Re: Takes hours for me to polar align with PemPro...Suggestions for my AP600e?
Ray Gralak
> Can the dew heater cause a non-stable drift alignment?
Taken from PEMPro’s polar alignment checklist:
-Ray Gralak Author of PEMPro Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): https://www.astro-physics.com/apcc-pro Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver
> -----Original Message----- > From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Tom Blahovici > Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2020 4:36 PM > To: main@ap-gto.groups.io > Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Takes hours for me to polar align with PemPro...Suggestions for my AP600e? > > Ray, > I have two separate question threads running... one for PEM and one for polar alignment. This one is polar > alignment. Can the dew heater cause a non-stable drift alignment? It seems to go all over the place.
|
|
Re: Takes hours for me to polar align with PemPro...Suggestions for my AP600e?
Tom Blahovici
Hi
All the bolts were tightened each time I changes as or alt. I'll try again, the next free night, no heater on, and use you're trick for the altitude. Thanks for the hints.
|
|
Re: Takes hours for me to polar align with PemPro...Suggestions for my AP600e?
Roland Christen
Not tightening all the bolts can cause what you are seeing.
Plumes from a dew heater can add to that.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Blahovici <tom.va2fsq@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Sat, Sep 12, 2020 6:35 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Takes hours for me to polar align with PemPro...Suggestions for my AP600e? Ray,
I have two separate question threads running... one for PEM and one for polar alignment. This one is polar alignment. Can the dew heater cause a non-stable drift alignment? It seems to go all over the place.
|
|
Re: Takes hours for me to polar align with PemPro...Suggestions for my AP600e?
Tom Blahovici
Ray,
I have two separate question threads running... one for PEM and one for polar alignment. This one is polar alignment. Can the dew heater cause a non-stable drift alignment? It seems to go all over the place.
|
|
Re: Help finding source of PE fundamentals using PemPro
Ray Gralak
So, is the harmonic at 3x perhaps due to drift?No, that is extremely unlikely. -Ray Gralak Author of PEMPro Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): https://www.astro-physics.com/apcc-pro Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver -----Original Message-----
|
|
Re: Takes hours for me to polar align with PemPro...Suggestions for my AP600e?
Ray Gralak
Tube currents....I did have my dew heater on the lens of the FSQ106Yes, dew heaters can potentially cause tube currents and random drift, but that is not going to cause a 3x fundamental frequency. -Ray Gralak Author of PEMPro Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): https://www.astro-physics.com/apcc-pro Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver -----Original Message-----
|
|
Re: Help finding source of PE fundamentals using PemPro
Ray Gralak
Just in case it is not clear, I did upload 1x and 3x.Then maybe the frequency might not be exactly 3.0x and thus cannot be corrected by PEC. I suggest you contact Howard at A-P directly, as he probably can look up the mechanical details on the 600 series mounts, which has been out of production for a long time. -Ray Gralak Author of PEMPro Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): https://www.astro-physics.com/apcc-pro Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver -----Original Message-----
|
|
Re: Takes hours for me to polar align with PemPro...Suggestions for my AP600e?
Ray Gralak
I quickly realized that I should do the opposite,Unfortunately, East/West can be ambiguous. The scope is pointing roughly South, so rotating the telescope's pointing position West actually rotates the polar azimuth position East. To try to minimize confusion, PEMPro also states which way to rotate the mount: clockwise, or counterclockwise, if looking from the top of the mount down over the mount. -Ray Gralak Author of PEMPro Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): https://www.astro-physics.com/apcc-pro Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver -----Original Message-----
|
|
Re: Help finding source of PE fundamentals using PemPro
Ray Gralak
This is not a matter of polar alignment. There are other things, like tube currents and local seeing conditions that can cause weird irregular drift. Irregular drift patterns can affect polar alignment results as well.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
If the curves aren't lining up with drift fitting on, then the drift may be complex. However, that won't matter for the purpose of creating a PEC curve. That said, PEC will not give you perfect results if the shape of the curves is different from cycle to cycle. -Ray Gralak Author of PEMPro Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): https://www.astro-physics.com/apcc-pro Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver
-----Original Message-----
|
|
Re: Takes hours for me to polar align with PemPro...Suggestions for my AP600e?
Ray Gralak
Hi Joe,
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Just to be sure you are adjusting the correct knobs, for a 1200GTO, to rotate the mount clockwise, you tighten the knob facing to the East. To rotate the mount counter-clockwise, you tighten the knob facing to the West. After each adjustment, you should tighten all mount knobs so that you are measuring the drift in the state that the mount will be in when you will be using it. -Ray Gralak Author of PEMPro Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): https://www.astro-physics.com/apcc-pro Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver
-----Original Message-----
|
|
Re: Takes hours for me to polar align with PemPro...Suggestions for my AP600e?
Tom Blahovici
Tube currents....I did have my dew heater on the lens of the FSQ106 running. Could this contribute to a lack of stability?
As a side note, last year it took me 4 evenings to adjust. The first three, I had a loose connection from the mount to the pier. So, adjusting east or west was anyone's guess as to which way it was moving lol.
|
|
Re: Help finding source of PE fundamentals using PemPro
Tom Blahovici
So, is the harmonic at 3x perhaps due to drift? It seems to have shifted a bit. I did not check the boxes for drift adjustment.
|
|
Re: Help finding source of PE fundamentals using PemPro
Roland Christen
So how do you do that? My curves usually wander slowly up the graph. Perhaps I didn't make things clear. Yes, the individual graphs may wander slowly, but that's simply because of drift. You check the little box for the X or Y that brings the curves down on top of each other. Checking the box essentially compensates for drift and allows just the periodic part of the error to be shown for each of the worm periods. They will lay on top of each other.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: CurtisC via groups.io <calypte@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Sat, Sep 12, 2020 5:12 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Help finding source of PE fundamentals using PemPro On Sat, Sep 12, 2020 at 03:40 PM, uncarollo2 <chris1011@...> wrote:
The absolute main thing that makes PEM work is that the various curves lie close on top of one another, which in your case they do.So how do you do that? My curves usually wander slowly up the graph. My polar alignment is as good as I can get it with PEMPro's Polar Alignment Wizard, and I can take 30 min subs with no noticeable field rotation.
|
|
eckhard.voelcker@...
Ray,
|
|
Hello Eckhard,
I also sent a link to the new version that will solve your problem. Please download and update your GTOCP5. Thank you.
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 eckhard.voelcker via groups.io
Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2020 3:38 AM To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Help, my Mach2 seems to be lost #APCC #Mach2GTO
Marcelo,
|
|
Re: Takes hours for me to polar align with PemPro...Suggestions for my AP600e?
CurtisC <calypte@...>
On Sat, Sep 12, 2020 at 02:21 PM, Joe Zeglinski wrote:
I quickly realized that I should do the opposite,Yes. When it says to point the mount further west, it really means further east, and vice versa.
|
|
Hello Marcello,
I have sent a link to new version for your GTOCP5 that will solve your problem. Please ignore the first email that I sent. Look for the one that says it is the second email. Thank you.
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 Marcelo Figueroa via groups.io
Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2020 9:39 AM To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Help, my Mach2 seems to be lost #APCC #Mach2GTO
Ok thanks. I will try that tonight
|
|
Re: Help finding source of PE fundamentals using PemPro
CurtisC <calypte@...>
On Sat, Sep 12, 2020 at 03:40 PM, uncarollo2 <chris1011@...> wrote:
The absolute main thing that makes PEM work is that the various curves lie close on top of one another, which in your case they do.So how do you do that? My curves usually wander slowly up the graph. My polar alignment is as good as I can get it with PEMPro's Polar Alignment Wizard, and I can take 30 min subs with no noticeable field rotation.
|
|
Re: Takes hours for me to polar align with PemPro...Suggestions for my AP600e?
Joe Zeglinski
Hi Ray,
It was a very long night, so I must have redone PEMPRO
about 5 or 6 times. I could have made the same mistake in the lead up to
the drift graph, every time, but I doubt it. I’m not new to PEMPRO use,
but it is infrequent. Luckily, the instructions are simple.
As Tom mentioned earlier, after a few tries following
screen hints, it was obvious that doing so made the drift error progressively
worse, so I reversed the logic, and turned the AZ “knobs” to rotate the mount
towards the other direction. This made it settle down, and using the reverse
direction was then consistently better.
By reversal, I mean that the entire run was giving contrary directions, as
did the reruns after that. It wasn’t a logic reversal DURING a run.
At each correction, I looked down at the mount
baseplate, and considered which knob would “push it towards or away from the AZ
post” in the direction for the mount to rotate, (horizontally in AZ), per the
given instruction. I still “suspect” that this reversal of procedure may have to
do with choosing one side of the meridian, while the camera is either straight
up, or inverted. But, that should have been determined automatically,
during the calibration steps of clicking on the star trail, and the three star
image targets.
PEMPRO worked fine for me a couple of years ago, using
an earlier revision, but has also happened the weird way, at other times in the
past. I have used several versions over more than a decade. I’ll continue to
investigate its problem, or possibly mine. Perhaps I will discover a unique set
of conditions that causes the logic reversal.
Please stay safe out there Ray. We need you healthy at
all times.
Best regards,
Joe Z.
From: Ray
Gralak
Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2020 4:14 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Takes hours for me to polar align with
PemPro...Suggestions for my AP600e? Hi
Joe, I have used PEMPro a number of times in the last few months on my 1100AE and 1200 mounts, and haven't seen any direction reversals, but I can double check the next year (lol) that my California skies are clear enough. Assuming you went through the calibration steps correctly, is it possible you could have adjusted the wrong Azimuth knob? Also, being above or below the pole will not affect the Az direction at all. > I also had problems with connecting the camera to the software (CCDSOFT) – kept getting the “Unavailable > ACTIVEX module” error, unless I run both the camera software (CCDSOFT) and PEMPRO-V3, “as ADMIN”. The > website claims this is only necessary to do once, to register CCDSOFT’s Activex module – but that does NOT > seem to be the case. It has to be started in Admin mode (before) starting PEMPRO, every time. CCDSoft (and any other ActiveX control) should register itself when it is installed, which it doesn't. If it can't register itself even when running as Administrator, then maybe there is reason. You might try changing the compatibility mode of CCDSoft to Windows 7. -Ray Gralak Author of PEMPro Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): https://www.astro-physics.com/apcc-pro Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver > -----Original Message----- > From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Joe Zeglinski > Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2020 12:19 PM > To: main@ap-gto.groups.io > Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Takes hours for me to polar align with PemPro...Suggestions for my AP600e? > > Hi Tom, > > Funny that you should mention the odd “adjustment direction” misbehaviour running PEMPRO. > > Like you, I have years of familiarity with PEMPRO, and it is actually fun to use. However, I spent hours last > night, trying to get it to behave with my AP-1200/CP4. I quickly realized that I should do the opposite, to the > direction it was asking me to adjust the AZ. Every time it said Clockwise rotation, I rotated the AZ COUNTER > clockwise, and that worked fine. Otherwise, as in your experience, following its suggestion, the gap just widened > with every suggested direction adjustment. > > I think the initial setup calibration pointing to either your East side or West of the meridian, should automatically > determine if the camera ‘s vertical direction, Mine was upside down, during the run, pointing to West of the PM. > Next time out, I will rerun PEMPRO, but with the scope pointing to the East side of the PM, and see if the direction > to turn then becomes correct. As I recall, the older versions had “hockey sticks” on the drift graph, for us to help > specify the camera orientation. Now it is supposed to be automatic. > > Ray, is it possible that without doing the DEC adjustment, the scope axis is pointing below or above Polaris, and > this makes it offer the contrary direction suggestions? > > I also had problems with connecting the camera to the software (CCDSOFT) – kept getting the “Unavailable > ACTIVEX module” error, unless I run both the camera software (CCDSOFT) and PEMPRO-V3, “as ADMIN”. The > website claims this is only necessary to do once, to register CCDSOFT’s Activex module – but that does NOT > seem to be the case. It has to be started in Admin mode (before) starting PEMPRO, every time. > > It is a great program, but seems to have some “direction prompting” quirks, as we have both witnessed, and > which I will investigate further to double check my observations. > > Joe Z. > > > From: Tom Blahovici > Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2020 2:08 PM > To: main@ap-gto.groups.io > Subject: [ap-gto] Takes hours for me to polar align with PemPro...Suggestions for my AP600e? > > > Hi, > I am using an AP600e with a CP4 controller and am attempting to polar align with PemPro. > > I am quite familiar with the software. That is not an issue. However, how to use it properly is obviously not > apparent in my case. I have spend at least 2 hours trying to get the polar alignment even within 1 arc minute. > I did the first alignment last week, and it seemed I was within 1 minute I checked it yesterday, and it was a degree > off. I kept trying to adjust both azimuth and altitude, but the trend lines were never stable seeing to go all over the > place. > It would show a line being off by 6 minutes and I would adjust the mount in the right direction only to find it was > even higher. Not only that, when I did get it close, the trend line would be fine for the first 3 minutes only to then > start slanting again. > It should not be this unstable. > A bit about the mount: It is mounted on a 10 inch diameter pier on top of a solid 3' x 3' concrete block that is 6 feet > long buried in the ground. It has been there for 5 years or so. There is no flexing on the mounting at all. Rock > solid. Scope is an FSQ106 with Moonlight nightcrawler with screw in adapters. The drive has a very smooth 3 arc > second peak to peak tracking. With PEM, +-2.8. > I am using APCC standard and the pointing has been calibrated. > Any hints please? > Thanks, Tom > > > >
|
|
Roland Christen
hello Marcelo,
We will send you information that will fix your issue with parking with APCC. Please ignore the first e-mail that Marj sent, she will send you another one soon.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Marcelo Figueroa via groups.io <marfig1970@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Fri, Sep 11, 2020 10:19 pm Subject: [ap-gto] Help, my Mach2 seems to be lost #APCC #Mach2GTO [Edited Message Follows]
(Just in case, I am located in the southern hemisphere)
Tonight I finally had the opportunity to test my Mach2. First during the day I installed my equipment and balanced the mount, then I manually left it in Park3. Later during the night I performed the polar alignment and then a couple of slew using APCC Pro, then when trying to send the mount back to Park 3 it started to turn in the opposite direction, pointing towards the center of the Earth.
Then I disconnected everything and put the mount manually back in park 3 and performed a unpark from the last position. The RA axis seems to work well, but DEC insists on trying to point it towards the center of the Earth when starting a park 3.
My question is, is there any way to perform an unpark from park 3?, basically I want to tell the mount: at this moment you are in the park 3 position (I remember that in the case of Mach1 one of the menus allowed that).
Thanks
|
|