1. Messages
  2. APCC Pro with MSGBox V2

Re: APCC Pro with MSGBox V2

W Hilmo
 

Thanks for the log location. Unfortunately, the MGBox driver logs were utterly useless. They essentially show that something connected, but no details.

I went and checked the APCC logs and found this interesting little section:

0000061 2021-05-28 08:28:57.875: Info, Environmental, EnablePolling = True
0000062 2021-05-28 08:28:57.877: Info, Environmental, Polling Interval = 10 (secs)
0000063 2021-05-28 08:28:57.879: Info, Environmental, DeviceType = ASCOM ObservingConditions
0000064 2021-05-28 08:28:57.881: Info, Environmental, ObservingConditions ASCOM Driver = ASCOM.MGBox.ObservingConditions
0000065 2021-05-28 08:28:58.144: Info, Environmental, Successfully connected to ObservingConditions ASCOM Driver ASCOM.MGBox.ObservingConditions
0000066 2021-05-28 08:28:58.144: Info, Environmental, ObservingConditions ASCOM Name: Ascom Driver for Astromi.ch MGBox
0000067 2021-05-28 08:28:58.145: Info, Environmental, ObservingConditions ASCOM DriverVersion: 6.2
0000068 2021-05-28 08:28:58.146: Info, Environmental, ObservingConditions ASCOM DriverInfo: Ascom Driver for MGBox. Version: 6.2
0000069 2021-05-28 08:28:58.146: Info, Environmental, ObservingConditions ASCOM InterfaceVersion: 1
0000070 2021-05-28 08:28:58.149: Info, Environment, Temp (C) = -273.1, Humidity(%) = 0.0, Dew Point (C) = -273.1, Pressure (mbar) = 0.00
0000071 2021-05-28 08:29:27.147: Info, Async Window, <*closing*>
0000072 2021-05-28 08:29:37.153: Info, Environment, Temp (C) = 18.8, Humidity(%) = 34.0, Dew Point (C) = 2.7, Pressure (mbar) = 933.63
0000073 2021-05-28 08:29:47.172: Info, Environment, Temp (C) = 18.9, Humidity(%) = 34.0, Dew Point (C) = 2.7, Pressure (mbar) = 933.65
0000074 2021-05-28 08:29:57.173: Info, Environment, , Pressure (mbar) = 1010.00
0000075 2021-05-28 08:29:57.910: Info, Async Window, <*closing*>

The information at line 70 is what was showing up in APCC, but about 40 seconds later, it got the right information, as well as on the next poll another 10 seconds later (but never updated the display from the "test" button in APCC's environmental settings.

-----Original Message-----
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> On Behalf Of Dale Ghent
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2021 9:20 AM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] APCC Pro with MSGBox V2


ASCOM logs end up under in your user's Documents\ASCOM folder, subdivided by date.

This is an odd issue you're having. I also use the ASCOM OCH because I have 3 different devices that source info for various ObservingConditions properties and the info is consumed by both APCC and NINA, and haven't seen this sort of problem.

Dew point is not measured by a sensor but is derived from the temperature and humidity. Does your dew point reading look sane in APCC? If it was derived using the 237K, used as C, then it would certainly be wonky as well. That could narrow down where the problem is.

On May 28, 2021, at 11:58, W Hilmo <y.groups@...> wrote:

Yes, I am connecting to “ASCOM ObservingConditions” as the source.

In the “Select Driver” box, I have tried “ASCOM.OCH.ObservingConditions”, followed by setting the ASCOM driver for the MGBox V2 in the appropriate properties for the observing conditions hub. I have also tried selecting “Astromi.ch MGBox Observing Conditions” in the Select Driver box.

Both methods give the same results.

I have also tried enabling “Trace on” in the MGBox driver, but I haven’t figured out yet where I can go to read the trace.

Finally, I just found the ASCOM “Observing conditions Hub test harness”. When I run that tool and connect to the observing conditions hub, it shows the correct information (below). I was originally thinking that this would probably be a problem with the MGBox ASCOM driver (and I asked about it here to see how others were getting it to work with APCC), but now I suspect that it actually *is* an APCC problem, since the ASCOM test app works correctly:

5/28/2021 8:54:41 AM
ASCOM Observing Conditions Hub (OCH). Version: 6.5.1.0 AveragePeriod :
0.0 CloudCover - This property is not implemented DewPoint : 2.7
Humidity : 34.0 Pressure : 933.8 RainRate - This property is not
implemented SkyBrightness - This property is not implemented
SkyQuality - This property is not implemented SkyTemperature - This
property is not implemented StarFWHM - This property is not
implemented Temperature : 18.9 WindDirection - This property is not
implemented WindGust - This property is not implemented WindSpeed -
This property is not implemented CloudCover is not implemented
DewPoint Description : MGBox uses a Bosch BME280 sensor Humidity
Description : MGBox uses a Bosch BME280 sensor Pressure Description :
MGBox uses a Bosch BME280 sensor RainRate is not implemented
SkyBrightness is not implemented SkyQuality is not implemented
SkyTemperature is not implemented StarFWHM is not implemented
Temperature Description : MGBox uses a Bosch BME280 sensor
WindDirection is not implemented WindGust is not implemented WindSpeed
is not implemented

From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> On Behalf Of
Phillip Klein
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2021 8:46 AM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] APCC Pro with MSGBox V2

Hi Wade,

Under Data Source have you selected Ascom?

Phil


On Fri, May 28, 2021 at 8:36 AM W Hilmo <y.groups@...> wrote:
In my quest for unguided imaging, I've picked up an MGBox V2 so that I can get temp, pressure, humidity and dew point.

I have installed the MGBox V2 and verified that it is working correctly in its own application. I've also installed the ASCOM driver 1.6 for the MGBox V2. The problem is that I cannot get it to work correctly with APCC. All of my attempts to test it cause APCC to display -237.2C (absolute zero) for both temperature and dew point, and zeros for pressure and humidity. I have tried connecting directly through the ASCOM ObservingConditions selection in APCC, and also by connecting to the ASCOM Observing Conditions Hub and selecting the MGBox V2 for the relevant specific devices.

Does anyone have any suggestions or troubleshooting steps to figure this out?

Thanks,
-Wade
Attachments:

• MGBox.JPG
Join main@ap-gto.groups.io to automatically receive all group messages.