Gemini 2 Operation
The videos below are done by Scott Losmandy himself, the founder of both Losmandy Astronomical Products and Hollywood General Machining (makers of Porta-Jib and other products that the film industry depends on), so the videos are authoritative as well as to-the-point. They are even a bit on the terse side. For example, the video Align or Synchronize doesn't go quite far enough into what is happening under the hood, unless, for example, you already understand what Scott Losmandy means by bumping the telescope. In the video, he means causing the telescope to move relative to its motors by bumping it hard enough that the clutches slip, but not so hard that the tripod moves, which can happen if you stub your foot into a tripod leg in the dark. The less invasive bumping only requires synchronization. The more invasive bumping requires realignment, and if it is bad enough, you should not just make a new model, but also re-do polar alignment.
The original list on the Gemini 2 website is here, and includes both YouTube links and downloadable mp4 versions. Downloadable mp4's are useful if you are in the field at a location with no internet and you want to review operation. Some of the YouTube links are duplicated and as a result of the two duplications, two are missing. I have corrected those.
Gemini How-To Videos by Scott Losmandy
Accurately Determining the Initial Counter-Weight Down Position — Our G11G has bubble levels built into at the critical places when they are needed — You don't need to bring a little bubble level to the site as Scott has done — (local copy of mp4)
Mount Startup Menu — It is absolutely essential to correctly enter lat/lon, time zone, and time — If these are not being retained between observing runs, go to the last video and replace the battery per the directions — This video explains the difference between (a) quick start (entering critical parameters), (b) cold start (model needs building), (c) warm start (no model-building needed), and (d) warm restart (no synchronization needed) — (local copy of mp4)
Beginning a Night of Viewing — Start with (a) Cold Start then (b) Model — The pattern, repeated for each star you add to the model is: (c) pick star, (d) hit go-to, (e) adjust centering of target with hand controller, (f) then hit model, (g) then hit align — The more stars you add to the model, the better your pointing accuracy will be — (local copy of mp4)
Speed Control — This video is about altering the manual slewing speed — (local copy of mp4)
Align or Synchronize — The video begins by showing another way to add stars to the model. Go to (a) Menu, (b) Align, (c) Go To Bright Star, (d) center the star using the hand controller, (e) hit Menu again, (f) hit Align again, and (g) hit Alignment — See also the discussion above about bumping the telescope — (local copy of mp4)
Catalog Tours — The catalog tours are found under (a) Menu, followed by (b) Function — (local copy of mp4)
Go-To Functions — Including Coordinate Input and Bookmarks — I have corrected the YouTube link — (local copy of mp4)
Polar Alignment Correction — A four-star alignment process is shown. Next the paddle offers a button labeled "PAC." When this is chosen, you go to a new star and instead of adjusting the new star into the center of the eyepiece using the hand paddle, you use the alt and az adjustment knobs — This is one of the most sophisticated ways of getting accurate polar alignment — (local copy of mp4)
Model Building — Choose Menu, then Functions, then Modeling — Scott shows a procedure in which he aligns with three stars in the west and one in the east — (local copy of mp4)
Setting Safety Limits — Scott shows how you push through an existing safety limit at Centering Speed, and then establish a new safety limit — (local copy of mp4)
Tracking Function — Scott shows hows to choose other tracking rates than the standard ones, which are normally automatically chosen when you choose stars, the Moon, and planets — For example, you can train the mount to follow a comet — (local copy of mp4)
Settings available under the HC button — For example, nighttime-mode — (local copy of mp4)
Parking the Mount — I have corrected the YouTube link — (local copy of mp4)
Polar Scope Illuminator — How to cycle through the various modes of the polar scope illuminator — (local copy of mp4)
Gemini Battery Replacement — I think this is important if your hand controller starts losing its settings between observing runs — (local copy of mp4)
Thumbnails
Thumbnails of the Above 15 YouTube Videos:
