Gemini 2 pro's con's comments idea's please

[Adelain]

Hi All,
We run a small school & community Observatory with a C14" on a G11 Gemini 1 and are thinking about upgrading to Gemini 2.
Would appreciate any input from G2 owners or indeed anyone with alternate goto systems on a Losmandy G11.
Cheers Adrian

http://www.mapletonobservatory.com.au/

[Adelain]

Gemini 2 pro's con's comments idea's please
Hi All,
We run a small school & community Observatory with a C14" on a G11 Gemini 1 and are thinking about upgrading to Gemini 2.
Would appreciate any input from G2 owners or indeed anyone with alternate goto systems on a Losmandy G11.
Cheers Adrian

http://www.mapletonobservatory.com.au/

Re posting. Posted this in equipment discussions but it didn't show in New Posts.

[multiweb]

Do you find that the Gemini II has features you would use that the Gemini I doesn't have?

[E_ri_k]

I really like my gemini 2 system. Pros for me are the touch screen controller, easy to use, and accurate pointing, and being able to be PC controlled. The only con about it, for me would be the firmware and bugs. I had a few issues where I needed help form the Gemini 2 Users group regarding the firmware, and things not working the way they should. I think the firmware needs updating quite often (Which isn't hard to do) It is a really good idea to be a part of the Yahoo Gemini 2 Users Group. Lots of people who can help you out if you have any problems.

I have never used the gemini 1, so I cant comment on how it compares.

I would recommend it if you already have a G-11.

Erik

[Adelain]

Hi Erik,
Thanks for that, The touch screen is a good improvement, the Gemini 1 was tedious to use, especially for children & teachers new to this stuff .
Though I had it running on Sky 6.
Thanks again Adrian

[Adelain]

Do you find that the Gemini II has features you would use that the Gemini I doesn't have?

I'm actually asking you guys / Girls that question because i don't have one yet (Gemini 2 )
Touch screen looks good for the kids to use but need your input.
Cheers Adrian

PS the Gemini got a lightning strike ( we Think) hence the need to upgrade.

[iceman]

Merged the threads.

It doesn't show up in new posts because it's not new - YOU posted it.

[Adelain]

Yes of course Thanks Mike thanks

[wasyoungonce]

You will want to go to Gemini 2 if.....you want to control the system by LAN or wireless or remotely...other than that....there is no reason to go to Gemini2, ATM, IMHO.

I have a Gemini1 and would like a Gemini2 to run from LAN but other than that cannot justify chucking a perfectly serviceable system that I know so well.

I rigged up a bluetooth wireless to run the Gemini via Gemini RS232 port (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-643-0-0-1-0.html) (or in fact any RS232 port) so you can sit a few metres away and command it with Planetarium programs or Gemini ASCOM.

Just use the Gemini1 till it dies...however they are easy to repair and there are many spares still available for the Gemini1 for many years to come.

edit:
OK my post came while they were being merged. If your Gemini is dead, try FAQ's here. (http://www.gemini-2.com/faq.php) Particularly looking at main fuse (http://gemini-2.com/pcb-pictures.php) and hand set fuse. Lightening usually induces ground loops which cause all sorts of damage but look at the fuses first.

[Peteren]

I have a Gemini 1 which has a dead comms port but works fine from the hand controller.

If you can use it I'm happy to send it as I have a new Gemini 2 now.

Cheers

[wasyoungonce]

Peter a dead coms port...RS232 is only a MAX3221 IC...a $5 part. That's really decent offer by you. :thumbsup:

If you want I can replace this RS232 IC for free (I have 2 spare ICs ATM, I'm an ex Avionics tech and have repaired a few gemini1's) if your giving away your Gemini1 & I'll fix it, test it and forward it to Adelain.

A kinda of.....you do a good thing and I'll help as well!

That's of course if you want this and Adelain is ok with all this.:shrug:

[Peteren]

Adrian, for a school & community observatory I’m happy to send the Gem 1 to Brendan for repairs as long as he is happy to repair it and send it on to you.

[wasyoungonce]

Yep I'm 100% up to it...I've done these ICs before. It's for the Kids...how could I resist! To coin a saying..."Won't somebody think of the Kids"!:lol:

[Adelain]

You blokes are amazing!
we are a non profit bunch of volunteers who raised the bulk of the money to build the Mapleton observatory and have operated it for the past dozen years or so for the public $5 a head free for the school kids. and have maintained and repaired it as was needed with excess funds going to the P&C
We are overwhelmed at your generosity and would love to meet you at some time if you were in the area to see what we do.
See our web site for more about us. That would save us a $1000
http://www.mapletonobservatory.com.au/
Cheers Adrian.
Thank you Peter & Brendan, our contact details are on the Mapleton Observatory website.
PS Brendan we could send our Gemini 1 and you may be able to use or cannibalize it?

[wasyoungonce]

Adelain, No problems. I like this community spirit and am proud to add a small part of goodwill. After all I have the parts gathering dust and the knowledge going to waste!

In general I cannot scavenge parts as generally I would never put an IC back in I de-soldered however, there are 2 PIC micro-controllers, one for RA one for DEC and a Amtel 8 bit CPU that is socketed and can be removed without damage. Also the RA/DEC encoder IC's are a bit difficult to come by and if really needed I may have to scavenge.

So all that said...yes send me your damaged Gemini I can at least ascertain if I can fix it. If need I can fix Peters quickly and then try to repair the original Gemini.

I'll PM you my address.:thumbsup:

[stevous67]

Just in the merit of the thread, has anyone done a pointing accuracy test between the G1 and the G2?

The G2 of a friend of mine has lousy pointing accuracy, greater than a degree and a half from a southern object to a northern object (eastern side). Returning to the same spot is even poor. We fixed play in the RA, with the Dec being fine. He has updated the software but still terrible GOTO accuracy. He also made a pointing model, but results only marginally improved.

Can any visual observers provide an experience to confirm if this common or not?

Thanks for any comments.

Steve

[stevous67]

I'm guessing this pointing accuracy business is something people are not intersted in talking about to highlight a signigficant issue with the V2 system, and notably for that of the southern hemisphere user. Imaging people dont normally worry too much about it, but visual owners would.

I cannot believe how bad the Gemini V2 is for GOTO performance. I've seen it, and can't believe it. But tracking is perfectly fine.

Steve

[wasyoungonce]

Probably best to bring this up in the Gemini2 forum, although you have probably already done this.

I don't see why it would have goto accuracy issues unless the pointing model data is poor or not working properly or don't have a model east and west. I do remember some Gemini 2 discussions about goto accuracy issues (not sure I have hGemini1) but thought this was an issue with some handset (system) settings and could easily be fixed.:shrug:

Typing in "goto accuracy" in the Gemini forum bring up a lot of posts such as regarding goto accuracy....ie: Quote...

"When you start up the Gemini and brings up screens. On the screen that has, like mount parameters and has hand controller as one of the options that you can select. Here you can select different settings, ramp-up, etc. And some others which I don't fully understand but they are there. I think that Tom talks about that on his website. Losmandy told me that I had the wrong option selected". ...end quote:question:

Ok this is not informative but maybe trolling the G2 yahoo forum and FAQs will help.

[stevous67]

Thank you Brendan for the post and thoughts, nothing has resulted from the Gemini group. The mount is a friends unit who has been writing now directly with I think René Görlich, and the issue seems to be specifically a Southern Hemisphere issue?? The northern hemisphere model was apparently done, but not a Southern Hemisphere model (realising there were beta testers here in Australia).

Having a Gemini V1 L4 I recommend the unit, but performance is clearly different for GOTOs. Anyway, it seems the majority of users are for astrophotography, so the pointing problem is not as much an issue considering laptops, planetarium software and pointing assistants are used to lock onto targets.

Steve

[wasyoungonce]

Just an update. Adrian's Gemini had a burned U16 motor encoder IC and D10 +5V dial schottky.

I removed the IC (now on order) and replaced D10 and it now works. However on boot the buzzer "beep" is more like a "squeal" instead of a positive "beep" and +5V on each side is +4.87V~4.9V and 4.75V~4.86V respectively which appears a little low on one side? Still not sure on this atm. I put +5V across the buzzer and there isn't a positive "beep", it is more like a beep/part squeal...so the buzzer may be bad and the +5V is ok...still musing on this!

So I still some things to attend to and check but its starting to come back to life!;)

[White Rabbit]

Regarding pointing accuracy with the GII, with all the issues I have with this mount, pointing is not one of them. My mount gets targets not far from centre of the FOV every time, all over the sky. It's quite impressive.

Thanks

[el_draco]

My sediments exactly ! :thumbsup:

[Peteren]

In my very limited experience to date I’ve found that the G2 needs a reasonably accurate polar alignment prior to building or loading a model.

I was having head banging goto issues until I finally did a cold restart, which wipes the model, re-aligned the mount, correcting a large dec error, and started building a new model.

It now functions perfectly on the east side of the mount and I’ve yet to start building a west side model.

[wasyoungonce]

Just an update.

Adrian has Peters Gemini now but Adrians Gemini is nearly fixed, last part on the way.

[Bullockbob]

Sorry to hijack the thread, especially from a newbie (be kind please), but I'm very curious to know what pointing issues people have had with Gemini.

Are there specific southern hemisphere problems that have been noted?

I'm just about to "push the button" on a G11G so would like to know if there are any dramas down under.

Cheers
Rob
:question:

[wasyoungonce]

To The OP, Adrian and an update for others.

You Gemini lives again new motor encoder IC put in, RA now alive and all other faults fixed. It's been in test for last 1.5 days and all is good. Now mounted running my Gemini for more testing.

I'd like to publicly thank Dr René Gorlich (http://www.docgoerlich.de/Gemini.html)for helping me on this. He is a generous person always willing to help Gemini users. A star of the Gemini world in my eyes! A star in my eyes...I made an Astro funny....stand-up comic ....I ain't!

All this was fixed for free for the Mapelton Community Observatory (http://www.mapletonobservatory.com.au/) as a gesture of goodwill from the IIS community, myself and René.

All looking good Adrian. I'll test for 2 more days then it'll be in the post.

Brendan

[Adelain]

On behalf of the Mapleton Observatory volunteers, local schools and community.

http://www.mapletonobservatory.com.au/

I thank you Brendan, Peter, And Rene.
We are overwhelmed by your generosity and goodwill in mending our broken Gemini, your a wizard Brendan.
And Peter for the loan of your Gem to get us out of trouble.
Rene for the parts and advice.
Help from IIS members ( what a great community this is)
You inspired us to overhaul the 12 year old observatory and its old G11 mount ( new HT motors, gearboxes, one piece worm) new solar panels and batteries for the dome rotation & door openers.
All jobs well overdue.
Its a pleasure to have everything working well again.
All down to you lot :hi:
Cheers Adrian.
LLAP :)

[wasyoungonce]

Adrian, many thanks. If I had the motor encoder IC's on hand when I received the unit then I would have had it completed by April!

Many Many thanks to René, once again, for sage advice and support. He loves these babies as much as I do and he loves to see them keep on keeping on.

I have a few spare of these ICs but suspect they won't last long so I'll be chasing this up from the OEM for purchasing more.

Many regards good to see something you do working for a good cause.


Brendan