Telescope Reviews: Astro-Physics APCC is here

· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt

· Submit a Review / Article

Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums

Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User

You are not logged in. [Login]

Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online
FAQ · Calendar

Equipment Discussions >> Mounts

Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | (show all)

mewmartigan
professor emeritus

Reged: 07/02/08

Astro-Physics APCC is here
#5529549 - 11/20/12 08:04 AM

Looks like AP is finally getting their Astro Physics Command Center software out. The yahoo group says they are now taking orders for the "S" chip that needs to go in the control box for APCC to work.

http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/accessories/software/apcc/apcc

I haven't decided if I will jump in yet or wait.

Good to see it coming though and can't wait until people's thoughts/reviews start rolling in!

Post Extras:

Cotts
Just Wondering

Reged: 10/10/05

Loc: Toronto, Ontario

Re: Astro-Physics APCC is here new

[Re: mewmartigan]
#5529670 - 11/20/12 09:35 AM

Marcus, could you give us a run-down of what this chip will add to my Mach 1 mount's capabilities. The email I got from AP didn't specify....

Thanks

Dave

Post Extras:

Starhawk
Post Laureate

Reged: 09/16/08

Loc: Tucson, Arizona

Re: Astro-Physics APCC is here new

[Re: Cotts]
#5529725 - 11/20/12 10:08 AM

The APCC I saw running at ASAE was pretty neat. It does a pointing model automatically using plate solves of the sky, then uses the data on how the mount moved to correct its tracking (yes, you read that right- not just GOTO pointing, but rates as well).

Quite interesting. I am wondering if you can feed it data from a DSLR.

From what they were saying, not all mounts need the upgrade.

-Rich

Post Extras:

orlyandico
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/10/09

Loc: Singapore

Re: Astro-Physics APCC is here new

[Re: Starhawk]
#5529761 - 11/20/12 10:24 AM

in order to plate solve you need a camera with an ASCOM driver (or native driver for maxim/ccdops/etc)

i know that backyardEOS can download images from a DSLR automatically via the USB cable.. but can it be controlled via ASCOM?

Post Extras:

Starhawk
Post Laureate

Reged: 09/16/08

Loc: Tucson, Arizona

Re: Astro-Physics APCC is here new

[Re: Starhawk]
#5529768 - 11/20/12 10:29 AM

Ok, after some reading on the AP site:

Only GTO CP3 controllers can be upgraded to the S chip.

Only AP 3600s after Oct 15, 2012 shipped with the S chip.

All AP 1600s have the S chip.

AP900 or Mach 1 mounts shipping now can get the S chip as a $65 upgrade.

No AP 900 or Mach 1 mounts with the S chip shipped without you knowing about it.

If you want AP to install the chip, send them the GTOCP3 unit and they'll do it for $45.

This is a biggie: GTO cp3 controllers with version Q or earlier will lose all PEC and other data as a result of the S chip upgrade. So, if like me, you've been happy with Wally's PEC track and won't be immediately able to run the mount with the whole APCC suite to generate a new one, this is a good time to think twice. I'll need to look at what version is in mine from June 2011, and I'll post the result, here.

-Rich

Post Extras:

Starhawk
Post Laureate

Reged: 09/16/08

Loc: Tucson, Arizona

Re: Astro-Physics APCC is here new

[Re: Starhawk]
#5529801 - 11/20/12 10:48 AM

So, my Mach 1 GTO controller shipped in June, 2011, is version Q. That means losing all the data. Maybe PEM Pro can read it off the mount. Anyone know for certain?

-Rich

Post Extras:

Ray Gralak
Vendor (PEMPro)

Reged: 04/19/08

Re: Astro-Physics APCC is here new

[Re: Starhawk]
#5529898 - 11/20/12 11:29 AM

Quote:

So, my Mach 1 GTO controller shipped in June, 2011, is version Q. That means losing all the data. Maybe PEM Pro can read it off the mount. Anyone know for certain?

-Rich

Hi Rich,

PEMPro can read the PEC table and restore it but I don't think the PEC Index is saved so you would have to reprogram the mount anyway. But if you don't have PEMPro you can always download the trial and use it to analyze and reprogram PEC. Besides, periodic error changes over time as the gears wear in so you want to occasionally confirm the mount's PEC curve is still doing a good job... and if not, reprogram it.

-Ray

Post Extras:

andysea
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/03/10

Loc: Seattle, WA

Re: Astro-Physics APCC is here new

[Re: mewmartigan]
#5532965 - 11/21/12 09:16 PM

I seem to remember that APCC is really effective if you have a permanent setup. For those who have to travel it might not be necessary as a new pointing model would have to be generated at every imaging session.
I see that they have a 30day trial version. Since I have the S chip I might download it and report back. I will have to wait for better weather here in the NW which means months from now

Andy

Post Extras:

orlyandico
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/10/09

Loc: Singapore

Re: Astro-Physics APCC is here new

[Re: andysea]
#5533005 - 11/21/12 09:52 PM

Don't AP mounts come with a PemPro license?

I could've sworn I read that in the literature somewhere..

Post Extras:

Peter in Reno
Post Laureate

Reged: 07/15/08

Loc: Reno, NV

Re: Astro-Physics APCC is here new

[Re: orlyandico]
#5533016 - 11/21/12 09:59 PM

Not for Mach1GTO. Only for AP-900 or bigger.

Peter

Post Extras:

andysea
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/03/10

Loc: Seattle, WA

Re: Astro-Physics APCC is here new

[Re: orlyandico]
#5533050 - 11/21/12 10:29 PM

That's correct. The Mach1 does not come with Pempro, It's not that expensive tho. Orlando did you eventually get a Mach1?

Andy

Post Extras:

korborh
professor emeritus

Reged: 01/29/11

Re: Astro-Physics APCC is here new

[Re: andysea]
#5533151 - 11/21/12 11:44 PM

"S" chip is $80. Why so expensive

Pass.....

Post Extras:

orlyandico
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/10/09

Loc: Singapore

Re: Astro-Physics APCC is here new

[Re: korborh]
#5533164 - 11/21/12 11:54 PM

Andy, no, not yet. Still wrestling with the possibility of that JPZ..

Post Extras:

wiruna
member

Reged: 08/11/06

Loc: Sydney, Australia

Re: Astro-Physics APCC is here new

[Re: korborh]
#5533219 - 11/22/12 12:52 AM

Quote:

"S" chip is $80. Why so expensive
Pass.....

Well, it IS Astro-Physics, so expect to get your money's worth.

Edited by wiruna (11/22/12 06:07 PM)

Post Extras:

gavinm
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/26/05

Loc: Auckland New Zealand

Re: Astro-Physics APCC is here new

[Re: wiruna]
#5533258 - 11/22/12 01:28 AM

You're talking about a $10,000+ mount - is $80 expensive?

Post Extras:

Starhawk
Post Laureate

Reged: 09/16/08

Loc: Tucson, Arizona

Re: Astro-Physics APCC is here new

[Re: Ray Gralak]
#5533270 - 11/22/12 01:42 AM

Thanks for writing back on this, Ray. That clears up a lot about what to expect.

-Rich

Quote:

Quote:

So, my Mach 1 GTO controller shipped in June, 2011, is version Q. That means losing all the data. Maybe PEM Pro can read it off the mount. Anyone know for certain?

-Rich

Hi Rich,

PEMPro can read the PEC table and restore it but I don't think the PEC Index is saved so you would have to reprogram the mount anyway. But if you don't have PEMPro you can always download the trial and use it to analyze and reprogram PEC. Besides, periodic error changes over time as the gears wear in so you want to occasionally confirm the mount's PEC curve is still doing a good job... and if not, reprogram it.

-Ray

Post Extras:

BlueGrass
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 07/25/09

Loc: Wasatch Front, UT

Re: Astro-Physics APCC is here new

[Re: gavinm]
#5533272 - 11/22/12 01:43 AM

APCC is something many mount owners have been looking forward to for some time. I have a few AP items on my wish list and have been waiting for the release of APCC. Just in time for Christmas.

Post Extras:

chboss
professor emeritus

Reged: 03/24/08

Loc: Zurich Switzerland

Re: Astro-Physics APCC is here new

[Re: BlueGrass]
#5533280 - 11/22/12 01:50 AM

Orly for permanent installation I am also considering the Tak JPZ if one comes up used....

best regards
Chris

Post Extras:

Calypte
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 03/20/07

Loc: Anza, California

Re: Astro-Physics APCC is here new

[Re: korborh]
#5533284 - 11/22/12 01:52 AM

Quote:

"S" chip is $80. Why so expensive
Pass.....

How much should it cost, then?

Post Extras:

Joe Cipriano
Entropy Personified

Reged: 09/03/05

Loc: Uh... anyone have a GPS?

Re: Astro-Physics APCC is here [Re: chboss]
#5533560 - 11/22/12 09:03 AM

Quote:

Orly for permanent installation I am also considering the Tak JPZ if one comes up used....

best regards
Chris

Coincidentally, there's a JP-Z on that other site right now. I don't have a membership (anymore), so I don't have price or other particulars.

Apologies for the short OT, folks. NJPs don't show up on the used market all that often; figured Chris might want to know about it.

Post Extras:

Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | (show all)

Extra information

18 registered and 27 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator: Bowmoreman, bilgebay, iceblaze

Print Thread

Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is disabled
      UBBCode is enabled

Thread views: 2558

Jump to

CN Forums

Home

Cloudy Nights LLC
Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics