SynScan V3.0 Upgrade Update

[33South (Chris)]

I though this was worth reposting, is from a post in the EQ6 Yahoo Group, I have also seen the price has not been fixed yet, but users of V2 should be able to upgrade at a discount.

From Brady Johnson:-

I have submitted a short report on my testing of Version 3.0 to Pacific. I hope that sometime next week I can provide a more detailed update on the new features. For now I'll say that I'm pretty pleased with the improvements, but that there are a few more things that could be changed to make it even better, and I hope those changes will be implemented in the first release.

Once I have permission to share a few more details I will.

For now, it would be helpful if folks would send me questions about the new version. For example, does it do this ... etc. Because many of us have special and unique requirements, I don't pretend to be able to anticipate them all. By asking me specific questions, I can put the new hand controller directly to the test.

Please e-mail me off-list though. I don't want to use up list space with the questions. Also, I will be away for the next few days so please don't expect any quick replies! I won't even be able to resume testing V 3.0 until next week.

To send questions to me privately please use: brady@kwtelescope.com

If you have only a couple of burning questions then you don't need to e-mail me:

1) There is a sync-like function called PAE.
2) The new controller will be flash upgradeable as has been promised from the outset.
3) I expect the release date is still a few months away.

[h0ughy (David)]

edgy, keen and want it now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[EzyStyles (Eric)]

finally! can't wait. thanks for the info.

[h0ughy (David)]

wonder when its going to be released - -must be any day now

[DJ N]

So, if I was wanting to purchase the HEQ5 Pro mount, I would be better off waiting until I can purchase it with version 3 contoller?

[allan gould]

Yes wait for the v3 controller to be offered. Unles your polar alignment is spot on then you will be out in your pointing to certain parts of the sky.

There is a work around that I have accidentally discovered. After doing your polar alignment with PAS and then either a two or 3 star alignment - if you find that you are out in some particular area of sky gotos then without setting the mount to the home position, pick a star in the alignment star set that is close to your object. Go to the align option, pick 1 star align, use the scroll to the star near or in the vicinity of your object. Tell the mount to align on that star. Align and then slew to your object - it will be on the CCD chip or in view of 350D camera without any further messing about. The only draw back is you need to know the name of a bright star near your object.
Regards, Allan

[matt]

Yep.

Spoke with Ian James at Tasco a couple of days ago and he said it's due for release within the next week or two.

I hear beta testing has gone quite well.

They are working on a rebate for people who bought within the last year or so... (V2.05a)

But it's very much on a per-case basis.

[sejanus (Gavin)]

Anyone know how far these are away now?

I've ordered one from bintel and are waiting for them to get it.

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by allan gould

Yes wait for the v3 controller to be offered. Unles your polar alignment is spot on then you will be out in your pointing to certain parts of the sky.

There is a work around that I have accidentally discovered. After doing your polar alignment with PAS and then either a two or 3 star alignment - if you find that you are out in some particular area of sky gotos then without setting the mount to the home position, pick a star in the alignment star set that is close to your object. Go to the align option, pick 1 star align, use the scroll to the star near or in the vicinity of your object. Tell the mount to align on that star. Align and then slew to your object - it will be on the CCD chip or in view of 350D camera without any further messing about. The only draw back is you need to know the name of a bright star near your object.
Regards, Allan

Thanks Allan, your words of wisom let me get mine for the same you did yesterday, should have it by friday

[g__day (Matthew)]

There are four functions I wish a serious GE control program could do, three around polar alignment and one to better assess and manage backlash.

Let's discuss the first three to do with determining scope set-up and achieveing best polar alignment once you've done a 1,2 3 ... or 6 star align:

Desire one - when you are off polar alignment state the error in English (E.g. Mount is 2 minutes left and 4 minutes high from South Celestial pole).

Desire two - given it knows the above pointing error, allow it to align on a known, bright guide star - not the very faint Polaris Australis in Sigma Octans. Say you have the above known error in desire 1 and Rigel is quite visible somewhere above the horizon. Have the scope slew to Rigel (correcting for the mount polar alignment error automatically, pause there for 15 seconds - so an amateur knows what it should be pointing to, then slew away from it by the above pointing errors in both axes. Next tell the user to re-align the mount (by lowering and moving right the mount until in this example Rigel is dead centre), and your polar alignment should be much better.

You could then re-align and recheck the polar alignment and if necessary repeat the above test.

Desire three - When a scope is not correctly polar aligned, some mounts (e.g Celestron CG5) goto an object correctly, but then only track in RA, rather than drive both motors compensating for alignment error as a really sensible option they could quite easily estimate). I don't see why this has to be, it would be simple mathematics to correct for any know errors in tracking a correct path around the sphere from any starting point on the sphere. To only run the RA is simply lazy!

4. Test for how much backlash is in the gears and correct compensation and optimisation for this!

[allan gould]

What you want in most of your discussion is provided in WCS polar alignment program. Input latitude, goto star in North and near ecliptic and meridian, input dec of star. Use webcam - click on star-wait 5 min, press calc in program and it gives two cross hairs. Place star in red xhair adjust az to bring to green x hair. Do the same for star in east and adjust alt. Voila perfect polar alignment.

[g__day (Matthew)]

Allan,

That sounds more promising, I presume you could use a illuminated reticle instead of a webcam? Basically once you can drift align fairly well you will probably benefit more from a clever software / mount firmware aiding alignment then any other function.

For instance my gear's permanently set-up on a heavy duty pier. Some times the display polar alignment says I'm out by 30 arc minutes, sometimes by as little as 5 arc seconds. I'm surprised their is so much variation for a fixed permanent pier and mount. I ponder its mainly backlash in the gears distorting the pointing precision some?

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

I have just been informed by email that The upgrade to Synscan V.3 hand controller is around $600.

I guess that puts the HEQ5 off my shopping list.

I was going to get one but the cost of the V.3 has killed that. Now I have to decide between a CG-5GT (recommended by several) & an LXD75 w/Autosar (recommended by Fahim). Both have different features!

[Dave47tuc (David)]

I received my replacement hand controller today. Its V3.01 version.
Have done indoor tests and all works fine.
Hooked up to Cartes du Ciel ok as well. See how we go at Snake Valley.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

That's great Dave. I can't wait to see how it works at camp in a few days time