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Science Forum Index » Astro - Amateur Forum » GPS problems in a dome
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| Guest |
 Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:33 am |
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Hello,
I am looking for a solution to my problem: I have a Meade LX200 14"
GPS scope in an Ash Dome. The Dome shields the scopes GPS system from
getting data.
Meade doesn't have an accessory to fix this.
Does anyone out there have a solution to this problem? |
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| Chris L Peterson |
| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:40 am |
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Guest
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On 19 Feb 2007 07:33:17 -0800, tmorin80@yahoo.com wrote:
Quote: I am looking for a solution to my problem: I have a Meade LX200 14"
GPS scope in an Ash Dome. The Dome shields the scopes GPS system from
getting data.
Meade doesn't have an accessory to fix this.
Does anyone out there have a solution to this problem?
I think the GPS can be disabled- you shouldn't need it in a fixed
installation.
_________________________________________________
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com |
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| Sam Wormley |
| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:43 am |
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Guest
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tmorin80@yahoo.com wrote:
Quote:
I am looking for a solution to my problem: I have a Meade LX200 14"
GPS scope in an Ash Dome. The Dome shields the scopes GPS system from
getting data. Meade doesn't have an accessory to fix this. Does anyone
out there have a solution to this problem?
How about a re radiating antenna. |
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| RMOLLISE |
| Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 8:55 am |
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Guest
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On Feb 19, 9:40 am, Chris L Peterson <c...@alumni.caltech.edu> wrote:
Exactly. If you're not moving the scope around and (I assume) have it
mounted on a wedge, there's no need for GPS.
Unk Rod |
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| Guest |
| Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 9:18 am |
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On Feb 19, 9:33 am, tmori...@yahoo.com wrote:
Quote: Hello,
I am looking for a solution to my problem: I have a Meade LX200 14"
GPS scope in an Ash Dome. The Dome shields the scopes GPS system from
getting data.
Meade doesn't have an accessory to fix this.
Does anyone out there have a solution to this problem?
I wonder about the small GPS antenna systems included with telescopes.
My meteorological equipment at work which has a "large" antenna has
very little trouble getting a GPS lock, yet the add on GPS system with
my ETX-90 has a lot of trouble getting more than 1 or 2 satellites
from the same location. |
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| Yo' Momma |
| Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 9:47 am |
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Guest
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<tmorin80@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1171899197.576319.155210@q2g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Quote: Hello,
I am looking for a solution to my problem: I have a Meade LX200 14"
GPS scope in an Ash Dome. The Dome shields the scopes GPS system from
getting data.
Meade doesn't have an accessory to fix this.
Does anyone out there have a solution to this problem?
Maybe a re-radiating antenna?? This device is mounted in the clear where it
has a good shot at the sky. It receives signals from the satellites then
re-transmits them so a GPS receiver that is screened from the sky receives a
good signal.
http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/reradiating.php
http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/gpsant.htm
http://www.navtechgps.com/supply/rerad.asp
On the other hand -- my understanding of things is that the GPS system is
used to tell the scope's computer (1) where the scope is located, and, (2)
the precise date and time. Because your scope is mounted in a dome, it's
not moving so you don't worry about the location. Date and time, however,
may be a problem. -- OR -- does this scope require new location, date, and
time info every time it's used? If that's the case, you need to use the
GPS.
If the scope remembers where it is and if it keeps up with the date and time
even with power off, then, it seems as though you would not need the GPS.
Just a thought. |
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| Birger |
| Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:39 am |
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Guest
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tmorin80@yahoo.com wrote:
Quote: Hello,
I am looking for a solution to my problem: I have a Meade LX200 14"
GPS scope in an Ash Dome. The Dome shields the scopes GPS system from
getting data.
Meade doesn't have an accessory to fix this.
Does anyone out there have a solution to this problem?
Where exactly is your dome? |
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| David G. Nagel |
| Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 11:31 am |
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Guest
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RMOLLISE wrote:
Quote: On Feb 19, 9:40 am, Chris L Peterson <c...@alumni.caltech.edu> wrote:
On 19 Feb 2007 07:33:17 -0800, tmori...@yahoo.com wrote:
I think the GPS can be disabled- you shouldn't need it in a fixed
installation.
_________________________________________________
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatoryhttp://www.cloudbait.com
Exactly. If you're not moving the scope around and (I assume) have it
mounted on a wedge, there's no need for GPS.
Unk Rod
Agreed. However in a fixed location the purpose of the GPS is to
automatically input the correct date and time.
You can do this manually but it is easier to let george do it.
Dave N |
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| David G. Nagel |
| Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 11:39 am |
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Guest
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Yo' Momma wrote:
Quote: tmorin80@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1171899197.576319.155210@q2g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Hello,
I am looking for a solution to my problem: I have a Meade LX200 14"
GPS scope in an Ash Dome. The Dome shields the scopes GPS system from
getting data.
Meade doesn't have an accessory to fix this.
Does anyone out there have a solution to this problem?
Maybe a re-radiating antenna?? This device is mounted in the clear where it
has a good shot at the sky. It receives signals from the satellites then
re-transmits them so a GPS receiver that is screened from the sky receives a
good signal.
http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/reradiating.php
http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/gpsant.htm
http://www.navtechgps.com/supply/rerad.asp
On the other hand -- my understanding of things is that the GPS system is
used to tell the scope's computer (1) where the scope is located, and, (2)
the precise date and time. Because your scope is mounted in a dome, it's
not moving so you don't worry about the location. Date and time, however,
may be a problem. -- OR -- does this scope require new location, date, and
time info every time it's used? If that's the case, you need to use the
GPS.
If the scope remembers where it is and if it keeps up with the date and time
even with power off, then, it seems as though you would not need the GPS.
Just a thought.
The only problem I have found with time measurement devices, be they
analog or digital, is that they do not keep precise time. Atomic clocks
must be periodically recalibrated usin the average result of many other
clocks. The time period provided by the rotation of the earth must be
adjusted periodically due to the tidal slowing caused by the presence of
the moon.
If a telescope has a continuously running clock, that clock must be
periodically reset due to slight changed in it's operation. This fact of
life gives cause for the atleast periodic running of the GPS system.
Dave Nagel
LX200 GPS SMT SAP UHTC 10" Wireless ALT-AZ |
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| Chris L Peterson |
| Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 11:57 am |
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Guest
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On Tue, 20 Feb 2007 09:31:08 -0600, "David G. Nagel" <nagel@core.com>
wrote:
Quote: Agreed. However in a fixed location the purpose of the GPS is to
automatically input the correct date and time.
You can do this manually but it is easier to let george do it.
However, in most cases a setup like this will be controlled by a
computer. Telescope control software is perfectly capable of
synchronizing the time with the mount. After the first sync, the mount
doesn't need its time to be super accurate, anyway.
Most people I know with a fixed LX200 GPS disable the GPS simply because
they get tired of waiting for the scope to get its bearings. With the
GPS off, you turn on the scope, unpark, and are ready to go.
(Actually, I'm surprised the GPS doesn't work through the dome. I have a
GPS time receiver on my observatory computer, and it works just fine
through a steel rolloff roof. I'd think a fiberglass dome would be no
problem at all.)
_________________________________________________
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com |
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| Davoud |
| Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 7:27 pm |
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Guest
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David G. Nagel wrote:
Quote: The only problem I have found with time measurement devices, be they
analog or digital, is that they do not keep precise time. Atomic clocks
must be periodically recalibrated usin the average result of many other
clocks. The time period provided by the rotation of the earth must be
adjusted periodically due to the tidal slowing caused by the presence of
the moon.
If a telescope has a continuously running clock, that clock must be
periodically reset due to slight changed in it's operation. This fact of
life gives cause for the atleast periodic running of the GPS system.
Dave Nagel
Just curious as to what you are timing that might require attosecond
accuracy.
My computer keeps my Losmandy mount within .005 second (better, I
think,) which makes it fairly easy for me to find the moon :--) It also
is good enough to time events related to the Galilean satellites and
such like.
Davoud
--
usenet *at* davidillig dawt com |
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