losmandy gemini 2 alignment problems

[icytailmark (Mark)]

i had my telescope out tonight and i was trying to do my star alignment for the gemini 2 goto. I did the following:

1. Turn the dials to 00 on both axis and set park position on the HC.
2. Align, Bright Star, betelgeuse from the selection of stars. The scope moves in the general direction but is way out.
3. I manually move the scope with my hand to align the star in finderscope then in the eyepiece. I hit Initalise alignment.
4. I selected Siruis as the additional Alignment then i press goto. The scope goes close to the star but again it is a long way off.
5. Again I manually move the scope to align the star. Then i hit Additional Alignment.
6. I press Goto betelgeuse to see if the telescope goes to the Star. The scope moves near to the star but its way off.

What am i doing wrong? Why everytime i try to do an alignment the scope doesnt go where its suppose to? Once i complete the 3-4 star alignment will it track any object so that the object does not move out of FOV?

Are there any programs i can use to make star alignment easier? Any other easier methods?

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Mark, when you say you "manually move the scope" do you mean you push the scope to the spot with your hand or do you slew there using the handpaddle?

[JohnG (John)]

Don't know about the G2, setting dials to 00 .

With the G1 you start from the counterweight down position as close as you can to the pole, GOTO Bright Star, use the HC to place that star in the X hairs/ CCD camera view press Align, then, GOTO Bright Star, center with the HC then press Additional Align for as many stars as it takes, you watch the A & E numbers, they will be large for the first couple of additional aligns then get smaller as you build the Pointing Model.

Can't imagine the G2 to be much different from that......

Stand corrected if it is.

Cheers

[h0ughy (David)]

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Gemini-II/ join up here and have a look - you are no the only one. wished i did this two weeks ago, now i have a G2 HGM titan - and its staying in the box until they get this fixed in the software

[h0ughy (David)]

The following list is features that is reported as
not working or have very limited functionally at this time:

*Alignment - use synchronize from Web interface only please
*Pec
*Limits - Can be set, but reported not to work by some
*Meridian Flip

[icytailmark (Mark)]

paul i manually push the scope with my hands.

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by icytailmark

paul i manually push the scope with my hands.

I'm not even considering getting a G-II until the software is close to complete. The G-II software is not finished. Multi-star aligns is one of those things not yet done.

Start from counterweight down. Point the RA Axis south, or at least reasonably close. Adjust the altitude according to your latitude.

Power on the mount and Gemini and "cold start". Check the time (including timezone) , the latitude and the longitude. Make sure the signs are right.

From now on you must not move the scope by hand. *

Align to a bright star.

If you are not close, use the mount's azimuth and altitude adjustments to get it reasonable. This is OK since the Gemini still does not know where the scope is pointed.

Now use the hand control, and "sync".

Andrew

* That's not quite true - if you have the extra set of encoders they will tell the Gemini how much and in what direction you pushed it.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

What Andrew said.

[icytailmark (Mark)]

how am i suppose to use this product if so many people are having problems with it? How long do i have to wait for Losmandy it fix the software? My telescope is useless without the goto system.

[mill (Martin)]

You have to goto the star after the slew using the hand box and then hit synchronise..

[leon]

Mark if you follow the start up procedure as mentioned you really don't have to have a pointing model remembered in you HC.

Although I don't image anymore I used to start up each evening from the Home position, and find a star that i knew, once the star was in the cross-hairs or there about, i would sync it, and that was it.

The set up would do very well and find most objects for imaging, no problem, as long as your polar alignment was pretty well correct.

You can do the same and enjoy your scope, just keep it simple, it worked for me for years.

Leon

[icytailmark (Mark)]

there is no synchronise option on the HC

[mill (Martin)]

Originally Posted by icytailmark

there is no synchronise option on the HC

If you have the gemini.net driver running then there is a sync at current position option under func.

[leon]

Mark if that is the case, then I'm offering advice on the wrong subject, sorry about that, but I'm pretty sure it did have at least

leon

[icytailmark (Mark)]

thanks martin. If i use the gemini net driver to do the aligning will the g2 HC be updated as well?

[mill (Martin)]

Originally Posted by icytailmark

thanks martin. If i use the gemini net driver to do the aligning will the g2 HC be updated as well?

Not the HC but the main controller
I can now do alignment in Thesky6.

[TrevorW]

If all else fails use Alignmaster with ASCOM works for me

Cheers

[Logieberra (Logan)]

Sorry to hijack, but I'm having TERRIBLE troubles of late with G2, GeminiTelescopeControl and Alignmaster... I set the correct GPS coordinates on the alignmaster front page, then I go into gemintelescope.net settings and add them there as well. I keep getting declination errors on Acrux when I press GoTo!!! Then I try other stars, the the mount moves no where close and stops mid way as though it's hit safety limits (you know the sound / sudden stop).

UPDATE / EDIT: check the voltage of your new G11 mount 3v CMOS batteries, mine was 2.85V = stuffed Easily fixed for $7.00

Happy camper, Logie.

[TrevorW]

Logan don't sweat it, I've successfully guided with the G2

I've aligned using Alignmaster and synced to stars using Stellarium

just make sure your PA is spot on

Having the HC doing these will come it time (although if I don't see something by the end of the year I'll be really peed off)

I must agree though it runs foul of business practices in Australia advertsing and selling a non functional product without warnings

just imagine if everyone returned there G2's and asked for a refund

Cheers