Quote:
Originally Posted by programmer
Nice timely info, in case I need it Monday or Tuesday when mine arrives 
Any other tricks/tips/gotchas for noobs when setting up the AN? |
Thank you for recently purchasing an Argo Navis system for your Dob.
Your unit shipped to Bintel in Melbourne on Friday so they should probably
receive it on Monday.
The one-time setup procedure is detailed in the introductory sections of
the Manual and I recommend you review them. However, this quick
guide on determining the encoder direction senses may be useful.
To determine the encoder direction sense signs on your Dob, perform the
following.
Push the scope to the vertical stop position. Power on the unit. Unit will
display MODE FIX ALT REF. Press ENTER. DIAL up ALT REF=+090.000 AUTO
ADJUST OFF. Press ENTER.
Press EXIT. DIAL up MODE ENCODER. Press ENTER. Push the scope
down in Altiude. Note right-hand displayed value as it changes. If it decreases
(i.e. +90, +89, _88, etc), leave the SETUP ALT STEPS encoder
direction sense sign (the +/-) alone. If it increases (i.e. +91, +92, etc.), reverse
the sign in SETUP ALT STEPS.
Having established the correct ALT encoder sign, determine the AZ encoder
sign from the following procedure.
Power the unit OFF. Push scope up to vertical stop position and power on.
Unit will display MODE FIX ALT REF. Press ENTER. DIAL up ALT REF=+090.000 AUTO
ADJUST OFF. Press ENTER.
Press EXIT. Use MODE ALIGN star to align on a couple of stars.
(Argo Navis allows you to align on any object, but the ALIGN STAR list
contains a set of convenient bright stars).
Press EXIT. DIAL up MODE RA DEC. Press ENTER.
Point the scope at a position approximately at the intersection of your local
meridian* and the celestial equator. Whilst pushing the OTA roughly along the
imaginary line of the celestial equator^ toward the East, note if the left hand
display value increases. If it does, leave the SETUP AZ STEPS encoder
direction sense sign alone. If it decreases, reverse the sign. Note that when the
RA value reaches 23:59.9 it will wrap to 00:00.0.
You have now determined the encoder direction sense signs.
To do a check, power off the unit. Push the scope to the vertical stop position
and perform a FIX ALT REF and two star alignment. Try using MODE CATALOG
to GUIDE to an object. If the object is in the FOV or not too far out, then
this is a good indication that the encoder direction sense signs are correct.
As one final step in the setup, DIAL up MODE SETUP, SETUP ALT REF
and use the DIAL and ENTER button to enter a value of +090.000.
Then when you perform the FIX ALT REF step, DIAL up ALT REF=+090.000
AUTO ADJUST ON, push the scope to the vertical stop and then press ENTER.
Go on to perform your two star alignment. Use MODE CATALOG to GUIDE to
another object.
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
* The meridian is the imaginary line of Right Ascension which at any one
instant is , passing through the North Celestial Pole, directly overhead at your local
zenith, through the South Celestial Pole.
^ The celestial equator is the imaginary line of Declination equal to zero degrees
which runs West to East and passes about 38 degrees north of the zenith
from your location near Melbourne.