SItech controller configuration help no longer needed

[lhansen (Lars)]

Anyone out there with experience using the sitech controller on an equatorial mount connected to theSky via ASCOM.

[bert (Brett)]

Hey,

Did you install the the sky plug in from the ascom site here:

http://ascom-standards.org/Downloads/Plugins.htm

Info here:

http://ascom-standards.org/FAQs/TheSky.htm

I suppose you have to install the sitech ascom driver.

Brett

[lhansen (Lars)]

Done all that,

Have you seen how many parameters there are to set? Silly question, you sent me the manual so I know you know

Reading the manual for about the 3rd time

Cheers

Lars

Originally Posted by bert

Hey,

Did you install the the sky plug in from the ascom site here:

http://ascom-standards.org/Downloads/Plugins.htm

Info here:

http://ascom-standards.org/FAQs/TheSky.htm

I suppose you have to install the sitech ascom driver.

Brett

[Visionoz (Bill)]

Hi Lars

Are you trying to drive the SiTech driven mount with the TheSky6?

I've tried that with mine and it does work but I prefer to use Stellarium

Contact via PM if you need more info

HTH
Cheers
Bill

[lhansen (Lars)]

Hi Bill

Yes I'm trying to use theSky6 with the sitech controller. TheSkyX or theSky6 are my only options because I'm intending to use the mount via CCD AutoPilot..

Why did you move to stellarium?

Thanks

Lars

[Visionoz (Bill)]

Originally Posted by lhansen

Hi Bill

Yes I'm trying to use theSky6 with the sitech controller. TheSkyX or theSky6 are my only options because I'm intending to use the mount via CCD AutoPilot..

Why did you move to stellarium?

Thanks

Lars

Hi Lars

Though Stellarium is very very resource hungry I prefer to use it for its simplicity when things are all set up correctly as well as the fact that you can run thru RDP just the StelllariumScope and the app separately from the client/to/host PC which means that Stellarium can run on your in-the-house PC without bogging down your remote PC in the obs - and it works well with both the (new as well as old) SiTech driver and EQMod since I have my old EQ6 Pro still for portable use whilst the G11 is obs-bound with the SiTech - I've read somewhere on StarGazersLounge recently that you can tweak the FPS rate of the display in the config file and it will not be so resource hungry - yet to do that one

I believe as long as you have the correct "Sky6" ascom DLL as Brett mentioned you'll not have any issues - you know that the Bisque boys are anti-ascom and hence this dilemma of a "special" DLL but I've had it working for quite some time initally with EQMod and then early last year with SiTech

My current O/Ses is Windows 7 Pro/Ultimate 64 bit on both my desktop PC & Laptop - and not have any issues whatsoever; touch wood!

I'm only "small potatoes" is this imaging game unlike you guys who've been very long into this so I hope that my 2 cents worth does give you some help - what is the issue you're having? Just won't connect? BTW which SiTech controller are you using and with which servo motors?

Cheers
Bill

[lhansen (Lars)]

Thanks Bill

I got the new mount into the observatory today, so I'll have to wait for a clear night before trying out in earnest.

I believe the sitech is date 2009, but it is in a custom box, so I'm not sure which version it is. I believe the motors are Pittman although I have not opened to motor housing

Regards

Lars

[Visionoz (Bill)]

Lars

The only mount manufacturer AFAIK that packages the SiTech controller with its mount is the PlaneWave Ascension HR - so is that what you've got? It must then be the SiTech Controller II - the latest incarnation with all the fruits!

Mine is the 2nd generation SiTech version 2 of the first model and it works fantastically - I just do an offset init (1-star initialization) in the side of the meridian I'm interested in and the goto slews to targets are all within the FOV of my 12mm EP near the centre - what more with PointXP modelling and autoscripted plate-solving it's awesomely accurate

Cheers
Bill

[Visionoz (Bill)]

Addendum:

Lars

If you've got the controller wired up to the PC/software called SiTechExe - and even if you don't have the motors connected the Sitech controller will "fake" the motors - sort of "simulator mode" like so that you can try to use the planetarium software for a dry run - that's how I tested everything before installing in the obs - all done on my kitchen table!

HTH
Cheers
Bill

[lhansen (Lars)]

Thanks Bill

Done most of that, I'm unsure of some of the numbers coming up, like 1,400,000(approximately) ticks per revolution thats roughly 1arc sec/tic

Regards

Lars

[lhansen (Lars)]

Forgot, the mount has gurley encoders on both axes, supposedly capable of sub arc second resolution?

[Visionoz (Bill)]

Ooooh! Gurley encoders pretty swish mate, yes it is closed loop system to cancel out PE in the mount so no autoguiding required so I heard similar to the techniques of the TDM unit marketed by Meade Europe and made by Telscope Drive Master

I suppose you're using ConfigSitech to see the parameters of the controller - my imaging system is running 90million & 64million ticks for DEC/RA which is way above the recommended 10million ticks/rev - but that's how mine turned out with a servo-motor fitted to a planetary gearbox of possibly high gear ratio but it works very well though slewing rates won't win me a race!

Cheers
Bill

[lhansen (Lars)]

Thanks Bill

So the numbers I'm seeing are plausible. I'll wait for the next clear night to see how it works.

I'll let you know how it goes

Regards

Lars

[lhansen (Lars)]

Got it all running now - thanks

I measured the PE last night came up with a figure of +0.6, -0.5 arc secs, which would appear to be seeing rather than mount related.

Regards

Lars

[Visionoz (Bill)]

Bravo! What a happy ending Lars - good that you've got all working and it'll be a treat to use as well !

Cheers
Bill

[Poita (Peter)]

The sitech gear is bloody wonderful stuff.

[lhansen (Lars)]

So Peter if I get myself in the poo with the electronics I might be able to call on you?