CDK17 PME images

[gregbradley]

Here are a few shots of the PME and CDK17.

I am making progress getting this baby to work. Nearly there. 4 minute autoguided shots were fine, 10 minutes were showing elongated stars.

Got PEC now activated and hopefully about to do a Tpoint model as well as I got the Lodestar working without the guide cable and can now use the MMOAG for guiding which should also help.

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/127663523 observatory
http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/127663527 CDK
http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/127663529 mirror
http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/127663533/large counterweights

Now back to battle with Vista and FLI filterwheels as well as Paramount ME drivers.

Greg.

[AlexN]

Astro-Porn... Awesome bit of kit, fits in nicely with all your other awesome bits of kit (I still want that AP140 :D haha)

If it serves to ease your mind any, I found it relatively straight forward getting my FLI filterwheel operating under Windows Vista.. If you need any help give us a hoy.

[DavidU]

Wow, awesome equipment.
I am now officially green with envy.:P

[gregbradley]

Ooh what a tease! Yes please - how did you get the FLI filter wheel working under the infamous Vista?

I am also having trouble getting the Paramount software to work with Vista. It says it is available on Com 8 in Device manager but there is a code 10 error saying it may not work and it doesn't connect.

I'll try reinstalling logged in as administrator and UAC off (it was already) and real time virus scan off and see if that helps.

Greg.

[AlexN]

With the FLI wheel, I installed FLI Filter, when you open the program it tries to connect to the wheel. If it fails, theres a drop down box to choose the port that the wheel is connected to... I'll install the software again and have a play with it to get specific details. I'll be in touch.

Cant help with the PME unless you want to post me your PME and I'll figure it out and let you know ;)

[Bassnut]

Its a bit hard to tell from the pic, but is that a big guide cam attached via a right angle thingo waving in the breeze?. Forget that :P. Good youve got the MOAG attached now :thumbsup:. 3m FL is a different world.

Nice rig BTW, very smick. Also, not sure, but do you have a rotator perchance?. If not, how will you rotate?. At 3m/OAG youll have some greif without one, good luck ;), I suspect thatl be an addition fairly shortly :P.

[multiweb]

:lol: That's a massive rig. The gym round the corner just called. They're looking for their weight plates. :P ;)

[gregbradley]

That would be awesome if you could check that out. If I left click at the top of the FLI Filterwheel program you get a dropdown menu about scanning for ports. It makes no difference, it comes up with FLIfil0 and then the FLI filter wheel program works but in CCDsoft it will not connect like it does with the Proline.



I mounted my normal guide scope/ST402ME just to get started. I have since gotten the Lodestar to work using Direct Drive so I don't have to wait for them to supply the missing mount guide cable.

You can loosen the MMOAG and turn things around for framing. A bit inconvenient though. You may be right or perhaps something simpler like a Tak rotator. I have a million adapters I am sure one will work.

Greg.




Hehe:lol: They're not getting them back. Beats a $650 weight though!

[marki]

Greg you may very well have to go into device manager and manually set com ports to get things working. Vista reserves a lot of com port numbers and only leaves the higher ones (e.g. 14, 15, 16 etc) open to hook up stuff. Many FW drivers etc do not let you go that high so they will not connect. Another vista favourite is when a com port is set it will not allow other devices to be used in that port even if the original device is not plugged in. The only way to remedy this is to use the device manager and force the issue.

Mark

[gregbradley]

Sounds good Mark. How do set com ports manually in Device Manager?

I know how to get to Device Manager but I was not aware you cna assign com ports to devices from within it.

Greg.

[marki]

When you plug things in a coms port (or similar, been a while) icon pops up in the device manager. Double click on it and there should be a list of ports. Right click on your device and select properties. Com port number should be in there, just change it to suit the port you chose in the driver software. Vista will crack a wobbly but tell it to push off and do it anyway. Always worked for me especially serial port dramas.

Mark

[gregbradley]

Thanks Mark. I will try that.

Geez you guys are a helpful bunch, awesome Aussies, gotta love em.

Cheers mate,

Greg.