-----Original Message-----
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Shane Ramotowski
Sent: Thursday, March 4, 2021 7:39 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] APPM with Dome Questions

Thanks Ron, but I'm really happy with SGP and do not need to try NINA.

Here are the settings that pretty much work for me:
Start APCC and connect to mount and virtual ports
Start Device Hub and connect to ASCOM AP telescope driver and ASCOM Dome
driver of your choice. Under dome settings, set the poll as low as will
go: 5 seconds
Start SGP and connect to camera of your choice and the telescope--either
AP or DeviceHub, it doesn't really matter since SGP is not going to
issue slews, it's just going to get the RA/DEC for plate solves. Do NOT
connect to the dome. I'm using my standard profile (except the dome)
which controls my specific hardware. My plate solver is ASTAP with
failover to local ANSVR. ASTAP solves immediately when close RA/DEC is
given as hints. ANSVR solves in about 15 seconds.
Start APPM .
- under Settings -> Dome Settings, choose "PASSIVE" and set the slew
check setting to 20 seconds and the settle setting to 10 seconds. These
settings work for me and my dome rotation speed. You may have to
increase them if your dome rotates slower than mine. Just try it an
see--the first 3 points will tell you if the settings will work or not.
- connect to mount (AP is the only choice)
- connect camera to SGP
- connect dome to DeviceHub dome
- choose SGP for the plate solver
Run the point mapper. With these settings, the dome did manage to get
in place before imaging started for every point except the first one. I
pre-positioned the scope at the first point and let the dome get there
before I started the run.

I'm thinking about writing an "APPM Helper" program to get "Active"
slews to work. APPM doesn't do geometry, so it can't send the dome to
the correct position. DeviceHub does do geometry and does send the dome
to the correct position if it gets the RA/DEC that the telescope/mount
is slewing to. APPM only talks to the AP ASCOM telescope driver, so it
can't send the RA/DEC to the DeviceHub psuedo-telescope. I can monitor
APPM's log file and extract the RA/DEC as each point's slew begins and
then re-issue them to DeviceHub's telescope driver so that the dome slew
to where the telescope is headed. DeviceHub can be connected to a
telescope simulator instead of the AP ASCOM driver to avoid sending a
duplicate slew to the real telescope. The dome shouldn't know the
difference and sill go to the appropriate azimuth for the RA/DEC. The
only thing I need to test is whether or not I can get to the correct
position when the counterweight is up. I think I can detect that the
telescope is going to a CW up position--I may have to make a special
ASCOM telescope simulator to handle it correctly. If I can make this
work, it will cut a couple of hours off of an APPM run.

- Shane

On 3/4/2021 8:01 AM, Ron Kramer wrote:

Following. I read the thread and have experienced much the same as
Shane. APPM, scope and dome do not play together on my setup either.
timing is off and it's quite a chore to revert back to SGP which I
normally have deleted from my observatory drive. I have been waiting
to use APPM for when NINA is supported.
Shane, give NINA a try (free) it's jaw-droppingly good coming from SGP.

On Mon, Mar 1, 2021 at 8:33 AM Shane Ramotowski <kor@...
<mailto:kor@...>> wrote:

OK. I'll see if I can install and test it.

I apologize: "depricated" was not the term they used. POTH has been
"retired" and "will be removed in a future release".

From the v6.5/v6.5.SP1 Version History
<https://ascom-standards.org/Help/Platform/html/FC49CB34-01CF-4D01-BE66-6D55796512D5.htm
<https://ascom-standards.org/Help/Platform/html/FC49CB34-01CF-4D01-BE66-6D55796512D5.htm>>:

> Retired Components

The following Platform 5 hubs have been retired in this
release and
are replaced by the new Device Hub. We strongly recommend that you
switch over to using the Device Hub because these components
will be
removed in a future release.

* POTH
* Hub
* Pipe
* Dome Control Hub


- Shane

On 2/28/2021 8:49 PM, Ray Gralak wrote:
>
> > I was unable to test POTH, as you
>
> > suggested, since it is depricated, no longer part of the ASCOM
6.5SP1
>
> > distribution
>
> Sorry, but that is incorrect!
>
> By default, POTH is not installed, but it can be installed if you
> select it..
>
> Here’s a screenshot of the ASCOM 6.5 SP1 Setup:
>
> -Ray
>
> > -----Original Message-----
>
> > From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io>
[mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io <mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io>] On
Behalf Of
> Shane Ramotowski
>
> > Sent: Sunday, February 28, 2021 7:06 PM
>
> > To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io>
>
> > Subject: Re: [ap-gto] APPM with Dome Questions
>
> >
>
> > Not personally, but I would think that anyone using a
rotational dome
>
> > would need some way to position it so that the telescope is
not blocked
>
> > by the slot. Since the "Active" mode doesn't do the geometry,
unless
>
> > you have a very wide slot that goes significantly past vertical,
>
> > "Passive" is really the only option. I was unable to test
POTH, as you
>
> > suggested, since it is depricated, no longer part of the ASCOM
6.5SP1
>
> > distribution, and I could not find a download of it from a
reliable
>
> > source. I would expect, however, that it would have a similar
issue,
>
> > either needing to know where the telescope is slewing to or
slewing the
>
> > dome by polling the telescope's position periodically. SGP
has slaving
>
> > that works well and has a minimum polling frequency of 1
seconds. But
>
> > it was made with the intention of some other application
connecting to
>
> > SGP to query the dome slewing state. I don't know of any
other solution
>
> > than DeviceHub if you are running up-to-date ASCOM.
>
> >
>
> > Of course if you have a roll-off, open clam shell, or are just
outside,
>
> > you don't need any dome support all!
>
> >
>
> > I'm guessing, based on my serial number, that there are a
little over
>
> > 120 Mach2's out there that came with APPM. I don't know how
many copies
>
> > of APPM are being used by 1100 and 1600 users, nor how many of
those
>
> > users along with other Mach2 owners have rotational domes (I think
>
> > roll-offs are much more popular), but I am a bit surprised
that this has
>
> > not been brought up before. The Mach2 is fairly compact and I
am using
>
> > a 4" refractor, so my geometry ought to be about as optimal as
it gets.
>
> > The slot in my dome looks to be a similar proportion to other
domes I've
>
> > seen; it is by no means overly narrow. And yet, in Active
mode, for
>
> > most of the sample points, the dome ends up covering more than
half of
>
> > the telescopes view, so I need to use Passive mode. Maybe I
really am
>
> > doing something totally wrong and stupid, but I sure don't
know what
>
> > that would be...
>
> >
>
> > - Shane
>
> >
>
> > On 2/28/2021 7:19 PM, Ray Gralak wrote:
>
> > > Shane,
>
> > >
>
> > >> As far as the APPM specific commands, could you allow a
connection to
>
> > >> DeviceHub to send the info necessary for the slew and then
send the
>
> > >> "special sauce" directly to the AP V2 driver?
>
> > > I would have to bring this up with Marj to see if this is
something A-P would want
> to have implemented and
>
> > supported. Are you aware of any others thatwould want this
feature?
>
> > >
>
> > > -Ray
>
> > >
>
> > >> -----Original Message-----
>
> > >> From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io>
[mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io <mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io>] On
Behalf Of
> Shane Ramotowski
>
> > >> Sent: Sunday, February 28, 2021 4:29 PM
>
> > >> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io>
>
> > >> Subject: Re: [ap-gto] APPM with Dome Questions
>
> > >>
>
> > >> When using DeviceHub, if you are connected to both
DeviceHub's telescope
>
> > >> and dome drivers, then when you issue a telescope slew,
DeviceHub knows
>
> > >> the target RA and DEC and can start a dome slew to the
azimuth that the
>
> > >> telescope will end at.
>
> > >>
>
> > >> If you cannot connect to the DeviceHub telescope and/or
dome, then
>
> > >> DeviceHub uses a polling scheme to ask where the telescope
is and then
>
> > >> send the dome to the correct azimuth.The polling period,
>
> > >> unfortunately, seems to have a minimum of 5 seconds.So,
during an APPM
>
> > >> run, APPM will tell the telescope to slew.Sometime less
than 5 seconds
>
> > >> later, DeviceHub will retrieve the current RA/DEC from the
telescope and
>
> > >> start the dome slewing to that position.For longer slews, the
>
> > >> telescope may still be moving.5 seconds after the dome
arrives at the
>
> > >> indicated position, it finds that the telescope has moved
again (in
>
> > >> acutality, the telescope never stopped moving, simply
completing its
>
> > >> original slew.So DeviceHub issues a second slew to get to
the final
>
> > >> position.
>
> > >>
>
> > >> So for the Passive settings in APPM, I have to use timeouts
long enough
>
> > >> to account for 2 polling periods plus 2 slew times to
ensure that the
>
> > >> dome is really in position before imaging starts.I can't
let APPM
>
> > >> catch the dome in a stopped state between two dome slews. I
hope that
>
> > >> makes sense.
>
> > >>
>
> > >> I ran a large model last night using DeviceHub.I lost 5
points in
>
> > >> total, which isn't that bad.Three of them were because of the
>
> > >> bodaciously bright almost full moon and the other two were
bad luck in
>
> > >> the timing of long slews from the end of on string of
points to the
>
> > >> start of the next.I was concerned that DeviceHub would not
position
>
> > >> properly for the counterweight-up points, but it did so
correctly.The
>
> > >> model run took a lot longer than I expected since I was
waiting 40
>
> > >> seconds (usually unnecessarily) for each point to give the
dome time to
>
> > >> get into position in case it was a long slew.
>
> > >>
>
> > >> I really don't know if supporting DeviceHub's telescope
driver will
>
> > >> work.I'm assuming that if the SideOfPier property is set
correctly
>
> > >> when the slew is issued, DeviceHub will go to the correct
location even
>
> > >> if it ends up counterweight-up.But I haven't tested that
and I really
>
> > >> don't know how--well I guess I could write a little program
to do that.
>
> > >> I will do so if you are considering adding such support and
the results
>
> > >> of that test would help.
>
> > >>
>
> > >> As far as the APPM specific commands, could you allow a
connection to
>
> > >> DeviceHub to send the info necessary for the slew and then
send the
>
> > >> "special sauce" directly to the AP V2 driver?
>
> > >>
>
> > >> - Shane
>
> > >>
>
> > >> On 2/28/2021 8:10 AM, Ray Gralak wrote:
>
> > >>> Hi Shane,
>
> > >>>
>
> > >>>> One more question, Ray:In APPM, is there a way to connect
to the
>
> > >>>> DeviceHub telescope or is it locked to the AP ASCOM driver?
>
> > >>> You would not want to connect APPM to the DeviceHub
telescope. APPM uses
> some commands that the
>
> > >> DeviceHub would not be able to pass through to the AP V2
driver.
>
> > >>> That said, what is the use case for this?
>
> > >>>
>
> > >>> -Ray
>
> > >>>
>
> > >>>> -----Original Message-----
>
> > >>>> From: main@ap-gto.groups.io
<mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io> [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io
<mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io>] On Behalf
> Of Shane Ramotowski
>
> > >>>> Sent: Sunday, February 28, 2021 3:52 AM
>
> > >>>> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io>
>
> > >>>> Subject: Re: [ap-gto] APPM with Dome Questions
>
> > >>>>
>
> > >>>> One more question, Ray:In APPM, is there a way to connect
to the
>
> > >>>> DeviceHub telescope or is it locked to the AP ASCOM driver?
>
> > >>>>
>
> > >>>> Thanks - Shane
>
> > >>>>
>
> > >>>> On 2/27/2021 8:09 PM, Shane Ramotowski wrote:
>
> > >>>>> Ahh, I think it understand.I use DeviceHub to do the
slaving, but
>
> > >>>>> still connect to the DeviceHub dome with APPM.I will try
that and
>
> > >>>>> see what happens.
>
> > >>>>>
>
> > >>>>> Thanks - Shane
>
> > >>>>>
>
> > >>>>> On 2/27/2021 5:27 PM, Ray Gralak wrote:
>
> > >>>>>> Shane,
>
> > >>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>> OK.I'll wait for the ASCOM folks to add the APIs that you
> want before
>
> > >>>>>>> I try to use "Active" mode again.
>
> > >>>>>> I think you misunderstood. ASCOM is not planning to add
those
> APIs.
>
> > >>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>> For the second part of my reply, I guess I did not
make it
> clear enough
>
> > >>>>>>> that I was using DeviceHub not allowing APPM to
connect to
> the dome,
>
> > >>>>>>> since APPM cannot send the dome to the correct
position an
> DeviceHub
>
> > >>>>>>> can. _I am simply trying to understand what I'm doing
wrong when
>
> > >>>>>>> setting
>
> > >>>>>>> up "Passive" parameters in the "Dome Settings" box.__
>
> > >>>>>> In passive mode, APPM only needs to poll the Dome's
slewing
> state to
>
> > >>>>>> work. If you can't do that then APPM won't be able to tell
> when the
>
> > >>>>>> dome is done slewing.
>
> > >>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>> If Device Hub won't let APPM connect to the Dome driver
you
> can use
>
> > >>>>>> the older ASCOM POTH application, which allows multiple
> applications
>
> > >>>>>> to connect to an ASCOM driver.
>
> > >>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>> So can you please tell me what settings I can use for
"Delay
> before
>
> > >>>>>>> staring dome slew check" and "Settle time after dome
stops
> slewing" to
>
> > >>>>>>> ensure that I end up with at least 30 seconds between
the end
> of the
>
> > >>>>>>> telescope slew and the start of imaging?
>
> > >>>>>> First, the two parameters only have meaning when you are
> connected to
>
> > >>>>>> a Dome driver. If you are not connected they won't be used.
>
> > >>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>> "Delay before starting dome slew checking"
>
> > >>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>> The number of seconds before APPM will start checking
the dome
>
> > >>>>>> driver's slew state. This delay allows the dome driver
time to
>
> > >>>>>> initiate dome movement that will be reflected by reading
> "True" from
>
> > >>>>>> the Dome driver's "Slewing" property. If the value is
False when
>
> > >>>>>> read, then dome slewing will be considered completed.
>
> > >>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>> "Settle time after dome stops slewing"
>
> > >>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>> The number of seconds to delay slew completion after
the Dome
>
> > >>>>>> driver's "Slewing" property reads "False".
>
> > >>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>> -Ray
>
> > >>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>
> > >>>>>>> From: main@ap-gto.groups.io
<mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io> [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io
<mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io>] On
> Behalf
>
> > >>>>>>> Of Shane Ramotowski
>
> > >>>>>>> Sent: Saturday, February 27, 2021 2:16 PM
>
> > >>>>>>> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io>
>
> > >>>>>>> Subject: Re: [ap-gto] APPM with Dome Questions
>
> > >>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>> OK.I'll wait for the ASCOM folks to add the APIs that you
> want before
>
> > >>>>>>> I try to use "Active" mode again.
>
> > >>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>> For the second part of my reply, I guess I did not
make it
> clear enough
>
> > >>>>>>> that I was using DeviceHub not allowing APPM to
connect to
> the dome,
>
> > >>>>>>> since APPM cannot send the dome to the correct
position an
> DeviceHub
>
> > >>>>>>> can. _I am simply trying to understand what I'm doing
wrong when
>
> > >>>>>>> setting
>
> > >>>>>>> up "Passive" parameters in the "Dome Settings" box.__
>
> > >>>>>>> _
>
> > >>>>>>> So can you please tell me what settings I can use for
"Delay
> before
>
> > >>>>>>> staring dome slew check" and "Settle time after dome
stops
> slewing" to
>
> > >>>>>>> ensure that I end up with at least 30 seconds between
the end
> of the
>
> > >>>>>>> telescope slew and the start of imaging?Assume that I
did not
> change
>
> > >>>>>>> the default telescope slew of 900X.The log entry I
posted is
> from a
>
> > >>>>>>> session that used DeviceHub with "Delay before
starting dome slew
>
> > >>>>>>> check"
>
> > >>>>>>> set to 30 seconds and "Settle time after dome stops
slewing"
> set to 10
>
> > >>>>>>> seconds.You can see that the time between the start of
the
> telescope
>
> > >>>>>>> slew and the the start of imaging is about 12 seconds.So,
> clearly, I
>
> > >>>>>>> am not understanding how these two parameters work.
>
> > >>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>> Thank you - Shane
>
> > >>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>> On 2/27/2021 2:16 PM, Ray Gralak wrote:
>
> > >>>>>>>> Shane,
>
> > >>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>> APPM's "Active mode" sends the telescope's destination
>
> > >>>>>>>>>> coordinates to the dome ASCOM driver. In this
>
> > >>>>>>>>> case, it is the responsibility of the driver or
intermediate
>
> > >>>>>>>>>> application to translate the RA/Dec coordinates to the
>
> > >>>>>>>>>> appropriate dome position.
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Hmmm, so how does that work?What part of the ASCOM
dome API
>
> > >>>>>>>>> would that
>
> > >>>>>>>>> be?
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
<https://ascom-standards.org/Help/Developer/html/T_ASCOM_DriverAccess_Dome.htm
<https://ascom-standards.org/Help/Developer/html/T_ASCOM_DriverAccess_Dome.htm>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>> Again, APPM does not do dome calculations (nor is
there a
> plan for
>
> > >>>>>>>> it to do that). IMO, the ASCOM Dome API
>
> > >>>>>>> is missing a way to send scope Ra/Dec/pierside to the
Dome
> driver.
>
> > >>>>>>> ASCOM makes such a big deal about
>
> > >>>>>>> abstracting away telescope applications from the
hardware,
> but the
>
> > >>>>>>> incomplete Dome API pretty much forces
>
> > >>>>>>> the use of a third-party application.
>
> > >>>>>>>> I think each dome manufacturer should each create
their own
> drivers
>
> > >>>>>>>> that should take into account the
>
> > >>>>>>> telescope and mount dimensions. It would have made
life much
> easier
>
> > >>>>>>> for each application developer that has
>
> > >>>>>>> had to implement dome coordinate transformations in their
> applications.
>
> > >>>>>>>>>> In "Passive mode" APPM waits for the dome to finish
slewing by
>
> > >>>>>>>>> polling the dome's driver (or intermediate application).
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>> That is exactly what I expected.What should I set
the two
> passive
>
> > >>>>>>>>> values to to ensure that the imaging doesn't start for,
> say, 1 minute
>
> > >>>>>>>>> after the scope stops slewing?Or am I not
understanding the
>
> > >>>>>>>>> meaning of
>
> > >>>>>>>>> those two fields and their documentation in the manual?
>
> > >>>>>>>> To use passive mode the dome driver or application
must be
> slaved
>
> > >>>>>>>> to the telescope. In this case APPM just
>
> > >>>>>>> polls the slewing state until dome slewing stops. If
slaving
> can't
>
> > >>>>>>> be done, there is an option in APPM to pause
>
> > >>>>>>> after each point, which would allow you to position
the dome
> opening.
>
> > >>>>>>>>> The total time between the start of the point's
processing and
>
> > >>>>>>>>> start of
>
> > >>>>>>>>> it's imaging is about 12 seconds.Shouldn't that be
at least 40
>
> > >>>>>>>>> seconds
>
> > >>>>>>>>> to allow the dome delay and settle times to
happen?What am I
>
> > >>>>>>>>> misunderstanding?.
>
> > >>>>>>>> There are no dome messages in your post so I can't
tell you what
>
> > >>>>>>>> happened. Are you sure that you had
>
> > >>>>>>> APPM connected to your Dome application?
>
> > >>>>>>>> BTW, the problem might be that you are using the ASCOM
> Device Hub
>
> > >>>>>>>> instead of the older POTH dome
>
> > >>>>>>> handling. The behavior is dome behavior is different in
> Device Hub,
>
> > >>>>>>> and it sounds like the author left out some
>
> > >>>>>>> old functionality.
>
> > >>>>>>>> -Ray
>
> > >>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>
> > >>>>>>>>> From: main@ap-gto.groups.io
<mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io> [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io
<mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io>] On
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Behalf Of Shane Ramotowski
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Sent: Saturday, February 27, 2021 11:32 AM
>
> > >>>>>>>>> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io>
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [ap-gto] APPM with Dome Questions
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Ray, thanks for the reply, but I don't really see
anything that
>
> > >>>>>>>>> will help.
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>> APPM's "Active mode" sends the telescope's destination
>
> > >>>>>>>>>> coordinates to the dome ASCOM driver. In this
>
> > >>>>>>>>> case, it is the responsibility of the driver or
intermediate
>
> > >>>>>>>>>> application to translate the RA/Dec coordinates to the
>
> > >>>>>>>>>> appropriate dome position.
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Hmmm, so how does that work?What part of the ASCOM
dome API
>
> > >>>>>>>>> would that
>
> > >>>>>>>>> be?
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
<https://ascom-standards.org/Help/Developer/html/T_ASCOM_DriverAccess_Dome.htm
<https://ascom-standards.org/Help/Developer/html/T_ASCOM_DriverAccess_Dome.htm>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>> I am definitely returning false fort the CanSlave
and Slaved
>
> > >>>>>>>>> properties,
>
> > >>>>>>>>> since there is no hardware-based slaving capability
in the dome
>
> > >>>>>>>>> controller.And I don't see way to "send the telescope's
> destination
>
> > >>>>>>>>> coordinates" to the ASCOM driver.
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>> The call that the ASCOM driver receives from APPM is
>
> > >>>>>>>>> "SlewToAzimuth()"
>
> > >>>>>>>>> but I think you are basing that azimuth on the
center of
> the dome
>
> > >>>>>>>>> rather
>
> > >>>>>>>>> than the position of the telescope, which can be
significantly
>
> > >>>>>>>>> different--consider the initial slew to zenith in
which the
> RA axis
>
> > >>>>>>>>> rotates west and level and the DEC axis point strait
up. The
>
> > >>>>>>>>> telescope
>
> > >>>>>>>>> is several inches West of the center of the
mount.From what I
>
> > >>>>>>>>> understand, if you are going to use SlewToAzimuth(),
you
> need to
>
> > >>>>>>>>> consider this.
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>> If you look at ASCOM's DeviceHub, written by Rick
and Pete, who
>
> > >>>>>>>>> answer
>
> > >>>>>>>>> most of the dome-related questions posted to the ASCOM
> Driver and
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Application Development Support Forum, it has a whole
> section for
>
> > >>>>>>>>> dome
>
> > >>>>>>>>> and mount geometry in it's setup section to allow
slaving.
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>> In "Passive mode" APPM waits for the dome to finish
slewing by
>
> > >>>>>>>>> polling the dome's driver (or intermediate application).
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>> That is exactly what I expected.What should I set
the two
> passive
>
> > >>>>>>>>> values to to ensure that the imaging doesn't start for,
> say, 1 minute
>
> > >>>>>>>>> after the scope stops slewing?Or am I not
understanding the
>
> > >>>>>>>>> meaning of
>
> > >>>>>>>>> those two fields and their documentation in the manual?
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Here is a log excerpt from one of my attempts last
night. Under
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Settings->Dome Settings, Passive is selected, "Delay
before
> starting
>
> > >>>>>>>>> dome slew checking" is set to 30 seconds and "Settle
time
> after dome
>
> > >>>>>>>>> stops slewing" is set to 10 seconds.
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 0467221 2021-02-26 20:46:21.965:Info,State Machine,
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Entering
>
> > >>>>>>>>> State=SlewNext
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 0467222 2021-02-26 20:46:22.103:Info, SlewNext, Starting
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Slew to Point 3 RA: 08h 30m 06.56s, HA: -01h 20m
00.00s,
> Dec: -10°
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 00'
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 00.0")
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 0467223 2021-02-26 20:46:22.105:Info,Slew Next,
>
> > >>>>>>>>> East=True,
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Dec=-10, HA=-1.33333333333333, MerDelay=-0.25,
MerOffset=0
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 0467224 2021-02-26 20:46:22.105:Info, Meridian, Setting
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Meridian Delay to -0.25 (-00h 15m 00.00s)
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 0467225 2021-02-26 20:46:22.144: Info, SlewAsync, Begin
>
> > >>>>>>>>> UnSAFE Slew to RA/Dec:8.501824 / -10.000000 ( 08h
30m 06.56s /
>
> > >>>>>>>>> -10°
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 00' 00.0")
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 0467226 2021-02-26 20:46:22.215:Info,State Machine,
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Entering
>
> > >>>>>>>>> State=PreSlewing
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 0467227 2021-02-26 20:46:25.482:Info,State Machine,
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Entering
>
> > >>>>>>>>> State=Slewing
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 0467228 2021-02-26 20:46:30.722:Info,State Machine,
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Entering
>
> > >>>>>>>>> State=StartSettle
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 0467229 2021-02-26 20:46:30.741:Info, StartSettle,
Starting
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Settle wait time
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 0467230 2021-02-26 20:46:30.970:Info,State Machine,
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Entering
>
> > >>>>>>>>> State=WaitSettle
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 0467231 2021-02-26 20:46:32.974:Info, WaitSettle,
Settling
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Time Complete
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 0467232 2021-02-26 20:46:33.022:Info, WaitSettle,
Finished
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Slew to Point 3
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 0467233 2021-02-26 20:46:33.022:Info, WaitSettle,
RA/Dec:
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 8.501833 / -10.000000 ( 08h 30m 06.60s /-10° 00' 00.0")
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 0467234 2021-02-26 20:46:33.022:Info, WaitSettle,
HA/Dec:
>
> > >>>>>>>>> -1.329942 / -10.000000 (-01h 19m 47.79s /-10° 00' 00.0")
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 0467235 2021-02-26 20:46:33.226:Info,State Machine,
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Entering
>
> > >>>>>>>>> State=StartImage
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 0467236 2021-02-26 20:46:33.260:Info,State Machine,
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Starting
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Exposure, Duration=5 LST=7.17191416666667 (07h 10m
18.89s)
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 0467237 2021-02-26 20:46:33.260:Info,State Machine,
LST mid
>
> > >>>>>>>>> image=7.1727475 (07h 10m 21.89s)
>
> > >>>>>>>>> 0467238 2021-02-26 20:46:33.260:Info,
StartTakeImage, Sequence
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Generator Pro: Binning=1, Subframe Type: 0, Duration=5,
>
> > >>>>>>>>> IsDarkFrame=False
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>> The total time between the start of the point's
processing and
>
> > >>>>>>>>> start of
>
> > >>>>>>>>> it's imaging is about 12 seconds.Shouldn't that be
at least 40
>
> > >>>>>>>>> seconds
>
> > >>>>>>>>> to allow the dome delay and settle times to
happen?What am I
>
> > >>>>>>>>> misunderstanding?
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>> The dome controller and ASCOM driver do handle
Slewing property
>
> > >>>>>>>>> correctly, returning TRUE from the time that the
> slewToAzimuth() is
>
> > >>>>>>>>> issued until the dome is stopped at the requested
position,
> then
>
> > >>>>>>>>> returning FALSE until the next slew is issuedSometimes,
>
> > >>>>>>>>> DeviceHub or
>
> > >>>>>>>>> SGP will end up issuing more than one slew to get
the dome
> to the
>
> > >>>>>>>>> final
>
> > >>>>>>>>> position.The slaving software notices that the
telescope has
>
> > >>>>>>>>> moved and
>
> > >>>>>>>>> starts an azimuth slew to where is while the
telescope is still
>
> > >>>>>>>>> moving.
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Once the dome arrives at that position, another
azimuth slew to
>
> > >>>>>>>>> get to
>
> > >>>>>>>>> where the telescope finally stopped.Last night, the
longest
> time
>
> > >>>>>>>>> that
>
> > >>>>>>>>> such multiple slews took was about 20 seconds.That
is why I
> set the
>
> > >>>>>>>>> "Delay before starting dome slew checking" to 30
seconds. I
> though
>
> > >>>>>>>>> that
>
> > >>>>>>>>> would make APPM not even check for a dome slew until
the
> dome was in
>
> > >>>>>>>>> place and had stopped moving.Instead, it seemed to
have made no
>
> > >>>>>>>>> difference: the imaging started almost as soon as
the telescope
>
> > >>>>>>>>> arrived
>
> > >>>>>>>>> at its position.
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Thanks - Shane
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>> On 2/27/2021 10:06 AM, Ray Gralak wrote:
>
> > >>>>>>>>>> Hi Shane,
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>> APPM's "Active mode" sends the telescope's destination
>
> > >>>>>>>>>> coordinates to the dome ASCOM driver. In this
>
> > >>>>>>>>> case, it is the responsibility of the driver or
intermediate
>
> > >>>>>>>>> application to translate the RA/Dec coordinates to
>
> > >>>>>>> the
>
> > >>>>>>>>> appropriate dome position.
>
> > >>>>>>>>>> In "Passive mode" APPM waits for the dome to finish
slewing by
>
> > >>>>>>>>>> polling the dome's driver (or intermediate
>
> > >>>>>>>>> application).
>
> > >>>>>>>>>> So, it seems that your dome's ascom driver (or
intermediate
>
> > >>>>>>>>>> application) may not be correctly indicating
>
> > >>>>>>> when
>
> > >>>>>>>>> the dome is slewing.
>
> > >>>>>>>>>> -Ray
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> From: main@ap-gto.groups.io
<mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io> [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io
<mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io>] On
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> Behalf Of Shane Ramotowski
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> Sent: Friday, February 26, 2021 9:19 PM
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
<mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> Subject: [ap-gto] APPM with Dome Questions
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> Hi gang,
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> I am the proud owner of a brand new (well 2 weeks)
Mach2 and
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> tried to do
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> my first APPM model tonight.I'm having problems
with the dome
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> control
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> and hope someone can point in the right direction.
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> My observatory is a ClearSkys (I don't think they
are around
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> anymore) 8
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> ft dome.The pier is centered and the bottom of the
mount is
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> just about
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> even with the bottom of the dome.The rotation
control is
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> homemade (my
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> COVID quarantine project) and works very will with
both ASCOM
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> DeviceHub
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> and SGP.I'm using SGP for image capture and plate
solve.
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> I can't figure out how to set up APPM to control
the dome
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> properly. If I
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> use "Active" in the "AP Point Mapper - Dome
Settings" panel,
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> APPM seems
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> to do it's calculations based on the center of the
dome
> instead
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> of where
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> the telescope is.This is not surprising since I
can't seem to
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> find any
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> where in the program or the documentation to set the
> mount and
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> telescope
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> geometry.I suppose, since APCC knows that I'm using a
> Mach2, it
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> _could_ already know roughly how far from the
center of the
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> RA/DEC axes
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> intersection the bottom of my telescope is.But I
don't see
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> anyway that
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> it could know where the center of my OTA is.I
really don't
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> think it's
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> using the parameters from 3D view; I haven't set
that up,
> but the
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> default is a much larger diameter telescope than mine.
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>>Anyway, when I use "Active", I end up imaging
across the
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> edge of the
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> slot because the slot is positioned for the center
of the
> mount
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> instead
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> of where the telescope is.Most of the images ended
up plate
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> solving
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> anyway, but sincethe stars are all diffraction
spikes, I
> don't
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> know
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> the quality of those solutions.The initial slew to
> meridian is
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> probably the worst because the dome is in the
exact opposite
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> position
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> than it should be and my slot just goes barely past
> vertical.I
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> checked the ASCOM logs on the PC and my ASCOM
debug screen on
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> the dome
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> controller.The dome _is_ slewing to the position
that APPM
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> requests;
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> that position just doesn't seem to be based on
where the
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> telescope is.
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> Can anyone tell me what I'm missing?Where do I
enter the
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> offsets for
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> the mount/scope geometer so that APPM can got to
the correct
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> position?
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> So, after trying "Active", I swiched to "Passive" and
> tried with
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> two
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> different dome slaving programs: ASCOM Device Hub
and SGP.For
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> "Delay
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> before starting dome slew checking", I used values
> ranging from
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> 5 to 30
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> seconds.For "Settle time after dome stops
slewing", I used
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> values from
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> 1 to 20 seconds.I didn't see any effect when
changing these
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> settings;
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> in all cases the the telescope slewed to the next
> position and
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> started
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> imaging a few seconds after it got there--many
seconds before
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> the dome
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> was in position.None of those images solved since the
> dome was
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> in the
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> way.Again, I can't figure out what I'm doing
wrong--it's like
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> I'm not
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> even changing the values.Is there another setting
that I'm
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> missing
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> that enables these timeouts?
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> I'm sure someone else has successfully done an
APPM run
> from an
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> automated dome!What am I missing?
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> Thanks - Shane
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> --
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> Shane Ramotowski
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> kor@... <mailto:kor@...>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>> https://www.kor-astro.net <https://www.kor-astro.net>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>> --
>
> > >>>>>>>>> Shane Ramotowski
>
> > >>>>>>>>> kor@... <mailto:kor@...>
>
> > >>>>>>>>> https://www.kor-astro.net <https://www.kor-astro.net>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>> --
>
> > >>>>>>> Shane Ramotowski
>
> > >>>>>>> kor@... <mailto:kor@...>
>
> > >>>>>>> https://www.kor-astro.net <https://www.kor-astro.net>
>
> > >>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>
>
> > >>>>>>
>
> > >>>> --
>
> > >>>> Shane Ramotowski
>
> > >>>> kor@... <mailto:kor@...>
>
> > >>>> https://www.kor-astro.net <https://www.kor-astro.net>
>
> > >>>>
>
> > >>>>
>
> > >>>>
>
> > >>>>
>
> > >>>
>
> > >>>
>
> > >>>
>
> > >>>
>
> > >>>
>
> > >>>
>
> > >>>
>
> > >> --
>
> > >> Shane Ramotowski
>
> > >> kor@... <mailto:kor@...>
>
> > >> https://www.kor-astro.net <https://www.kor-astro.net>
>
> > >>
>
> > >>
>
> > >>
>
> > >>
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > --
>
> > Shane Ramotowski
>
> > kor@... <mailto:kor@...>
>
> > https://www.kor-astro.net <https://www.kor-astro.net>
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
>

--
Shane Ramotowski
kor@... <mailto:kor@...>
https://www.kor-astro.net <https://www.kor-astro.net>








--
Ron Kramer
https://www.facebook.com/Ron.R.Kramer
<https://www.facebook.com/Ron.R.Kramer>

--
Shane Ramotowski
kor@...
https://www.kor-astro.net