YMMV. -jeff
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Re: RJ45 connector
>>>
Alternative: Deoxit Gold is a liquid in a tube not spray, and you could use a q-tip to apply ( i agree - i use only the spray on to a q-tip and then apply.
On Wed, Jul 14, 2021 at 7:31 AM ap@... <ap@...> wrote:
--
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Re: RJ45 connector
Howdy,
I second this. If the RJ-45 contacts need cleaning, it is best to use a q tip with DeOxit cleaner. The connector internals are potted, so you would have a very hard time getting the DeOxit through to any sensitive electronics.
Just turn off the CP4 first, and make sure it is dry before you turn it back on.
Liam Plybon Astro-Physics Inc
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io>
On Behalf Of ap@...
Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2021 9:10 AM To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] RJ45 connector
Alternative: Deoxit Gold is a liquid in a tube not spray, and you could use a q-tip to apply (that’s not saying there would be an issue with the spray, just an alternative). I’ve used the tube for camera contacts for years, good stuff.
_
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Re: RJ45 connector
ap@CaptivePhotons.com
Alternative: Deoxit Gold is a liquid in a tube not spray, and you could use a q-tip to apply (that’s not saying there would be an issue with the spray, just an alternative). I’ve used the tube for camera contacts for years, good stuff.
_
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Re: AP1100 voltage
ap@CaptivePhotons.com
Thanks, Rolando, 14.5v. Perfect, I was hoping for a dial-in number. Though I am confused by the 18v,24v; the manual says not to exceed 16v (e.g. page 50 of the referenced document below). But not an issue, 14.5 looks good. It’s not like I’m trying to overclock a PC.
So back to the second half – when on batteries, I’ll be closer to the 12.5, probably starting the night at a bit over 13 and dropping. If I hit 50% capacity I will be more like 12.2v less resistance loss. So do I need a buck converter to get back up? Or is the difference for a few hours occasionally moot?
I am somewhat resisting the buck converter because since it will hold the voltage up it’s a switching device and introduces some noise.
Dean, thanks for that pointer, I thought I had downloaded all the manuals but missed that one. There’s a LOT of documentation, which is good, but it does make it easier to miss pieces. Thank you. Linwood _._,_._,_
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Re: [ap-ug] Astronomy in the Islands
Andrea Lucchetti
what a dream ... fantastic you don't need much equipment , I wish I'll have the chance to get there one time. Andrea
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Re: [ap-ug] Astronomy in the Islands
Harley Davidson
Beautiful images Roland.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
tony
On 7/14/2021 4:44 AM, Roland Christen
via groups.io wrote:
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Re: [ap-ug] Astronomy in the Islands
Roland Christen
Forgot to include:
The images were shot this evening on our driveway and lanai with my little Sony NEX7 and an inexpensive 12mm wide angle Rokinon lens. Single exposure of 30 seconds at F2.8 for the Milky Way, 8 seconds for the Moonset image.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Roland Christen via groups.io <chris1011@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io>; main@ap-ug.groups.io <main@ap-ug.groups.io> Sent: Wed, Jul 14, 2021 3:44 am Subject: [ap-ug] Astronomy in the Islands Hi Astronuts,
I haven't been as active on the groups because Marj and I took a short vacation to Hawaii Island just over a week ago. I will be back in the office early next week.
For those who have not visited Hawaii, there is much to see besides the clear dark skies. But if you're into astronomy, it's a great place to get re-acquainted with the night sky if you come from a light polluted city like I do. The Big Island of Hawaii is the least light polluted of the 5 major islands. At our location at 560 ft above the ocean on the side of Kohala Mountain we get over 300 clear nights per year, and it is so dark that you cannot see your hand in front of your face at night.
This evening, after enjoying a fabulous meal at Tommy Bahama's with friends of ours, we drove home to a beautiful sunset with sky colors ranging from dark red at the ocean horizon thru green to violet above. Sunsets last only a short time here in the tropics, and even while the western horizon was still glowing deep red, the Milky Way was already rising above Kohala Mountain. The air felt like velvet with a soft breeze coming down the mountain. The 4 day Moon followed Venus toward the ocean horizon, their light reflecting off the water, surrounded by stars in the deep twilight.
In the East above the mountain, the Summer Milky Way arched across the sky from far north to where it disappeared behind Hualalai mountain to the south of us. For me it was an opportunity to re-connect with some of my favorite deep sky objects along the southern Milky Way. I took my 92mm Stowaway out, popped it onto my old Televue Gibraltar mount and cruised the southern portion from Sagittarius thru Scorpius to Ara and Norma all the way down to Crux. Armed with my widefield 32mm eyepiece, M16, M17, Trifid and Lagoon all glowed brightly in that tiny aperture. The great globulars in the Teapot very nicely resolved with my 3.5mm Baader Hyperion ocular. Then an old friend that I have not seen for many years, the gorgeous Butterfly Nebula in Scorpius, as magnificent as I remember it before light pollution dimmed it away in my Illinois home. Onward and southward we wandered, my little Stowaway and me, checking out all the bright knots and star clusters along the way until I glimpsed the Pearl Cluster in Crux, just before it sank into the ocean in the south-west. By 10:30pm the Milky Way was literally blazing above, something I had not seen since attending the Texas Star Party near Big Bend National Park some 40 years ago.
Yes, it's darker on Mauna Kea at the 9000ft Visitor Center, and darker still at 11,000ft at the Hawaiian observatory site on Mauna Loa (and bitter cold), but here on the side of Kohala mountain it's balmy and there's a pineapple drink nearby.
See you all in a week,
Rolando
Moonset over the Pacific:
 MilkyWay over Kohala Mountain:
 -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics
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Astronomy in the Islands
Roland Christen
Hi Astronuts,
I haven't been as active on the groups because Marj and I took a short vacation to Hawaii Island just over a week ago. I will be back in the office early next week.
For those who have not visited Hawaii, there is much to see besides the clear dark skies. But if you're into astronomy, it's a great place to get re-acquainted with the night sky if you come from a light polluted city like I do. The Big Island of Hawaii is the least light polluted of the 5 major islands. At our location at 560 ft above the ocean on the side of Kohala Mountain we get over 300 clear nights per year, and it is so dark that you cannot see your hand in front of your face at night.
This evening, after enjoying a fabulous meal at Tommy Bahama's with friends of ours, we drove home to a beautiful sunset with sky colors ranging from dark red at the ocean horizon thru green to violet above. Sunsets last only a short time here in the tropics, and even while the western horizon was still glowing deep red, the Milky Way was already rising above Kohala Mountain. The air felt like velvet with a soft breeze coming down the mountain. The 4 day Moon followed Venus toward the ocean horizon, their light reflecting off the water, surrounded by stars in the deep twilight.
In the East above the mountain, the Summer Milky Way arched across the sky from far north to where it disappeared behind Hualalai mountain to the south of us. For me it was an opportunity to re-connect with some of my favorite deep sky objects along the southern Milky Way. I took my 92mm Stowaway out, popped it onto my old Televue Gibraltar mount and cruised the southern portion from Sagittarius thru Scorpius to Ara and Norma all the way down to Crux. Armed with my widefield 32mm eyepiece, M16, M17, Trifid and Lagoon all glowed brightly in that tiny aperture. The great globulars in the Teapot very nicely resolved with my 3.5mm Baader Hyperion ocular. Then an old friend that I have not seen for many years, the gorgeous Butterfly Nebula in Scorpius, as magnificent as I remember it before light pollution dimmed it away in my Illinois home. Onward and southward we wandered, my little Stowaway and me, checking out all the bright knots and star clusters along the way until I glimpsed the Pearl Cluster in Crux, just before it sank into the ocean in the south-west. By 10:30pm the Milky Way was literally blazing above, something I had not seen since attending the Texas Star Party near Big Bend National Park some 40 years ago.
Yes, it's darker on Mauna Kea at the 9000ft Visitor Center, and darker still at 11,000ft at the Hawaiian observatory site on Mauna Loa (and bitter cold), but here on the side of Kohala mountain it's balmy and there's a pineapple drink nearby.
See you all in a week,
Rolando
Moonset over the Pacific:
 MilkyWay over Kohala Mountain:
 -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics
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Re: 1800 Slew Speed with Mach2GTO, CP5, V5 hand controller, APCC-PRO
Roland Christen
So the more correct question is why is the button rate limited to 1200? Many people have a slow eye-hand response time, so slewing around with the buttons can cause a crash at high rates.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Weiner <weinere@...> To: Reply To Group <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Tue, Jul 13, 2021 6:59 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] 1800 Slew Speed with Mach2GTO, CP5, V5 hand controller, APCC-PRO
Marj,
I really should proof read what I type before I hit send. Atrocious.
This is likely just my misunderstanding of how the slew rates work. There is a Slew Rate setting in both APCC and the Hand controller which allows a setting of 1800, but the button rates for both are limited to 1200 (not 1600, that was my mistake in the first message). So the more correct question is why is the button rate limited to 1200?
Sorry about the terrible typing and presentation of my first question.
v/r
Eric
-- Roland Christen Astro-Physics
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Re: AP1100 voltage
Roland Christen
You can use anywhere from 12.5 to 18 volts on the 1100 mount. So if you have a variable voltage supply, dial it in to about 14.5 volts. It will work at up to 24 volts but will get quite hot, so it's not recommended. The controller will not get fried unless you exceed about 28 volts on the input. Best to stay below 18 for long term health.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: ap@... <ap@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Tue, Jul 13, 2021 8:11 pm Subject: [ap-gto] AP1100 voltage I have an AP1100 on the way. Any moment now.
I plan to use it in my back yard mostly, where AC power is available, but occasionally take it to a dark site with batteries. I redid my batteries and wiring in prep, switching to powerpoles, and now have two set up, and the tripod has two 12V inputs; at home I will use two linear power supplies, and in the field two batteries on the same inputs; nice short wires, 10, 12 and 14AWG (in different parts). In recent notes I see indications that higher voltages are better (though that was a Mach 2). I also recall George suggesting a dedicated power supply that is variable. The manual says do not exceed 16v, and recommends higher for colder and heavier loads, which I will not have (50# or so max, S. Florida temps). Honestly I do not much care about faster slew speed, I just want reliability and stability. So my question is kind of a two-for: What voltage should I dial in on the adjustable power supply I am getting when using AC power? Just normal batter voltage (let's say 13v)? And depending on that answer, is there any point in my including a buck converter to get a bit more voltage from the battery scenario for occasional use? (It's a group 24 deep cycle marine; it's plenty large that I should not even get to half capacity in a long winter night, so it should stay over 12.3v or so). And yes, this is a minor detail but I have to DO SOMETHING while I wait. :) Linwood -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics
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Re: Strange Mach2 RA oscillation.
You are quite right Jerome. This is a potential issue for any mount. It’s all physics.
Clear Skies, Marj Christen Astro-Physics 11250 Forest Hills Road Machesney Park, IL 61115 Phone: 815-282-1513 www.astro-physics.com
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io>
On Behalf Of Jerome Allison
Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2021 9:09 PM To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Strange Mach2 RA oscillation.
This is so familiar. Years ago, I wasn't able to balance a new heavier load on my Celestron CGEM with the stock counterweight bar and weights. I had the facilities, so the "obvious" solution was to turn a 6" extension to the bar and move the weights out more. The first (and last) time I used it I immediately noticed very wobbly and lengthy settling after any movement. It needed more weights closer to the mount - not the same ones further away!
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Re: [Keypad-V5] [ap-gto] 1800 Slew Speed with Mach2GTO, CP5, V5 hand controller, APCC-PRO
I sent you a private response on this. Thanks.
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Re: PEMPro v.3.0031
Ray Gralak
Hi Curtis,
I'm just trying to find a log for PEMPro.You should use the Log Zipper utility, which is available from PEMPro's Wizard's menu. Please include the debug logs, which is an option in the Log Zipper utility. BTW, please make sure you have tried with version 3.00.43. You are using 3.00.31. You can get the updated version by clicking Check for Updates in PEMPro's help menu. -Ray -----Original Message-----
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Re: USB 2 VS USB3 problems solved
Woody Schlom
Since they generate heat internally, I would think you could place or wrap them in some kind of insulating material when it gets really cold.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Woody
-----Original Message-----
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Re: Off Topic-NUC Computer
W Hilmo
I like to keep my configuration as similar as possible between running at home and running in the field.
What I didn’t mention earlier is that the only things that change between the two methods are the power supply and the actual router. I actually have two routers, one that stays in extender mode and one that stays in router mode. I use the extender one at home and the router one in the field. I do not care about bandwidth considerations for extender mode. There is (far) more than enough bandwidth to run Remote Desktop in this configuration, which is how I connect to the observatory computer. Also, assuming that I have the automation software started, the system will continue to image through the entire session, even if the wireless connection completely fails. In a worst case scenario, I can completely skip the wireless and use my “emergency” monitor and keyboard to control the automation.
Regarding Ethernet vs USB, I have several decades of professional software development experience, with most of it involving low level networking. I have no problem with “possible glitches” in the network stack. Not much beats USB for convenience, but honestly, it is nowhere near as robust as Ethernet. That said, lots of people do fine with USB, so if that works better for you, that’s great. In the same vein, I prefer wired over wireless. My priority is reliability.
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> On Behalf Of Jeffc
Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2021 1:57 PM To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Off Topic-NUC Computer
I would suggest using a static IP for the Ethernet connection at least when remote.
While the CP5 supports Ethernet , it just seems to me USB (serial) is less problematic when it comes to possible glitches with DNS, ARP, DHCP etc. TBH , I’m probably missing something but I don’t see the advantage of Ethernet for the single connection to/from the controlling computer. I’ve used CP5 WiFi a bit with SkySafariPro and for sure it works , but likewise , unless there’s a compelling reason the simple USB seems reliable.
Also, fwiw the I’ve never been a fan of “wifi extender” mode. I suppose you are using wifi to bridge from the home wired net to the mount wired net , so the wifi is perhaps not “repeating”, which results in 50% bandwidth hit. And the “bridge” is just needed to get from the RD client to the mount computer.
Hopefully the computer <-> CP5 mount packets are routed locally (at the mount router) and are not sent over wifi to the main house router, then back to the mount “router”. That’s one thing I’d also verify.
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