--- Doug <doug@...> wrote:

> Paul,
>
> If you are in the US your 'UTC Offset' should be a negative number, same with
> the 'Longitude'.

Good point.  On the classic, Meade used the opposite of standard conventions
for these parameters to make them positive in the US.  If you're using those to
set the same parameters in SatTracker, make sure you know the difference.
For longitude, you can also use 360-(Meade's number).
You'll need to convert the Meade longitude from degrees and minutes to decimal
degrees.  The scope only shows lat and long to arcminute accuracy, so if you
can get your location to arcsecond precision from the GPS unit, use the full
precision value.  A 1' error in ground location will cause a many-arcminute
pointing error for a low (bright) satellite.

-John



____________________________________________________
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John Mahony wrote:

> --- Doug <doug@...> wrote:
>
> > Paul,
> >
> > If you are in the US your 'UTC Offset' should be a negative number,
> same with
> > the 'Longitude'.
>
> Good point.  On the classic, Meade used the opposite of standard
> conventions
> for these parameters to make them positive in the US.  If you're using
> those to
> set the same parameters in SatTracker, make sure you know the difference.
> For longitude, you can also use 360-(Meade's number).
> You'll need to convert the Meade longitude from degrees and minutes to
> decimal
> degrees.  The scope only shows lat and long to arcminute accuracy, so
> if you
> can get your location to arcsecond precision from the GPS unit, use
> the full
> precision value.  A 1' error in ground location will cause a
> many-arcminute
> pointing error for a low (bright) satellite.
>
> -John
>
Thanks for your reply John. The Lat/Long co-ords  I entered  into
Satellite Tracker seem ok as far as the program is concerned (ie the
position marker is drawn correctly on the  map). I took the co-ordinates
from this webpage:
http://www.lat-long.com/Ohio/Zanesville-Post-Office_1082329.html
I think I will just have to go out and try it again.

Paul

Kim,

Could you describe the erratic tracking in a little more detail? It
does take a minute or so sometimes for the scope to "hone" in on a
good tracking rate. It will continue to make small adjustments forward
and back during tracking. Or is it very erratic, like it would give
you a black eye if you tried to look in the eyepiece??

It will not be perfectly smooth as the current positions returned by
the  LX200GPS are not always perfect so Satellite Tracker trys to
compensate.

Brent


>     Hi Dick and thanks for answering
> I did train Drives and my backlash was and is set to %001 but no joy
>   Thanks   Kim

--- Paul Rix <paulrix@...> wrote:
> John Mahony wrote:
> >
> Thanks for your reply John. The Lat/Long co-ords  I entered  into
> Satellite Tracker seem ok as far as the program is concerned (ie the
> position marker is drawn correctly on the  map). I took the co-ordinates
> from this webpage:
> http://www.lat-long.com/Ohio/Zanesville-Post-Office_1082329.html
> I think I will just have to go out and try it again.

While this wouldn't explain why your scope was totally off, you'll need much
better lat/long accuracy than the nearest post office to get a satellite in the
FOV of the scope.  Like I said, a 1' (about 1 mile) error in your ground
location will cause many arcminutes pointing error for a low satellite.  Try
<http://topozone.com>, click your location on the world map, then on the right,
select "zoom" and click zoom-in (the + sign) to zoom in.  Lat/long will show on
the left as you move your cursor over the image.  Keep zooming in to get better
accuracy.

BTW do you know Tom Slater?  He's an engineer with a C11 who lives a bit north
of you near Adamsville, I think.  He put an ad in the Zanesville paper to see
if there was anyone in the area interested in starting an astronomy club, but
didn't get much response.  He's on the SCT-user yahoo group if you want to
contact him.

-John

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Hi Brent

The Telescope makes perfect intercepts of Satelite, making two or
three leap frog intercepts and then it tracks the satelite perfectly
for five seconds and then turns right. Not a fast turn that it wants
to give you a black eye but definently not tracking. Also it slows
down and speeds up.
                            Kim

--- In satellitetracker@yahoogroups.com, "Brent Boshart"
<brent@h...> wrote:
> Kim,
>
> Could you describe the erratic tracking in a little more detail? It
> does take a minute or so sometimes for the scope to "hone" in on a
> good tracking rate. It will continue to make small adjustments
forward
> and back during tracking. Or is it very erratic, like it would give
> you a black eye if you tried to look in the eyepiece??
>
> It will not be perfectly smooth as the current positions returned
by
> the  LX200GPS are not always perfect so Satellite Tracker trys to
> compensate.
>
> Brent
>
>
> >     Hi Dick and thanks for answering
> > I did train Drives and my backlash was and is set to %001 but no
joy
> >   Thanks   Kim

Thanks for the info John.   I managed to track down an email address for
Tom Slater and sent him a message.  As for Tracker.. well, I am going to
give it another go.  I now have accurate Lat/Long co-ordinates entered.
I don't think it was the problem in this case, but as you said, it would
help later with precise tracking.

Paul

Well, I fnally had some success!  I don't know what I did differently
that made all the difference, but I was able to track a Rocket body very
accurately with only minor adjustments.  I used a hand held GPS to get
my Lat/Long co-ords.  I forgot to take  my Joystick for corrections so I
just used the mouse.   I am very impressed.  Now I have to practice with
it until I can get the target on screen for my NexImage camera.  Maybe a
flip mirror would be a good idea.

Thanks for all the advice and pointers..

Paul

A guidescope is better.  Getting a fast moving object on a small chip like the
NexImage is tough.  Once you get it in the middle of the flip mirror view and
flip the mirror, you'd have to guide based on what you see on-screen.  That's
tricky because in a webcam view, the field is so small you rarely see a
background star, so it's hard to tell the direction of motion.  That's
important because the fine-tuning directions are along the dircetion of motion,
and perpendicular to it.  And during the pass, the direction of motion will
change relative to the chip.

-John


--- Paul Rix <paulrix@...> wrote:

> Well, I fnally had some success!  I don't know what I did differently
> that made all the difference, but I was able to track a Rocket body very
> accurately with only minor adjustments.  I used a hand held GPS to get
> my Lat/Long co-ords.  I forgot to take  my Joystick for corrections so I
> just used the mouse.   I am very impressed.  Now I have to practice with
> it until I can get the target on screen for my NexImage camera.  Maybe a
> flip mirror would be a good idea.
>
> Thanks for all the advice and pointers..
>
> Paul
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>


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Hi all,

Dont often post to the group as I'm not clever enough to do all this
computer tracking stuff , so always track by hand.....but I have updated my
website with a few recent videos

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/satcom_transits/jul10light.wmv

and

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/satcom_transits/March2005.html

Lx90 8 inch....toucam at prime focus......number one eyeball and a stack of
adrenalin  :O)

John

john, im curious as how you can manually track so well.
bryan





At 10:25 AM 7/14/2005 +0000, you wrote:
>There is 1 message in this issue.
>
>Topics in this digest:
>
>       1. Latest pics...
>            From: "satcom" <john@...>
>
>
>________________________________________________________________________
>________________________________________________________________________
>
>Message: 1
>    Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 10:02:50 -0000
>    From: "satcom" <john@...>
>Subject: Latest pics...
>
>Hi all,
>
>Dont often post to the group as I'm not clever enough to do all this
>computer tracking stuff , so always track by hand.....but I have updated my
>website with a few recent videos
>
>http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/satcom_transits/jul10light.wmv
>
>and
>
>http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/satcom_transits/March2005.html
>
>Lx90 8 inch....toucam at prime focus......number one eyeball and a stack of
>adrenalin  :O)
>
>John
>
>
>
>
>________________________________________________________________________
>________________________________________________________________________
>
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------

--- In satellitetracker@yahoogroups.com, bryan shirkey
<bshirkey@k...> wrote:
> john, im curious as how you can manually track so well.
> bryan

Well , I decided at an early stage that pc tracking wasnt for me.
being in the UK we get precious few good vis opportunities due to
weather , so I couldnt risk missing a good pass as a result of sw
malfunction , So I opted for manual tracking.

The trick is to make sure that your finderscope is 110% accurately
aligned with the OTA....and of course familiarise yourself with the
upside down mirror image presented by the finder.
Interstingly , after a while the brain gets used to that view and
tracking becomes second nature.

Out of an avi of say 2500 frames , Ican usually get 60-
100 plus useable images.

The biggest problem I have is that the LX90 seems to suffer a bit of
mirror shift as I track.....so if possible I set my focus on a high
elevation star.....so that at least the peak of the pass should be
nice and tightly focussed   :O)

Apart from that...its just point and shoot !

John

Trying to figure out why my scope wont track for more than 5sec.
It say's under gps scopes we need to level tripod. is that so with
automatic level that the gps scope has in alt-alzimuth?
                 Thanks Kim

For any scope that uses a 2-star alignment, levelling should not be critical.
It would only be needed for scopes where the computer attempts to point near
the initial alignment stars on its own.  For GPS scopes with an internal level,
it should be even less important.
-John


--- eject2us <kquallich@...> wrote:

>  Trying to figure out why my scope wont track for more than 5sec.
> It say's under gps scopes we need to level tripod. is that so with
> automatic level that the gps scope has in alt-alzimuth?
>                 Thanks Kim


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Kim,

In the 'lxsat' folder, you will find a file called sat.ini. Open it
with notepad and change the line 'audit=0' to 'audit=1'. Start up
Satellite Tracker and attempt to track a satellite for about 30 sec or
so. Close Satellite Tracker and find in the 'lxsat' folder a file
called 'output.txt'. Please email me this file at brent@...

Brent

--- In satellitetracker@yahoogroups.com, "eject2us" <kquallich@c...>
wrote:
>  Trying to figure out why my scope wont track for more than 5sec.
> It say's under gps scopes we need to level tripod. is that so with
> automatic level that the gps scope has in alt-alzimuth?
>                 Thanks Kim

Ok will do
--- In satellitetracker@yahoogroups.com, "Brent Boshart" <brent@h...>
wrote:
> Kim,
>
> In the 'lxsat' folder, you will find a file called sat.ini. Open it
> with notepad and change the line 'audit=0' to 'audit=1'. Start up
> Satellite Tracker and attempt to track a satellite for about 30 sec
or
> so. Close Satellite Tracker and find in the 'lxsat' folder a file
> called 'output.txt'. Please email me this file at brent@h...
>
> Brent
>
> --- In satellitetracker@yahoogroups.com, "eject2us" <kquallich@c...>
> wrote:
> >  Trying to figure out why my scope wont track for more than 5sec.
> > It say's under gps scopes we need to level tripod. is that so with
> > automatic level that the gps scope has in alt-alzimuth?
> >                 Thanks Kim

Hi all:
On Tuesday, July 19 the skies cleared out and it was so nice I
decided to try the Satellite Tracker program.  I downloaded the
latest tle file earlier in the evening.  My laptop is a Toshiba
Satellite running XP Pro, and I have a Meade 8" LX200 Classic.  I
connect the two via USB 2.0 to serial cable.  I am running ASCOM 4.1
(or well anyway the latest ASCOM).  My computer tells me that the
COM port is #4.
Anyway I made all the connections and right as everything got loaded
the software told me that the ISS was visible and should it start
tracking!!  As I was not expecting this (I had looked earler that
day and according to Heaven's Above, the next flyover wasn't until
the 20th)...anyway I thought that was way cool.  My hands were full
of cables and an eyepiece (I was putting stuff away from doing some
visual observing)...so I did not ask the scope to follow.
To proceed...I spent several hours playing with the software.  Scope
performed flawlessly!  I even managed to see two satellites in the
EP, plus one Iridium flare in the Telrad.  I did not have my 8 x 50
finderscope attached, nor had I mounted my ED80...but I felt like I
had accomplished something!!
Anway I have a couple of questions:
1. My best success occurred when I had the scope leapfrog ahead.
Then I could see the satellite come into the EP.  I found out I had
to hit the "Mouse adjust" button b/c I was using a mouse.  My
question is: now what?  I saw the cursor was pointed at a spot on
the graph, was I supposed to move it up or down to adjust where the
satellite traversed through the EP?  Could I just use the arrow keys
on the keypad to adjust the RA and DEC as I was watching?  If so,
how does that work?  Is that what people mean by hand guiding?
2. When I had the scope continuously track and tried to use
the "find" button, the scope did not "stop" but kept right on
tracking.  How do I get the scope to momentarily stop so I can
adjust the RA and DEC to get the satellite?  I felt sure that the
scope was indeed tracking the satellite as I could see it in the
Telrad, but it wasn't exactly in the center of the bull's eye, so I
knew that it would be off the edge somewhere.  Any advice, hints,
suggestions?
3.  Joystick?  And where would I get such a beast?  That sounds like
the way to go...
Thanks so much.
Lynn

Hello Lynn,
I am also a new user of the Satellite Tracker program.  It is a very
impressive piece of software!  It sounds like you are making a great
start with it.
With regard to the ISS, I have noticed that the Heavens-Above website
omits passes that are visible when it is not completely dark.  The ISS
can easily be seen at dusk.  If Jupiter can be seen, then the ISS will
also be visible.  Tracking the early passes is going to be a challenge
though because you need to do a 2-star alignment which is rather hard
when there are no stars visible yet.

As for mouse tracking, I am not completely familiar with it as I use a
cheap joystick.  Adjustments are made while the scope tracks.
Effectively you are adjusting the slew rates.  I have only used
continuous tracking and make adjustments to pull the Telrad inner circle
over the target.  Once positioned it stayed right over the satellite.
You can pick up a cheap joystick from your local Walmart in the home
entertainment section.  They are generally USB devices these days..  You
don't need anything fancy.

Hand guiding is literally moving the telescope to track the Satellite by
hand.  I have had some success  imaging the ISS by doing this.   You
basically set up the camera. get focus on a star and then turn off the
scope and release the locks and move it by hand while trying to make the
target fly through the telrad reticule.  Rather hit and miss but you can
get good results with a webcam imager.  For viewing through an eyepiece
I would think that hand tracking is not at all practical.

I kow that does not answer all your questions, but I am sure someone
with more experience will be able to fill in the gaps..


Paul

Lynn wrote:

> Hi all:
> On Tuesday, July 19 the skies cleared out and it was so nice I
> decided to try the Satellite Tracker program.  I downloaded the
> latest tle file earlier in the evening.  My laptop is a Toshiba
> Satellite running XP Pro, and I have a Meade 8" LX200 Classic.  I
> connect the two via USB 2.0 to serial cable.  I am running ASCOM 4.1
> (or well anyway the latest ASCOM).  My computer tells me that the
> COM port is #4.
> Anyway I made all the connections and right as everything got loaded
> the software told me that the ISS was visible and should it start
> tracking!!  As I was not expecting this (I had looked earler that
> day and according to Heaven's Above, the next flyover wasn't until
> the 20th)...anyway I thought that was way cool.  My hands were full
> of cables and an eyepiece (I was putting stuff away from doing some
> visual observing)...so I did not ask the scope to follow.
> To proceed...I spent several hours playing with the software.  Scope
> performed flawlessly!  I even managed to see two satellites in the
> EP, plus one Iridium flare in the Telrad.  I did not have my 8 x 50
> finderscope attached, nor had I mounted my ED80...but I felt like I
> had accomplished something!!
> Anway I have a couple of questions:
> 1. My best success occurred when I had the scope leapfrog ahead.
> Then I could see the satellite come into the EP.  I found out I had
> to hit the "Mouse adjust" button b/c I was using a mouse.  My
> question is: now what?  I saw the cursor was pointed at a spot on
> the graph, was I supposed to move it up or down to adjust where the
> satellite traversed through the EP?  Could I just use the arrow keys
> on the keypad to adjust the RA and DEC as I was watching?  If so,
> how does that work?  Is that what people mean by hand guiding?
> 2. When I had the scope continuously track and tried to use
> the "find" button, the scope did not "stop" but kept right on
> tracking.  How do I get the scope to momentarily stop so I can
> adjust the RA and DEC to get the satellite?  I felt sure that the
> scope was indeed tracking the satellite as I could see it in the
> Telrad, but it wasn't exactly in the center of the bull's eye, so I
> knew that it would be off the edge somewhere.  Any advice, hints,
> suggestions?
> 3.  Joystick?  And where would I get such a beast?  That sounds like
> the way to go...
> Thanks so much.
> Lynn
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
>
>     *  Visit your group "satellitetracker
>       <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/satellitetracker>" on the web.
>
>     *  To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>        satellitetracker-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>      
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>
>     *  Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
>       Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>

Paul:
You answered several of my questions and I think a trip to Walmart
is in order...
As for the other, I assume that since I could see the satellite in
the Telrad I could then adjust using either the keypad or the
joystick?
Awesome and thanks...
Lynn
--- In satellitetracker@yahoogroups.com, Paul Rix <paulrix@c...>
wrote:
> Hello Lynn,
> I am also a new user of the Satellite Tracker program.  It is a
very
> impressive piece of software!  It sounds like you are making a
great
> start with it.
> With regard to the ISS, I have noticed that the Heavens-Above
website
> omits passes that are visible when it is not completely dark.  The
ISS
> can easily be seen at dusk.  If Jupiter can be seen, then the ISS
will
> also be visible.  Tracking the early passes is going to be a
challenge
> though because you need to do a 2-star alignment which is rather
hard
> when there are no stars visible yet.
>
> As for mouse tracking, I am not completely familiar with it as I
use a
> cheap joystick.  Adjustments are made while the scope tracks.
> Effectively you are adjusting the slew rates.  I have only used
> continuous tracking and make adjustments to pull the Telrad inner
circle
> over the target.  Once positioned it stayed right over the
satellite.
> You can pick up a cheap joystick from your local Walmart in the
home
> entertainment section.  They are generally USB devices these
days..  You
> don't need anything fancy.
>
> Hand guiding is literally moving the telescope to track the
Satellite by
> hand.  I have had some success  imaging the ISS by doing this.
You
> basically set up the camera. get focus on a star and then turn off
the
> scope and release the locks and move it by hand while trying to
make the
> target fly through the telrad reticule.  Rather hit and miss but
you can
> get good results with a webcam imager.  For viewing through an
eyepiece
> I would think that hand tracking is not at all practical.
>
> I kow that does not answer all your questions, but I am sure
someone
> with more experience will be able to fill in the gaps..
>
>
> Paul

If you have a good alignment, generally the only adjustment you need
to make is the "Timing Offset" which will adjust the telescope
"forward and backward" along the flight path of the satellite. Whether
using the mouse adjustment or joystick adjustment, it merely changes
the value of the timing offset. You will see it change in the text
box. I find that once I set this for one satellite, it generally
pretty good for others too, the only exception (and big exception!) is
ISS because its generally faster moving and has more drag so TLEs are
generally not as accurate. Also, start with the widest eyepiece you have.

Brent


--- In satellitetracker@yahoogroups.com, "Lynn" <gemmalady2001@y...>
wrote:
> Hi all:
> On Tuesday, July 19 the skies cleared out and it was so nice I
> decided to try the Satellite Tracker program.  I downloaded the
> latest tle file earlier in the evening.  My laptop is a Toshiba
> Satellite running XP Pro, and I have a Meade 8" LX200 Classic.  I
> connect the two via USB 2.0 to serial cable.  I am running ASCOM 4.1
> (or well anyway the latest ASCOM).  My computer tells me that the
> COM port is #4.
> Anyway I made all the connections and right as everything got loaded
> the software told me that the ISS was visible and should it start
> tracking!!  As I was not expecting this (I had looked earler that
> day and according to Heaven's Above, the next flyover wasn't until
> the 20th)...anyway I thought that was way cool.  My hands were full
> of cables and an eyepiece (I was putting stuff away from doing some
> visual observing)...so I did not ask the scope to follow.
> To proceed...I spent several hours playing with the software.  Scope
> performed flawlessly!  I even managed to see two satellites in the
> EP, plus one Iridium flare in the Telrad.  I did not have my 8 x 50
> finderscope attached, nor had I mounted my ED80...but I felt like I
> had accomplished something!!
> Anway I have a couple of questions:
> 1. My best success occurred when I had the scope leapfrog ahead.
> Then I could see the satellite come into the EP.  I found out I had
> to hit the "Mouse adjust" button b/c I was using a mouse.  My
> question is: now what?  I saw the cursor was pointed at a spot on
> the graph, was I supposed to move it up or down to adjust where the
> satellite traversed through the EP?  Could I just use the arrow keys
> on the keypad to adjust the RA and DEC as I was watching?  If so,
> how does that work?  Is that what people mean by hand guiding?
> 2. When I had the scope continuously track and tried to use
> the "find" button, the scope did not "stop" but kept right on
> tracking.  How do I get the scope to momentarily stop so I can
> adjust the RA and DEC to get the satellite?  I felt sure that the
> scope was indeed tracking the satellite as I could see it in the
> Telrad, but it wasn't exactly in the center of the bull's eye, so I
> knew that it would be off the edge somewhere.  Any advice, hints,
> suggestions?
> 3.  Joystick?  And where would I get such a beast?  That sounds like
> the way to go...
> Thanks so much.
> Lynn

Lynn wrote:

> Paul:
> You answered several of my questions and I think a trip to Walmart
> is in order...
> As for the other, I assume that since I could see the satellite in
> the Telrad I could then adjust using either the keypad or the
> joystick?
> Awesome and thanks...
> Lynn

Lynn, I guess Brent just answered all the questions there :).  I am sure
you will not have any trouble with the joystick adjustments as it is
very intuitive.

Brent, do you have any advice for getting the ISS centered on a webcam
CCD?  The high magnification they have would mean everything would have
to be just right, of course, high magnification is a good thing once you
get the target centered.  I am guessing that getting the Telrad
perfectly aligned is a big step forward.  I have found the Telrad inner
circle to be too large to consistantly nail the ISS while hand
tracking..  I ended up just having to practice and get a feel for the
correct part of the circle. Thanks for the very quick despatch of the
registration key this morning!


Paul

Hi Brent:
My 8" LX200 Classic is very easy to align and I generally do a "3
star" alignment for it--it had been putting DSO's in the center of a
13 mm UWA previous to my starting up Satellite Tracker.
Right now the biggest EP I have is just a 26 mm Plossl...maybe now
is the time to invest in that 32 mm UWA, huh?
Could it be my location coordinates? I don't have an exact GPS
setting for my apartment complex, just for the city I live in.
Thanks for the info!
Lynn


--- In satellitetracker@yahoogroups.com, "Brent Boshart"
<brent@h...> wrote:
> If you have a good alignment, generally the only adjustment you
need
> to make is the "Timing Offset" which will adjust the telescope
> "forward and backward" along the flight path of the satellite.
Whether
> using the mouse adjustment or joystick adjustment, it merely
changes
> the value of the timing offset. You will see it change in the text
> box. I find that once I set this for one satellite, it generally
> pretty good for others too, the only exception (and big
exception!) is
> ISS because its generally faster moving and has more drag so TLEs
are
> generally not as accurate. Also, start with the widest eyepiece
you have.
>
> Brent
>
>
> --- In satellitetracker@yahoogroups.com, "Lynn"
<gemmalady2001@y...>
> wrote:
> > Hi all:
> > On Tuesday, July 19 the skies cleared out and it was so nice I
> > decided to try the Satellite Tracker program.  I downloaded the
> > latest tle file earlier in the evening.  My laptop is a Toshiba
> > Satellite running XP Pro, and I have a Meade 8" LX200 Classic.
I
> > connect the two via USB 2.0 to serial cable.  I am running ASCOM
4.1
> > (or well anyway the latest ASCOM).  My computer tells me that
the
> > COM port is #4.
> > Anyway I made all the connections and right as everything got
loaded
> > the software told me that the ISS was visible and should it
start
> > tracking!!  As I was not expecting this (I had looked earler
that
> > day and according to Heaven's Above, the next flyover wasn't
until
> > the 20th)...anyway I thought that was way cool.  My hands were
full
> > of cables and an eyepiece (I was putting stuff away from doing
some
> > visual observing)...so I did not ask the scope to follow.
> > To proceed...I spent several hours playing with the software.
Scope
> > performed flawlessly!  I even managed to see two satellites in
the
> > EP, plus one Iridium flare in the Telrad.  I did not have my 8 x
50
> > finderscope attached, nor had I mounted my ED80...but I felt
like I
> > had accomplished something!!
> > Anway I have a couple of questions:
> > 1. My best success occurred when I had the scope leapfrog
ahead.
> > Then I could see the satellite come into the EP.  I found out I
had
> > to hit the "Mouse adjust" button b/c I was using a mouse.  My
> > question is: now what?  I saw the cursor was pointed at a spot
on
> > the graph, was I supposed to move it up or down to adjust where
the
> > satellite traversed through the EP?  Could I just use the arrow
keys
> > on the keypad to adjust the RA and DEC as I was watching?  If
so,
> > how does that work?  Is that what people mean by hand guiding?
> > 2. When I had the scope continuously track and tried to use
> > the "find" button, the scope did not "stop" but kept right on
> > tracking.  How do I get the scope to momentarily stop so I can
> > adjust the RA and DEC to get the satellite?  I felt sure that
the
> > scope was indeed tracking the satellite as I could see it in the
> > Telrad, but it wasn't exactly in the center of the bull's eye,
so I
> > knew that it would be off the edge somewhere.  Any advice,
hints,
> > suggestions?
> > 3.  Joystick?  And where would I get such a beast?  That sounds
like
> > the way to go...
> > Thanks so much.
> > Lynn

--- Lynn <gemmalady2001@...> wrote:

> I am running ASCOM 4.1 (or well anyway the latest ASCOM).

Just so you know, SatTracker communicates directly with the scope, so ASCOM
isn't involved.

> Anyway I made all the connections and right as everything got loaded
> the software told me that the ISS was visible and should it start
> tracking!!  As I was not expecting this (I had looked earler that
> day and according to Heaven's Above, the next flyover wasn't until
> the 20th)

I've noticed Heavens-above often misses passes within the next few hours.  I
haven't tried it yet, but you can try the "prev." link on the results page and
maybe it will show "near-future" passes.  But Paul's suggestion that it won't
show the pass unless it's completely dark could explain it.

>...anyway I thought that was way cool.  My hands were full
> of cables and an eyepiece (I was putting stuff away from doing some
> visual observing)...so I did not ask the scope to follow.
> To proceed...I spent several hours playing with the software.  Scope
> performed flawlessly!  I even managed to see two satellites in the
> EP, plus one Iridium flare in the Telrad.  I did not have my 8 x 50
> finderscope attached, nor had I mounted my ED80...but I felt like I
> had accomplished something!!

A finderscope is useful for finding the first sat of the night, so you can get
the timing fine-tuned.  After that, a low-power wide-angle EP is often enough
to start.

> Anway I have a couple of questions:
> 1. My best success occurred when I had the scope leapfrog ahead.
> Then I could see the satellite come into the EP.  I found out I had
> to hit the "Mouse adjust" button b/c I was using a mouse.  My
> question is: now what?  I saw the cursor was pointed at a spot on
> the graph, was I supposed to move it up or down to adjust where the
> satellite traversed through the EP?

I haven't used the mouse method in awhile, but left/right and up/down
correspond to the "timing offset" and "alignment adjustment" on the main
program window, which are adjustments "along the path", and "perpendicular to
the path".

>  Could I just use the arrow keys
> on the keypad to adjust the RA and DEC as I was watching?

I don't know if the arrow keys on the keyboard will do anything, but at any
rate, the adjustments are in the directions described above (not RA and dec).
There are buttons on either side of the timing and alignment adjustment (the
ones with the arrows) you can click to adjust.  There are two sets of buttons
for timing- coarse and fine.  The amount for each, and for the alignment
adjustment, can be set in the program settings.  You can also edit these
numbers manually, then press enter.  That can be useful if you get way off and
want to go back to start.

> 2. When I had the scope continuously track and tried to use
> the "find" button, the scope did not "stop" but kept right on
> tracking.  How do I get the scope to momentarily stop so I can
> adjust the RA and DEC to get the satellite?

I've never used this feature, but a reference to it on the home page says you
just hit the spacebar to stop it.

> 3.  Joystick?  And where would I get such a beast?  That sounds like
> the way to go...

Yes, the joystick is definitely easiest.  They make them for playing games on
computers, so you can get them at just about any place that sells electronics.
You only need basic dual-axis control, so the simplest one will work.  Older
(pre-usb) versions plug into a special port on the computer's sound card that
looks basically like a serial or parallel port, but halfway between in size.

-John

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--- Paul Rix <paulrix@...> wrote:
>
>   Adjustments are made while the scope tracks.
> Effectively you are adjusting the slew rates.

No, adjustments are made "along the path" (timing) and perpendicular to it
(alignment).  The slew rates would change only momentarily until the scope is
repositioned relative to the predicted path, but then it goes back to standard
tracking (but on a path offset a bit from the original path).

-John

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--- Paul Rix <paulrix@...> wrote:
>
> Brent, do you have any advice for getting the ISS centered on a webcam
> CCD?  The high magnification they have would mean everything would have
> to be just right, of course, high magnification is a good thing once you
> get the target centered.  I am guessing that getting the Telrad
> perfectly aligned is a big step forward.  I have found the Telrad inner
> circle to be too large to consistantly nail the ISS while hand
> tracking..  I ended up just having to practice and get a feel for the
> correct part of the circle.

A guidescope makes this much easier, but even then you'll be surprised at how
accurately centered it must be.  For the image I posted recently in the group
photos section, I used a 6.3 reducer (rather than the barlow I'd normally use
for high-res imaging with my webcam) to give me a tolerably sized field in our
12" LX200, but even then, using a 12mm illuminated reticle Plossl in a 100mm
f/5 guidescope, The ISS had to be very near the center of the guidescope field
to show up in the webcam FOV.

You don't want to go too high-power, because (besides the obvious problems with
a tiny FOV) longer effective focal length requires longer exposures, and that
will blur the ISS, since even with very good tracking, it doesn't exactly sit
still in the frame.

-John

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--- Lynn <gemmalady2001@...> wrote:

> Could it be my location coordinates? I don't have an exact GPS
> setting for my apartment complex, just for the city I live in.

Location on the earth is fairly critical.  To do some simple geometry: 1' on
the surface of the earth (radius 4000 miles) is a little more than 1 mile.  A
bright (low flying) satellite may be only about 400 miles up.  Since that's
1/10 the earth's radius, a 1 mile/1' error in earth coordinates would cause a
10' error in the calculated path.  So you could still find it, but since the
apparent angular speed varies during the path, any correction you made to
center it would only be accurate for a short time, then it would drift and
you'd need to adjust again.

<http://terraserver.com> has aerial photos where (once you zoom in far enough)
when you move the cursor over the image, the lat/long shows on the left side.

<http://www.topozone.com/> has similar, but uses streetmaps that may make it a
little easier to find your exact location.  They now charge to have lat/long
displayed, but there's a way around it: you can search by lat/long, it will
show you a map (with a crosshair in the center), then go back and fine-tune.
Tedious, but it will get you there.

Either method will get your location accurate down to the building you live in.

-John



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Thanks for the excellent information John.

I have a 6.3 FR so I will give that a try.  My best results so far at
imaging the ISS happened on my second attempt.  In that pass I shot a
1600 frame avi file and I got a decent ISS image on 3 of them.  Thank
goodness for digital!  I am hoping that with Satellite Tracker I can get
better results than with hand tracking.

You can see my image here:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/PaulRix/Astronomy/iss4may.jpg

I also took this image a few weeks later..  there is  something wrong
with it though.  Probably a result of me moving the telescope. The same
shape appeared on two consecutive frames.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/PaulRix/Astronomy/issvdub.jpg

Paul

John:
Thanks for all the info on where to get the information I needed for
latitude and longitude.
I teach physics and earth science so I know about the calculations,
but if you are doing this using topo maps (at school) it is more of
a theoretical exercise if you know what I mean.  These days, I
usually borrow a friend's GPS unit and get the info that way.
I figured that the GPS coordinates were important for this to track
accurately, I just didn't realize that it was critical, I figured in
the ballpark would do.  However I guess that makes the difference
between a in-the-park double and an over-the-wall homerun, to use a
baseball analogy.
So if my partner and I are using a 14" LX200 GPS, we can use the GPS
coordinates from the scope?
Thanks,
Lynn


--- In satellitetracker@yahoogroups.com, John Mahony <jmmahony@y...>
wrote:
> --- Lynn <gemmalady2001@y...> wrote:
>
> > Could it be my location coordinates? I don't have an exact GPS
> > setting for my apartment complex, just for the city I live in.
>
> Location on the earth is fairly critical.  To do some simple
geometry: 1' on
> the surface of the earth (radius 4000 miles) is a little more than
1 mile.  A
> bright (low flying) satellite may be only about 400 miles up.
Since that's
> 1/10 the earth's radius, a 1 mile/1' error in earth coordinates
would cause a
> 10' error in the calculated path.  So you could still find it, but
since the
> apparent angular speed varies during the path, any correction you
made to
> center it would only be accurate for a short time, then it would
drift and
> you'd need to adjust again.
>
> <http://terraserver.com> has aerial photos where (once you zoom in
far enough)
> when you move the cursor over the image, the lat/long shows on the
left side.
>
> <http://www.topozone.com/> has similar, but uses streetmaps that
may make it a
> little easier to find your exact location.  They now charge to
have lat/long
> displayed, but there's a way around it: you can search by
lat/long, it will
> show you a map (with a crosshair in the center), then go back and
fine-tune.
> Tedious, but it will get you there.
>
> Either method will get your location accurate down to the building
you live in.
>
> -John
>
>
>
> ____________________________________________________
> Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page
> http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

Yes, if you have a GPS scope or standard GPS unit, just use that to set the
lat/long in the program.  It's also good for setting the computer time.
-John


--- Lynn <gemmalady2001@...> wrote:

> John:
> Thanks for all the info on where to get the information I needed for
> latitude and longitude.
> I teach physics and earth science so I know about the calculations,
> but if you are doing this using topo maps (at school) it is more of
> a theoretical exercise if you know what I mean.  These days, I
> usually borrow a friend's GPS unit and get the info that way.
> I figured that the GPS coordinates were important for this to track
> accurately, I just didn't realize that it was critical, I figured in
> the ballpark would do.  However I guess that makes the difference
> between a in-the-park double and an over-the-wall homerun, to use a
> baseball analogy.
> So if my partner and I are using a 14" LX200 GPS, we can use the GPS
> coordinates from the scope?
> Thanks,
> Lynn
>
>
> --- In satellitetracker@yahoogroups.com, John Mahony <jmmahony@y...>
> wrote:
> > --- Lynn <gemmalady2001@y...> wrote:
> >
> > > Could it be my location coordinates? I don't have an exact GPS
> > > setting for my apartment complex, just for the city I live in.
> >
> > Location on the earth is fairly critical.  To do some simple
> geometry: 1' on
> > the surface of the earth (radius 4000 miles) is a little more than
> 1 mile.  A
> > bright (low flying) satellite may be only about 400 miles up.
> Since that's
> > 1/10 the earth's radius, a 1 mile/1' error in earth coordinates
> would cause a
> > 10' error in the calculated path.  So you could still find it, but
> since the
> > apparent angular speed varies during the path, any correction you
> made to
> > center it would only be accurate for a short time, then it would
> drift and
> > you'd need to adjust again.
> >
> > <http://terraserver.com> has aerial photos where (once you zoom in
> far enough)
> > when you move the cursor over the image, the lat/long shows on the
> left side.
> >
> > <http://www.topozone.com/> has similar, but uses streetmaps that
> may make it a
> > little easier to find your exact location.  They now charge to
> have lat/long
> > displayed, but there's a way around it: you can search by
> lat/long, it will
> > show you a map (with a crosshair in the center), then go back and
> fine-tune.
> > Tedious, but it will get you there.
> >
> > Either method will get your location accurate down to the building
> you live in.
> >
> > -John
> >
> >
> >
> > ____________________________________________________
> > Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page
> > http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>


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Brent:
This weekend my boyfriend and I fired up his 14" LX200GPS to try the
satellite tracker program with his--really the Observatory's--
telescope.
On Friday we hooked up the laptop and using the recommended cable to
USB adapter we finally managed to upgrade the handbox to 3.0i.  We
had to increase the download speed from 9600 baud to 57,600 baud for
it to go smoothly.  OK, that done we fired up the Satellite Tracker
program and away we went.  We got the scope to find and track 3
satellites...they all seemed to be on the right of a 20 mm EP, we
couldn't figure out how to adjust that to move the scope to center
the satellite--they move so doggone fast.  Also it was leapfrogging
rather than continuously tracking.  Later I saw that I had left the
software in LX200 mode (which is where it was when I last used it
with my LX200 Classic).
Ok, trial number 2 on Saturday night...I adjusted the software to
reflect the fact that we were hooked up to a LX 200 GPS in alt-az
mode. Again, we managed to get a satellite and the scope tracked it
perfectly, but not quite in the center of the eyepiece.  We plugged
in the joystick, but as soon as it was touched the scope lost
contact with the satellite (it slewed really fast).  Clouds began
moving in so we called it quits.
Trial number 3 last night: fired up laptop. Scope did acquire the
satellites.  We mainly have to stick with satellites coming out of
the N, W, or S and not too low.  That is because the scope is inside
an observatory with fairly high walls plus a substantial treeline.
This time we used a 55 mm Televue EP.  Scope found and followed
several satellites, but again, the satellites were mostly on the
right side of the EP, although 1 of them was dead on.  OOPS, we
thought, we forgot to hook up the joystick.  As soon as I plugged it
in, communications with the scope were lost.  So I restarted the
laptop...but it seemed that then the software couldn't talk to the
scope as it told me the com port was busy.  Restarted again without
the joystick.
Found and tracked a satellite ascending out of the North, but as the
scope moved to about 87 degrees, it seemed to lose contact.  Plus we
couldn't seem to keep it in the EP.  Ray would tell me if the scope
was ahead or behind the satellite, and I would adjust the
timing...but again it seemed as if there was no way to make the
scope slew to right or left with laptop and mouse adjust (I did a
count under my breath of 5 to 10 seconds to wait for any adjustment).
So then we had to wait a bit for another satellite.  Our best shot
seemed to be one coming out of the North, but I kept getting a
message that said something like "change the max slew rate in order
to acquire the satellite in time".  Then we lost communication with
the scope.
Restarted laptop.  Checked everything.  Acquired a faint satellite
moving in the west, but again not in center of EP.  Which means
eventually we lost it.  Scope did track it but it ws frustrating to
not be able to adjust much with out the scope having a hissy fit.
Clouds ended last night's session.
Here are my questions:
1.  I am using the recommended cable RS232 cable for LX200 GPS which
I have connected to the recommended USB to serial RS232 Bridge cable
so that it can connect to my Toshiba Satellite Laptop.  I do have a
female serial port (15 pin) on my laptop...but the RS232 cable is
also female (9 pin).  I have 3 USB ports on my laptop.  Should I try
to find a male 9 pin to male 15 pin adapter so that the scope is
hooked up to the serial port?  Should I forget about using the USB
port when also using the joystick?  Do I need to assign a different
com port for the telescope cable, and if so how do I do that?
2. Is there a way for a person at the EP to adjust the satellite
into the center of the EP without using the laptop or calling
directions to someone at the laptop?  We would like to use the
joystick but it seems the LX200 GPS doesn't respond well to it, or
else it is something I am not clicking on or taking into account. We
don't want to hand track.  We like the way the software interfaces
with the scope.
3.  Is there a way to adjust the rate at which the joystick moves
the scope, assuming that we iron out all the rest of the issues?

We both like a challenge, and we feel up to it!  It seems as if
there is something I am not quite understanding or some minor tweek
that needs to be done for all to function smoothly.  We are very
pleased with how well this software works and don't want to have to
download the TLE into the scope as that process has issues of its
own.

Thanks to all...and if anyone is planning to be in the Cleveland-
Akron area and wants to help out (LOL!)..
Lynn

--- Lynn <gemmalady2001@...> wrote:

> Found and tracked a satellite ascending out of the North, but as the
> scope moved to about 87 degrees, it seemed to lose contact.

If you're in alt/az mode (ie, not using a wedge), then the scope can't track
fast moving objects near the zenith, since the az motor would have to run
extremely fast.  The scope will continue to rotate in az and eventually catch
up with the satellite again several seconds later.

The same thing happens near the pole if you're using a wedge.

There's also an "anti cord wrap" feature in the scope that prevents it from
slewing across the line from the zenith (or pole) to the northern horizon.  So
if the satellite crosses that line, the scope will has to take the long way
around...

> 1.  I am using the recommended cable RS232 cable for LX200 GPS which
> I have connected to the recommended USB to serial RS232 Bridge cable
> so that it can connect to my Toshiba Satellite Laptop.  I do have a
> female serial port (15 pin) on my laptop ...but the RS232 cable is also
> female (9 pin).

I don't know that much about computers, but are you sure that 15 pin port is a
serial port?  Old style joystick ports looked like a 15 pin version of a serial
port.
If you know anyone with a collection of old computer stuff, he probably has an
old style joystick, and would probably be happy to get rid of it.  I don't
think they're that outdated, so just about anyone who plays a lot of computer
games probably has an old one collecting dust on a shelf somewhere.

-John



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