Does anybody have any experience of "Advanced Autopointing Control" in Autoslew?

[MikePaling]

Hi ....

I am hoping that somebody out there has experience of using Advanced Pointing Control to optimize and improve an existing Autopointing file.

Advanced Autopinting Control WINDOW.doc

I am using a DDM60 Pro. I have already posted this question on the DDM60 forum but it seems that nobody there is able to help me with this at the moment so I hope that you don't mind me asking this forum as well.

 

When I open up the APC window, and load up my last Autopointing file,  I am faced with a confusing array of tick boxes and icons and I don't know where to start and what order to do things.

 

I can't even see what I have to do to save the resulting modified pointing file after I have finished trying to produce a "super fit" file as it is not clear of the final results are saved :-(((

 

My Autoslew manual is not very helpful with any of this and I am unable to make any progress. 

 

I am attaching a Word Doc showing the Autoslew Autopointing Control Window which shows what areas I am confused about.

 

Can some king person point me in the right direction?

Mike

[rharter]

Hi Mike,

 

correct me if I am wrong, but I have in mind that with ver 5240 "super fit" is automatically applied. At the former versions it was necessary to apply it manually.

 

 

Ralph

[john32712]

Mike,

I think the hesitation in response is based on many of us performing the task, but with not great frequency. The last time I performed, I had just upgraded Autoslew and I believe "Superfit" was applied automatically to the model. 

 

The real shame here is the lack of updated documentation.. To illustrate further, there have been a few releases of Autoslew that have confused everyone, no mention from ASA why they were released, when they were released, or what this accomplished. The typical comment of, "just read the attached doc file". Can you ever over communicate on technical matters?

 

If I were you, I would send your request directly to ASA support with the same doc and level of questions. This forum is frequented by only a few with really in depth knowledge and as you can see by your responses, not a big help. You have a lot a questions regarding model calculations and I would not want to tell you something inaccurate. 

 

Apologies for not providing more help!

 

John 

[MikePaling]

Mike,

I think the hesitation in response is based on many of us performing the task, but with not great frequency. The last time I performed, I had just upgraded Autoslew and I believe "Superfit" was applied automatically to the model. 

 

The real shame here is the lack of updated documentation.. To illustrate further, there have been a few releases of Autoslew that have confused everyone, no mention from ASA why they were released, when they were released, or what this accomplished. The typical comment of, "just read the attached doc file". Can you ever over communicate on technical matters?

 

If I were you, I would send your request directly to ASA support with the same doc and level of questions. This forum is frequented by only a few with really in depth knowledge and as you can see by your responses, not a big help. You have a lot a questions regarding model calculations and I would not want to tell you something inaccurate. 

 

Apologies for not providing more help!

 

John 

Hi John ...

Thanks for your thoughts .. I may well write to ASA Support about this.

 

Phillipp Keller (who wrote the software)  has made a YouTube video about Advanced Pointing Control for use with a very long focal length scope   .... but it is VERY rushed and lacks clear explanations of how & why it is done ..... I need to have a bit more clarity before I ever try it out on my system :-(

Mike

[john32712]

Mike,

 

We all could use a clearer how and why! If you get any info that could be beneficial, please be sure to share it!

 

Best,

 

John Nemcik

[MikePaling]

Hi Mike,

 

correct me if I am wrong, but I have in mind that with ver 5240 "super fit" is automatically applied. At the former versions it was necessary to apply it manually.

 

 

Ralph

Hi Ralph ...

I have only just spotted your comment ... sorry!

 

My version of Autoslew is v5.2.1.9 ..... and it clearly has the Advanced Pointing Control there in the tabs along the top of the Autoslew window.

 

I would have thought that, if a Super Fit produces such a big improvement in the pointing file , then it would be sensible to make it "Automatic" rather than having to do loads of confusing manual steps.

 

At the minute I have no idea if the APC/Super fit is "automatic" or "not" in my version of Autoslew. Does it show up in the latest version of Autoslew????

Mike

[MarkS]

Mike,

 

I'm not sure about 5219, but with 5240, after running a 21 star pointing file and calculating and saving the configuration, a look at the 'Current Configuration' in Autoslew shows 'Superfit West' and 'Superfit East' data, so I assume that 5240 does perform the superfit automatically...

 

Regards,

Mark

[Waldemar]

Mike,

 

I'm not sure about 5219, but with 5240, after running a 21 star pointing file and calculating and saving the configuration, a look at the 'Current Configuration' in Autoslew shows 'Superfit West' and 'Superfit East' data, so I assume that 5240 does perform the superfit automatically...

 

Regards,

Mark

 

Mike is not a beta tester, so he has no access to 5240. 5219 is the latest official release from ASA.

 

So Mike... to get the latest functions you need to sign up for being a beta tester and you will be able to get AutoSlew version 5243 and Sequence 0211

 

Simply send a request to the moderator and you will get an answer reasonably soon. As soon as you can see the betatester forum here, you will know your request is granted

 

Best regards,

Waldemar

[MarkS]

Hi Waldemar and Mike,

 

The latest download on the ASA website (not the forum) is 5240.

 

Regards,

Mark

[MikePaling]

Mike,

 

I'm not sure about 5219, but with 5240, after running a 21 star pointing file and calculating and saving the configuration, a look at the 'Current Configuration' in Autoslew shows 'Superfit West' and 'Superfit East' data, so I assume that 5240 does perform the superfit automatically...

 

Regards,

Mark

Hi Mark ...

I had a look at my "Current Configuration" on my version (v5219) .... and it shows "Superfit" and "Superfit East" ........ so does this mean that it is doing superfit automatically?

Mike

 

Mike is not a beta tester, so he has no access to 5240. 5219 is the latest official release from ASA.

 

So Mike... to get the latest functions you need to sign up for being a beta tester and you will be able to get AutoSlew version 5243 and Sequence 0211

 

Simply send a request to the moderator and you will get an answer reasonably soon. As soon as you can see the betatester forum here, you will know your request is granted

 

Best regards,

Waldemar

Hi Waldemar & Mark ...

 

Not sure if I should upgrade to v5240  ..... is it possible that I might get some problems if I upgrade?

Would I do it over the top of my existing version ... or do I have to delete v5219 first ????

 

Mike

[MarkS]

Hi Mike,

 

It seems from what you've said that Superfit is being calculated automatically.

 

If you want to update to 5240 anyway, you must uninstall 5219 first. You just do the uninstall in Windows Programs and Features, which does not remove the program data. When you install 5240 it will ask if Autoslew has run on this computer before. Confirm this and the install will retain your data.

 

There should be no problems with this - I've lost count how many times I've done it.

 

Regards,

Mark

[Waldemar]

you were right, Mark :-) I am a bit behind sometimes...

[MikePaling]

Hi Mike,

 

It seems from what you've said that Superfit is being calculated automatically.

 

If you want to update to 5240 anyway, you must uninstall 5219 first. You just do the uninstall in Windows Programs and Features, which does not remove the program data. When you install 5240 it will ask if Autoslew has run on this computer before. Confirm this and the install will retain your data.

 

There should be no problems with this - I've lost count how many times I've done it.

 

Regards,

Mark

Hi Mark ...

Thanks for this .... I think that I will wait until the Autumn to upgrade ... when the skies are darker earlier.

Mike

[sdufoer]

I have also question about this.  When you make an autopoint file for east-side, and another one for west-side (you have now 2 pointing files).  How do you read them in together and calculate the corrections?

[MarkS]

I don't make two separate files.

 

Just one - set up using Mouse Grid in the Autopoint screen, left click for points on one side of the meridian, right click for the other.

 

Sequence runs the saved file (I usually use no more than 20 stars) and creates a pointing file for the 20 stars.

 

Hope this helps

 

Mark