New Gemini II controller doesn't flip

Sequence Generator
1

I just upgraded to a G2 from a G1 and now I can’t seem to meridian flip either from SGP, for from the “Perform meridian flip” menu option of the latest Gemini.NET controller [1.0.72.0]. It didn’t work with an earlier version either.

The ASCOM and SGP logs tell me everything should be working.

From the ASCOM log:

11:24:50.376 TransmitUDP packet#, cmd TID:10 [0]: 3810, :Mf#
11:24:50.376 Ethernet wait for respons TID:10 [0]: :Mf#
11:24:50.379 Ethernet Received TID:10 [0]: :Mf#
11:24:50.379 Ethernet received: TID:10 [0]: :Mf#, 0

So the flip command is getting sent, and is apparently succeeding. But the mount does not move.

From the SGP log:

[09/02/17 11:24:50.204][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian Flip needed, Hour Angle >= Degrees Past To Flip: 7.49214000000002 >= 7.5
[09/02/17 11:24:50.204][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Running blocking meridian flip…
[09/02/17 11:24:50.292][DEBUG] [Pier Flip Thread] Meridian Flip: Starting Meridian Flip Procedure
[09/02/17 11:24:50.293][DEBUG] [Pier Flip Thread] Meridian Flip: Skipping Solve
[09/02/17 11:24:50.294][DEBUG] [Pier Flip Thread] Meridian Flip: Stopping the Auto Guider
[09/02/17 11:24:50.294][DEBUG] [Pier Flip Thread] Meridian Flip: Sending Telescope command to execute meridian flip
[09/02/17 11:24:50.315][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ASCOM Telescope: Pier side is West
[09/02/17 11:24:50.315][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ASCOM Telescope: attempting pier flip using sideOfPier
[09/02/17 11:24:50.372][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Setting Pier East
[09/02/17 11:24:50.881][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ASCOM Telescope: Waiting until pier side changes…
[09/02/17 11:29:51.537][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ASCOM Telescope: Side of pier timeout!
[09/02/17 11:29:51.541][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ASCOM Telescope: Pier side is West
[09/02/17 11:29:52.045][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ASCOM Telescope: Failed to flip because starting pier side and ending pier side are the same!
[09/02/17 11:29:52.554][DEBUG] [Pier Flip Thread] Meridian Flip: Telescope command to meridian flip has completed
[09/02/17 11:29:52.554][DEBUG] [Pier Flip Thread] Meridian Flip: Telescope failed to perform meridian flip
[09/02/17 11:30:22.020][DEBUG] [Pier Flip Thread] Meridian Flip: Procedure complete
[09/02/17 11:30:27.470][DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Blocking Pier Flip: Failed to meridian flip, aborting sequence (False)

So SGP would on the face of it not be at fault here. The mount is not responding at all to #Mf, whether sent from SGP or the Gemini.NET hand control.

I did notice a new flip command compared to the G1, the #MM command. I am beginning to wonder if #Mf is either deprecated or broken in my version of the L2 firmware. I am running version V1.20 of the hand controller firmware, and version 5.21 of the main board firmware. Both built Mar 12 2017.

Any one who has meridian flips working with these firmware versions? Is so please help!

Thanks

Jeremy

2

I’m going to reply to myself here.

I dug out some code I had that I used with my Gemini 1 and did some experimenting.

Bottom line, with the levels of firmware that I have the :Mf# command does not initiate a meridian flip.

However if I issue a :Sr#:Sd#:MM# command sequence the mount happily flips side to side.

The 1.0.72 Gemini.NET driver is still issuing a :Mf# command to flip. This worked with the G1, and might have worked with G2 firmware versions prior to 5.21.

I know the ASCOM developer hangs out here, and I’ll post my findings to the G2 users group if I ever get approved to post also. I’m happy to work with the developer on my code and findings to fix this in the future for everyone.

In the meanwhile, I have resurrected by code (including the ASCOM driver) to get my meridian flips back.

J.