-----Original Message-----
From: ap-gto@... [mailto:ap-gto@...]
On Behalf Of Luca
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 6:37 PM
To: ap-gto@...
Subject: [ap-gto] PEMPro AP: some more help needed!

Hello guys,

I need some more help with PEMPro. Eventually the clouds
cleared and I was
able to collect 10 worm cycles of data on my 1200! After that
I created the
PE curve and then loded it into the mount following the
instructions. I then
saved the file with the curve I loaded into the mount, turned
the PEC on and
exited the program.
I thought that, after doing so, all I had to do was to go to
the keypad and
turn the PEM on (by pressing option 2, PLAY, in the PEM
sub-menu within
TOOLS). Well I did that and the mount's performance showed no
improvement: I
took 2 two-minute exposures, one with and one without PEM,
and stars had the
same amount of trailing. Needless to say the same thing
happened with 2
five-minute exposures.
When I decided to give up I also noted a strange thing: the LED on the
control box had turned yellow (nightmare!) and when I tried
to park the
mount I received the message that the servo was stalled (or something
similar). I had never experienced that problem before, so I was rather
alarmed. However that ended OK since after that I pressed
again the menu
button and the mount went into park position no.3 (the one I
had chosen). I
turned it off and then back on a minute later and the LED was
bright red
again (phew!) and the mount was working fine. I though that
was the reason
why PEMPro hod not worked alright, but I had the same result
after repeating
the above tests.

I also tried to keep the scope connected and PEMPro on with the PEC ON
option turned on while I was recording a 2 minute image, but again the
result was the same star trailing.

So I know there must be something I'm missing! What kind of
improvement in
the unguided tracking should I expect? Can anybody help me once more?

Ciao
Luca

-----Original Message-----
From: ap-gto@... [mailto:ap-gto@...]
On Behalf Of Barbara Harris
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 2:54 PM
To: ap-gto@...
Subject: [ap-gto] Training pulseguide

I don't know if this is the forum to ask but I don't see a separate
forum for Pulseguide. I normally use an OAG for autoguiding but there
are some circumstances where I can't autoguide so I would like to use
pulseguide. I was trying to use the rate measure tool by using an
autoguider. I had no problem while using the autoguider with PEM off
but the instructions say to turn on PEM but when I do my guide star
flys off the chip and I can't use the rate measure tool. I trained my
PEM through several cycles. Any ideas what the problem might be?
Should I just measure without PEM?

From: Rick Wiggins <rickwiggins@...>
Sent: Apr 23, 2008 3:03 PM
To: ap-gto@...
Subject: [ap-gto] Re: G11 tripod for 900GTO

Hi Dean,
I have a friend that has a G11 tripod and uses it with the AP 900.
He bought the AP adapter and it looks like it was standard
equipment. Obviously, the G11 is heavy and watch your fingers.
Thanks, Rick

--- In ap-gto@..., "Dean S" <dean@...> wrote:

I'm sure those are great piers ($$$), however I seem to rarely

find those

flat spots on most areas I set up. I have a Parallax pier for my

1200 and

it has about 3" adjustable feet that work well for small inclines.

However I have a G11 pier I am going to try with my Mach1 when

ever I get

it. One thing I like about it, of course I have not field tested

it yet,

but it has extendable legs for even ground, and which might also

come in

handy if I want it up higher for a refractor.

Dean


----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick Wiggins" <rickwiggins@...>
To: <ap-gto@...>
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 2:43 PM
Subject: [ap-gto] Re: G11 tripod for 900GTO

Hi,
I have seen these combinations as well as many others. I prefer

the

ATS or AP portable piers with the AP900. I prefer the wooden or
Eagle or similar with the Mach1/600/400 mounts.
The ATS is very simple, fast and rock solid. It works best with
nearly flat terrain. You will need a tripod based design like the
Eagle, wooden model, or Monolith styles to deal with steep

terrain.

Here is a link that shows the 900 (in the background) and 1200

with

ATS piers:

<http://home.earthlink.net/~rickwiggins/wigginsfineartstipstutorialsa

mptools/id1.html>
OR
http://tinyurl.com/k6bcu
Enjoy, Rick



--- In ap-gto@..., gilovision2@ wrote:

I am thinking about getting a 900GTO as mentioned in a

previous

post. I am

still debating
the pier/tripod question. My scope is a C11 and I won't have a

permanent

setup but take the
mount/scope to some local observing sites on a regular basis.

I originally thought about the A-P portable pier (and still

am)

but I

realized that I can also put
the 900 mount on a G11 tripod. Any recommendation on the

Losmandy/900 vs.

A-P
pier/900 combinations? I will initially do visual only but

want

to get

started with imaging in
the not to distant future.


Hi Dirk,

in any case the 900 is an excellent choice.

I have created and posted for you in the "Files" section, a

folder

named

"LT2APM" showing my setup: a 900 GTO on a G11 pier. I owned the

pier before the

900GTO, so I decided to keep it. I first used a local machined

piece to attach

the 900SPA on the G11 tripod, but immediately replaced it with

the LT2APM

adapter when it became available. It is much more rigid and

perfectly machined

so it matches nicely the top of the G11 pier with no noticeable

play or tilt

which is essential in imaging. This setup is also quite helpful

for me since

I carry the complete tripod /mount assembly in a single piece

in

my garden

each time I have to setup my equipment. My door is not large

enough for the AP

pier ;-)

I have used the G11 pier and 900mount in various

configurations,

with our

without guidescope, sometimes with a small amount of wind...it

works well

even with the 155EDF, so it should be fine with your C11.

But if you want ultimate rigidity, stability and maybe heavier

loads,

consider the AP portable or ATS piers, which have larger foot

radius and pier

diameters.

Gilles

------------------------------------

To UNSUBSCRIBE, or for general information on the ap-gto list
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Hi,
I have seen these combinations as well as many others. I prefer the
ATS or AP portable piers with the AP900. I prefer the wooden or
Eagle or similar with the Mach1/600/400 mounts.
The ATS is very simple, fast and rock solid. It works best with
nearly flat terrain. You will need a tripod based design like the
Eagle, wooden model, or Monolith styles to deal with steep terrain.
Here is a link that shows the 900 (in the background) and 1200 with
ATS piers:
<http://home.earthlink.net/~rickwiggins/wigginsfineartstipstutorialsa
mptools/id1.html>
OR
http://tinyurl.com/k6bcu
Enjoy, Rick



--- In ap-gto@..., gilovision2@... wrote:

I am thinking about getting a 900GTO as mentioned in a previous

post. I am

still debating
the pier/tripod question. My scope is a C11 and I won't have a

permanent

setup but take the
mount/scope to some local observing sites on a regular basis.

I originally thought about the A-P portable pier (and still am)

but I

realized that I can also put
the 900 mount on a G11 tripod. Any recommendation on the

Losmandy/900 vs.

A-P
pier/900 combinations? I will initially do visual only but want

to get

started with imaging in
the not to distant future.


Hi Dirk,

in any case the 900 is an excellent choice.

I have created and posted for you in the "Files" section, a folder

named

"LT2APM" showing my setup: a 900 GTO on a G11 pier. I owned the

pier before the

900GTO, so I decided to keep it. I first used a local machined

piece to attach

the 900SPA on the G11 tripod, but immediately replaced it with

the LT2APM

adapter when it became available. It is much more rigid and

perfectly machined

so it matches nicely the top of the G11 pier with no noticeable

play or tilt

which is essential in imaging. This setup is also quite helpful

for me since

I carry the complete tripod /mount assembly in a single piece in

my garden

each time I have to setup my equipment. My door is not large

enough for the AP

pier ;-)

I have used the G11 pier and 900mount in various configurations,

with our

without guidescope, sometimes with a small amount of wind...it

works well

even with the 155EDF, so it should be fine with your C11.

But if you want ultimate rigidity, stability and maybe heavier

loads,

consider the AP portable or ATS piers, which have larger foot

radius and pier

diameters.

Gilles

------------------------------------

To UNSUBSCRIBE, or for general information on the ap-gto list
see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ap-gtoYahoo! Groups Links

I am thinking about getting a 900GTO as mentioned in a previous post. I am
still debating
the pier/tripod question. My scope is a C11 and I won't have a permanent
setup but take the
mount/scope to some local observing sites on a regular basis.

I originally thought about the A-P portable pier (and still am) but I
realized that I can also put
the 900 mount on a G11 tripod. Any recommendation on the Losmandy/900 vs.
A-P
pier/900 combinations? I will initially do visual only but want to get
started with imaging in
the not to distant future.


Hi Dirk,

in any case the 900 is an excellent choice.

I have created and posted for you in the "Files" section, a folder named
"LT2APM" showing my setup: a 900 GTO on a G11 pier. I owned the pier before the
900GTO, so I decided to keep it. I first used a local machined piece to attach
the 900SPA on the G11 tripod, but immediately replaced it with the LT2APM
adapter when it became available. It is much more rigid and perfectly machined
so it matches nicely the top of the G11 pier with no noticeable play or tilt
which is essential in imaging. This setup is also quite helpful for me since
I carry the complete tripod /mount assembly in a single piece in my garden
each time I have to setup my equipment. My door is not large enough for the AP
pier ;-)

I have used the G11 pier and 900mount in various configurations, with our
without guidescope, sometimes with a small amount of wind...it works well
even with the 155EDF, so it should be fine with your C11.

But if you want ultimate rigidity, stability and maybe heavier loads,
consider the AP portable or ATS piers, which have larger foot radius and pier
diameters.

Gilles








------------------------------------

To UNSUBSCRIBE, or for general information on the ap-gto list
see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ap-gtoYahoo! Groups Links