Guiding after platesolve

Discuss guiding here
Post Reply
User avatar
jrm_astro
Earth Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 41
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2019 8:18 am
4
Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia
Status:
Offline

Guiding after platesolve

#1

Post by jrm_astro »


G'day All,

So after a few frustrating months I have had the time (and clear skies) to try to get to the bottom of my guiding woes.
After trying the PHD2 forum I felt like I was going in circles and was getting nowhere.
I uninstalled PHD2, reinstalled with a new profile and went back to star aligning with the handset etc.
This has brought me back to the point where I can image again, though I would still really like to be able to platesolve and control the mount from the computer.
I have been refining my PA and seem to have it quite accurate. Note, I cannot see the SCP at all so this is down by compass etc.
When I do a star align with the handset I am able to achieve reasonable guiding results and image through the night.

If I use the platesolve routine in APT I can guide for 5-10 mins and then it all falls apart. My routine is GoTo a star, solve and sync, GoTo object, start guiding calibration, start guiding.
Am I missing something in my routine? Is my PA still not good enough?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Cheers
John
Scope - Skywatcher ED80
Mount - Skywatcher HEQ5
Guiding - Orion 50mm guide with ZWO ASI120MM-S
Imaging - ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool, ZWO Filter wheel, LRGB, Ha Sii Oiii and Dark frame filters
Software - APT, PS2, ASPS, PHD2, BYE, ASCOM, Stellarium, PI, PS.
Sky - Bortle 5
User avatar
JayTee United States of America
Universal Ambassador
Articles: 2
Offline
Posts: 5619
Joined: Thu Apr 25, 2019 3:23 am
4
Location: Idaho, USA
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

TSS Photo of the Day

Re: Guiding after platesolve

#2

Post by JayTee »


Your procedure looks good. There doesn't appear to be anything missing.

Let me get this straight, you are able to goto align the mount, and sync the mount, and you are able to guide the mount, is this correct? If all this is true, then have you run the Guiding Assistant (GA) in PHD2?

After you calibrate PHD2 you want to run the GA and then take the recommendations it has for your guiding parameters, also you can refine your PA by using the drift align function in PHD2 if you haven't already done so.

Lastly, read my most recent post on the set up procedures for PHD2 and see if that helps refine or help you find anything that will improve your situation.

Cheers,
JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°

Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."

Image
User avatar
jrm_astro
Earth Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 41
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2019 8:18 am
4
Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia
Status:
Offline

Re: Guiding after platesolve

#3

Post by jrm_astro »


Yes that is correct JT. I can GoTo, solve and sync. Guiding works fine for a bit then just dies and gives an error. I think it was 'phd2 unable to make corrections', or something like that.
Also, I forgot to add in the first post, when I calibrate in PHD2 after a platesolve, i get the, guiding may be inhibited due to not enough South steps, error. When I calibrate after my handset alignment I don't get this and everything works fine.

I have run the GA and made all recommended changes. I did spot that post of yours and will be applying those changes tonight.
I will also be attempting the drift align tool, once I get my head around the procedure.

Cheers
Scope - Skywatcher ED80
Mount - Skywatcher HEQ5
Guiding - Orion 50mm guide with ZWO ASI120MM-S
Imaging - ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool, ZWO Filter wheel, LRGB, Ha Sii Oiii and Dark frame filters
Software - APT, PS2, ASPS, PHD2, BYE, ASCOM, Stellarium, PI, PS.
Sky - Bortle 5
User avatar
JayTee United States of America
Universal Ambassador
Articles: 2
Offline
Posts: 5619
Joined: Thu Apr 25, 2019 3:23 am
4
Location: Idaho, USA
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

TSS Photo of the Day

Re: Guiding after platesolve

#4

Post by JayTee »


Okay, 2 more things: 1, make sure you have an adequate step size for the calibration. There is a calculator in the profile setup as to how big that step size should be. 2, before you begin a calibration always nudge your mount to the north. That is typically the up button on your hand controller. You do this to take the play out of the deck axis.

JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°

Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."

Image
User avatar
jrm_astro
Earth Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 41
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2019 8:18 am
4
Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia
Status:
Offline

Re: Guiding after platesolve

#5

Post by jrm_astro »


Will do. Thanks again for the help :)
Scope - Skywatcher ED80
Mount - Skywatcher HEQ5
Guiding - Orion 50mm guide with ZWO ASI120MM-S
Imaging - ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool, ZWO Filter wheel, LRGB, Ha Sii Oiii and Dark frame filters
Software - APT, PS2, ASPS, PHD2, BYE, ASCOM, Stellarium, PI, PS.
Sky - Bortle 5
Post Reply

Create an account or sign in to join the discussion

You need to be a member in order to post a reply

Create an account

Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute

Register

Sign in

Return to “Guiding”