Argo Navis on our 12" Lightbridge

[nmo]

So we've ordered a Argo Navis for the lightbridge.

HOW EXCITING!!!!!!!

About 3 weeks till we receive it, and I was just wondering (I've had a look in the installations doc's for the mounting hardware but it doesn't appear to be listed.) What is the ratio of the pulley's on the Azimuth axis. IE how many steps per revolution?


I just want to make sure that I have all the info so the installation can be completed in 0 time.


For all the reviews I've read the Argo Navis will probably be the best purchase after the lightbridge.

On another question, what emulation mode do you put the serial port into to interface with Cartes du cie? I'm guessing Meade or tangent. Looks like a good program and it works on my old laptop.

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi nmo

Congrats, the Argo Navis is about the best purchase you can make for a dobsonian. I believe the resolution of the encoders is 10,000, but I'm sure someone will confirm it or correct me.

It will make observing so much more pleasurable, allowing you to spend more time observing and less time finding stuff!

You'll never go back!

[nmo]

Hi Iceman,

Thank's for the quick reply, I understand that the encoders are 10,000 step encoders but due to clearance issues on the lightbridge the azimuth encoder os offset by a pulley and belt, hence if the 2 pulleys are different sizes the argo navis won't see 10,000 steps per revolution, it will see more or less depending on the ratio.

Thank's again for the quick reply.

[montewilson (Monte)]

I don't think it matters but Gary will confirm this. From what I remember with AN you do a full revoluution on the azimuth and then logs the number of pulses. There is a limit to that value but from what I recall it is many times 10000. If the encoder were placed on the az bearing then obviously the value would be 10000. If you have second wheel that is 1.5 times smaller the count will be 15000 and so on. Garys thought of all this for sure so all you have to think about is the new moon weekend! Clear skies!

[gary]

Hi nmo,

Firstly, thanks for the post and thank you for ordering an
Argo Navis for your LightBridge 12".

Thanks also to Mike and Monte for their follow-ups.

Indeed, the effective encoder resolution is 10,000 steps on each axis.
The Az encoder is natively a 5000 step encoder that is geared 2:1 by the
timing pulley so that it rotates through two full rotations when the Az axis
of the scope goes through 360 degrees, hence supplying 10,000 steps.

Additional information including a scanned copy of the installation instructions
can be found on our web site here -
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com...._describe.html

Don't forget, though we try to monitor some forums that you can email
us at any time at sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
or simply pick up the phone and call us here in the office on 02-9457-9049.
There is also an Argo Navis User's Group at -
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/argo_navis_dtc/

In these respects, some people have told us that not only is Argo Navis the
best supported astronomical product they have ever owned but the best
supported product of any type they have ever owned - period.

The Argo Navis User's Manual is available for free download from here -
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com....mentation.html
Don't be daunted by the size of the Manual. The first 30 pages will tell you
everything from how to install the batteries to how to tour galaxies of
specific magnitudes in Fornax. The rest of the User Manual gives further
details on the various features and modes of operations of the unit for those
that really like to know.

Thanks again for the post.

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

[nmo]

Thank's for the quick reply Gary,


My eagerness for the new toy means that I've read the manual a couple of times.

I found it very easy to read and I can see that after a short time with the argo in my hot little hands all will become clear.

I've just signed up to the yahoo group so thank's for the link

[gary]

Hi nmo,

Great to hear you have already done some reding and welcome to the extended
family of Argo Navis owners.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
Home of the Argo Navis DTC

[ving (David)]

glad to hear ya gettin AN

hope you enjoy it

[nmo]

Well Firstly, sorry to any peoples in Melbourne who wanted to observe tonight, but we got our AN today. So the bad weather's our fault

The setup seamed very straight forward and I didn't have any issues at all.

The quality and forward thinking involved in the product is outstanding. Even to the point that 2 different size bolts where included for the azimuth pulley to replace the original tension bolt.

I think I've set the sense directions up correctly and checked it by making a guess where acrux was in the middle of the day and alpha centuri (again guessing where it was from the planisphere) I was hoping to recheck tonight with real stars but no luck with the weather.

I also hooked the AN up to the computer and got it talking to Cartes du Ciel and pointing to where it was looking on the screen, very cool.

Also loaded a couple of user catalog's Herchel 400 and Caldwell into the AN.

So here's to a future life of easy object finding. Thank's to Gary and the Wildcard team for an excellent product.

PS no I don't work for AN I'm just really impressed.

[gbeal]

So, yet another happy customer, the list just keeps growing, I know I am on it. A great product and equally great service.

[gary]

Originally Posted by nmo

Well Firstly, sorry to any peoples in Melbourne who wanted to observe tonight, but we got our AN today. So the bad weather's our fault

0 and Caldwell into the AN.

So here's to a future life of easy object finding. Thank's to Gary and the Wildcard team for an excellent product.

Hi nmo,

Thanks for the post and your kind comments. I hope the weather improves
for you soon.

If you happen to be attending the forthcoming Border Stargaze, we would
look forward to meeting you there.

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

[nmo]

Hi Gary,

Yes Mum and I are attending Boarder stargaze, looking forward to a great weekend.

Well the AN got first light tonight.

I cheated and used really easy bright objects for the alignment. (using mode align not mode align star) Jupiter and Venus, that got things pritty close so then I used alpha centuri as well.

We found about 8 objects in total from our suburban backyard in Melb, with a nearly full moon.

M11
Butterfly cluster
NGC 6752
Omega Cent
Eta Carina Nebula
Jewel Box
Trumpler 29

and a small smudge on the sky that I'm pritty sure was Sombrero Galaxy (AN said it was anyways)


The pointing accuracy was great, usually to within 0.3 degrees in each direction, and I'd used a 26mm eyepeice for alignment. I'm sure that will only get better as I get better at alignment.

I used a variety of modes including Mode identify and mode Catalog and Mode Alt Az (for identifying constellations)


I had the most fun tonight with Catalog popular deep sky objects.


All in All still very impressed and I'd still be outside but it's to cold!

[gary]

Originally Posted by nmo

All in All still very impressed and I'd still be outside but it's to cold!

Hi nmo,

Great to hear that you braved the cold (it is cold tonight here in Sydney as well)
and gave the Argo Navis a run!

If you aren't using it already, you might like to begin using AUTO ADJUST ON
when you perform the FIX ALT REF step on your subsequent sessions.

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. Push the scope to the vertical stop and press ENTER.
Then perform your two-star alignment. After the second star alignment,
the WARP factor should read 0.00 (A) where the (A) denotes the ALT REF
point was automatically adjusted for you.

The User Manual in the sections on SETUP ALT REF and MODE FIX ALT REF
has further background on the AUTO ADJUST feature.

Thanks for the post!

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