Sigma 135 - Namibia

JeffBooth

Hi there.
I am a new client here and uploaded my first imaging request a few weeks ago ... using the Sigma 135 - Namibia rig.
Unfortunately, the rig appeared to have a couple of issues and, now, I see it is not even listed on the Dashboard page.
Can anyone please advise?
Thank you in advance
Jeff Booth
Canada

lukas_demetz

Hi @JeffBooth ,

it is indeed a combination of bad weather in Namibia (it's their rainy season), combined with some specific issues of the Sigma. Once a system does not ping for several days it gets marked as "offline".

Regrettably, it seems that in Namibia we are chasing several issues with several systems: The mount of the FSQ106 is not moving anymore, at the same time the inverters of the dome of the TI450 also stopped working. Potentially they both got hit by an electrical surcharge, anyway we do have to fix these things and it takes time. Luckily, in a way, weather is preventing useful observations mostly...

JeffBooth

Good day, Lukas,
I very much appreciate your update.
RIght then, I will see if I can collect data from another rig.
All the best.
Jeff Booth
Oakville, Ontario
Canada

lukas_demetz

Hi @JeffBooth ,
current plan is to get the imaging train back to me (in Italy) for further tuning before sending it back to Namibia. It will be easier to fix here than down there 🙂

JeffBooth

Righto .... time to catch up ...
Lukas, any update on the Namibia/Samsung rig, please?
BTW, I have my own 135mm f/2 rig here -- and it is an absolute delight to image with, in particular with mosaics.

Another newbie question, please.
If there any way to estimate how long a given request will stay in a queue for? Or, is there any way I can see what a particular queue looks like?
I ask, because I have now submitted an imaging request to the FSQ106, also in Namibia.
I have looked around on the SkyGems website and cannot find out how to see this queue information.
And, again ... thank you in advance
Jeff Booth
Oakville, Ontario
Canada

lukas_demetz

JeffBooth The Sigma came back to Italy yesterday, we will now check and test it before shipping it back to Namibia. It seems that the backfocus distance is wrong.

As for the expected time for completion, obviously it's not easy to say. Currently weather was the biggest issue. Often also the combination of constraints results in very little available observation windows...

JeffBooth

Good morning, Lukas ...... roger all that ... OK, thank you very much for your reply.
Best
Jeff