LX80 RA tracking

Ok, now that it runs, is there any hope of a PE measurement?

-Rich

I don't see how, it seems that if you have one of these "broken" mounts you have to spend another $20 to buy a cable to make it work... Meade needs to recognize this problem and fix it at no cost.

As a self proclaimed cheap-scape you have to see the irony on having to spend another $20 to fix a brand new (still under warranty) mount, that was, without question, a manufacture defect. No, the proud moment will be when Meade makes these mounts right at no (additional) cost to the customer.

And they haven't fixed the PEC bug (yet).

Touché ....

Oh GOOD GRIEF !!!!!
Chill out people. This is a happy time. It is a time to celebrate.
The LX80 is working, and working well !!

Joe…. Please don’t ruin this thread with your ranting. People are tired of it. I know I am tired of it. If you don’t like Meade, then go sit on a Celestron forum, or wherever you are happy at. Please don’t make this another LX800 thread. Do you get the hint yet ??? NO MORE !!! (Please…)

Ur7x… Relax about the cable. You will want one anyway. It is the path to computer control of your mount. I do agree that it should be included in the basic mount package though…. That is what is known as “room for improvement”.

Rich… Lets work on that. PE is a Polar function, and there is some curiousity there. Andrew is even asking. But he gets to look at the code. Maybe this is a new thread….. “LX80 and PE testing”. I have the setup for it, and maybe even some clear skies to work with. And yes…. I have Pempro (V2). Andrew says he knows how to fix it…… maybe that is the next “patch” that could lead to a Meade fix for all the mounts with the problem.

Oh GOOD GRIEF !!!!!
Chill out people. This is a happy time. It is a time to celebrate.
The LX80 is working, and working well !!

Joe…. Please don’t ruin this thread with your ranting. People are tired of it. I know I am tired of it. If you don’t like Meade, then go sit on a Celestron forum, or wherever you are happy at. Please don’t make this another LX800 thread. Do you get the hint yet ??? NO MORE !!! (Please…)

Ur7x… Relax about the cable. You will want one anyway. It is the path to computer control of your mount. I do agree that it should be included in the basic mount package though…. That is what is known as “room for improvement”.

Rich… Lets work on that. PE is a Polar function, and there is some curiousity there. Andrew is even asking. But he gets to look at the code. Maybe this is a new thread….. “LX80 and PE testing”. I have the setup for it, and maybe even some clear skies to work with. And yes…. I have Pempro (V2). Andrew says he knows how to fix it…… maybe that is the next “patch” that could lead to a Meade fix for all the mounts with the problem.

That's curious because I receive many PM's all thanking me for fighting the good fight. I'm sorry you feel that way, however, it's not going to deter me. "We all". ? There's no need to good emo on us. You'll just end up getting the thread locked. I understand your frustration getting a non working mount and all. So I'll assume that's the reason for your outburst.


Joe

I posted to YouTube a few days ago 2 short videos showing that the LX80 while in EQ mode did not track with the version of the firmware that it was delivered with. This morning I upgraded to the latest version and ran another test to see if in fact the tracking error had been resolved. I faked a one star alignment in my living room, and then I had the LX80 go to Jupiter. I monitored the position of Jupiter realative to the target circle that appeared on Sky Safari. Here is a link to the video I posted showing that the mount now tracks in EQ mode:

http://youtu.be/gvuCwRdmw1c

Jack

Gday Tom

"if an update doesn't contain useful changes, don't update!" hmmmm, what to do....

Trust the force



I do lots of upgrades/downgrades etc
In this case, i suspect its worthwhile.

Andrew

Hello Everyone,

Good to hear that your mounts are working now that this update has been released. Of course I didn't really think about NOT upgrading. I will say that update process is time consuming and since I still have another 12hr shift today, I'll keep this brief. Suffice it to say, My working mount is STILL working after the update!!! Actually, watching Betelgeuse this morning (10:00 PDT)

RA 05:55.1
DEC +07*23'

No change in RA at all over the past 20 minutes. I have just switched to Alphard with Neg DEC to see if that's OK still too.
Alphard
RA 9:27.5
Dec -08*38'

Will post later on that outcome, but SO FAR SO GOOD!

To those wondering what lot and manufacture date my mount is, I still have no clue. I thought maybe the tripod box would lend a hand there, but nothing discerning on the box, sorry.

Do any of you know if the mount serial number is stenciled on the unit itself somewhere?

cheers and clear skies,

Joe…. Please don’t ruin this thread with your ranting. People are tired of it.

Amen.

And now I'm going out to continue playing with my working-very-well-with-the-new-firmware-thank-you LX80.

Ok, kids...let's stop the sniping. It isn't becoming and will do nothing to help the thread along.

David

I have just switched to Alphard with Neg DEC to see if that's OK still too.
Alphard
RA 9:27.5
Dec -08*38'

Happy to report that even after 45 minutes of tracking Alphard no change in RA or DEC. Prior to the update the mount would have slowly decreased in RA. I'm satisfied.
RA 9:27.5
DEC -08*38'

Now to the PEC request. A little guidance is needed as I have yet to find a guiding solution that works with this mount (maybe the update has corrected that? Andrew, maybe you have something that works? For a fee is ok too.). I'll have to see over my "weekend".

Suggestions??

One method of "guiding" for the LX80 that works now....
and that I have used, successfully...

If you happen to have a Meade DSI Camera, and are equipped with the Autostar Envisage (Camera) software, then guiding is done through the same serial cable we have been discussing for "upgrading the rom", and/or "computer control".

I cannot address other "options". I have noticed, however, that Meade has been talking about a "guiding port add-on" that will be released sometime later. Apparently, a seperate box will be required. No further information known.

I guess I'll take the high road and apologize to the thread for the distraction(s). It wasn't (exactly) my intent. However, the best laid plans...yada yada..

As to the question of current PE. I would think getting a look at where it stands would be paramount as:

1) It stands to reason if in Eq folks may be looking to do some photography.
2) As PEC is currently out of commission, it's important to understand the potential impact.

Joe

One method of "guiding" for the LX80 that works now....
and that I have used, successfully...

If you happen to have a Meade DSI Camera, and are equipped with the Autostar Envisage (Camera) software, then guiding is done through the same serial cable we have been discussing for "upgrading the rom", and/or "computer control".

I cannot address other "options". I have noticed, however, that Meade has been talking about a "guiding port add-on" that will be released sometime later. Apparently, a separate box will be required. No further information known.

Thanks David. I don't have that camera, but the option still exists if I can find one. I am anxiously awaiting the Auxiliary Autoguider (ST-4) port that's been discussed. It seems Meade has their hands full at the moment. The autoguide port is one of the many things I like about my CGEM (it's already there). I can get 15 minute guided subs (a limit I set for my camera)with it. I hope to do the same with my LX80.

Hi Guys
I uploaded the new firmware and did several dummy star tests and they all stayed perfect with zero deviations for about an hour each. Outstanding, I am very pleased.
I do say thank you to Meade because a year and a half ago I had an issue on a new telescope that took 5 months and lots of complaining to fix, so I am very happy this was taken care of in just days. Although I am still waiting for a call back about a few other cosmetic issues. I intend to call and thank them Monday then ask "what about the PEC issues."
Neilson

As far as guiding even if you don't have a Meade camera but you have one that PHD will connect to, PHD will pulse guide through the 497 HBX and should due fine with the LX80's audiostar. That night Kevin did first light, even through the RA was tracking slow, I did connect PHD to the audiostar. The RA issue was bad enough to prevent PHD from calibrating/guiding but PHD was trying. PHD was talking to the autostar HBX. It just couldn't deal with that RA issue. Now the RA issue has been resolved, I don't see any reason that PHD wouldn't work to pulse guide the LX80 using any camera that PHD supports.

I've used PHD to guide LXD55s through their 497s and did well using several different cameras (Meade DSI pro, Orion Starshoot, and modified webcams).

Kevin and I won't get to test guiding on his LX80 tonight. He may be able to tomorrow. Once we do we'll post how that goes.

Gday Tom

Good to hear it still works.

I will say that update process is time consuming

I constantly refer people to use Starpatch for loading firmware.
It is more robust and much quicker than Meades ASU.
( This is esp useful when reloading firmware a few times a day )

The freeware version runs at high speed for half the load then cuts back,
but the purchased version will load a full copy in about 10mins.
When doing patches, it can be as low as 12seconds per reload based on
amount of patching.
If you buy the StarGPS unit itself, you get the fullspeed loader and a
"pluggable" GPS unit to autoset the Hbx date/time/locn.
Lots more ways to spend a few bucks

Andrew

Gday Tom

Now to the PEC request. A little guidance is needed as I have yet to find a guiding solution that works with this mount

The PEC bug should have no effect on guiding???
So whats wrong with the guiding.??
Looking at the gearing in the scope ( very nice )
and the low drive train results several people have got ( very nice )
guiding should be relatively similar to any other 497 type scope
with this type of gears ie LX90s.
There was a prev bug where DEC pulseguide commands went to the RA motor but that got fixed in the A3S1, havent looked in A3S2 yet.
More today as its cloudy so no solar work

Andrew

Gday David

I am anxiously awaiting the Auxiliary Autoguider (ST-4) port that's been discussed.

I can see nothing unusual/new in the code thats tied to this item,
hence i suspect it is just going to be a reworked APM909 unit.
Since Meade stopped selling the 909 units, a "AstroGene" started
manufacturing a clone that emulates this unit
http://www.astrogene...s_909_clone.htm
and i currently cant see why it wouldnt work.
He makes several different versions incl a "guider only" version.

If someone has one ( or a real APM909),
they may like to plug it in and see what happens.

Andrew

As to the question of current PE. I would think getting a look at where it stands would be paramount as:

1) It stands to reason if in Eq folks may be looking to do some photography.
2) As PEC is currently out of commission, it's important to understand the potential impact.

Joe

If I buy one, it would be used for photography in EQ mode, but that would be either planetary photography (video - PE is irrelevant) or wide-field (PE is probably not too important). It does concern me that PEC is messed up and has been for a long time as Meade should fix it if it doesn't work, and do so about as fast as they did with this EQ tracking problem.

Meade...is it true that PEC doesn't work on these mounts?

Gday Lee

It does concern me that PEC is messed up and has been for a long time

There are also a lot of other bugs that may affect users using serial control of the scope still in the firmware after a long while.
ie you still cant set the date remotely

And as to PEC, i just ran a few tests this morning and the PEC recording mechanism is still broken.
There is also something new in how it works ( which appears to be tied into whether or not you have done an align???? ) Not sure there yet.


Andrew

The only thing I've ever personally found broken in my ETX is that the auto-align (LNT) fails by moving the scope backwards if you have the handbox directions reversed. Stupid bug, frankly, but they hadn't fixed it by the last time I checked.

Gday Tom

Good to hear it still works.

I will say that update process is time consuming

I constantly refer people to use Starpatch for loading firmware.
It is more robust and much quicker than Meades ASU.
( This is esp useful when reloading firmware a few times a day )

The freeware version runs at high speed for half the load then cuts back,
but the purchased version will load a full copy in about 10mins.
When doing patches, it can be as low as 12seconds per reload based on
amount of patching.
If you buy the StarGPS unit itself, you get the fullspeed loader and a
"pluggable" GPS unit to autoset the Hbx date/time/locn.
Lots more ways to spend a few bucks

Andrew

Great suggestion Andrew and a way to support as well. I quite like the idea of not entering that data...bells and whistles really, but then I do have an LS-8 that I still love to use 2 years later. I'll pop over to the website and give a "look see".

Cheers mate!

Gday All

Payback is a b!tc#

The fact Toms scope always worked still really confuses me.
Wont it be funny if his scope stops working now

Just for "non LX80" people watching this thread,
as part of testing the PEC, i have been setting my testbench
up as a native LX90 Polar ( as thats what it is ).
On booting, i just set targets to Astro to get it tracking
( vs do a full dummy align )

I am seeing odd behaviour in three modes
a) It works
b) Nothing happens and it wont start tracking
c) It starts a mid speed runaway in RA ( easily stopped by a keypress )

Soooooo, something else is going on in how it now starts or initialises, and it affects older motorcards.
I dont know what it is yet, but if you just set targets to Astro to get it running,
be ready if it does start running away.
Again, its not a really fast runaway, but something to watch for.

Andrew

Gday All

After a bit more digging, i can see all the old "polar" speed calcs
(based on hardcoded rates ) are gone, and that now in polar,
it uses the same mechanisms as AltAz tracking.
I have tested this on my bench using a fake 2 star, with a lot of misalignment,
and can see that even when polar, the scope now tracks using BOTH motors.
Before this, in polar, the Az motor got a speed setting and the Alt motor
was forcibly stopped, ie it never tracked in DEC.
Sooooo, if anyone who can do a good mechanical polar align wants to try it,
do an align where you "mechanically" point roughly at polaris in ( E/W )
and say 2degrees below it. This will force DEC drift.

Do a polar one star align.
When done, slew to a star near the E or W horizon ( HA = +/-6 )
( as DEC drift will be highest at these locns given a "below pole" alignment).
The star should drift in DEC.

Now reboot and do a proper 2 star align and centre the stars correctly.
When done, slew to the star near the E or W horizon
and see if the star "drifts" in DEC
It should hold a lot more stable if everthing is correct.

Andrew

Gday David

I am anxiously awaiting the Auxiliary Autoguider (ST-4) port that's been discussed.

I can see nothing unusual/new in the code thats tied to this item,
hence i suspect it is just going to be a reworked APM909 unit.
Since Meade stopped selling the 909 units, a "AstroGene" started
manufacturing a clone that emulates this unit
http://www.astrogene...s_909_clone.htm
and i currently cant see why it wouldnt work.
He makes several different versions incl a "guider only" version.

If someone has one ( or a real APM909),
they may like to plug it in and see what happens.

Gday; while we all understand it may be possible to make ST-4 work through other means, what I don’t' understand is your (not just you Andrew) complacent attitude. Firstly, why wouldn't Meade release a needed accessory when a product is released? Secondly, why you folks wouldn’t demand integrating ST-4 port into the mount (if I could get your attention in your troubleshooting frenzy ?)