I have the older(?) vsersion that I bought in late 1997 at the same time I got
my AP400
QMD mount. Sold that mount to get the AP600E Goto. The finder scope stayed with
me
though! Fits the AP600E and is darn useful!

Chris. Spratt
Victoria, BC


>    Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 14:30:31 -0000
>    From: "Mark D'Ambrosio" <markdambrosio@...>
> Subject: Re: Polar scopes
>
> I guess many folks have the older version Polar Scope, and these do fit the
new GTO mounts.
> Roland confirmed this to me a couple of years ago, as I had luckily found a
like new one from Astromart
> back then, many months before getting the mount itself.
>
> I did get a chance to see that it does fit properly before I left for vacation
(Man, did I get out of Illinois at the right time!)  Mark
>

I had an opportunity to get my "second" light with the AP1200 and the
C-14. This time seeing conditions were much less favorable, with the
images dancing all around. However, even under these conditions, the
images in the scope were considerably better than those I'd viewed
when the scope was mounted on the G-11.

When I've gone back and stepped through video tapes taken at high mag
using the G-11, I noticed a high frequency oscillation in the images,
which I had attributed to the camera vibrations transferring into the
scope. At roughly video frame rate, the image would shift back and
forth by several arc seconds. Because of the high frequency of this
motion, the eye would integrate it and just see a blur.

On the new AP1200, none of this was present. I still got a blurry
image because conditions were poor, but the quality of the image,
both visually and on video was definitely a notch above what I'd
previously experienced.

In addition, I tried longer exposure shots. with the compressor on
the C-14, I was able to get 2.1 pixel FWHM stars, compared with 2.8-
3.5 pixels which was typical on the G-11. Plus, overall tracking is
so good with the AP1200 that I was able to go a minute without
tracking and still achieve good images. This is all without any PEC.

The level of details which I'm capturing now with the CCD just blow
me away. There are just amazing subtleties that I'm now seeing in the
Crab nebula and M42 that I thought were beyond the reach of amateur
scopes. I'm anxiously awaiting more clear nights.

This mount has brought a whole new level of excitement back for me.
Congratulations!
-Ted


--- In ap-gto@egroups.com, chris1011@a... wrote:
> In a message dated 12/18/00 11:25:57 PM Central Standard Time,
> tdi1@e... writes:
>
> << could this be due to the fact that the Losmondy
>  generates "microvibrations" because of it's stepper motor drive
while
>  the AP uses servos, generating a completely smooth tracking motion?
>   >>
> Micro vibrations are always a possibility with steppers. Not all
stepper
> drives produce them. It depends on the amount of current sent to
the motor,
> and whether the rotor overshoots or rings with each step, or is
well damped.
> Some of this is dependent on the load the motor sees.
>
> Roland Christen

Roland, Marj, or anyone else,

Thanks Marj for the info on the Digital Sky.

I have what maybe a stupid question about the black RA ring on the 1200
mount.

If The RA ring is set for a star's coordinates, the telescope can be moved
by hand and the coordinates will continue to provide accurate RA
information; however, if the telescope is slewed (1200x) the RA ring moves
with the mount and does not indicate the new RA setting of the slewed to
object. Should not the RA ring move only while the clock drive is moving the
telescope, holding RA position, and not move while slewing either by hand or
with motors to then indicate the new RA setting?  Granted the hand
controller will display the RA and DEC but the RA ring still will be showing
the last set RA value.
The dec ring does not have this problem since it is not advancing with time.
The ring seems to be only released when the clutches are released. Should
not the RA ring release while in slewing mode?

Am I missing something obvious here?

Andy

Hi All,

Does anyone have any idea who has or can make shipping boxes that will fit
the two halves (separated) of the AP1200 mount?  It sure would make it
easier to transport to remote sites.

Thanks

Andy

In a message dated 12/21/00 8:51:37 AM Central Standard Time,
forsberg@... writes:

<<
  If The RA ring is set for a star's coordinates, the telescope can be moved
  by hand and the coordinates will continue to provide accurate RA
  information; however, if the telescope is slewed (1200x) the RA ring moves
  with the mount and does not indicate the new RA setting of the slewed to
  object. Should not the RA ring move only while the clock drive is moving the
  telescope, >>

The manual setting circles will only work in the manual mode. They are driven
circles, meaning that they are accurate as long as the worm gear is running
at the sidereal rate. When the mount is slewed, the worm obviously is no
longer being driven at the sidereal rate, rather, it is now being driven at
1200 times the sidereal rate. Therefore, the moment any slewing takes place,
the manual circles have lost their accuracy. The only way to make manual
circles work during slewing is to have two completely isolated worm gear
motor sets, one for slewing, and the other one always running at the sidereal
rate where the manual circle would be attached to that worm.

Roland Christen

Company 7 has custom cases for the AP mounts made to order. They made a set
(two cases) for my 900 GTO, and a matching case for my 155. Very attractive,
velour lined, differing densities of underlying foam, depending on the
weight of the part it is cradling. If you wish, you can slap a shipping
label on the outside and ship as is. I treasure mine, but they aren't
lightweight and they aren't cheap!

Gus

> Does anyone have any idea who has or can make shipping boxes that will fit
> the two halves (separated) of the AP1200 mount?  It sure would make it
> easier to transport to remote sites.
>
> Thanks
>
> Andy

I've previously been using Digital Sky to control my LX200 on the Meade
mount and my Tak FS 78 on an AP400 under Windows 98 on my desktop pc.
I've recently purchased a laptop running Windows 2000 and whilst
installing software across to my laptop I was surprised to find that
Digital Sky Voice doesn't currently support Win 2000.  Is there any
information on when this capability might be introduced?

Many thanks,
Graham

Season's greetings to everyone from all of us at Astro-Physics. We wish you
many blissful nights under the stars in the next year (sure hope it warms up
a bit).

Astro-Physics will be closed next week. The staff have all worked very hard
this past year, so we wanted to give them a break to rest up for the new
year.


Marj & Roland Christen
Astro-Physics
Phone: 815-282-1513
Fax: 815-282-9847
http://www.astro-physics.com

Happy Holidays to everyone there at A-P and please don't catch a cold or the
flu while you're taking that well-deserved vacation, because I would like to
have Santa-UPS bring that 1200 GTO as soon as possible after the first of
the year! And Happy New Year to everyone on the list as well!
Bert


----- Original Message -----
From: "Marj" <marj@...>
To: <ap-ug@egroups.com>
Cc: <ap-gto@egroups.com>
Sent: Friday, 22 December, 2000 4:22 PM
Subject: [ap-gto] Happy Holidays!


> Season's greetings to everyone from all of us at Astro-Physics. We wish
you
> many blissful nights under the stars in the next year (sure hope it warms
up
> a bit).
>
> Astro-Physics will be closed next week. The staff have all worked very
hard
> this past year, so we wanted to give them a break to rest up for the new
> year.
>
>
> Marj & Roland Christen
> Astro-Physics
> Phone: 815-282-1513
> Fax: 815-282-9847
> http://www.astro-physics.com
>
>
>
>

Has anyone had any luck getting the DSV Link Bridge for SkyMap Pro to
work with SkyMap Pro 7? I had it working under SMP6, but can't get it
going with SMP7.

I moved the driver (dsv.drv) to the SMP7 "drivers" folder, configured
both programs for the link (I just left the DSV settings as they were
for SMP6 since there's no SMP7 choice to select), activated it, but
nothing. I see the autotracking cursor in SMP7, but the map never
updates its position. I'm running Windows 2000.

On a related note, is there any news about DSV version 3.x?

Thanks...

Paul W.

I think you may have to rename the directory SkyMap Pro 6 or something like
that. IIRC it looks for SkyMap only in one particular place on the disk. I
could be wrong though. :)


----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Wilson" <plw@...>


> Has anyone had any luck getting the DSV Link Bridge for SkyMap Pro to
> work with SkyMap Pro 7? I had it working under SMP6, but can't get it
> going with SMP7.

>
>
>

Hi Jeffrey,

You're absolutely correct. Installing SMP7 to the old "SkyMap Pro 6"
directory did the trick. Still can't launch SMP with the "link
bridge" voice command or button, but once it's going it works fine.

Paul


--- In ap-gto@egroups.com, "Jeffrey D. Gortatowsky" <mrrockets@h...>
wrote:
> I think you may have to rename the directory SkyMap Pro 6 or
something like
> that. IIRC it looks for SkyMap only in one particular place on the
disk. I
> could be wrong though. :)
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Paul Wilson" <plw@w...>
>
>
> > Has anyone had any luck getting the DSV Link Bridge for SkyMap
Pro to
> > work with SkyMap Pro 7? I had it working under SMP6, but can't
get it
> > going with SMP7.
>
> >
> >
> >

I noticeed quite few of members of the group with c-14 on GOTO 1200
mount. I want to mount old (1986) Rolands F/8 refractor on top of C-14
using Ken Dauzat rings,I would like to share experince with someone
who has tried this combination in past. I just received new mount 8
weeks ago. I plan to use in in subzero winter weather in the
observatory. Any fear of oxidation of metallic bearings etc. or damge
to motors or electronics if left out side in the observatory for
prolonged periods? Thanks for the input. Mahesh Yadav

According to my copy of the A-P Mafia Code Book (published in 1999), no one
is allowed to place non A-P OTAs atop A-P GTO mounts (sec. IV, subparagraph
2). The Code also states that the punishment for disobeying this rule is
swift and severe. ~8^)



From: <YADAV@...>
> I noticeed quite few of members of the group with c-14 on GOTO 1200
> mount. I want to mount old (1986) Rolands F/8 refractor on top of C-14
> using Ken Dauzat rings,I would like to share experince with someone
> who has tried this combination in past. I just received new mount 8
> weeks ago. I plan to use in in subzero winter weather in the
> observatory. Any fear of oxidation of metallic bearings etc. or damge
> to motors or electronics if left out side in the observatory for
> prolonged periods? Thanks for the input. Mahesh Yadav

We and several of our customers have 1200 mounts in remote operated
observatories that are exposed to the full range of temperatures and
conditions.  No problem.  Roland does advise if you are putting the 1200
into a permanent installation that you lightly oil the mating aluminum
surfaces so they don't stick together from the inevitable minor
corrosion.

John Menke
Technical Innovations
www.homedome.com

YADAV@... wrote:
>
> I noticeed quite few of members of the group with c-14 on GOTO 1200
> mount. I want to mount old (1986) Rolands F/8 refractor on top of C-14
> using Ken Dauzat rings,I would like to share experince with someone
> who has tried this combination in past. I just received new mount 8
> weeks ago. I plan to use in in subzero winter weather in the
> observatory. Any fear of oxidation of metallic bearings etc. or damge
> to motors or electronics if left out side in the observatory for
> prolonged periods? Thanks for the input. Mahesh Yadav

Anyone know the status of the new software/hardware for the apgto?
thanks Scott

Hi Scott,  From what Roland has stated (In recent earlier posts on this forum).
all new mounts are shipping with the new eeprom chip in the Servo-Motor
Controller.

Very soon, AP states that they will have the feature of uploading any future
upgrades for the hand controller directly from thier website.
If you have an "Older GTO Mount", and wish to have this new chip installed, I
recommend that you contact AP directly, and make arrangements with them for the
chip upgrade.  Mark

> According to my copy of the A-P Mafia Code Book (published in 1999), no one
> is allowed to place non A-P OTAs atop A-P GTO mounts (sec. IV, subparagraph
> 2).

But wait - how do I file for an exemption?  Roland doesn't make 16" reflec-
tors.

And anyway, the dog ate my copy of the code book, so I can plead ignorance,
right?




> The Code also states that the punishment for disobeying this rule is
> swift and severe. ~8^)

But wait - I'm on the *waiting list* for an A-P OTA; *surely* that counts
as a mitigating circumstance?

I can do nothing but throw myself on the mercy of the court!

Wait!  WAIT!  Can't we talk this over??   AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!



Terry R. Friedrichsen

terry@...

What is the latest version of this chip  2.06 or 3.0 etc.?  How can you tell
if you have the latest ver?

Andy


Hi Scott,  From what Roland has stated (In recent earlier posts on this
forum). all new mounts are shipping with the new eeprom chip in the
Servo-Motor Controller.

Hi Andy,  I don't have my 1200 manual down here in Florida, but I believe the
latest version is v2.06

I think Roland, and Marj will be away till after the New Year to confirm this. 
mark

Thanks guys, Roland had said they were going to be ready to ship the
new chips for the older units soon but that was about 6 weeks ago so
I was just checking to see what the status was, I will wait and email
them after the first of the year. Thanks Scott

--- In ap-gto@egroups.com, "Mark D'Ambrosio" <markdambrosio@w...>
wrote:
> Hi Andy,  I don't have my 1200 manual down here in Florida, but I
believe the latest version is v2.06
>
> I think Roland, and Marj will be away till after the New Year to
confirm this.  mark

As far as I know the only way to get around this law is to by a
parallax mount with the ap gto. Scott
--- In ap-gto@egroups.com, "Terry R. Friedrichsen" <terry@v...> wrote:
>
> > According to my copy of the A-P Mafia Code Book (published in
1999), no one
> > is allowed to place non A-P OTAs atop A-P GTO mounts (sec. IV,
subparagraph
> > 2).
>
> But wait - how do I file for an exemption?  Roland doesn't make 16"
reflec-
> tors.
>
> And anyway, the dog ate my copy of the code book, so I can plead
ignorance,
> right?
>
>
>
>
> > The Code also states that the punishment for disobeying this rule
is
> > swift and severe. ~8^)
>
> But wait - I'm on the *waiting list* for an A-P OTA; *surely* that
counts
> as a mitigating circumstance?
>
> I can do nothing but throw myself on the mercy of the court!
>
> Wait!  WAIT!  Can't we talk this over??
AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!
>
>
>
> Terry R. Friedrichsen
>
> terry@v...

Coupla quick questions...

While waiting for my hand controller to return from the AP Doctor I tried
hooking up DSV to the 400GTO using a Dell Latitude CPi running Win98, but
never got the two to connect. Does one need a null modem cable? I was using
a straight through RS-232 cable which means the mount would need to reverse
send and receive. And does one need the hand controller? I thought the whole
setup routine and polar alignment routine, yada, yada, yada, could be done
without it. Finally what the baud rate at power up of the mount?

PS: If I missed these in the manual, just e-kick me in the e-butt and tell
me to go back and RTFM more closely.

Thanks,
Jeff

Do you know if  a 1200GTO shipped in late September would have the latest
chip?

Dan Knauss

----- Original Message -----
From: Andrew E. Forsberg <forsberg@...>
To: <ap-gto@egroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 26, 2000 9:21 AM
Subject: RE: [ap-gto] Re: new software chips


>
> What is the latest version of this chip  2.06 or 3.0 etc.?  How can you
tell
> if you have the latest ver?
>
> Andy
>
>
> Hi Scott,  From what Roland has stated (In recent earlier posts on this
> forum). all new mounts are shipping with the new eeprom chip in the
> Servo-Motor Controller.
>
>
>
>
>
>

Jeff,


--- "Jeffrey D. Gortatowsky" <jgortatows@...>
wrote:
> Coupla quick questions...
>
> While waiting for my hand controller to return from
> the AP Doctor I tried
> hooking up DSV to the 400GTO using a Dell Latitude
> CPi running Win98, but
> never got the two to connect. Does one need a null
> modem cable? I was using
> a straight through RS-232 cable which means the
> mount would need to reverse
> send and receive.

The straight through DB-9 Cable should work perfectly
fine. I would check your Baud rate, and settings in
DSV & Windows. Also, check your cable, you could have
a defective cable, although unlikely.

> And does one need the hand
> controller? I thought the whole
> setup routine and polar alignment routine, yada,
> yada, yada, could be done
> without it. Finally what the baud rate at power up
> of the mount?

To align the mount without the hand controller using
DSV: you start up DSV, link to the mount, manually
move the scope to a known star, like Rigel, tell DSV
that you are pointing to Rigel, then tell DSV to find
Polaris, and do you Alt AZ adjustments on Polaris.
Then you slew back to Rigel, and center the star and
have DSV Calibrate on it. And repeat as  required,
just like you would do with the hand controller.

I hope this helps,

Tim

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/

Was wondering if anyone has a 10 pounder they want to get rid of?
Contact me via private email at chris@....

Chris Anderson

I'm new to your group and considering the purchase of an AP-1200
Mount.  I have been unable to find any data on the pointing accuracy
or guiding accuracy when using common CCD cameras such as the SBIG ST-
7,8,9 etc.  Does anyone have any first hand data they would share on
pointing accuracy with or without the use of pointing programs such
as T-Point and data on guiding using a CCD camera?  Any data and
comments are appreciated.

Gary Vander Haagen
Gray Dunes Observatory, Michigan

Pointing depends on orthoganility of your OTA on the mount and polar
alignment to name but a few, but the accuracy can be very good indeed,
such that an object is on the chip every time.

Periodic error is very low at 4 arc secs peak to peak for my AP1200. You
can see some results from my Web page quoted below..

Adrian


In message <92no65+k7qm@eGroups.com>, twocat@... writes
>I'm new to your group and considering the purchase of an AP-1200
>Mount.  I have been unable to find any data on the pointing accuracy
>or guiding accuracy when using common CCD cameras such as the SBIG ST-
>7,8,9 etc.  Does anyone have any first hand data they would share on
>pointing accuracy with or without the use of pointing programs such
>as T-Point and data on guiding using a CCD camera?  Any data and
>comments are appreciated.
>
>Gary Vander Haagen
>Gray Dunes Observatory, Michigan
>
>
>
>

Adrian Catterall, CCD astronomer
email: Catterall@...
Visit my Web page at: http://www.observatory.demon.co.uk
Guilden Morden
Hertfordshire
U.K.

I have a 1200 mount with a 6in. f12 and ST7.

With moderate attention to orthogonality and scope alignment, I get
about 3-4 a-min pointing accuracy (this is the max error) at all parts
of the sky.  If I worked at it, my impression is that this could be
knocked down to 2-3 a-min. without too much trouble.  Of course, it is
also easy to goto a local target, resynch, then move to the object of
interest.  If T-p[oint or something similar is used, one should be able
to do better than that.  My uncorrected tracking is 3 a-sec peak to
peak.

Using the ST7 guide chip, I regularly track with a precision of well
under 0.5 pixel (roughly 1 a-s at f12).  Combining images is easy--all
you do as add them (no alignment issues).  I have done many  2-4 hours
of ten minute exposures at either f12 or f22 with all round stars.

John menke
Technical Innovations



twocat@... wrote:
>
> I'm new to your group and considering the purchase of an AP-1200
> Mount.  I have been unable to find any data on the pointing accuracy
> or guiding accuracy when using common CCD cameras such as the SBIG ST-
> 7,8,9 etc.  Does anyone have any first hand data they would share on
> pointing accuracy with or without the use of pointing programs such
> as T-Point and data on guiding using a CCD camera?  Any data and
> comments are appreciated.
>
> Gary Vander Haagen
> Gray Dunes Observatory, Michigan

Hi Gary,
I have an AP-1200 that is semi-permanently mounted. With reasonably
accurate polar alignment and good OTA orthogonality, I get about +-2.5
arc-min over most of the sky. With T-point, I get 10 to 20 arc-sec rms over
the whole sky.

Richard

At 04:51 PM 12/31/2000 +0000, you wrote:
>I'm new to your group and considering the purchase of an AP-1200
>Mount.  I have been unable to find any data on the pointing accuracy
>or guiding accuracy when using common CCD cameras such as the SBIG ST-
>7,8,9 etc.  Does anyone have any first hand data they would share on
>pointing accuracy with or without the use of pointing programs such
>as T-Point and data on guiding using a CCD camera?  Any data and
>comments are appreciated.
>
>Gary Vander Haagen
>Gray Dunes Observatory, Michigan