Running out of hair

[jrm_astro]

For the last two weeks i have been trying to resolve a guiding issue.

Since installing ASCOM/APT for mount and camera control, PHD2 will not guide or calibrate.

I have run the whole set up with APT and SGP. I can get all other features to work (platesolving etc) but not guiding.
I have tried to run PHD2 alone, not connected through APT/SGP and its still a mess.
I have had all the error messages listed in the PHD2 manual at different times.
I have replaced cables, run separate USB cables to all cameras and handset (bypassing the hub), manually aligned...on and on.

I am now so confused I don't even know what to ask.

Is it possibly ASCOM and something else talking over each other?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Right now I pretty much have an extremely expensive boat anchor

[JimMinCT]

Have you checked the "enable server" box?
Do a quick google search for it and it may clear things up for you...
Good luck!

[yobbo89]

is your camera working in phd ? if not swap over from ascom to the direct driver vice versa. what is your most common error in phd ? , you should be able to slew and nudge manually in phd to test the connection to the mount.

[Baskevo]

I had a very similar issue when I started with PHD2 a few months back, and it was the easiest fix in the world... I entered in the wrong focal length for my guide scope. You have probably already put in all the correct info for your gear when using the setup wizard, but just in case you haven't I thought I'd throw it out there lol good luck!

[jrm_astro]

Have you checked the "enable server" box?
Do a quick google search for it and it may clear things up for you...
Good luck!

Hi Jim, enable server box is checked.
Maybe I'll try unchecking it and see if I can run PHD alone.

Cheers

[jrm_astro]

is your camera working in phd ? if not swap over from ascom to the direct driver vice versa. what is your most common error in phd ? , you should be able to slew and nudge manually in phd to test the connection to the mount.

Hey Yob,

Camera is working as normal in PHD. I have tried using both ASCOM driver and direct. I'll check the manual operation again but has been working fine and I will be opening the mount up for a look to check for any obvious problem.
Errors lately have been, 'too few steps in calibration'. But I have also had 'Too little east or south movement' and 'Questionable RA and Dec rates'. These can change between each attempt.

Once or twice it has guided perfectly for a few minutes, then the graph splits and (from Memory) the RA goes to the top of the graph and the dec stays around the 0 point.

Cheers

[JayTee]

In your ASCOM driver are all the properties it needs filled in - like com port, track mode, focal length, aperture, location, elevation, etc? These show up in my Celestron telescope drivers setup. Not sure what your drivers are asking for. It would be under the properties button when ASCOM starts and shows the ASCOM window.

Cheers,
JT

[jrm_astro]

Latest test results.

Mount will pulse using ASCOM EQMOD controller on all rates (1-4) and in all directions with ST-4 or ASCOM pulse guiding selected.
In PHD2 North and South will pulse, but no East or West movement. After clicking the pulse East button many times I got 'Pulse guide command has failed'.

Also, and i'm not sure if this matters, when i pulse in EQMOD on North the numbers go up. E.g. Up from 180 degrees at park position.
In PHD2 when i pulse North the numbers go down from 180 degrees.

Cheers

[jrm_astro]

In your ASCOM driver are all the properties it needs filled in - like com port, track mode, focal length, aperture, location, elevation, etc? These show up in my Celestron telescope drivers setup. Not sure what your drivers are asking for. It would be under the properties button when ASCOM starts and shows the ASCOM window.
ASCOM Setup.jpg

Cheers,
JT

Thanks JT I am pretty sure I did set this up. Will double check.

Cheers

[yobbo89]

I've might of said it before on a previous thread of yours, have you tried bumping up the guide rate from the standard 0.5x to say 0.9 x ectt.

Also are you getting good frame rates in phd, ie. No sticky dropped frames at 0.5 sec exposure ectt. Some cameras work better in 8 bit for guiding and with lower usb bandwidth to get things running smoother without dropped frames, which you may get some errors with a camera that keeps dropping frames. Sorry for any reapeted questions, just double checking

You might want to start uploading a guide log,have you checked if phd has a forum?

[jrm_astro]

I've might of said it before on a previous thread of yours, have you tried bumping up the guide rate from the standard 0.5x to say 0.9 x ectt.

Also are you getting good frame rates in phd, ie. No sticky dropped frames at 0.5 sec exposure ectt. Some cameras work better in 8 bit for guiding and with lower usb bandwidth to get things running smoother without dropped frames, which you may get some errors with a camera that keeps dropping frames. Sorry for any reapeted questions, just double checking

You might want to start uploading a guide log,have you checked if phd has a forum?

Hey Yob,

Haven't changed the guide rate as I didn't really get that far. Can't even get a calibration.
Frames seem fine. I haven't changed anything on PHD since my pre-ASCOM days so all of that should be ok?
I have looked through the PHD troubleshooting and will try a forum. I think they have one. I wonder if a guide log would help if it isn't getting to guiding stage? Might pick up the calibration error. I shall look in to this.

As above I have narrowed it down to no East/West movement in manual guide mode, though ASCOM EQMOD will slew in all directions at all rates.
I've done away with the ST-4 cable and am only using ASCOM pulse guiding now.
I think this is where all the problems are coming from. Obviously if PHD can't move the mount East/West, it can't calibrate. Right?

Cheers for your help and suggestions. Very much appreciated.

[sdbodin]

Just another reason I junked PHD2 and went back to PHD 1.14. I think, maybe to many chiefs and not enough Indians messing with the code.

Or, maybe vice versa.
Steve

[yobbo89]

On a equatorial mount, north and south is the declination, east / west is Ra, you say that west and east has no effect in guiding, phd corispond north south, east west based on the camera orientation? This gets me thinking, are you only guiding with the right ascention?

[yobbo89]

Ohh I see you can't get it to move in manual guiding. Dang.

[JayTee]

Here's the Google Groups link for PHD2:
https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!for ... hd-guiding

I think this may be an EQMOD group topic to start. I don't have a link for them.

Cheers,
JT

[jrm_astro]

Ohh I see you can't get it to move in manual guiding. Dang.

I was thinking maybe I was only guiding on one axis, but not being able to move at all manually makes me think there is a communication error somewhere. Ahhh the joys

[jrm_astro]

Just another reason I junked PHD2 and went back to PHD 1.14. I think, maybe to many chiefs and not enough Indians messing with the code.

Or, maybe vice versa.
Steve

Cheers Steve,

I'll have a look for this version and give it a run!

[jrm_astro]

Here's the Google Groups link for PHD2:
https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!for ... hd-guiding

I think this may be an EQMOD group topic to start. I don't have a link for them.

Cheers,
JT

Thanks for the link JT.
Heading there now!

Cheers