SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

So yesterday was the day, FINALLY!
I had called Losmandy Wednesday for the second time this week to ask if I could come to the factory and buy a new mount. They had been in Great Britain at a show and had returned Sunday. Just thinking of the plane ride makes my butt numb! So they had a lot of catching up to do.
Tanya must have been able to hear the desperation in my voice. She said when Scott got in she'd ask him if they could put together a mount for me ASAP, for pick-up at the factory. And she would call back within the hour. She did, and he did say he would. She had set aside their last EX12 extension for my order (Houston, we are going semi-pier configuration here)
I called Friday at 11 AM and she told me it was ready, and she was packing it up. A fellow I met on the Losmandy groups who lives about 15 miles the other way wanted to do a meet and greet at Losmandy.
So I messaged him I'd be there at 1 PM to do the deed.
Scott Losmandy's reputation proceeds him as one who really takes care of his customers. But in person it is even more cordial.
I was shown my order and the extras I had ordered, and Tanya packed it into boxes for the trip home. Except for the HD tripod. It was a little big and heavy for little Tanya, so she asked Scott if he would mind putting it into the box. So I helped steady the box while Scott himself set the HD tripod in.
You know, you get a good feeling when you walk in and find a legend sitting at a bench building a side-by-side mounting plate for a customer, and making sure everything works smooth and is exactly the way he wants his products delivered. Perfect. Tanya told me he personally checks and tests every item they sell.
No picture - didn't happen. Brian (yep, another Brian) from the Losmandy Users Group wanted to take a picture. I guess it isn't everyday somebody has the audacity to drive right up to the factory and pick one up. Well, I'm that exception, and the guy who asks a lot of questions, never afraid to open my mouth and remove all doubt that I'm an idiot. Maybe my questions helps those who wouldn't ask.

OK, sorry, off rambling as is typical for me.
Got home and was able to unbox and assemble in our presently empty dining room. Fairly simple task. Started at 2:30 and was done and placed out back well before sundown.
I mounted the Old Reliable ED80T CF on it's 12" Vixen bar. But found it couldn't be adjusted to anywhere near balanced. (I want this to be as good as I can get it.) So back into the house to see if I could transfer my telescope to the new DUP14 D-style bar. That went very smoothly because Scott's Dad taught him that when you make something, give it lots of holes. That give the customer lots of Options.
Options I really appreciate, too. I was able to get a much more perfect balance.
And the 11 pound weight works fine for the Peashooter. The old mount never did with it's 11 pound weight. The weight ran into the ALT adjuster because it had to be so high.

O...K... time to power things up and see how she runs! Well, that was totally uneventful.
The RA and Dec Motor/Encoders are [u]very[/i] quiet, just a light wirr. And it is what we in the electrical field call a "Soft Start" where the power gradually brings the driven up gently. No Jerking here!
I got side tracked taking my old harness apart to rearrange my cables for the revamped Mount. By the time I got done with that undertaking it was well dark and Polaris was easier to see. I managed to turn the mount tripod, and get old Polaris in the Red Dot. Then opened up PHD2 and centering Polaris was a whole new realm of easy. Amazingly easy. (OH, Good Feeling!)
OK. So this is a whole new way to me of operation. So I follow along on the Quick Start Guide and do the steps. The mount almost bulls-eyes Aldebaran, I center it up learning the touch of the buttons on the screen. When I get to the last step I'm greeted with "Your Gemini 2 is now ready for an evening of viewing." Wait! I only did a single star! What sorcery is this? A One Star Alignment, impossible!
Oh yeah... not only possible, but accurate. So I fumble bumbled with the catalogs and realized how inadequate my budding star knowledge is. So I went to Solar System and picked Venus. I could see Venus.
And told it to Go-To Venus. whirr and I was seeing Venus nearly centered in the Guide scope view.

Now, this wasn't happening as fast as it appears. I was letting things "soak" for a long time while I was futzing around with my old cable bundle digging for my long USB cable, and separating the old mount power lead. I'd obviously out done myself with Spiral Wrap.
This was running on Unguided, and seeing how well the Gemini 2 was doing on its own, on a 1 Star alignment. I was blown away how it tracks. Absolute precision just visually.
I had some difficulty with the Infinity program and Stellarium. Seemed they were fighting each other. So I tried some of my old tricks of excersizing the plugs, and restarting, and got things going Infinity camera first.
From Venus, who sank into the neighbors trees, I went to Uranus and centered it up. Then let the mount stay there while I fiddled around. Finally I was happy with the Camera. By this time I'm cold and miserable, so I checked the address of Tight Vnc and headed into the warmth of the house. Burr!

Inside, everything WiFi'd up into old familiar screens and controls, except Stellarium. Well, if I am anything, I'm tenacious. Finally, down in Stellarium's bowels, I see there is COM3, and another choice, COM7. Well, nothing else was working, so tried COM7. I already had other settings aimed at Losmandy as my telescope, I was overjoyed when I closed the Config screen and there was the bullseye by Uranus on the Stellarium display. YESSS!

So I went hunting, Trifid Nebula showed up in the Eastward meridian and I chose it. OK, moment of truth, when I tell Stellarium to go-to the target will it slew? Oh yeah, it slewed!
It came from aiming are Uranus, down across the Zenith, over the North Meridian, and right to the Trifid. I couldn't see the Trifid in my cameras picture, but my triumph was that the new mount was working, taking my computer commands, and slewing as directed.
Next I hopped over to the California Nebula, another success!

Absolutely a first light success right out of the boxes! By 10:30 PM I was exhausted! All the excitement and successes of the day caught up with me, so I began bringing in the gear. I went out bundled up with one of my knit hats Betty had made me and my headlight and began my break down.
This... is Astrophotography the way I had imagined. The way I had dreamed. And it is only going to get better from here on out.
I also grabbed on of Losmandy's DVCM's. My idea is to mount my DSLR under the front of the D-bar for an additional view. Maybe adding my Tamron lens for additional images from a different angle. It does under mount just as I had imagined.

Oh and that picture... Me, over the Moon. If it breaks your display it's not my fault.
By Brian Valente Photography Thank You Brian V. for capturing the moment!

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

[quote=SonnyE]So yesterday was the day, FINALLY!
I had called Losmandy Wednesday for the second time this week to ask if I could come to the factory and buy a new mount. They had been in Great Britain at a show and had returned Sunday. Just thinking of the plane ride makes my butt numb! So they had a lot of catching up to do.
Tanya must have been able to hear the desperation in my voice. She said when Scott got in she'd ask him if they could put together a mount for me ASAP, for pick-up at the factory. And she would call back within the hour. She did, and he did say he would. She had set aside their last EX12 extension for my order (Houston, we are going semi-pier configuration here)
I called Friday at 11 AM and she told me it was ready, and she was packing it up. A fellow I met on the Losmandy groups who lives about 15 miles the other way wanted to do a meet and greet at Losmandy.
So I messaged him I'd be there at 1 PM to do the deed.
Scott Losmandy's reputation proceeds him as one who really takes care of his customers. But in person it is even more cordial.
I was shown my order and the extras I had ordered, and Tanya packed it into boxes for the trip home. Except for the HD tripod. It was a little big and heavy for little Tanya, so she asked Scott if he would mind putting it into the box. So I helped steady the box while Scott himself set the HD tripod in.
You know, you get a good feeling when you walk in and find a legend sitting at a bench building a side-by-side mounting plate for a customer, and making sure everything works smooth and is exactly the way he wants his products delivered. Perfect. Tanya told me he personally checks and tests every item they sell.
No picture - didn't happen. Brian (yep, another Brian) from the Losmandy Users Group wanted to take a picture. I guess it isn't everyday somebody has the audacity to drive right up to the factory and pick one up. Well, I'm that exception, and the guy who asks a lot of questions, never afraid to open my mouth and remove all doubt that I'm an idiot. Maybe my questions helps those who wouldn't ask.

OK, sorry, off rambling as is typical for me.
Got home and was able to unbox and assemble in our presently empty dining room. Fairly simple task. Started at 2:30 and was done and placed out back well before sundown.
I mounted the Old Reliable ED80T CF on it's 12" Vixen bar. But found it couldn't be adjusted to anywhere near balanced. (I want this to be as good as I can get it.) So back into the house to see if I could transfer my telescope to the new DUP14 D-style bar. That went very smoothly because Scott's Dad taught him that when you make something, give it lots of holes. That give the customer lots of Options.
Options I really appreciate, too. I was able to get a much more perfect balance.
And the 11 pound weight works fine for the Peashooter. The old mount never did with it's 11 pound weight. The weight ran into the ALT adjuster because it had to be so high.

O...K... time to power things up and see how she runs! Well, that was totally uneventful.
The RA and Dec Motor/Encoders are [u]very[/i] quiet, just a light wirr. And it is what we in the electrical field call a "Soft Start" where the power gradually brings the driven up gently. No Jerking here!
I got side tracked taking my old harness apart to rearrange my cables for the revamped Mount. By the time I got done with that undertaking it was well dark and Polaris was easier to see. I managed to turn the mount tripod, and get old Polaris in the Red Dot. Then opened up PHD2 and centering Polaris was a whole new realm of easy. Amazingly easy. (OH, Good Feeling!)
OK. So this is a whole new way to me of operation. So I follow along on the Quick Start Guide and do the steps. The mount almost bulls-eyes Aldebaran, I center it up learning the touch of the buttons on the screen. When I get to the last step I'm greeted with "Your Gemini 2 is now ready for an evening of viewing." Wait! I only did a single star! What sorcery is this? A One Star Alignment, impossible!
Oh yeah... not only possible, but accurate. So I fumble bumbled with the catalogs and realized how inadequate my budding star knowledge is. So I went to Solar System and picked Venus. I could see Venus.
And told it to Go-To Venus. whirr and I was seeing Venus nearly centered in the Guide scope view.

Now, this wasn't happening as fast as it appears. I was letting things "soak" for a long time while I was futzing around with my old cable bundle digging for my long USB cable, and separating the old mount power lead. I'd obviously out done myself with Spiral Wrap.
This was running on Unguided, and seeing how well the Gemini 2 was doing on its own, on a 1 Star alignment. I was blown away how it tracks. Absolute precision just visually.
I had some difficulty with the Infinity program and Stellarium. Seemed they were fighting each other. So I tried some of my old tricks of excersizing the plugs, and restarting, and got things going Infinity camera first.
From Venus, who sank into the neighbors trees, I went to Uranus and centered it up. Then let the mount stay there while I fiddled around. Finally I was happy with the Camera. By this time I'm cold and miserable, so I checked the address of Tight Vnc and headed into the warmth of the house. Burr!

Inside, everything WiFi'd up into old familiar screens and controls, except Stellarium. Well, if I am anything, I'm tenacious. Finally, down in Stellarium's bowels, I see there is COM3, and another choice, COM7. Well, nothing else was working, so tried COM7. I already had other settings aimed at Losmandy as my telescope, I was overjoyed when I closed the Config screen and there was the bullseye by Uranus on the Stellarium display. YESSS!

So I went hunting, Trifid Nebula showed up in the Eastward meridian and I chose it. OK, moment of truth, when I tell Stellarium to go-to the target will it slew? Oh yeah, it slewed!
It came from aiming are Uranus, down across the Zenith, over the North Meridian, and right to the Trifid. I couldn't see the Trifid in my cameras picture, but my triumph was that the new mount was working, taking my computer commands, and slewing as directed.
Next I hopped over to the California Nebula, another success!

Absolutely a first light success right out of the boxes! By 10:30 PM I was exhausted! All the excitement and successes of the day caught up with me, so I began bringing in the gear. I went out bundled up with one of my knit hats Betty had made me and my headlight and began my break down.
This... is Astrophotography the way I had imagined. The way I had dreamed. And it is only going to get better from here on out.
I also grabbed on of Losmandy's DVCM's. My idea is to mount my DSLR under the front of the D-bar for an additional view. Maybe adding my Tamron lens for additional images from a different angle. It does under mount just as I had imagined.

Oh and that picture... Me, over the Moon. If it breaks your display it's not my fault.
By Brian Valente Photography Thank You Brian V. for capturing the moment! [/quote]



Good deal!

Waiting for some images. Now!

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Hi Don!
The Super Moon as my camera blinking it's eye. Getting images but not worth saving, yet. Almost can't see the stars right now.
Learning to run the new mount, which is really no bad at all. It just takes me learning the new routines.

But in two short nights I've learned this is going to be great! Not some patented routine. I choose bright stars and build the alignment.
The first night I did a one star alignment, then centered up the object.
The mount tracks nearly flawlessly on it's own. Add PHD2 guiding and it's rock solid.
But last night I did a five star alignment and had my objects well centered. But I was randomly picking stars from Stellarium. It dawned on me to try using the list available in the Gemini controller. So the next time I will be more versed in things, instead of being a bear cub about it.
But I have everything working between the mount and computer. Just need more actual user skills. And a few good nights....

Today, until Tuesday is clouds, then two nights of possibilities, and more clouds. Sigh! Such is spring here! We've had enough rain to see "green velvet" on the hillsides. Probably be a good brush fire season this fall.

But I have a lot of Hummingbirds wintering over. Anna's and Allan's, but they have interbred too, and some really pretty results.
NOT MY PICTURE, but this is a lot like what I'm seeing. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/assets/photo/65775931-1280px.jpg

People tell us they have never seen so many Hummingbirds in one place before. A short time ago one landed on the 8 YO grandson's finger. He was over the Moon thrilled about it!
Hope you are having a milder winter there.
Good to hear from you!

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Some of the pics from astrophotography are stunning, and have me getting interested. I used to have a telescope decades ago, but never for photography. It sounds interesting and I am sure it is challenging! And can be an expensive hobby I bet :)

As for hummingbirds, we only get Ruby Throated around here, and 3 at once is the most I have seen at the feeders, but we still place em out and fill em up. We have seen adults and youngsters, and they stayed around till the last minute last year. They pretty much had a routine everyday, hit the feeders, fly off around the house then come back to the feeders and off again around the house. At least they make it easy to predict and get pictures. ;)

I have had them fly by close - sounds like a jet engine! Never had one land on my hand yet .... maybe one day.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Ya know Don, it is expensive to begin AP, because you need to get the equipment. So it's a chunk of change.
But when you finally begin seeing up close what you could never see before, well, there's the thrill of it.
And if you have ever done any Macro Photography, or Microscopic, Space is a lot like that.
Just takes a good telescope, ED Triplets, and now there are quad lens telescopes. I break things down into real simple, The telescope is the lens. Simple as that. The better that lens, the better it goes.
But more important is the Mount, and easily the biggest part of the equation because it is the foundation of all upon it.
I had a very bad experience with my first mount. But it forced me to learn and work on my ability to figure out how to do better. From that bad experience, I looked for better and found out Losmandy was about 21 miles from my home. One man, doing one thing, most of his life. Machining his mounts from solid blocks of aluminum. Not a single piece of cast in them (except the weight, I guess). And Anodized, not paint anywhere.
I came in thinking I could use my DSLR as my camera, and I have, but even before I started I realized I'd soon wear out my DSLR at the rate I was going. So I looked into real Astro cameras. No moving parts (unless it is force cooled and has a tiny micro fan), electronic shutters.
But bwa has some amazing images from a Sony a7xxx camera. To me, that gives a two-fold camera, Astro as well as Terra Firma. It has this unworldly ASI setting that captures the night skies. (I'm always looking for ways to utilize what I buy beyond the original intent.)
If you should desire to look into Astrophotography, there is an amazing wealth of knowledge here with these guys.

I haven't had any of my Hummers land on me, either. But the babies will fly right up and look me in the eye. I just talk to them softly, and enjoy their flashing of their neck plumage. Even watched a couple of courting sessions.
You're doing fine. I'm glad to hear you have some established. Chances are they will bring others as time goes by. We've become a migratory watering hole, and have times of very large numbers and go through a gallon a day or more.
It takes time for them to grow into a flock (if that even applies. LOL! ). But the food (nectar) is the key. I mix a generous quart of Sugar in a gallon of filtered water. (Under sink drinking water filter system.)
The fun part is catching them with the camera. They stay awfully busy.
And yes, a jet engine. I've had territorial males do a scream-by. Not often, but sometimes a male does this high speed dive than makes a shrieking sound. Puts your teeth on edge like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Thanks Sonny, will keep that in mind. Look forward to some great images from your setup. Hopefully you get some clear skies soon!

BTW - I mix in plenty of sugar for the nectar as well. Gotta keep em happy ya know!

If I ever jump into astrophotography, will be sure to bug you for advice ;)

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

I would be honored if you asked.

I'm not worthy.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

OK, I think I'm ready for show and tell.

Personally, it scares me to have wires dangle from a moving mount. And especially if I'm not there to pay attention, like when I'm remotely operating from the house.
So I use a product I found in the 1970's called Spiral Wrap to bundle the wiring and tidy things up. (Although sometimes it still appears a mess)
And yes, for the first time in history I have perfect balance.

Pictures are worth a thousand words...

The whole enchilada. Two wires, USB from the Hub, and 12 volt power for everything.

(Download)

Only 4 wires to connect/disconnect and the telescope can be removed.

(Download)

The Gemini 2 Mini. Yep, it's all there. 4 wires.

(Download)

A slightly different view of the top.

(Download)

My solution to "where do I put this?" Velcro Sticky Dots. Fits right between the machined leg brackets. This is the back of the controller, The front is a touch screen that runs all the features, as well directional buttons.

(Download)

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

Looks like Life is Good now. Have fun with the new mount.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

The new GM811GHD is a monster! I got the 12" extension to make it Pier like. The legs are fully retracted.
My little telescope perched on top looks small.
I'm still working things out with the wiring, gotta test the motions.

But one thing I'm pleased with (amounst too many to list) is it Soft Starts the motors. This is built in so the mount never jerks to life, but gently ramps up the power to the motors.
And it has an entirely different move in Stellarium.
The AVX would over-shoot, then correct. Not so with this, it gently travels and slows as it bullseyes the target.
Alignment is an entirely new routine to me. But given time, I'm figuring that out.
Between the Super Moon, and our spring rains, just playing indoors for now.

Europa Loc: West Hills, CA

Holy moly. That looks great. Looks too good to take outside, you better pack it back up 😂🤣😂🤣😂

I really like the look of the Losmandy. Now if the wind will go away you can break it in. Looking forward to your first pix, let me guess your favorite target.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Thanks Brian!
I agree, the fit and finish is a work of art.
The performance is stellar as well.
I'm figuring out how to run it, quite different than the old mount. Different routine.

I decided to get the 12" extension to make mine more pier like. It still has the extendable legs, but haven't used them other than for leveling.
I'll be out there tonight, Supposed to be decent weather, winds down, sky clear, Moon glaring...

As much as I'm trying to avoid it, I'm considering a Pole Master. Looks like my daze of leaving my mount set up is over. The CFO sez to bring it in the house, it was way too expensive to leave it out.
Well, OK, so it's a house decoration part of the time.

Europa Loc: West Hills, CA

Don’t blame the boss, I wouldn’t leave it out. I’m surprised Ed leaves his out with all of that ungodly humidity he has.

Have fun playing around!

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

WHOA! Now your talking! Unfortunately, I guess you know you are in for 30 straight cloudy nights....it comes with every new mount! Congratulations on your new arrival!

stepping beyond Loc: usa eastcoast

Awesome Sonny , now that's "Cooking with grease" . I don't think your going to need an autoguider with that much mount. HAHA ! I hope you know a good chiropractor or is MAMA going to let you build an observatory for it ? All kidding aside , I hope you get the most that the GM8 can deliver.