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  #361  
Old 08-07-2012, 11:58 AM
gary
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Argo Navis FIX ALT REF AUTO ADJUST ON

Quote:
Originally Posted by stephenb View Post
Between some of the typical Melbourne weather lately, I've been trying out my new Argo Navis on my 10" BinTel Dob. It literally took less that 40 minutes to install and 10 minutes to setup! Out of 4 x 30 minute sessions the pointing accuracy has been 90-95% successful. I've been able to locate many DSOs within the bounds of my light pollution. Occasionally the object will fall just outside the FOV with a TV 27mm Pan.

I built my own stalk and placed it on the far-side of the rocker box which was more ergonomic than on the 'near side'.

I'm extremely impressed with it's operation and simplicity and most of all the outstanding service and advice I've received from Gary (but with an AN, that's a given).

Edit: Gary, sorry for the lack of email. I've fixed my extension cable dilemma and I'll post some pics today to describe how I achieved it.

Stephen
Hi Stephen,

Thanks for the post and great to hear you are up and going.

To improve your pointing performance, we recommend you begin to use
a feature called AUTO ADJUST ON when you perform the FIX ALT REF step,
if you have not begun to use it already.

To set it up, DIAL up MODE SETUP, SETUP ALT REF and
enter a value of +090.000. Then when you perform the FIX ALT REF
STEP, DIAL up ALT REF=+090.000 AUTO ADJUST ON. Perform your two star
alignment as normal. The WARP factor should then be 0.00 (A) where
the (A) indicates the ALT REF point was automatically adjusted. If
you see a non-zero WARP factor when AUTO ADJUST is ON or an (X)
instead of an (A), it means something is amiss, such as a
misidentified star or cable not plugged in. Keep in mind that though
a WARP factor of 0.00 is a prerequisite for good pointing
performance, it does not necessarily guarantee good performance. The
reason is that the AUTO ADJUST mechanism bends over backwards to
correct the ALT REF point so as to produce a WARP factor of zero
wherever possible, even if you have misidentified the alignment stars.

Beyond AUTO ADJUST ON, Argo Navis has a powerful feature called the
Telescope Pointing Analysis System (TPAS) which is described in the Manual
under the section SETUP MNT ERRORS. However, before reaching for TPAS,
which is an advanced feature, you might find AUTO ADJUST ON is all you need.

Thanks again for the 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
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  #362  
Old 30-07-2012, 04:36 PM
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kustard (Simon)
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I'd like to extend my thanks to Gary for helping me convert my XT14g goto to an ArgoNavis push-to. The Argo is so much easier to drive than the Synscan system and in the future I can see myself possibly adding a ServoCat which will be easy thanks to the help Gary provided setting up the scope.
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  #363  
Old 30-07-2012, 11:25 PM
gary
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Argo Navis on Orion XT14g

Quote:
Originally Posted by kustard View Post
I'd like to extend my thanks to Gary for helping me convert my XT14g goto to an ArgoNavis push-to. The Argo is so much easier to drive than the Synscan system and in the future I can see myself possibly adding a ServoCat which will be easy thanks to the help Gary provided setting up the scope.
Thank you Simon!

It was a pleasure to work with you to make it happen.

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
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  #364  
Old 31-07-2012, 01:17 PM
ausastronomer (John Bambury)
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TPAS it's worth pursuing

Quote:
Originally Posted by gary View Post

Beyond AUTO ADJUST ON, Argo Navis has a powerful feature called the
Telescope Pointing Analysis System (TPAS) which is described in the Manual
under the section SETUP MNT ERRORS. However, before reaching for TPAS,
which is an advanced feature, you might find AUTO ADJUST ON is all you need.
Hi all,

I just wanted to add somewhat to Gary's comments here about TPAS.

I own 3 Argo Navis units which sit on 10", 14" and 18" dobsonians, two of which also have Servocat fitted. I am about to buy a 4th Argo Navis unit to sit on my new little 10"/F5.3 SDM; which should be in the mail within the next week or two.

I use the TPAS system religiously as it is an exceptionally powerful tool and can make a poorly built scope/mount, which would otherwise have poor pointing accuracy, in to one with superb pointing accuracy. Even a scope which points pretty well without TPAS can point a whole lot better with it. For instance my 14" SDM (which isn't poorly built and points well in any case) with TPAS can put targets into the centre of the FOV of my 7mm Pentax XW (230X and 18 arc minutes) each and every time. Similarly my 10" and 18" scopes point with similar accuracy once I have run a simple TPAS model on them.

What I notice in the field and at star parties is that a large number of Argo Navis users (probably > 90%) do not take the time to run a TPAS model. They centre the target at low power then change eyepieces. Putting the eyepiece into the FOV of the eyepiece you wish to observe it in can save you an enormous amount of time, particularly with galaxies and planetaries, where the planetaries may appear stellar at lower powers and you dont know if you have it or not.

As Gary indicates it is an "advanced" feature and there is a slight learning curve in learning how to get the best out of TPAS, it isnt' hard and offers significant benefits once you get your head around it. Consequently I would encourage people to at least "dip their toes in the water" with TPAS rather than putting it in the "too hard" or "can't be bothered" basket, once they become proficient in the main features of Argo Navis.

Cheers,
John B
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  #365  
Old 01-08-2012, 07:21 AM
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erick (Eric)
Starcatcher

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I'm hearing you John. OK, I'll give it a go at Border Stargaze.

Be nice if I could cheat and have someone just show me what to do?
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  #366  
Old 08-08-2012, 02:18 PM
sparrow_34 (Paul)
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I managed to get outside last night for a couple of hours. I have only managed to get outside a couple of times in the past month due to the terrible weather. Last night was not too bad ( no clouds for a change). I ended up trying the tour mode and selected globular clusters over a magnitude 9. It blew my mind how easy it was to be able to observe some great clusters in a reasonably short period of time. I also took the opportunity to try the TPAS. I only took four sample points and used the IE term in the model. After doing this the objects were always near the centre of the field of view. I was extremely happy with the results and it provided a definite improvement.
One question to Gary if he reads this, in the tour mode I noticed some of the objects in the "Tour'" would have required the altitude to be lowered, in effect below the horizon ie down arrow 100 degrees. Is this normal or have I overlooked something, or was I simply tired and seeing things

All in all I'm extremely impressed with the Argo Navis
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  #367  
Old 08-08-2012, 04:25 PM
gary
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Argo Navis and horizon checking

Quote:
Originally Posted by sparrow_34 View Post
One question to Gary if he reads this, in the tour mode I noticed some of the objects in the "Tour'" would have required the altitude to be lowered, in effect below the horizon ie down arrow 100 degrees. Is this normal or have I overlooked something, or was I simply tired and seeing things

All in all I'm extremely impressed with the Argo Navis
Hi Paul,

Thanks for the post and great to hear you are enjoying Argo Navis.

When you select a filter selection of CONSTELLATION or "WITHIN so many degrees"
in MODE TOUR or MODE IDENTIFY, Argo Navis does not provide any additional
horizon filtering.

If you point the scope at the zenith and apply a filtering criteria of 180 degrees
in MODE TOUR or MODE IDENTIFY, that would include only targets above
the horizon.

If used in conjunction with a ServoCAT, if the user has entered the approximate
location in SETUP LOCATION and the time in SETUP DATE/TIME, Argo Navis
computes where the local horizon is and if the user attempts to perform a GOTO
to a target beneath the horizon, Argo Navis informs the ServoCAT that the slew
would be unwise and does not take it. The ServoCAT then requests the Argo Navis
to play some down-beat notes to alert the user that the slew will not be taken.

Some work has been done toward an enhancement to provide additional horizon filtering criteria
for MODE IDENTIFY and MODE TOUR and this may appear in a future firmware release.

We are currently completing a minor firmware release which we hope to make
available soon that provides some new refinements to the ServoCAT protocol
and some precessional corrections to some of the serial port protocols such as
the "meade" protocol.

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
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  #368  
Old 27-09-2012, 10:08 AM
andrew2008
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Tossing up between the Argo Navis and buying a goto base for my 12" dob. If it was just ability to find an object the AN would win hands down. Is the tracking a worthwhile addition?
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  #369  
Old 27-09-2012, 01:45 PM
gary
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Argo Navis on a 12" SkyWatcher

Quote:
Originally Posted by andrew2008 View Post
Tossing up between the Argo Navis and buying a goto base for my 12" dob. If it was just ability to find an object the AN would win hands down. Is the tracking a worthwhile addition?
Hi Andrew,

Thanks for the post and for considering an Argo Navis.

A significant percentage of Argo Navis owners use them in conjunction with ServoCAT
servo motor controllers for a complete slew and track system.

Though ServoCAT controllers have been deployed on scopes as small as
12", their price points tend to make them more optimal for scopes in the 14" to
48"-plus aperture range.

One big advantage of the Argo Navis/ServoCAT combination is that you can
typically port it to your "next mount". When aperture fever bites and the budget
allows, it is nice to be able to move your Argo Navis and ServoCAT over
just as one would retain any premium eyepieces.

I like tracking as it avoids having to nudge the scope now and then. Where tracking
comes into its own is under high power where the FOV is small and where the
object warrants extended scrutiny, either because of its inherent detail or
because the seeing is intermittent and one needs to integrate the image in the mind's
eye.

So little wonder tracking is such a popular feature particularly with our customers
who have large aperture Dobs. A certain amount of "horses for courses".

But now and then myself and colleagues will spend a night with 18", 20" and 25"
Dobs with the tracking off and nothing but the Argo Navis to guide us to targets
and still have the time of our lives.

We have off-the-shelf encoder mounting hardware kits available for the non-GOTO
SkyWatcher Dobs.

Another approach, and one that is actively being pursued by IIS member "davewaldo"
is to consider building your own new sturdier mount, fitting an Argo Navis to it
and leaving open the option to add a ServoCAT to it later. See Dave's thread here -
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=96320
and this recent related thread here which lead up to that decision -
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=95275

In this particular instance, Dave provided us with some dimensions of the ply
he was working with and we presented him with 3D CAD models of custom encoder
installation hardware for him to evaluate. We then fabricated these components
for him at very affordable prices.

Feel free to contact me either my email or by telephone should you have any
questions.

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
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  #370  
Old 28-09-2012, 08:43 AM
andrew2008
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Thanks Gary. I actually had one several years ago on a 10" dob. Selling that was the biggest mistake I've made in this hobby. Let's not mention cost chasing astrophotography only to work out that visual is my 'thing'.

What's the best way to order?
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  #371  
Old 28-09-2012, 09:04 AM
gary
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andrew2008 View Post
Thanks Gary. I actually had one several years ago on a 10" dob. Selling that was the biggest mistake I've made in this hobby. Let's not mention cost chasing astrophotography only to work out that visual is my 'thing'.

What's the best way to order?
Thanks Andrew,

You can either order online at http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/purchase.html or simply give us a call on 02 9457 9049.

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
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  #372  
Old 26-10-2012, 07:12 PM
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barx1963 (Malcolm)
Bright the hawk's flight

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Ordered mine today!

Well after much putting off I have finally ordered an AN for the 12" dob.
Spoke to Gary with a couple of questions and hopefully should have it running well before the next New Moon!



Malcolm
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  #373  
Old 26-10-2012, 08:18 PM
gary
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Thank you Malcolm!

Quote:
Originally Posted by barx1963 View Post
Well after much putting off I have finally ordered an AN for the 12" dob.
Spoke to Gary with a couple of questions and hopefully should have it running well before the next New Moon!



Malcolm
Hi Malcolm,

Thanks for the order and we look forward to welcoming you to the extended
family of Argo Navis owners.

Thanks also for the phone call and as soon as we receive your Alt trunnion
for the encoder installation, our goal is to turn it around to you within a working
day or two of receipt.

Then you will be good to go for next New Moon at Snake Valley!

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
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  #374  
Old 27-10-2012, 08:44 AM
ausastronomer (John Bambury)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by barx1963 View Post
Well after much putting off I have finally ordered an AN for the 12" dob.

Malcolm
Hi Malcolm,

Congratulations on your purchase. Why did you put it off? AN will give your scope a whole new lease of life.

Cheers,
John B
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  #375  
Old 28-10-2012, 09:08 AM
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barx1963 (Malcolm)
Bright the hawk's flight

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Thanks John.
Why did I put it off? well I'm a cheap so and so, and there was lots I could do using my scope manually. So I decided to wait until I was at the stage in my observing that I thought I could see some real benefit.
Having a tech solution for a problem that doesn't exist is not efficient. Also by doing it all manually I have learnt a lot about the night sky.

Malcolm
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  #376  
Old 06-11-2012, 07:48 AM
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barx1963 (Malcolm)
Bright the hawk's flight

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Location: Mt Duneed Vic
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This is me clapping my hands! The AN is all installed. Happily all went well, my rudimentary handyman skills proved equal to the challenge.
The printed guides were very useful and clear and all the parts appear well made and fit together nicely.
Intial setup is very easy following the manual. The only complaint is Gary doesn't include clear skies so I can test it properly!!

Anyway, thanks to Gary for supplying an awesome Aussie made product.

Malcolm

Last edited by barx1963; 18-11-2012 at 10:27 PM.
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  #377  
Old 19-04-2013, 12:21 PM
gary
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Wildcard Innovations web site IP address transition

Due to the Wildcard Innovations domain being issued a new IP address,
the world's DNS severs will take a few hours to update and during
that time accessing http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au
via a browser will resolve to a router that isn't ours.

If you would like to visit the Wildcard Innovations web site
during this transitional period, please go to http://113.61.64.114/

Once the IP address change has percolated through the world's DNS
servers, you should be able to once again access our web site using
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

We apologize for any inconvenience. The IP address re-assignment
was beyond our immediate control.

If you have any trouble accessing our web site or contacting us
beyond 24 hours from now, we would appreciate you letting us know.

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
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  #378  
Old 30-04-2013, 09:37 PM
jupiter1 (Peter)
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Argo Navis

hi Gary I really enjoyed using the Argo Navis at the star party with the dark skies thanks again for helping me to get started
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  #379  
Old 01-05-2013, 12:06 PM
gary
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jupiter1 View Post
hi Gary I really enjoyed using the Argo Navis at the star party with the dark skies thanks again for helping me to get started
Thank you Peter. You are more than welcome!

We will also be at the South Pacific Star Party between the 10th-12th May.

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
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  #380  
Old 09-05-2013, 07:39 PM
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Deeno
“We are star-stuff”

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Just received a few bits and pieces, only a day after ordering them.
Great back up service! A very dedicated and professional company who also give back to the astro community.
Sorry I won't be at the SPSP this year to take in some views through the 3RF scopes

Thanks Gary
Deeno
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