1394 replies to this topic

[iceguy]

Hope someone might have some ideas on this.  I was testing slewing in the alt-az mode using sky safari and believe I might have slewed too far. On the Unity app I get the status message "HARD LIMIT SENSOR" and now the mount will not move east or west. I think this is for protecting the internal mount cables, but now it is stuck.  North and south are just fine.  Nothing I've done unlocks it (restarting the mount, app, etc.).  I sent an email to Pegasus support, but like the rest of Europe I believe they took the month of August off.  Thoughts? 

[mrkhagol]

Hope someone might have some ideas on this.  I was testing slewing in the alt-az mode using sky safari and believe I might have slewed too far. On the Unity app I get the status message "HARD LIMIT SENSOR" and now the mount will not move east or west. I think this is for protecting the internal mount cables, but now it is stuck.  North and south are just fine.  Nothing I've done unlocks it (restarting the mount, app, etc.).  I sent an email to Pegasus support, but like the rest of Europe I believe they took the month of August off.  Thoughts? 

can you slew with arrow keys in the app or it just doesn't slew at all in east-west?

[iceguy]

can you slew with arrow keys in the app or it just doesn't slew at all in east-west?

No.  It tries, makes a clicking sound when I push the arrow, but it just won't slew at all east-west.  Slews north-south just fine.

[mrkhagol]

No.  It tries, makes a clicking sound when I push the arrow, but it just won't slew at all east-west.  Slews north-south just fine.

the fact you get hard limit error sounds like this is still salvageable-probably the gear assembly should be fine I hope.

 

am little surprised that in altaz they allow such thing to go this far because in equatorial we just hit limit and it doesn't slew past that.

 

what about making into equatorial mode and slewing that way-did you already tried that?

[Which one is Polaris]

No.  It tries, makes a clicking sound when I push the arrow, but it just won't slew at all east-west.  Slews north-south just fine.

*IF* I remember correctly, someone got into this situation some time ago in the early part of this thread.  There was a simple (but not obvious) way out of it.

You may find those messages.  Good luck.

[iceguy]

the fact you get hard limit error sounds like this is still salvageable-probably the gear assembly should be fine I hope.

 

am little surprised that in altaz they allow such thing to go this far because in equatorial we just hit limit and it doesn't slew past that.

 

what about making into equatorial mode and slewing that way-did you already tried that?

yup. already tried that.

[iceguy]

All, just an update on my problem.  I received an email from George at Pegasus Astro with detail instructions on how to issue commands to the mount to disable the Hard limit.  Once done, I was able to move the mount to the home position using the opposite route that got me the problem. Thoroughly without any more issues.  I think I will go back to using the mount in equatorial mode.  I feel like I dodged a bullet.

[mrkhagol]

All, just an update on my problem.  I received an email from George at Pegasus Astro with detail instructions on how to issue commands to the mount to disable the Hard limit.  Once done, I was able to move the mount to the home position using the opposite route that got me the problem. Thoroughly without any more issues.  I think I will go back to using the mount in equatorial mode.  I feel like I dodged a bullet.

can you ask back and say if there needs to be some kind of limits in altaz mode too? that would be nice otherwise many will have panic moment for sure.

[johnd39818]

First light report using My NX 101. First off I had no issues with polar alignment. I mounted my Astrotech 10" RC with an orion st 80 guidscope with a qhy 128c full frame camera. Around 43lbs of equipment. I'm shooting from bortel 1 Skies in wheeless oklahoma near black mesa state park. My guiding ranged from .44 to .67 throughout the night. Meridian flip was flawless. Very happy with the performance.

[mrkhagol]

First light report using My NX 101. First off I had no issues with polar alignment. I mounted my Astrotech 10" RC with an orion st 80 guidscope with a qhy 128c full frame camera. Around 43lbs of equipment. I'm shooting from bortel 1 Skies in wheeless oklahoma near black mesa state park. My guiding ranged from .44 to .67 throughout the night. Meridian flip was flawless. Very happy with the performance.

how much counterweight did you use?

[johnd39818]

None. I found out that my 11 lb counterweight wouldn't fit my bar. So I purchased a tripod bag attachment and placed 44 lbs of counter weights in it. Tested prior to dark to ensure it wouldn't tip when scope was at extream positions. I will ce getting a different counterweight.

[mrkhagol]

None. I found out that my 11 lb counterweight wouldn't fit my bar. So I purchased a tripod bag attachment and placed 44 lbs of counter weights in it. Tested prior to dark to ensure it wouldn't tip when scope was at extream positions. I will ce getting a different counterweight.

Ah that works too.

[johnd39818]

Shooting again tonight guiding at .62

[Wow!]

The carbon fiber tripod is rated for 50kg or 110lb. Also, carbon fiber is significantly more rigid than steel, so it shouldn't bounce under load like thinner steel tripods tend to.

I’d actually love to see this tested out. Compare say an EQ6 tripod with an AM5 tripod to see which one comes out better for the same/similar load

[johnd39818]

I could not be happier with performance

[mrkhagol]

First light report using My NX 101. First off I had no issues with polar alignment. I mounted my Astrotech 10" RC with an orion st 80 guidscope with a qhy 128c full frame camera. Around 43lbs of equipment. I'm shooting from bortel 1 Skies in wheeless oklahoma near black mesa state park. My guiding ranged from .44 to .67 throughout the night. Meridian flip was flawless. Very happy with the performance.

 

forgot to ask-did you just buy the mount? I believe good result is the diff of new design they have in place-

[johnd39818]

I did purchase a couple of months ago
It is a version 2 though I really don't know what differs from version 1

[mrkhagol]

I did purchase a couple of months ago
It is a version 2 though I really don't know what differs from version 1

the alt design has been changed so that alignment doesn't flex as it does on first version-because of that many keep having to do polar align frequently.

 

version 2 really helps with heavy payloads-per what they have stated. so it's good that you bought it now.

[ericsolo]

the alt design has been changed so that alignment doesn't flex as it does on first version-because of that many keep having to do polar align frequently.

 

version 2 really helps with heavy payloads-per what they have stated. so it's good that you bought it now.

I have a "first generation" NYX-101, and have found that the polar alignment is not a problem.  It doesn't flex and the images that I take have round stars.  Admittedly, there were other problems with the mount, but it was returned to Pegasus and promptly repaired (at no cost to me for shipping).  I also had an on line session to unlock my mount from the hardware limit.

 

I'm happy with my NYX-101.

 

Eric
 

[johnd39818]

Well I really was impressed with it overall performance. Using the altitude knob effortlessly lifted the approximately 43 lbs with 1 finger moving the knob with the included bar the screws Into the knob. Tracking exceeded me ioptron CEM 60. As I have aged I'm trying to downsize my setup. But still have two large optical tubes. I will mount this to my tri peir before I attempt trying out my RASA 11. If it goes as well as it did withe the 10"Rc I will be selling my CEM 60.

[mrkhagol]

I have a "first generation" NYX-101, and have found that the polar alignment is not a problem.  It doesn't flex and the images that I take have round stars.  Admittedly, there were other problems with the mount, but it was returned to Pegasus and promptly repaired (at no cost to me for shipping).  I also had an on line session to unlock my mount from the hardware limit.

 

I'm happy with my NYX-101.

 

Eric
 

same here- i don't quite exactly have issues with 1st gen but there are other issues (non tracking related) that make long FL observing a bit difficult for me.

 

i've been just speaking of others experiences here-which is why the 2nd version is out. And they seem to have done a good job especially with the lighter mount version (Nyx 88)-that design is very solid-wish it was like that for 101 ones too.

 

if they couldn't find any issue with their design then they wouldn't done this 2nd one exactly.
 

btw - what hardware limit are you referring to?

Edited by mrkhagol, 01 September 2024 - 10:43 PM.

[mrkhagol]

Well I really was impressed with it overall performance. Using the altitude knob effortlessly lifted the approximately 43 lbs with 1 finger moving the knob with the included bar the screws Into the knob. Tracking exceeded me ioptron CEM 60. As I have aged I'm trying to downsize my setup. But still have two large optical tubes. I will mount this to my tri peir before I attempt trying out my RASA 11. If it goes as well as it did withe the 10"Rc I will be selling my CEM 60.

yes you should be able to get rid of the heavy mount. that was my main goal of getting Nyx in first place among other things of course

[ericsolo]

What changes were made to the design of the mount?

 

Eric

[mrkhagol]

What changes were made to the design of the mount?

 

Eric

Alt knob area

 

I’ll be getting those parts when they sell it at end of September or start of October..

[Sharatan]

Does anyone out there have a NYX101 Hand-Controller (HC) that works?

Mine has been more or less an expensive brick since arrival (20July from Agena), with a failure at setting the date and time.

At first - After setting the initial date and time, along with a successful 1 star alignment.. when selecting the "circle button" to go to the Menu.
The hand-controller immediately displayed a "No Date! No Time!" error.

Per a response from Pegasus support - Firmware 1.31.2 was to resolve hand-controller issues.
Okay - so I waited for the new Firmware and installed 1.31.2
The hand-controller continues to fail - again at the Date/Time
Upon connection the HC quickly flashes the first screen of the mount info - RA coordinates screen, but is too quick to read.
Set the correct Date/ Time - Ok Value Set
The screen quickly flashes page 2 (Az coordinates) of mount info then returns to a Local Date screen with a local date of 2044/04/23 (the Local Date screen tends to fluctuate with different months and days - but always with a year of 2043 or 2044)
No action happens when the "circle button" is pressed.
Am using 110V with the NYX AC/DC adapter.
Fails consistently across multiple days/times. The hand-controller is unusable.

No acknowledgement nor feedback back from Pegasus support after reporting, in detail, the secondary follow-on 1.31.2 failure on 28Aug24.

The NYX101 works fine via a PC - however smart devices tend to walk away during public outreach sessions, or drop wifi when working the crowd. Hence the outlay for a hand-controller.