Connecting ASiair Plus to Losmandy Gemini 1

cpl42

I own an older Losdmandy G11 with an early version of Gemini (₁₂ years old). Normally, to connect a PC to the Gemini I need to connect to the RS232 port on the Gemini using a USB-RS232 adaptor cable and its appropriate dr. The Gemini also has a guider port which I haven't used as yet, but should take a self-guider output.

I was wondering if anyone has been successful in connecting an older Gemini to an ASiair Pro or Plus, and having it communicate and control the mount? I'd appreciate any other comments, but I suspect that I am looking at needing to upgrade the Gemini to #2.

cpl42

Well, this looks as if it has stumped the user community. Let me try to answer it.

I have just received, today, my ASiair Plus. I gradually worked out how to get it working: it really does need a camera connected and configured; you can't have just the mount connected. I first tested its operation using my Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro (definitely needs a baud rate of 115200) and all went according to the YouTube videos and the User Manual. I then swapped the USB cable to the EQ6 for the cable I have been using to connect the Gemini 1 to my PC. It took a good minute for the Gemini to be recognized but all looked good on the configuration page. The baud rate is 9600. I was able to slew to a target, then park the mount. My cable has a USB->Serial adapter that shows in Device Manager as 'ATEN USB to Serial Bridge'. I believe the ATEN adapters emulate 'Prolific' adapters.

This is only a brief test, and I will try to give it a more thorough work out over the next week. If I don't get back with an issue, assume that the ASiair Plus is performing quite adequately.

Clear skies, Paul.

cpl42

I thought it time to write an update on this issue. In the last 9 months I haven't pursued this issue as I have been busy with other tasks. Having now got my primary a.p. rig sorted out and productive, I have decided to get my "old" Losmandy G11 + Gemini 1 set up as a 2nd/backup rig. In the interim, the ASiair app has gone through a major upgrade.

I can report that ASiair app 2.1 connects to the G11/Gemini 1, and I am able to select a target and slew to it and track it. I'm awaiting a clear night so that I can run the gamut of activities (plate solving, focusing, polar alignment, guiding, image acquisition). The reason I am interested in pursuing the G11 is that it is more capable of working with my large refractor which weighs in at >16kg with everything installed and ready to go, than my primary mount.

Some notes that might be helpful for anyone trying to do similar:

My G11 is >10 years old and runs vers. 1 of the Gemini system.
The ASiair controls the Gem1 via a USB-Serial converter which appears in a PC's Device Manager as an 'ATEN USB to Serial Bridge (COMn)' under the Ports listing. The USB plug is connected to a USB 2 port on my ASiair Plus, the Serial cable plugs into the Gem1's 'RS-232' port.
It is handy to load up the Gem1's configuration beforehand with relevant data (if you have not already done this at a previous session with the Gem1). I find that it works best if you start up the Gem1, select 'Warm restart?' on the HBX (hence the relevant data preload), then wait until the display goes blank. Now, start up the ASiair, and it should recognize the Losmandy G11 mount immediately. (If you start the ASiair too early, the Gem1 isn't in a state where it can respond to external connections.)
Be aware that the Gem1/G11 needs to have at least 12V to operate successfully (13V+ is good!). I struck problems once the input voltage dropped below ₁₁.8V.

I will report my success or otherwise once I have run the full suite of facilities. I'm hopeful that I can achieve similar guiding response to my primary rig, but we will see.

Clear skies, Paul.

cpl42

Well, I've been able to use the ASiair v2.1 with my G11/Gemini 1 mount for pretty well all the normal actions, but there are two functions which don't work for me - hence this feedback.

Choosing the Park option under the Telescope icon results in the mount parking all right, but it never actually finishes in ASiair. You have to cancel the operation to get your screen back to usefulness, when it will report that parking was successful. Also, ASiair reports that the mount has stopped tracking, but in reality it is still rotating at sidereal rate. It appears that the Park function is not receiving the "Finished" response from the Gemini 1, whereas a Go operation does receive this.
Meridian Flip doesn't work at all in Autorun (I haven't tried Plan, but I can't see that it would be different). It gets to the imaging-stop point and waits for the time to do the flip, then it moves the RA a bit further westwards and the meridian flip dialogue just sits there expecting it to do its "thing", which doesn't happen. The only way around this is to cancel the meridian flip routine, select the Preview screen and use the functions there to move the mount to the opposite side of the Meridian (I used the Park function, then re-selected the target and performed a Go). Once centred and guiding is back working, you are good to resume the Autorun/Plan scheme. Sadly, this means you can't curl up in bed expecting to get all the results in the morning!!

I hope this helps someone else. Paul.

w7ay

cpl42 Meridian Flip doesn't work at all in Autorun

Right after every successful polar alignment, try homing the mount before doing anything else.

The reason is that the ASIAIR polar alignment process can change the pier side since it uses a slew command instead of a GOTO. Because it uses the slew command, the only time the pier side remains constant is for the starting and ending polar alignment locations to be on the same pier side.

A homing action usually makes the mount (most mounts anyway) regain the correct pier side.

Chen

cpl42

Thanks for this advice, Chen. I'm pretty sure that's what I did as it is my usual practice after a PA. But from now on, I'll make sure that I do this as part of my PA routine.

Thanks heaps, Chen. Your experience and knowledge is a great asset to this forum. Clear skies,
Paul.

cpl42

I believe I might have solved my failed Meridian flip issue.

The Losmandy Gemini 1 & 2 both allow for the setting of safety limits on RA slews and tracking. If you allow the mount to reach a limit, then control applications like ASiair will fail to do a M.f. If you stop tracking at/close to the Meridian, then issue a Meridian flip command before sufficient time has elapsed for the mount to have reached/exceeded the safety limit, then the mount will continue tracking without a M.f. after slewing to the current target position. If you issue the M.f. command AFTER the mount would have reached the safety limit, a M.f. will occur.

I have my East and West safety limits set at 92-deg., now - they were much more generous previously. I have my ASiair's AMF delay set at 10mins. I have tested this twice with good results. Unfortunately, I don't have a clear sky to do a full trial at present.

Note: IMPORTANT - If the delay time isn't long enough, tracking will continue without the M.f. occurring, causing the mount to reach and track beyond the safety limit - damage to equipment is likely to result.

Mikenewt1

I am just starting out on the same journey. Do you have to input all the data eg time, date cords. Before the ASAIR will recognise the Gemini .

cpl42

Mikenewt1 I initially connect to the G11 via the Gemini Control Centre L4 application running on a PC and sync the G11 to my PC - so, yes, I do enter all the relevant site data but make it easy on myself. Once synced I then connect the ASiair.

If you don't have the GCC application, it's well worth the licence fee - IMHO.

Paul.