Argo Navis - if you're happy and you know it clap your hands...

[ericc (Eric)]

Yep---Im happy and clapping my hands!

Just joined the AN club--I still cant believe just how good this thing is--

I can now easily find stuff(as a newbie I was getting pretty frustrated, trying to find my way around the sky).

But now backyard observing a true joy(and Im actually learning star patterns as I go).

Love it!

Cheers Eric

[gary]

Originally Posted by ericc

Yep---Im happy and clapping my hands!

Just joined the AN club--I still cant believe just how good this thing is--

I can now easily find stuff(as a newbie I was getting pretty frustrated, trying to find my way around the sky).

But now backyard observing a true joy(and Im actually learning star patterns as I go).

Love it!

Cheers Eric

Hi Eric,

Thanks for the post and great to hear!

Merry Christmas!

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Wildcard Innovations

[Visionoz (Bill)]

Hi All

Like those before me who have posted in this particular thread, I am extremely pleased with the endless service and support that Gary provided me from sales enquiry -> to a purchase just before Christmas -> very prompt delivery -> and even during Christmas Day, technical advice via email on my getting the brand new Argo Navis to work in conjuction with my Losmandy G11

All I can say is "Thanks, Gary, you are the One!" - what would we AN owners do without Gary eh?

Now back to the scope and learning to tweak the AN and better still to learn to use TPAS -

Cheers
Bill

[gary]

Originally Posted by Visionoz

Hi All

Like those before me who have posted in this particular thread, I am extremely pleased with the endless service and support that Gary provided me from sales enquiry -> to a purchase just before Christmas -> very prompt delivery -> and even during Christmas Day, technical advice via email on my getting the brand new Argo Navis to work in conjuction with my Losmandy G11

All I can say is "Thanks, Gary, you are the One!" - what would we AN owners do without Gary eh?

Now back to the scope and learning to tweak the AN and better still to learn to use TPAS -

Cheers
Bill

Hi Bill,

Thanks for your kind words and we appreciate your support.

All the best for the New year!

Best regards

Gary

[peter andre (Peter andre)]

Hi, Gary,
I am about to buy a Takahashi EM-200b mount, which is a Non Goto!
I would like to have it converted into a Goto mount.Sending the mount to Takahashi would cost a fortune!! Could you please advise if your Argo Navis will fit my mount succesfully?
Hope you are still in the air to answer my question.
cheers
Peter Andre

[gary]

Originally Posted by peter andre

Hi, Gary,
I am about to buy a Takahashi EM-200b mount, which is a Non Goto!
I would like to have it converted into a Goto mount.Sending the mount to Takahashi would cost a fortune!! Could you please advise if your Argo Navis will fit my mount succesfully?
Hope you are still in the air to answer my question.
cheers
Peter Andre

Hi Peter,

Thanks for the post and Seasons Greetings.

Firstly, it is important to keep in mind that Argo Navis does not directly interface
to servo or stepper motors. Instead, it interfaces to a pair of optical encoders,
one of which is fitted to each of the two primary axes of the mount. As the
RA or Dec axis rotates, the encoders emit electrical pulses which the
Argo Navis keeps track of. Thus, you use your own muscle power in a PUSHTO
configuration to move the scope. Many prefer PUSHTO over GOTO because
of its fast, reliable and quiet operation.

So if you are after a system that can assist you in locating and identifying
objects in a PUSHTO configuration, then an Argo Navis fills these requirements.

We have an encoder mounting solution available for the EM200 but I would
need to check the difference between the original EM200 and the EM200b
that you mentioned. You can find a scanned image of the installation drawing
for the EM200 on our web site here -
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com....nc_em200_1.jpg
If the hubs have similar dimensions and the existing screw holes are at the
same positions with the same threads, then the existing kit will fit. I recommend you
email me at sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au where we can begin a dialog
to determine what the differences, if any, are between the EM200 and EM200b with
respect the relevant dimensions.

From what I understand, the EM200b was mechanically very similar to the EM200
but had a different control panel.

I mentioned earlier that Argo Navis does not directly drive motors. However,
Argo Navis does interface to some third party motor controllers, in particular
the ServoCAT and the Sidereal Technology servo controllers. This then provides
for full slew and track (i.e. GOTO) support. Though these particular motors systems
have been adapted to some equatorial mounts, I am not aware of any users
having ported them to the Takahashi mounts and certainly some substantial
mechanical improvisation would be required.

By comparison, the encoder PUSHTO solution can be installed in less than
20 minutes.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place
Mount Kuring-Gai NSW 2080
Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

[peter andre (Peter andre)]

Thanks for your quick reply!
I am pretty sure the 200b is same as the 200 model.
Your advise very much appreciated, I now will go ahead buying this mount and fingers crossed the AN will be OK for this mount.
A conversion to a real Goto mount would set me back approx. $2500 including transport to/from Japan.
I will be in contact again early next year (2010)
meanwhile have a very happy new year
cheers
peter schagen
(in brisbane)

[manny]

I too have joined this illustrious group of AN owners but unfortunately will have to wait till early January before I can assemble and use,then I will be clapping my hands and jumping up and down maybe
throw in a couple of cartwheels.
To Gary thank you for your assistance to my wife Wanda whom by the way praised you excellent customer service and from all the posts I have read about Argo Navis your product ,your willingness to help out people having problems and to take time out and answer posts is second to none so once again thank you and wish you and wildcard continued succsess.
Can't wait till January.

All the best

Manny

[norm]

I probably shouldn't highjack this thread, but would like to know from Gary if there are any plans in the future for a 'new' Argo Navis. By this I mean with stuff like LCD screens, Lithium ion batteries, smaller chipsets, touchscreens; have there been any considerations from the Argonavis team to re-design a whole new Argo? Maybe a smaller unit with added features such as a logging capabilties of what one has observed that night, standby?

I appreciate a whole re-design would cost a bucket to r/d and there is the old adage saying 'if it aint broke don't touch...'.

Don't get me wrong, the Argo is a bloody brilliant product and makes me personally proud that its an Australian product to boot. I could definitely see a market for amateurs to upgrade if one was available.

Cheers Norm

PS: Does the AN forum talk about the history of the AN and how and why it came about?

If this is not the appropriate thread I will create new one.

[gary]

Originally Posted by manny

I too have joined this illustrious group of AN owners but unfortunately will have to wait till early January before I can assemble and use,then I will be clapping my hands and jumping up and down maybe
throw in a couple of cartwheels.
To Gary thank you for your assistance to my wife Wanda whom by the way praised you excellent customer service and from all the posts I have read about Argo Navis your product ,your willingness to help out people having problems and to take time out and answer posts is second to none so once again thank you and wish you and wildcard continued succsess.
Can't wait till January.

All the best

Manny

Hi Manny,

Seasons Greetings!

Thanks for the post and welcome to the extended family of Argo Navis owners.

Thanks for your kind comments and special thanks to Wanda. She certainly
is a very special lady and she went to extraordinary efforts to securing a unit
and encoder kit for you and she wanted so much for it to be a surprise.
So I hope it was!

Don't forget, if you have not done so already, please also feel free to join the
Argo Navis User's Group hosted on Yahoo -
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/argo_navis_dtc

When the time comes, should you require any support or assistance,
please don't hesitate to email sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au or
give us a call.

Greetings to you there in Bundaberg!

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place
Mount Kuring-Gai NSW 2080
Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

[gary]

Originally Posted by norm

....

PS: Does the AN forum talk about the history of the AN and how and why it came about?

Hi Norm,

Thanks for the post and Happy New Year!

Firstly I will address your question regarding future developments.

All consumer electronics has a finite market life. However, in designing Argo Navis,
we ensured that its dual CPU architecture would provide plenty of computing
power and we used FLASH memory so its firmware could be upgraded over time.
This has helped ensure it provides lasting value and for example we are
currently working on the next free firmware upgrade.

When it reaches the end of its market life, which is quite a way of yet, rest
assured we will be there with the next generation hardware and software.

Sounds like you may have missed one of my presentations over the
years where we talk about the "Making of Argo Navis". We have given
presentations to ASNSW including at the SPSP, to attendees at NACAA,
at the Queensland Astrofest and to the Central West Astronomical Society.
I will post some excerpts on this thread here.

Thanks again for your post and we appreciate your support.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place, Mount Kuring-Gai
NSW. 2080. Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

[CoombellKid]

No offence Norm,

But Gary, please dont institute the LCD touchscreen idea, I couldn't
imagine that the hardcore AN users of the observing kind would want
that. I find the screen as it is, is non intrusive. You can walk up the
any scope running an AN on an observing field and wouldn't know it was
there unless you looked at it. If they were LCD's you would know every
scope running AN on the field. The other thing is.... in the dark 1 x dial
2 x buttons work very well.

Anyways just my 2 cents worth, and like I said no offence Norm, I did
like some or the rest of your ideas.

Cheers,CS

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Got to love the Argo - here's mine successfully talking to my iPhone via Voyager/SkyFi:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=54927

[Liz]

Well, have been trying to install my new Argo Navis over the last couple of days ..... has to be the dodgiest installation ever.
Have finally installed both encoders - no drill, so a bit of a mess hammering in, then screwing the screws, then I had them in wrong position, so did it all again!! RRRggghh. Anyway, all on, even tho I have somehow managed to put the altitude one on wrong side of rocker.
Today have been putting in data - home, lat and long, mount etc.
Dont know about the daytime test .... havent got anything outside to focus on - sea ast the front, and bush at the back
Not sure if this is necessary, but will give it all a go tonight, fingers crossed.
Been wading through the manual, trying to take in the important bits ,
hopefully I can get out tonight, do my 2 star alignment, and Bingo
Probably something else I need to do though

[gary]

Originally Posted by Liz

Well, have been trying to install my new Argo Navis over the last couple of days ..... has to be the dodgiest installation ever.
Have finally installed both encoders - no drill, so a bit of a mess hammering in, then screwing the screws, then I had them in wrong position, so did it all again!! RRRggghh. Anyway, all on, even tho I have somehow managed to put the altitude one on wrong side of rocker.
Today have been putting in data - home, lat and long, mount etc.
Dont know about the daytime test .... havent got anything outside to focus on - sea ast the front, and bush at the back
Not sure if this is necessary, but will give it all a go tonight, fingers crossed.
Been wading through the manual, trying to take in the important bits ,
hopefully I can get out tonight, do my 2 star alignment, and Bingo
Probably something else I need to do though

Hi Liz,

Thanks for the post.

Though you have it installed now, the Alt encoder can go either side of the rcker
box. There are a couple of menus of interest that appear under MODE SETUP,
one called SETUP ALT STEPS and the other SETUP AZ STEPS. When you enter
those menus they display both the number of encoder steps, which in your case
is 10,000 steps and a + or - sign in front of the those numbers which we call
the encoder direction sense signs. As it turns out, if one wishes to move the
Alt encoder from one side of the rocker to the other, the Alt encoder direction
sense simply needs reversing.

The first 30 or so pages is all you need to get up and going from putting the
batteries in, to performing the one-time setups to aligning the unit all the
way to a tutorial on how to tour galaxies in Fornax.

Those of us surrounded by trees, telegraph poles and other terrestrial obstructions
envy your location with an absence of these. For the time being you might
forgo the Daytime Encoder Test as you suggested and simply try to perform
an alignment and then GUIDE to an object.

If you find after a star alignment that the guide angles make no sense,
for example, they have you wanting to point the scope toward the ground
or 180 degrees in Az from where the target is, then almost certainly one
or more of your encoder direction sense signs needs reversing.

Good luck with the weather. We have been watching what a drenching parts
of Qld have been receiving so I hope clear skies are on the way.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place
Mount Kuring-Gai NSW 2080
Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

[gary]

Originally Posted by Omaroo

Got to love the Argo - here's mine successfully talking to my iPhone via Voyager/SkyFi:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=54927

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the report! Enjoy!

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place
Mount Kuring-Gai NSW 2080
Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

[that_guy (Tony)]

what does argo navis do?? I couldnt be stuffed reading all the posts

[erick (Eric)]

Here is one sales blurb, Tony:-

http://www.jmitelescopes.com/html_do...uper_specs.htm

[Liz]

Aaah, thank you Erik for helping out there ... am still trying to get my head around it .... too hot up here to get it up and going yet : (
Sorry Gary ... I will get there, but have had lathers of sweat pouring off me after 5 minutes outside ... still yet to have success .. tho did reach coord for a neb 2 nights ago, but unable to follow thru due to mozzies/humidity and frustration... didnt want to injure the scope in the proces of..... by hurling it across the patio

[Phoenix (Steve)]

Great bit of kit the Argo, which drives my SDM - love it. But can someone tell me how I can I simply track the moon as it doesn't seem to be listed in any Argo catalog?

Cheers