Anyone heard of PMX shipments yet?

[rat156]

Originally Posted by pmrid

Hi guys.
has anyone else had an opportuinity to set up their PMX to guide via the ST4 port on the VersaPlate.
I finally managed to get everything set up tonight and was ready to try a simple bit of PHD calibration.
I am using a QHY5 and piggy-backing a 480mm FL guidescope on top of the astrograph. Nothing particularly heroic.
PHD does not seem to be making much of an impact on TheSkyX though. On that TCS page which shows that little graphic of the guide relays down the bottom, they did show as activating but not the way you'd expect. hen PHD was doing West and East calibration steps, the graphics for the relays showed the west and south relays being acxtivated. SImilarly, then NS steps were happening, the Nand E relays showed as activating.
And also, PHD displays the distances it instructs the mount to travel (in the bottom bar) but on this occasion, it did not actually show any distance/correction numbers for each step - probably 1 on 5 or 6 more like.
And for every step PHD said it was doing, the relays did not activate. Rather, they too only activated every ten or so.
I'm stumped.
ANyone able to offer guidance.
Peter

Hi Peter,

I visited the QHY site, there is an ASCOM driver for the camera. In CCDsoft you can connect to an ASCOM camera (I think). If you can get that working, just use direct guide.

Is anyone else having trouble with the SBSC? I can't seem to login anymore?

Cheers
Stuart

[Mighty_oz (Marcus)]

Yep same here, just did a password reset and still can't login ! Also tried with Firefox and IE no go. Just sent them an email reply to the password reset as u need to login to post anything ! Duh ! Here's hoping.

[frolinmod]

Originally Posted by Mighty_oz

Yep same here, just did a password reset and still can't login ! Also tried with Firefox and IE no go. Just sent them an email reply to the password reset as u need to login to post anything ! Duh ! Here's hoping.

Just clear your cache and also all cookies for the bisque.com domain. It'll work fine after that (unless you've shot yourself in the foot with that password reset). Whatever they did on their end to cause this was not nice, but fortunately it's easily enough cleared out on our end.

[PRejto (Peter)]

My MX finally arrived 2 days ago. I saved some shipping costs by using a reshipper called MyUS.com in Florida, even after paying $200 to get the mount from Golden to Florida. DHL did a good job getting customs arranged very efficiently and quickly. The mount left Florida on the 22nd and was at my door on the morning of the 27th. All said and done I saved around $300 over the $1250 SB wanted to ship by UPS... I though I'd save more in fact but had not realized that the initial quotes on shipping cost from MyUS did not include insurance which added another $200 or so. Not sure I'd do it again for that savings, but I'm happy to have used DHL over UPS!

I can't resist posting these pictures.

The first shows the former director of the Kecks (and interim director of the Gemini telescopes), Fred Chaffee, looking at my Tec140 with obvious envy. The second photo is for laughs and shows my 5" f15 refractor on an obviously too short pier. Happy days.

[frolinmod]

Forget about the MX; look at that gorgeous refractor!

[cventer]

Seems like these Aussie deliveries have a curse.

I got my delivery notification Friday and MX was supposed to be delivered today. At 9am I thought I better check the delivery address as I had moved since I last ordered from Peter.

Turns out the shipment was to my old address. Despite 3 invoices to me from Peter I did not check the details or update the address. Anyway mad call to courier company, but by the time I called an attempted delivery had been made at my old address. Despite my pleading they would not deliver to my new addresss today even though it was less than 1km from the old address. They have delivery rescheduled to tomorrow now so yet another nights wait

Oh well I have waited this long.... just annoying as its my fault entirely. will post the obligatory pictures as i open it up and assemble.

[cventer]

oh the joy continues.

5 calls to courier company today. They have now lost my 3 boxes containing pmx and accessories...and are still investigating.

:mad2 :

Cant believe it. What a bunch of idiots....Patience is not a virtue of mine.

[Mighty_oz (Marcus)]

Wow (((( Did u check the old address in case they left them there ?
We all feel for ya

[cventer]

Yup checked old address. They assured me they would call back tonight and that people are there till 7pm etc...no call as per rest of the day

I call at 6:30 get the switchboard closed message.

So now I call regional office number. Security guard answers. Tells me everyone leaves at 6. I ask him if a manager is about. He goes and looks. I finaly get onto head of customer service at 6:45. He looks into it calls me back tells me its likely in one of 7 semi trailers containing 7000 packages.

Now Im even more worried. Assures me with no basis to assure me that it will be found and delivered tomorrow.

Knowing your equipment is in country sitting in some depot while incompetant people dont do their jobs is driving me nuts....

Needless to say I had a few choice words to say to the customer service manager.

[cventer]

Good news. They found my packages today and offered to deliver them to me at work.

Not leaving anything to chance I told them to leave them right where they are and that i would go round and pick them up immediately myself from the depot.

Have the boxes in my car now and about to head home to open them. Feel like a Kid at Christmas......

[gregbradley]

Congrats Chris!

Looking forward to your impressions of the mount.

Mine will be on its way this week I hope.

Greg.

[Mighty_oz (Marcus)]

Originally Posted by cventer

Feel like a Kid at Christmas......

Nice hey
Now where are those pics

[cventer]

Here are the obligatory unboxing pics and scope mounted.

Skies were cloudy of course and will be for next 3 days.

Still had a good play and got used to The Sky X. very cool new update to The Sky software. Configured the mount parameters for Southern Hemisphere. Set park position etc...

I then played around with the hand Controller/Joystick. This thing is awesome. So easy to use. You can configure the speeds in the software and being able to use a thumb joystick feels so natural.

I ended up popping an eyepiece into the scope and looked at the moon through faint cloud. Being able to move around moon with the joystick is so easy and feels right. I have not looked at moon for years. I had such a good time. This is an excellent addition for visual observing as well as easy centering/composition of objects.

The Mount is an incredible piece of work. Those with ME's know what I am talking about. Those who have never seen or touched a bisque mount have no idea. I own a G-11 , MI - 250 and this. The MX is a BIG step up.

Also want to thank Peter Ward at Atscope. Made buying this very easy, and took care of me on price and even absorbed extra customs and shipping cost that were unexpected.

Still not finished configuring mount and teaching it the slew limits etc.

Job for tomorrow.

[CDKPhil]

That looks like a great set up.
It still looks like December before I get mine though.

Just a little bit Jealous.
Phil

[gregbradley]

Fantastic Chris. It looks like its going to make imaging a joy.

Greg.

[frolinmod]

RC helicopter in the observatory?

[cventer]

Its actually my garage that I cut a hole in the roof, so it does double duty as man cave, garage, observatory and toyshed.

[DavidTrap (David)]

Like the X-Cell Fury in background!

DT

[cventer]

Originally Posted by DavidTrap

Like the X-Cell Fury in background!

DT

Close. Good pick on brand though. Its a X-Cell Stratus 90. Had Canopy custom painted.

[pvelez (Pete)]

Originally Posted by cventer

Its actually my garage that I cut a hole in the roof, so it does double duty as man cave, garage, observatory and toyshed.

I love that expression - man cave. Makes it sound so butch.

Reminds me of the old saying - A man without a shed is less of a man

Sadly, I have only a BBQ cover over my pier - is that a man brolly?

Pete