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Post by davy on Apr 25, 2020 8:55:02 GMT
Will start this project next. So what is the project,, and the azgti can be operated via its own WiFi and app, For me it's about getting more control of my kit,, but in this case keep it portable,, my goal,, to sit in my warm car and do astronomy without freezing my nuts off, yes it has been done,, I've used an android tablet with the skywatcher app,, had a USB repeater cable through the window and connected to the camera,, diving in and out setting up focus ect,, and it's a shambles,, weather wise we need to use every available bit of dark and clear sky as possible.. The answer,, streamline the kit and technique. My plan is coming together using the lattepanda,, My mount,, obviously the azgti,, but it's doable with any mount in principle. Most folk have used the wedge from the star adventurer set up and changed the azgti to an eqgti ( I like that name 😁, it's a keeper lol) My idea is to hard wire the eqgti to the panda Cable available from first light optics and if you read descriptions,, you find this link t the drivers, www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htmNow my thinking is that if I use cartes du ciel I can then use the eqgti with it,, How cool would that be,, a portable rig,, remote desktop to me setting in warm car,, laptop controlling eqgti, electric focuser, and camera, Now with a bit of individual ingenuity,, most of kit and wiring could be scope mounted for quick assembly and disassemble. But that's the plan for my eqgti
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Post by Dragon Man on Apr 25, 2020 10:51:41 GMT
Sounds great Davy Now, if you bought a cheap Van you could set up a proper control room in the back with a big heater running, little kitchen to make coffee, etc etc
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Post by davy on Apr 25, 2020 10:55:55 GMT
Sounds great Davy Now, if you bought a cheap Van you could set up a proper control room in the back with a big heater running, little kitchen to make coffee, etc etc Uncle John getting camper van back soon 😂.. Had to laugh unc John has had a few tranni vans,, good auld days,, had the outline of concorde painted on roof of one,,,
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Post by davy on Apr 26, 2020 12:54:12 GMT
Had a look at bank account and said,, food or new cable 😂 Ordered the cable,, www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-cables-leads-accessories/lynx-astro-ftdi-eqdir-usb-adapter-for-sky-watcher-az-gti-mounts.htmlGives me a couple of days to play around with the az gti and get it into the eq gti 😁... First snag,, my az gti needs the firmware updated to make it eqmod compatible. Downloaded installer and the right hand operation or something firmware. Put windows synscan app on laptop,, connected,, run the up date but said,, Motors not found,
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Post by davy on May 1, 2020 12:57:03 GMT
Cable arrived just before lunchtime and I fired up the windows 10 laptop, downloaded the motor software installer and flashed the azgti to the new az or eq system. Went OK.. Restarted and now have option of az or eq mod from synscan windows app
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Post by davy on May 1, 2020 12:58:28 GMT
Downloading and installing cartes du ciel version 4.3 to Windows 10 laptop
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Post by davy on May 1, 2020 14:05:42 GMT
Got all the software sorted out and tested the az gti with the cable to laptop and working from cdc, Rigged the az gti to the panda via the cable from first light optics,, set up tight vnc on my windows 10 laptop,, set eqmod to comm 7 in my case And we know have an eq gti or eq panda.. Oh yes,, this is brilliant,, Can now sit the eq gti outside the car and control everything via desktop, on my laptop from the car,, yeees,, result
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Post by davy on May 1, 2020 14:47:32 GMT
Have telescope control on desktop but no gito/ slew to target on cdc,, One to figure out 😢
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Post by davy on May 1, 2020 15:23:57 GMT
Can't figure out why it won't slew in cdc,, I do get an overflow message on telescope connection,, but this is documented in Sgl by folk. I loaded in synscan,, changed connection to serial and works fine in the app,, I can live with this,, still have telescope control and all software I want to use from the laptop,, looks like an eqmod problem
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Post by davy on May 1, 2020 21:13:28 GMT
Went through it to best of my ability, and in my opinion it's a command that's missing to switch the scope on in cdc,, I have it set up like guys on cloudy nights, synscan and all astronomy software running off laptop and remotely,, just no cdc, I can live with this,, will work brilliant for a grab n go bit of kit, I ran through set up procedure a few times and it's very easy,,, connect mount az or eq,, star align,, slew to target, start capture program and elec focus,, set up 5 min if that
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Post by davy on May 2, 2020 8:11:30 GMT
Well I wasn't the first to get the azgti working the way I have,, seems I came late to the party a guy on Sgl said,, must have missed his posts on the subject, Well I've done it and posted my findings and for me that's what it's all about,, Progressing astronomy,, Just waiting on the case to house the panda,, buy a new jump starter pack to power it, make a new power cable and I can have a good next season being portable.
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