Thank you claudevh,

Will give it the once-over when it arrives and post the spec.

Your help is much appreciated.

Tived,

Certainly will let you know if it works when it arrives - should be in a few days time.

I know it won't have a 2.5mm - to - 2.5mm camera cable with it and I've just read on the forums that 1st and 2nd generation Merlins require different cables. Is that correct?

Can anyone point me in the right direction to buy a suitable shutter cable for my Canon 550D-to-Skywatcher Merlin GoTo which the ebay seller purchased new around March/April of this year?

Also, is the Nokia N800/Bluetooth control setup a reliable one and what's the maximum time I can expect a fully charged N800 to run for?

Thanks

Last edited by ColinB (2010-11-22 17:22:02)

Hello Henrik ("tived")

Both models V1 and V2 and GoTo or Non GoTo Merlin's will work without any problems with Papywizard !!!
The only problem could come for GoTo old model sold by ORION (normally in the States...) who has no wire for camera remote inside the Merlin (between the control board and the outlet plug of the camera remote), but this can solved !!!

Man oh man this is a great forum!

Big relief to know it's just the Orion version that creates a bit of extra work.

I'm now hunting for a N800 on ebay and I assume I've found the correct stereo lead at: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-5mm-Stereo-Male … 35ae1599c5 - even though it's probably twice as long as it needs to be.

How many euros am I looking at for a Deltawave Solutions BT?

Hopefully the postman will arrive with the Merlin tomorrow (I'm in a not-so pleasant part of London, Claudevh).

Thanks all

Sorry for this barrage of newbie questions, but before I dive in and buy a N800 (I know nothing about them), I just wanted to be sure it'll run the javascript timelapse Preset Generator authored by sjhenry.

I would obviously update the N800 software to OS2008, but wondering what the best browser would be for it to view the Preset Generator script?

Oh yes, one more question to mediavets or other Nikon D40 users (I have one also alongside my 550d). Do you use the gentLED Jump with the Merlin and if so, does it work okay for timelapse with simultaneous N800 bluetooth connection?

Thanks again

Last edited by ColinB (2010-11-23 11:14:05)

Thanks mediavets.

Claudevh, the Skywatcher GoTo Tabletop arrived today (no camera control cable) with the following spec:

SynScan AZ

Ver. 03.07

HC Firmware:  Ver. 03.07

Database:  Ver. 03. 26

HC Hardware:  Ver. 03.06

Motor Controller:   Ver. 02.05.81

Can you deduce anything from this?

Thanks

Hello Colin,

Continued ...

How do-you know that the firmware is "02.05.81" ...via the hand-controler ?

2. do-you have ordered the cable on Ebay ? (2.5 mm male stereo plug both ends)

3. you must find a "USB to RS232" convertor for your PC (search "usb to rs232" on Ebay ...), with this one you will be able to establish a wired connection between the hand-controler of the Merlin and your PC ... this will allow you to command the Merlin by Papywizard via the "PC direct control" (see the Merlin operating manual) !
This will also permit to upgrade the firmware of the Merlin from "02.05.81" to "02.07.81" ... this way you will get a much faster Merlin when used with Papywizard.

Thats OK for now ...!?

Hi Claude,

Yes, the female 2.5 'snap' socket is there, so I'm assuming it's all wired-up inside.

Have ordered the 2.5 male-to-2.5 male stereo lead but it hasn't arrived yet.

Yes, I fired-up the Merlin with 8 alkaline AA batteries from my local £1 shop which allowed me to find the spec on the GoTo SynScan hand controller.

(For fellow Noobs following behind me: Connect hand controller to mount at 'HC' --> switch power on --> let hand controller start up --> go through menu to Utility Function - Show Information. Will give info as posted above)

My vintage Compaq has a RS232 connection so I'll download ver. 02.07.81 firmware from your site, update, and install Papywizard, then, when the lead arrives, see if I can manage to control the camera with it.

The Skywatcher Tabletop GoTo looks to be as good as new - hope I don't regret saying that - and I paid £100 GBP for the package on ebay. Next purchase: a good Nokia N800...

When I'm able to connect the 550d, what should I switch on first - the Merlin or the camera? Or does it not matter?

'til next time...

Thanks.

Last edited by ColinB (2010-11-24 17:32:56)

Hi Colin ...

The baby looks good ....

ColinB wrote:

Installed Papywizard v 2.1.20-1 dev version but got the "Can't read configuration file" message on trying to open the app.

That version does that on first run after install - it should be OK on subsequent runs.

So, uninstalled dev, and installed current stable release ver. 2.0.0-1. Bingo. Opened up OK.

(Now I have my config file setup, I guess the dev version would install ok - would it be wise to now install the dev version?)

See above.

Thing is, initially I just want to use it for timelapse, so I'm wondering...

How I can get the main 'Timelapse' tab functioning in the Papywizard GUI and, well, kind of switch off all the panoramic functions for now. Presumably, I would also need to import the XML file created by sjhenry's timelapse Preset Generator.

There is no Timelapse specific functionality in Papywizard - it has never been developed. Frederic decided that it would be better to develop a separate program for that but currently has no plans to do so.

As I understand it (not much) the Timelapse Preset Generator creates Custom Preset files that can be used in Papywizard's Preset mode.

That version does that on first run after install - it should be OK on subsequent runs.

Thanks for letting me know that

As I understand it (not much) the Timelapse Preset Generator creates Custom Preset files that can be used in Papywizard's Preset mode

So when you File ---> Import Preset file, and import the xml script created by the timelapse preset generator (or any other Preset file), the Merlin would simply follow the instructions within the imported script and exclude everything else? (sorry if that's a dumb question, I just want to be sure)

I'm suprised the latest dev relase does not work. It may failed to start from the installer, but if you then open Papywizard from its link, it should work

My fault - I uninstalled it straight after I got the config message file and should have tried it again.

Thanks both

Last edited by ColinB (2010-11-24 21:41:50)

So Colin,

I take it good to go with this version of the Skywatcher Merlin! ?!

Claude and Andrew, do you see any problems with this unit from what you can gather from this thread, Also Claude, will this one work with your Blue tooth module (yes, the one I bought with a Merlin :-) )

thanks


Henrik

PS: Claude I contacted the various suppliers here in Oz, and no one had or could get stock - one said it was being discontinued