78 replies to this topic

[Starman1]

See:

https://www.astrodev...h_SkySafari.pdf

and 

https://www.astrodev..._Manual_1.1.pdf

pages 13, 14, 15.

 

and, if you still can't get it dialed in:

email Serge at info@astrodevices.com

[colinrasmussen]

Completely agree. The device works as advertised and even better than I expected. I'm using it on a 12" Zhumell Dob using SkySafari as the software. Connection is stable and positioning is right on, all over the sky. Customer service is excellent.

[bcloud]

Thanks for the informative review.

[Nuge]

I ordered a Nexus II with the encoders and it arrived earlier this week.  I installed it over the evening on my XT8 Classic and gave it try last night using Sky Safari on my iPhone.  I aligned on a couple stars and the rest of the evening was spent observing recommended targets.  The alignment was very quick to perform and I was floored to be honest, every target without fail was in the eyepiece for the rest of the evening.  Even got lucky with the ISS passing overhead, it's amazing just how fast it travels!  I also got to observe M81 (Bode's Nebula) for the first time, amazing!

 

I'm a new astronomer and spent last year manually hunting down targets which is great fun.  But is it ever nice to be able to have a navigational aid when needed (which is often) or having the capability to put a name to something that you are observing and be able to read up right then on the attributes of what you are observing.  Last year I found it very difficult to star hop the closer I got to zenith.  With this system it was incredibly easy to navigate what was virtually impossible for me last year with any accuracy.  Well done Astro Devices!

 

Many thanks to the reviewer, your feedback helped me a lot in deciding to take the plunge!

[tomb18]

Note that the pin outs diagram is correct, but the RJ jack is upside down.

Serge will reverse it in the future so wire #1 will be on the right instead of the left.

Don

Still not fixed.  What, over a year since I reported it to him? It's quite confusing, not only is the jack upside down, but the USB connection is on the wrong side.

[Starman1]

Still not fixed. What, over a year since I reported it to him? It's quite confusing, not only is the jack upside down, but the USB connection is on the wrong side.

Serge just updated the website

[tomb18]

Not the manual though

[Starman1]

He said he updated the manual a couple months ago.

Did you try downloading the manual from his website?

[tomb18]

Hi

ok, mystery solved.  A google search pulls up the old manual.  Going to the web site it shows version 1.2.  That one has it correct!

When I initially built my encoder cables and it didn't work, I hooked up an oscilloscope and watched the signals.  Then I figured it out.

Hope it helkps someone.

Tom

[Denkmeier,Inc.]

I recently purchased a Nexus11 to be used with my dob and Sky Safari Plus (no eq platform). Serge was great in trying to figure out why I had the following issues but I will try making one change tomorrow evening if clear skies allow.
I ran into issues with pointing accuracy. In fact, placing an object in the telescope’s fov centered, the Sky Safari view showed the object drifting out of the field entirely even though it was still kept centered in the telescopes field. All of the scope type settings in SF were correct so this was not the issue.
My question: I did not think making sure that the movement of Up/Down, East/West of my dob synchronized with the cursor movement in SF was mandatory.  I never checked that. So, if proper scope selection, proper basic encoder and step values, correct stars for alignment were all chosen, would my failure to check on direction of cursor/movement in SF and its matching of scope cause a lack of success in target aquisition? At first, after alignment of two stars (polaris and antares), an object like m82 was at least a degree out of the fov. Then the accuracy became worse and worse.
I have used Sky Commander before with this scope so I do believe this is a Sky Safari issue, not a Nexus11 or encoder issue. Why would M82 depart from the SF screen despite being centered in my scopes fov? And all settings were triple checked for correctness? Anyone else experience this? In essence, the sky in SF seemed to be moving past the cursor rings on the screen. 

[Starman1]

Hmm.  Encoder resolution figures?

Low resolution encoders are often in powers of 2, i.e. 2048, 4096 and then go to even numbers with 10,000, 32,000, etc.

 

Or, one encoder reading not making it to the SF program (so the object would appear to drift)?

[Denkmeier,Inc.]

Success! So, the toggle feature for correcting the cursor directions in RA and Az after connecting SF to Nexus11 would not implement the change for sychronizing the directions of motion of the scope/cursor. When disconnecting, the dots on the right side of the align feature showing the drop down for correcting the directions of the cursor dissapeared. Ultimately, I changed the + signs of the encoder 10000 steps to - signs. This finally corrected the direction of the cursor snd allowed accurate target locations after the two star alignment was done. Nexus11 and SF with the 20” dob and of course The Binotron 27 and the LOA 3D eyepieces (shameless plug) were great! Clear skies and yes, Serge is a fine person who cares about his customers

[Chucky]

Assume that's you Russ. Glad things have been addressed.

[yogisurfer]

OK, lovely Nexus II review.

I am wondering how it compares to the Nexus PRO, which I understand to be an upgraded version of a Nexus: faster processor, more sd memory...etc  What functionality does the USB port serve? Will it connect to the (PC-comp-laptop); what use is wifi link if USB will perform that function?

 

I have a non goto mount. I imagine the Nexus Pro & encoders to be a quieter observing experience. :  >  Any thoughts? Thank you...and clear sky.

[Starman1]

The new Nexus DSC Pro does not require the USB input for updating either firmware or catalogs, but there are some dob tracking devices that require an extra cable.

This is the same reason there is still a serial port there.

WiFi will work with phones, tablets, laptops, and larger computers and not have the limited distance of the USB cable,

nor leave a cable lying around that can be stepped on or tripped over.

 

For most uses, the USB and serial ports have no function.

 

In the earlier Nexus DSC, the firmware upgrade was done with a USB thumb drive device.  That has been transferred to the MicroSD card in the Nexus DSC Pro.

 

In comparison, if the battery in the phone/tablet/laptop dies, the Nexus DSC Pro is a full-featured stand-alone unit.  The Nexus II is only an interface device, so all 

pointing capabilities die with the battery in your external device.

[luxo II]

I have a non goto mount. I imagine the Nexus Pro & encoders to be a quieter observing experience. :  >  Any thoughts? Thank you...and clear sky.

It's a great experience. https://www.cloudyni...s-ii-skysafari/

Only reason I old my rig was to upgrade to something larger.

[dozer613]

I have a starmaster with star drive.
How can this be hooked up
Marty

[dozer613]

I have a starmaster with star drive.
How can this be hooked up
Marty

[dozer613]

I have a starmaster with star drive.
How can this be hooked up
Marty

[Starman1]

You should contact Serge Antonov at Astro Devices for advice on an installation connection to StarDrive..

info@astrodevices.com

or

serge@astrodevices.com

[jonf707]

Similar to the reviewer, I also did my research and decided on the Nexus II... it's cost effective, has great reviews, simple to use, and one-stop shopping for integration of parts.  Seeing that he had encoders for my different dobs is what sealed my decision.

 

I started with my Orion XT8.  I was so amazed by it, a few months later I bought the encoders for my Apertura AD12.  I just installed it on my AD12 and tried it out last week and I got it working.  Now that single Nexus II works on whichever dob I'm using that night, what flexibility!  I'm 100% satisfied with it.  I can't imagine a better way to have a push-to system.

[Timothy Ma]

OK I have a unique question regarding the Nexus II.  I already have a Nexus DSC on my Nightsky 14.5" DOB and I am just outfitting my Takahachi MT-160 with encoders but I know I can just move over the Nexus DSC to it. 

 

I have decided to purchase the Nexus II and interface it with the MT-160.  Will I have a problem if I have both telescope operating at the same time within close proximity?

[Orion68]

 

I'm buying a used AZ8 with installed encoders but no controller. I'll buy the controller, but how can I tell what the tic count is on the encoders for the controller setup?

 

Thanks!

Edited by Orion68, 20 June 2022 - 03:03 AM.

[Starman1]

 

 

 

I'm buying a used AZ8 with installed encoders but no controller. I'll buy the controller, but how can I tell what the tic count is on the encoders for the controller setup?

 

Thanks!

 

Send the pic to serge@astrodevices.com and ask.

Also, the name of the mount and your phone number.

He'd be able to tell from photos which kit that was.

His current kits for the AZ8 all have 311,296 tick encoders.

[Hilmi]

Hi, a bit late to this topic, I got a nexus II encoder in a telescope that was gifted to me. The instructions say sky safari will explicitly ask for a second alignment star/additional alignment star, I am running sky safari 7 on android and it does not ask if the second star is a second alignment star. Is this normal behavior? Also on my last trip somehow the encoder started behaving like it was in equatorial mode and for the life of me I could not figure out how it had switched over and how to revert it back. I came back to town and reloaded the firmware, that seems to have fixed it. Any ideas?