New G2 firmware available.

mill (Martin) · #1 25-12-2011, 09:40 AM

Just a short message to let G2 users know that the new December 24 firmware is available from the Yahoo tech groups Gemini-II.

This version has a new start up menu, and also needs the latest ASCOM driver from the Drivers sub directory GeminiTelescopeInstaller(1.0.36.0). exe PLEASE NOTE: THIS VERSION IS STILL BETA. CHANGES WERE MADE TO IT EVEN TODAY.

Martin.

midnight (Darrin) · #2 25-12-2011, 03:11 PM

Fantastic news!

Thanks for the heads up Martin. I hope Rene is taking a break. The Gem 2 is coming along nicely.

Darrin...

mill (Martin) · #3 25-12-2011, 03:19 PM

Darrin, Rene is now busy with the PEC routine so that is going to be fun testing.
Also when upgrading to this release via the upgrade program or via FTP you have to reset the sram via the web interface and redo your settings.
Also don't forget to set your mount to a cold start before repowering your G2 or else it will not update.

Martin.

midnight (Darrin) · #4 25-12-2011, 03:40 PM

Thanks Martin for the info.

I am using Stephen's updater program for the 1st time and it has successfully updated (forces a cold boot). In the past I did the update manually via an FTP program.

PEC is interesting in that it must be a complex routine given that Rene has spent so much time on it.

I hope Gemini 2 develops into a more open framework as it has a huge potential to do a lot within the controller that is currently done by an external computer.

I'm keen to have a closer look at PAA and whether it can substitute for say Alignmaster.

Cheers,
Darrin...

mill (Martin) · #5 25-12-2011, 04:18 PM

I can't say on a open forum what is in the pipeline for the G2 but i can say that the possibilities are almost endless.
The feature port isn't used yet and there can be more done with the usb1 port etc etc.

TrevorW · #6 26-12-2011, 12:36 AM

What significant changes have happened in this release, thanks

mill (Martin) · #7 26-12-2011, 08:15 AM

Trevor the meridian flip is now working, dimming the display works, and PAA and some other functions work reliable now.

TrevorW · #8 26-12-2011, 11:10 AM

Whats PAA, dimming the HC display works fine on my HC

Doh!!

Cheers Trevor

mill (Martin) · #9 26-12-2011, 11:31 AM

PAA= Polar Alignment Assist DOH!!!!

TrevorW · #10 26-12-2011, 12:27 PM

Oh!! never use it, sorry, by the way do I update the same as usual ie: takeing out the SD card from the main unit deleting the old files then copying the new version over onto the SD card etc

Cheers

mill (Martin) · #11 26-12-2011, 12:38 PM

No you don't have to take the cards out.
You can FTP the files onto the main controllers SD card or use the method from this site -->> http://www.gemini-2.com/updatefirmwaremethods.html

Cheers.

midnight (Darrin) · #12 26-12-2011, 06:23 PM

I just did a PAA last night and this is a large improvement. I never got anywhere near this level of success before. Very happy indeed

I could slew from M42 to M45 and then Sirius and then to Thor's Helmet and it was damn close even at 10x on the 40D preview. No model. I had previously drift aligned about 6 nights ago.

But I am noticing it is still not accepting the timezone as +8GMT after a GPS update (even manually changing it is not being accepted). It keeps defaulting to -8GMT and I have to power it down and up again to get it to keep +8GMT. I am using a Garmin GPS which plugs straight into Gem 2 RS232 port. It picks up lat and long as always.

Regards,
Darrin...

mill (Martin) · #13 26-12-2011, 08:04 PM

Darrin when you set the time via the web interface it will hold.

mithrandir (Andrew) · #14 26-12-2011, 09:27 PM

I can never understand why people want their Gemini configured to local time. Mine works perfectly configured to use UTC aka GMT.

OK, WA, NT and Qld don't use DST but it's just one more thing to confuse issues.

Maybe one of you can come up with a good explanation.

mill (Martin) · #15 26-12-2011, 10:35 PM

It is fairly simple Andrew.
When you set the local time in the G2 it also sets the GMT etc and most people know their own time zone better than the GMT so in the end it is just convenience.
What Gemini system do you use?

mithrandir (Andrew) · #16 27-12-2011, 12:39 AM

I have a G1 Martin, and I also have a GPS to set it, so it makes more sense in for me to stick to UTC. When I get a G2 I will run it on UTC also.

If I ever use it, I run my CG5 on UTC also.

If you noticed, I chipped Tom earlier today for putting the wrong UTC offset for Sydney in one of his Y! posts. Wrong offsets confuse people all the time with the trouble it causes getting their alignment right.

midnight (Darrin) · #17 27-12-2011, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithrandir

I can never understand why people want their Gemini configured to local time. Mine works perfectly configured to use UTC aka GMT.

OK, WA, NT and Qld don't use DST but it's just one more thing to confuse issues.

Maybe one of you can come up with a good explanation.

Gemini 2 with the attached GPS sets it. I don't. The problem is that it sets it to -8Hr and so when you do a goto to say Sirius, the mount starts going to somewhere below the horizon. This why I think Gem 2 uses the timezone.

I must be missing something but the mount surely needs to know the offset from GMT unless it can work it out from the longitude.

If I can avoid using the GMT offset for Gem 2, please let me know as I don't really need the local time.

Darrin...

mithrandir (Andrew) · #18 27-12-2011, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midnight

Gemini 2 with the attached GPS sets it. I don't. The problem is that it sets it to -8Hr and so when you do a goto to say Sirius, the mount starts going to somewhere below the horizon. This why I think Gem 2 uses the timezone.

I must be missing something but the mount surely needs to know the offset from GMT unless it can work it out from the longitude.

If I can avoid using the GMT offset for Gem 2, please let me know as I don't really need the local time.

Darrin is this recent firmware? If not maybe it is now fixed. I'd say ask on the Y! Gemini 2 group. The sign for GMT offset is always confusing, and was changed from G1 to G2. There were a few occurences reported of signs on numbers not working the same in the web pages and on the handpiece. Maybe this is one of them.

You are 8 hours ahead. Programmers can't seem to decide if it should be -8 or +8. Different people use different conventions and confuse everyone who uses the other.

I can't see why it needs to know the GMT offset if you've supplied it UTC from the GPS, unless it is for the web pages and even that is bad style. What if your web browser was on a computer in a different timezone to the mount?

I keep an eye on the Y! G2 group and am waiting for a few more bugs to be sorted before I make the G1 to G2 jump.

mill (Martin) · #19 27-12-2011, 08:59 AM

When i use my GPS it sets the right time and Long/Lat but the local time zone is always 1 hour behind because it sets the UTC time and it looks like that doesn't take in account that we in VIC are in summertime.

And there is a new firmware out again, the french spelling is corrected and now you can set the startup mode on the hand controller.

TrevorW · #20 27-12-2011, 10:09 AM

After updating the new firmware which I did my way as it's simple and works, I had trouble setting the time offset and location co-ordinates from the handset they kept changing after I entred them. I connected via ethernet cable and used the web page to set them and they held.

Cheers