Hosting your telescope at Big Bend Remote Observatories includes much more than a place to mount your equipment. Our team helps receive, install, connect, test and maintain your system so that it is ready for dependable remote operation.
Installation
Our installation process includes the physical set up and initial testing required to get your rig operational at BBRO. Your monthly subscription fee does not begin until you verify that your system is completely operational.
We will provide photographs and status updates during the installation process so you can review equipment placement, camera orientation, cable routing, and other important details. Installation includes but is not limited to:
- Receiving and visually inspecting delivered equipment
- Photographing equipment and documenting its condition
- Assembling customer supplied components.
- Installing the mount, telescope, imaging train, guide system, focuser, filter wheel, rotator, flat panel, and
other accessories. - Securing the system to the assigned pier, verifying placement and swing clearance.
- Routing and organizing power, usb, network, dew-heater, and accessory cables.
- Checking cables for safe movement throughout the system's expected range of motion.
- Configuring remote access connectivity.
- Confirming communication with the mount, cameras, focuser, filter wheel, rotator, and other installed
devices. - Confirming the mount can slew and track properly.
- Testing focuser movement and setting reasonable travel limits.
- Adjusting guide camera and pier camera focus.
- Confirming filter wheel movement and expected filter positions.
Basic Technical Support
We consider these routine tasks part of operating a customer-focused remote observatory - not opportunities to add a service charge. Basic technical support includes but is not limited to:
- Visually inspecting the telescope and imaging train.
- Providing photographs of equipment orientation or component positions.
- Checking whether cables are loose, damaged, disconnected, or interfering with movement.
- Reconnecting USB, power, network, or accessory cables.
- Replacing a failed cable when the member provides a replacement or an approved replacement is available.
- Trying an alternate USB port or connection path.
- Restarting a telescope computer or connected device.
- Checking basic network and remote access connectivity.
- Checking mount, camera, filter wheel, focuser, rotator, and guide camera connections.
- Testing electronic focuser movement and checking or resetting reasonable focuser travel limits.
- Returning a mechanical focus indicator to a requested starting position.
- Moving an electronic focuser forward and backward to verify repeatable operation.
- Refocusing a pier camera or guide camera.
- Installing or removing provided spacers.
- Confirming that a system can complete a basic imaging or operational test.
- Assisting with routine software, driver and device connection problems.
- Weekly cleaning/dusting.
Advanced Technical Support and Optical Services
Work that requires extensive optical diagnosis, precision adjustment, repeated imaging analysis, or significant technician time is available at $60 per hour. We will discuss advanced work with you before beginning billable service. Whenever practical, we will explain the problem, the recommended work, and the expected technician time before proceeding. Advanced services may include but are not limited to:
- Tip/tilt diagnosis and adjustment.
- Collimation
- Detailed optical alignment.
- Extensive back-focus optimization.
- Corner-to-corner star shape analysis.
- Filter specific tilt or focus testing.
- Multiple rounds of adjustment and test exposures.
- Multi-night diagnostic testing.
- Detailed guiding or tracking optimization.
- Major imaging train reconstruction.
- Complex mechanical modifications.
- Any other specialized work outside routine installation and basic support.
