Date
1 - 20 of 26
Any Tips From Experienced Mach2 Users
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Any operating tips from those of you who have been using your Mach2s for a while now?
I know that I need to remember to remove the RAPAS before slewing the mount. Guiding with PHD2 seems to be no different than what I have been doing with the exception of a 2 or 3 second delay between exposures. Any other useful tips? -- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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Roland Christen
For first time operation of any mount setup, run the Guiding Assistant, get all the data, evaluate it, and set the mount up according to what is recommended by the Guiding assistant. Why futz around and ask what others have for settings? every setup is different, has different dynamics, different seeing, different focal lengths etc etc. Use the power of the software to get you grounded and started. That's my advice.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Dean Jacobsen <deanjacobsen@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Wed, May 20, 2020 3:42 pm Subject: [ap-gto] Any Tips From Experienced Mach2 Users Any operating tips from those of you who have been using your Mach2s for a while now?
I know that I need to remember to remove the RAPAS before slewing the mount. Guiding with PHD2 seems to be no different than what I have been doing with the exception of a 2 or 3 second delay between exposures. Any other useful tips? -- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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Thanks Roland, after your advice yesterday I'm not really concerned about guiding settings. My intent was to solicit any general operating tips from users based on their experience. For instance, it may or may not [much more likely] have occurred to me that I should make sure and pull the RAPAS off before slewing the mount. I haven't had to do that with my previous mounts. It hasn't been something I have had to think of before and so I was glad that the topic came up. So I was just wondering if there are any other useful things to know... that aren't about guiding. ;-)
-- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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Roland Christen
Good polar alignment helps a lot. Keeping the tripod/pier low makes for a more stable system. If you have more than 1 main scope, then side by side is more stable than on top of each other, unless the second scope is small (guide scope etc). Use thru-mount cable if you can, with a good powered hub. Otherwise tie the cables to the dovetail plate before snaking it down.Keep dew off the main scope and your coatings will last longer.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Dean Jacobsen <deanjacobsen@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Wed, May 20, 2020 6:02 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Any Tips From Experienced Mach2 Users Thanks Roland, after your advice yesterday I'm not really concerned about guiding settings. My intent was to solicit any general operating tips from users based on their experience. For instance, it may or may not [much more likely] have occurred to me that I should make sure and pull the RAPAS off before slewing the mount. I haven't had to do that with my previous mounts. It hasn't been something I have had to think of before and so I was glad that the topic came up. So I was just wondering if there are any other useful things to know... that aren't about guiding. ;-)
-- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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Thanks Roland for the advice. All excellent points. Much appreciated. The through the mount cabling of the Mach2 will be a nice upgrade for me and will open the door to more automation in my imaging. I won't have to worry about personally monitoring meridian flips and re-arranging cables to prevent snags, etc. I hadn't planned on a hub - my ZWO camera has a two port on-board hub - but I am now thinking about that option. Thanks again.
-- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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Roland Christen
my ZWO camera has a two port on-board hub Maybe that's all you need.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Dean Jacobsen <deanjacobsen@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Wed, May 20, 2020 7:41 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Any Tips From Experienced Mach2 Users Thanks Roland for the advice. All excellent points. Much appreciated. The through the mount cabling of the Mach2 will be a nice upgrade for me and will open the door to more automation in my imaging. I won't have to worry about personally monitoring meridian flips and re-arranging cables to prevent snags, etc. I hadn't planned on a hub - my ZWO camera has a two port on-board hub - but I am now thinking about that option. Thanks again.
-- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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It will be until I get to the point where I decide to automate focusing. Then I need to provide another USB port at the optical tube.
-- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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Sorry if this has come up before...
Is there any need to slightly bias the weight of the counterweights to any side of the mount with the Mach2? -- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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Roland Christen
No bias on either axis. Balance the mount properly and it will guide very well.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Dean Jacobsen <deanjacobsen@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Fri, May 22, 2020 12:53 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Any Tips From Experienced Mach2 Users Sorry if this has come up before...
Is there any need to slightly bias the weight of the counterweights to any side of the mount with the Mach2? -- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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Hi guys,
Mach2 received Wednesday at the end of the afternoon, tested in the lounge on the Eagle tripod, then installed the same evening in my observatory. RAPAS to roughly align (then disassemble), then by drift with PHD2. No worries with the latest version of the driver and APCC-pro.I even started to see how to model, but little problems with APPM / SGP connection. The next day I found the solution: open SGP as administrator. So Thursday evening, first successful 35-point modeling after some "no solve" because Arcsec / pix badly configured.Then photo test (3x10 ') on M109 without apparent drift, but the passage of satellites and (2x5') on Spica with very slight drift barely visible on these 5 'poses.. I am now waiting for the least amount of clouds to redo a modeling with more points and then a verification.And I also fully understood that if I bought this frame it was to do without guidance.For information, I installed a powerbox v2, but under the DOVELM162 plate and at the front with a fixed wiring which allows it to stay in place in case of tube change. Dominique  |
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Is there anything to know about the internal cables to keep them from getting stressed, twisted or broken?
-- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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Dominique Durand
On Sat, May 23, 2020 at 06:40 AM, Dean Jacobsen wrote:
Is there anything to know about the internal cables to keep them from getting stressed, twisted or broken?Hi Dean, There are locking pins that prevent overpassing 180 ° East and west and north and south on the axes. It is rather outside that it happens, because you have to find the suitable cables or have connectors to make the DC cables for the arrival (bottom) and the output (Top) of the 12V.So in particular a specific power cable at the right length for the Powerbox as far as I am concerned. Dominique |
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OK, all is good. I hadn't found the internal RA axis hard stops yet and when unpacking I was wondering if I was "unwinding" the RA axis in the right direction.
-- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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dan kowall
Hello Dominique, Congratulations on your purchase. Do you have any reservations about having the heat from your power box disturbing the air in front of your telescope's objective lens? dan kowall On Friday, May 22, 2020, 06:32:41 PM EDT, Dominique Durand via groups.io <dom33.durand@...> wrote: [Edited Message Follows] Hi guys,Mach2 received Wednesday at the end of the afternoon, tested in the lounge on the Eagle tripod, then installed the same evening in my observatory. RAPAS to roughly align (then disassemble), then by drift with PHD2. No worries with the latest version of the driver and APCC-pro.I even started to see how to model, but little problems with APPM / SGP connection. The next day I found the solution: open SGP as administrator. So Thursday evening, first successful 35-point modeling after some "no solve" because Arcsec / pix badly configured.Then photo test (3x10 ') on M109 without apparent drift, but the passage of satellites and (2x5') on Spica where there was clearly still drift. I am now waiting for the least amount of clouds to redo a modeling with more points and then a verification.And I also fully understood that if I bought this frame it was to do without guidance.For information, I installed a powerbox v2, but under the DOVELM162 plate and at the front with a fixed wiring which allows it to stay in place in case of tube change. Dominique  |
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Dominique Durand
Hello dan,
This is an element to take into account, but the powerbox is not a big computer and from what I see it does not really heat up. Dominique |
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Roland Christen
Who makes this Powerbox2?
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Dominique Durand via groups.io <dom33.durand@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Sat, May 23, 2020 12:27 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Any Tips From Experienced Mach2 Users Hello dan,
This is an element to take into account, but the powerbox is not a big computer and from what I see it does not really heat up. Dominique |
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Bill Long
Pegasus Astro. Its probably the best accessory that has come out for imaging.
Highly recommend it. 🙂
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> on behalf of uncarollo2 <chris1011@...> via groups.io <chris1011@...>
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2020 11:27 AM To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Any Tips From Experienced Mach2 Users Who makes this Powerbox2?
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Dominique Durand via groups.io <dom33.durand@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Sat, May 23, 2020 12:27 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Any Tips From Experienced Mach2 Users Hello dan,
This is an element to take into account, but the powerbox is not a big computer and from what I see it does not really heat up. Dominique |
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Yes. They make a wide variety of innovative accessories. I just purchased their powered 6 port USB3 hub. Operates down to -40C unlike most consumer and commercial grade hubs which quit working at about 0 deg C. It also has control software which allows you to switch each port individually. Great for when you need to reboot connected devices individually and remotely. I highly recommend this as well. Don Anderson
On Saturday, May 23, 2020, 12:30:35 p.m. MDT, Bill Long <bill@...> wrote:
Pegasus Astro. Its probably the best accessory that has come out for imaging.
Highly recommend it. 🙂
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> on behalf of uncarollo2 <chris1011@...> via groups.io <chris1011@...>
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2020 11:27 AM To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Any Tips From Experienced Mach2 Users Who makes this Powerbox2?
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Dominique Durand via groups.io <dom33.durand@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Sat, May 23, 2020 12:27 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Any Tips From Experienced Mach2 Users Hello dan,
This is an element to take into account, but the powerbox is not a big computer and from what I see it does not really heat up. Dominique |
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Dominique Durand
On Sat, May 23, 2020 at 08:29 PM, uncarollo2 <chris1011@...> wrote:
Who makes this Powerbox2?Pegasusastro. I raised the subject with George who apparently tested it. Dominique |
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Bill Long
My only minor pet peeve about the UPBv2 is that they did not put an Anderson connector on the box and used the XT60 connector instead. Considering the wide usage and popularity of the Anderson connector, you would think they would have used that instead.
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> on behalf of Don Anderson via groups.io <jockey_ca@...>
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2020 11:45 AM To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Any Tips From Experienced Mach2 Users Yes. They make a wide variety of innovative accessories. I just purchased their powered 6 port USB3 hub. Operates down to -40C unlike most consumer and commercial grade hubs which quit working at about 0 deg C. It also has control software which
allows you to switch each port individually. Great for when you need to reboot connected devices individually and remotely. I highly recommend this as well.
Don Anderson
On Saturday, May 23, 2020, 12:30:35 p.m. MDT, Bill Long <bill@...> wrote:
Pegasus Astro. Its probably the best accessory that has come out for imaging.
Highly recommend it. 🙂
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> on behalf of uncarollo2 <chris1011@...> via groups.io <chris1011@...>
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2020 11:27 AM To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Any Tips From Experienced Mach2 Users Who makes this Powerbox2?
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Dominique Durand via groups.io <dom33.durand@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Sat, May 23, 2020 12:27 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Any Tips From Experienced Mach2 Users Hello dan,
This is an element to take into account, but the powerbox is not a big computer and from what I see it does not really heat up. Dominique |
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