Argo Navis

[desler]

Hey all,

We'll with much gratitude to Peter_4509 abd the bank (wife)at this end I am now the somewhat daunted owner of an Argo.

Much to do, and learn and a couple of phone calls to Gary at Wildcard, and I've pretty much got the 5000 step encoders in position, braced the rocker (temporarily) with a couple of long clamps and set to work.

I tried to alighn last night, everything seemed to go failry well, couldn't get the unit to align on any object that I was familiar with.

Set the date / time/ location (I don't seem to be able to imput my exact longtitude and latitude) as listed on Heavens above?????

Finally got the scope pointed in much the right direction but coudn't get warp under 0.8. At times it jumped out to 1.2 - 1.6.

Did the test today and refined bracing the box. Tightened everything up, modified the tangent arms so, they dont hit the timber work, regardless of scope position, I have them floating on a small piave of pvc tubing over a brass screw and wingnut system.

The daylight test again and I find I can get the object (light fitting down the road) in the eyepice (15mm pl) but the finder scope cross hair always seems to be slightly off start point.

Is this anything to be concerned about, or is it due to the lower resolution with the 5000 step encoders.

Hoping for clear skies tonight! I don't like my chances though!!!!


Daz:P

[peter_4059]

Darren,

Just got home from astrofest today. Good to hear it arrived safely. I'm sure Garry will jump in with the answers to your questions. Good luck.

Peter

[gary]

Hi Daz,

Congratulations on purchasing a pre-loved Argo Navis.

As discussed on the telephone, chances are one or both of your
encoder direction sense signs is not correctly established.

These are the +/- signs in SETUP ALT STEPS and SETUP AZ STEPS.

To check the SETUP ALT STEPS sign, perform a FIX ALT REF and then point
the OTA toward the vertical. DIAL up MODE ENCODER. The right-hand displayed
value should be close to +90 degrees. Now push the OTA downward in
Altitude toward the horizon. The right-hand displayed value should
decrease, +89, +88, ... +3, +2, +1, 0 as you go from the zenith toward
the horizon. If not reverse the SETUP ALT STEPS sign and repeat the
test.

Once the ALT STEPS sign is correctly established, perform a FIX
ALT REF and two-star alignment. Now DIAL up MODE RA DEC (not MODE
ENCODER). Point the OTA at the approximate intersection of the meridian
and celestial equator. Now sweep the OTA from that point toward the
East, roughly following the celestial equator. RA should be increasing
on the display (it will wrap at 23:59 back to 00:00). If it is
decreasing, reverse the SETUP AZ STEPS sign and repeat the test.

As mentioned on page 19 of the User Manual, Argo Navis does not require
you to set the date/time and location for general alignment usage. The
User Manual lists the feature set that requires date/time/location. One
of these features is refraction modeling via the SETUP REFRACTION mode.
Inadvertently setting the time zone incorrectly, then setting the local
time and then switching refraction modeling on can result in the horizon
being incorrectly computed and therefore large corrections being made to
object positions even though those objects might have small zenith
distances.

With regard the finder scope, what is important is that when you perform the
Daytime Encoder test that the target is re-centered in the main optics
rather than the finder, which it is. The finder has a wide FOV and for close terrestrial
objects there simply might be a little parallax going on.

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

[desler]

Let me say first, I have read numerous comments that Gary Kopff from Wildcard knows his stuff and is willing to assist all users of AN. I couldn't agree more.

After initial phone conversations last week and expert assistance on encoder fitting and floating, supply of new cable and cable blocks and various improvements to the GSO system. I felt pretty happy to tackle everything on the first couple of days off.

Yes I did read widely and thought I had a pretty good understanding of most of the initial set-up routines.....oh the frustration when you know the scope is just plain pointing in the wrong direction!!!!!!!!!!!

Another phone call today from work, me getting stared at in the office as the nerdy bloke asking about star alignments and Gary being patient and understanding. Yet again, imparting valuable knowledge and assistance to a new member of the AN family.

Gary was right on the money with the, "I suggest you've probably set the encoder direction senses incorrectly". Twenty minutes tonight, a change to the AZ steps to - and way we go.

What a journey for a work night: Covered O/C's M6,7 and 11, G/C's M4,5,6,7,10,11 and 13 and for the first time from my light polluted back yard NGC 5128.

If this is the result of the very first setup, I can't wait for the rest of the journey.

Once again Gary, Thanks for your time!

Darren :D

[gary]

Hi Darren,

Thanks for the post and the kind comments, which are appreciated.

Great to hear you are up and going and have begun your odyssey!

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