Re: Satellite Tracker & Joysticks

From: Robin Wier (rwier@concentric.net)
Date: Tue Aug 12 2008 - 06:31:00 UTC

  • Next message: Russell Eberst: "2008AUG11.OBS"

    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: "Robert Herrick" <rbherrick@gmail.com>
    To: <seesat-l@satobs.org>
    Sent: Monday, August 11, 2008 9:25 PM
    Subject: Satellite Tracker & Joysticks
    
    
    > What experience has the group had with joystick control through
    > Satellite Tracker?  What Joysticks work, are they better than clicking
    > on the GUI? Are they USB?
    >
    > Having something that you can manipulate without taking your eyes off
    > of the video display would seem to be essential.
    > Regards,
    > Bruce
    >
    > -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    > Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive:
    > http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
    >
    >
    
    
    Cheap, no-frills, works for me. I have read a lot about problems with 
    up-down, right-left, not matching the eyepiece view and a lot of explaining 
    how to make corrections. My experience..move joystick...right way? Yes, move 
    more the same way.....No, try another direction and repeat question.
    
    6-12 yr olds get this down pat in about 5 seconds, old folks take up to 30 
    seconds to figure it out.
    
    With many members of my neighbors' families taking turns at the eyepiece 
    (and sometimes having to go to the spotter scope, which is different from 
    the scope directionally) and using the joystick, 150-200 satellites were 
    seen during a 3-4 hour period.
    
    This was done on several occasions, in my driveway, under a street light, 
    and well inside the Phoenix, AZ, light dome.
    
    I would work the laptop, and would pick another sat to "goto" when the 
    observer gave the go-ahead.
    
    Using a 8" LX200 classic az/alt setup, less than 1/20 (5%) of the tries 
    resulted in a "not seen".
    
    I know this activity was neither science nor astronomy, but it sure was a 
    treat for the neighbors. 
    
    
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