11 replies to this topic

[Maui-Jim]

I would like to know how (or if I even can), effectively "park" my mount at the Home position and keep it powered up.

I've a Celestron CGEM-DX mount (c. 2012), HC Firmware Ver. 4.22, Motor Control (both RA & DEC) Firmware Ver. 6.50.

 

Of all the things that bug me, one is the GOTO Home and Setting Home.

I'd like to GOTO Home and leave the scope powered up, but it continues to track West in RA.

I can't just walk away - the mount is not really "parked" and I don't know how to "park" it (or if I even can).

 

The problem continues with GOTO Home after a good re-alignment that starts fresh from the Index Marks.

No matter what I do, even if I set set the Home position at the Index Marks, once I start viewing and decide to rest a bit, if I send the mount to GOTO home, if will go the Index marks and then rack West some 5 degrees or so away from the RA "zero" Index mark. The mount just seems to want to lean to the left - and then it continues to track (move) west in RA.

It's almost as if the position of Home is a dialed up star and leaving the mount on that imaginary star just causes the mount to track it as if it were a star.

 

How can I get my mount to stop rolling back in RA and stay on the Index Mark?

And, how do I actually "park" the mount so it is no longer tracks in RA, and is not engaged in tracking anything - just resting "out of gear" in neutral?

Appreciate all the help this is likely to generate. Jim

[SoCalPaul]

I can't answer your question directly, but Michael Swanson's website (and book) are the definitive resource on all things NexStar: www.nexstarsite.com

 

Good luck,

Paul

[RTLR 12]

Why do you want to leave the power on after parking? You can move the mount to any position and "Hibernate" the mount (Turnit off) and it will retain all of the settings and alignment data. You can find Hibernate in the Utillities section. Then all you have to do is to "Wake it up" and continue where you left off.

 

Stan

Edited by RTLR 12, 08 November 2024 - 07:40 PM.

[DirtyRod]

What are you using to control the mount? In CPWI, there is an option to disable tracking on the Telescope Menu so you can Home the mount and then disable tracking. Tracking will start automatically the next time you GoTo a target. If you are using an AsiAir or N.I.N.A., Parking the mount turns off tracking.

 

I have not used the DX but I have used an AVX, CGEM2, and a CGX-L and they all worked that way. I assume the DX would behave the same way.

Edited by DirtyRod, 08 November 2024 - 07:54 PM.

[mich_al]

The hand controller also has options to stop tracking.

[michael8554]

I wouldn't leave a mount powered up for long periods because of the likelihood of fried electronics from thunderstorms.

[KOstar]

As suggested by RTLR 12, the Hibernate function will stop the mount in whatever position you choose.  Then power off.  Starting it up again is simple.  Turn power back on,  select "wake up mount" and confirm the date and time (to within a couple seconds) and you are good to go.  Takes less than 30 seconds.

 

My CGEM DX is permanently mounted on a pier and I hibernate the mount and power off when I'm done for the night or sometimes for just an hour or so while I'm waiting for an object to be in a better position in the sky.  This assures that it will not move anywhere while I'm away.  I'm not sure why it would be advantageous to leave it powered up; even if you only hibernate for an hour or so.

 

I haven't needed to realign my mount for many months.  Probably close to a year.

KO

Edited by KOstar, 09 November 2024 - 01:53 PM.

[Maui-Jim]

Thanks to all. I think I have the best solution now. For Mr. Dirty Rod in Arizona - I don't use CPWI, I'm not connected to a laptop or any computer. I only have the tripod, mast head mount (the CGEM-DX Mount) and my OTA. Thanks again. Clear skies!

[Ranger Tim]

Go to home position. Select Hibernate from Utilities menu. It asks you to park the mount where you want it. Hit Enter. It prompts you to turn off the mount. When next turned on confirm Wake Up and Time/Date. CGEM Ready to go.

 

There is a PDF manual for the mount on Celestron’s site. I bought the DX as a temporary mount until I could afford a premium one. Mine works so well I have used it ever since. Luck of the draw I guess. Hypertuning helped smooth out guiding a lot.

[Maui-Jim]

For Mr. Ranger Tim:  got it. But, oddly, when I re-power the mount after a good hibernation setting, the HC does not ask to confirm both time and date, only the time. I have a good GPS mounted on the thing, and I've learned to wait a good half a minute or more to ensure it picks up the satellite reading. I'm wondering why I don't get to re-confirm the date. Every time I confirm the time, the HC reads back GCEM Ready - but if I do that during the day and want to check solar activity, the mounts slews not quite near the sun, but off a good distance (5 degrees or more). Any thoughts? And, yes, I've read the manual and Michael Swanson's book arrives tomorrow. Just thanking you in advance - always liked Nampa, spent some quality time consulting for Simplot a few years ago.

[mich_al]

For Mr. Ranger Tim:  got it. But, oddly, when I re-power the mount after a good hibernation setting, the HC does not ask to confirm both time and date, only the time. I have a good GPS mounted on the thing, and I've learned to wait a good half a minute or more to ensure it picks up the satellite reading. I'm wondering why I don't get to re-confirm the date. Every time I confirm the time, the HC reads back GCEM Ready - but if I do that during the day and want to check solar activity, the mounts slews not quite near the sun, but off a good distance (5 degrees or more). Any thoughts? And, yes, I've read the manual and Michael Swanson's book arrives tomorrow. Just thanking you in advance - always liked Nampa, spent some quality time consulting for Simplot a few years ago.

5 degree wrong position for the Sun could be a time zone or DST issue.

[aa6ww]

 I think your GPS units internal battery is dying or dead, Like many, mine started becoming intermittant and unreliable at the beginning of the 3rd yr of use.  

I use to wait a 10 to 15 minutes for things to lock on and it wasn't reliable at best. 

I found other complaining about their  GPS also, so i found a video on how to replace my GPS Battery. Its not so easy, you have to open the unit and unsolder a ground shield box to get to the battery. I replaced mine with a CR2032.

Now, it locks on to the GPS instantly, so fast that my starsence hand controller with my AVx or CGEM11 just shows a G showing its working. I had to manually check the time and date but it was dead on, and so fast.

My mount wouldn't wake up from hibernation with out the GPS working, because the date and time and location were off.

Now everthing is excellent. Everything still works even without the GPS, but since i have it, and it works so well now, i always use it.

 

This is the video on the battery replacement: 

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=hh3E6xa_X_k

 

 

 

 

    Ralph

 

 

 

 

 

For Mr. Ranger Tim:  got it. But, oddly, when I re-power the mount after a good hibernation setting, the HC does not ask to confirm both time and date, only the time. I have a good GPS mounted on the thing, and I've learned to wait a good half a minute or more to ensure it picks up the satellite reading. I'm wondering why I don't get to re-confirm the date. Every time I confirm the time, the HC reads back GCEM Ready - but if I do that during the day and want to check solar activity, the mounts slews not quite near the sun, but off a good distance (5 degrees or more). Any thoughts? And, yes, I've read the manual and Michael Swanson's book arrives tomorrow. Just thanking you in advance - always liked Nampa, spent some quality time consulting for Simplot a few years ago.