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Re: PHD2 versus ASCOM driver

Brian Valente
 

Hi Wayne

I think you may be better off posting this to the PHD group. https://openphdguiding.org/getting-help/

On Mon, Mar 9, 2020 at 12:05 PM Wayne Hixson via Groups.Io <wayneh9026=yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:

Had a really good night with the Mach2 under clear but moonlit skies. PHD2 ran reasonable well with default settings, but  ran into a couple issues. First, it warned me I should disable Synchronous Pulseguide in the driver, I couldn’t find that setting and not sure I want to disable even if I could!

Second I had several times where I got a warning message that mount wasn’t responding to pulseguide commands and I had to disconnect/reconnect to resume.


We have another clear night expected tonight before the rains return. Any suggestions on these issues specifically or settings for PHD2 more generally?

wayne 



--
Brian 



Brian Valente
PHD2 versus ASCOM driver

Wayne Hixson
 

Had a really good night with the Mach2 under clear but moonlit skies. PHD2 ran reasonable well with default settings, but  ran into a couple issues. First, it warned me I should disable Synchronous Pulseguide in the driver, I couldn’t find that setting and not sure I want to disable even if I could!

Second I had several times where I got a warning message that mount wasn’t responding to pulseguide commands and I had to disconnect/reconnect to resume.


We have another clear night expected tonight before the rains return. Any suggestions on these issues specifically or settings for PHD2 more generally?

wayne 
Lunar Tracking Rate #ASCOM_V2_Driver

Mike Miller
 

I was trying to do some EAA on the moon over the weekend with my Mach1, and I found that anytime I clicked the Lunar Tracking button in the ASCOM driver, it would reset back to Sidereal after a few seconds. 

Custom rate did work correctly.

My procedure this night:
1. Polar align via Sharpcap
2. Use SGP to solve and sync
3. GoTo RA/Dec of moon in APCC
4. APJog to nudge moon into center of frame
5. Press Lunar Tracking button in ASCOM driver

After a couple of seconds, the ASCOM driver would set back to Sidereal with no errors reported.
Message Recall Failure: Recall: [ap-gto] APCC Pro MGBOX GPS connection #APCC

jaddbd
 

?
winmail.dat

Re: Mach2 Actual Location error - help!

Wayne Hixson
 

No more problems last night, but I’m wondering how to correct an erroneous actual mount location like this? I thought by choosing a site that would fix it. 


Another data point / this is not new entirely to me - this was similar to a previous situation with the GTOCP4 and AP1100 in which the altitude in Park 3 showed 0 in APCC, instead of 47 degrees like it should. I don’t remember if the location showed an error in that case. 


Wayne
Re: Mach1 Unable to Find Home Position Suddenly

Mikko Viljamaa
 

Ray,

The clutches are tight as I have manually rotated the axes to re-park it correctly. No changes there from the day 1 when I received the mount. I have never calibrated the mount to any start or object but always used the SG Pro and it's platesolve (with which I have had issues lately and which made me look closer to what's going on with the mount itself). So to clarify (sorry if I'm repeating myself), today when I get home, I'll adjust manually - clutches engaged and power off - the mount so it's parked to position 3. Then turn the power on and slew the mount using the AP V2 and then park it again and see if it returns correctly to home position. If It doesn't I'll uninstall the AP V2 and reinstall it, making sure that the time / date are correct. If you can think of something else I can try, please let me know.


- Mikko
Re: Mach1 Unable to Find Home Position Suddenly

Ray Gralak
 

Thanks Ray, this started before Saturday and I don't have a keypad. Just to confirm; what's the correct process to
manually move the axes to correct park positions?
Okay, a couple other possibilities are:

1) The clutches slipped. Check the clutches to be sure they are tight.
2) The mount was recalibrated on a wrong star/object.

One way to recover is to park to Park 3 and manually adjust the mount position to the correct Park 3 position. Later, plate solve + RCAL somewhere near the zenith.

-Ray Gralak
Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/accessories/software/apcc/apcc
Author of PEMPro V3: https://www.ccdware.com
Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver


-----Original Message-----
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Mikko Viljamaa
Sent: Monday, March 9, 2020 6:59 AM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Mach1 Unable to Find Home Position Suddenly

Thanks Ray, this started before Saturday and I don't have a keypad. Just to confirm; what's the correct process to
manually move the axes to correct park positions?


- Mikko
Re: Mach1 Unable to Find Home Position Suddenly

Mikko Viljamaa
 

Thanks Ray, this started before Saturday and I don't have a keypad. Just to confirm; what's the correct process to manually move the axes to correct park positions?


- Mikko
Re: Mach1 Unable to Find Home Position Suddenly

Ray Gralak
 

Hi Mikko,

I have recently started to have an issue where the mount misses it's normal park-3 position and "over slews" it in
both directions. Sometimes as much as an inch (mostly Ra) from the white line.
The time changed this weekend in some areas. If you are mixing keypad and computer use, make sure both match time and time zone offset. If the time zone is different it will cause the mount to be "off" by 1 hour in RA.

-Ray Gralak
Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/accessories/software/apcc/apcc
Author of PEMPro V3: https://www.ccdware.com
Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver

-----Original Message-----
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Mikko Viljamaa
Sent: Monday, March 9, 2020 6:18 AM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: [ap-gto] Mach1 Unable to Find Home Position Suddenly

Top of the Morning to all,

I have recently started to have an issue where the mount misses it's normal park-3 position and "over slews" it in
both directions. Sometimes as much as an inch (mostly Ra) from the white line. I've tried everything, move it back
to correct position with clutches loose, manually without loosing the clutches, with power on and off. Yesterday I
was able to make it return correctly once but after the night's session this morning it had parked itself again about
an inch off. The coordinates (90/360) and the time at AP V2 seem to be correct, the program I use is SG Pro
although I doubt it makes any difference here. The driver is the latest from AP's site.

Any ideas what to try next and as it's been a while when something like this has happened to me, what's the
correct procedure to fix this?


Thanks,

Mikko
Mach1 Unable to Find Home Position Suddenly

Mikko Viljamaa
 

Top of the Morning to all,

I have recently started to have an issue where the mount misses it's normal park-3 position and "over slews" it in both directions. Sometimes as much as an inch (mostly Ra) from the white line. I've tried everything, move it back to correct position with clutches loose, manually without loosing the clutches, with power on and off. Yesterday I was able to make it return correctly once but after the night's session this morning it had parked itself again about an inch off. The coordinates (90/360) and the time at AP V2 seem to be correct, the program I use is SG Pro although I doubt it makes any difference here. The driver is the latest from AP's site.

Any ideas what to try next and as it's been a while when something like this has happened to me, what's the correct procedure to fix this?


Thanks,

Mikko
Message Recall Failure: Recall: [ap-gto] APCC Pro MGBOX GPS connection #APCC

Rick Darden
 

Re: Keypad Upgrade for Using Mach2

Dominique Durand
 

Hi, Majr, Rolando,
Thank you for this information. So I'm not going to hope for the long-awaited package this week.
Far from my observatory with my 1st Mach1 (2011) I work with the Keypad and Skysafari by SkyFI3.
In my observatory when I still had my 2nd Mach1 (2018) (sold since November) I sometimes used only the keypad (with skysafari) for visual sessions, but also often APCC standard and driver in particular for photo sessions . I have already upgraded my keypap to pass them in version 4.19.3, that does not concern me to redo it with a new keypad and I have already installed the latest Driver (5.30.08) and the latest version of APCC -Standard while waiting to benefit from the APCC-Pro version.
So depending on the situation I could either receive the Mach2 alone, or with a new keypad (Name buttons) with the sotfware 4.19.3, or all together.
If it is a few days or a week I prefer to wait until it is Mach2 + Keypad with new software.
If there are several weeks of waiting between Mach2 and Keypad, then I think the Mach2 alone will be suitable for me and the Keypad after. I am no longer a young child and the passing nights will be difficult to catch up with.
In the meantime I translate the manuals into French .... After APCC and that of Mach1, I almost finished that of Driver version 5.30.07 ...
I wish I could start the Mach2 story to make me wait.

Regards

Dominique
Message Recall Failure: Recall: [ap-gto] APCC Pro MGBOX GPS connection #APCC

WWyckoff at AT&T
 

?
winmail.dat

Re: Mach2 Actual Location error - help!

Wayne Hixson
 

Update - I rebooted both computer and CP5 my mount is back in Seattle. Terri, wonder if this was related to your mispointing? Do you remember if your site was correct?
Mach2 Actual Location error - help!

Wayne Hixson
 

My mount Actual Location is showing Latitude 0 and longitude 0 even when my site selected is Seattle? Refreshing doesn’t change it 
Re: Keypad Upgrade for Using Mach2

Dean Jacobsen
 

Thanks, I have a keypad that I hope to be able to upgrade to the new version when the mount arrives.  
Re: GTOCP4 Not powering up

Woody Schlom
 

Wayne,

 

Thanks for the report.  That’s way too funny!

 

Woody

 

From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> On Behalf Of Wayne Hixson via Groups.Io
Sent: Sunday, March 8, 2020 6:47 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] GTOCP4 Not powering up

 

Thanks everyone! We figured it out. This was the first time he’d had it out on a bright day.... you can tell where this is going. We went through a lot of the troubleshooting steps and all was fine. Then the clouds rolled in and he noticed he could see the power light, and then the hand controller display. Something I should have asked first. Sorry for bothering everyone! Thanks again for possible future need!

 

Wayne

 



On Mar 8, 2020, at 6:35 PM, Woody Schlom <woody_is@...> wrote:



The OP says it’s a CP4 controller which I understand uses a different power connector.  As I recall it’s a HiRose connector on the controller and the power cable has PP connectors on the other end.  My experience with HR connectors is that they’re very good so I doubt that’s where the problem is.  So your suggestion regarding the split center pin conductor doesn’t apply – even though it’s a good one.

 

Woody

 

From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> On Behalf Of W Hilmo
Sent: Sunday, March 8, 2020 5:13 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] GTOCP4 Not powering up

 

I second the suggestion.   Even better, try to power it from a fully charged 12v battery.

 

I had a Pyramid 20 amp power supply fail on me.  This was as Oregon Star Party, and I was running the power supply from my motorhome’s AC inverter.  The power supply went “click” and started buzzing.  At that moment, I had a bunch of equipment fail all at the same time.  I always run with a power meter inline, and it showed that the power supply was putting out 20v.  That was enough to shut down a bunch of gear.  I switched out the Pyramid and went to straight 12v from a spare set of batteries.  Fortunately, there was no permanent damage (except for the power supply), and I was able to get everything up and running again.

 

Since then, I’ve switched from Pyramid to a 30 amp PowerWerx power supply.  It is much smaller than the Pyramid, and runs *much* cooler than the Pyramid ever did.  I’ve also stopped using any kind of AC power when I’m out in the field.  The observatory tent gets its own pair of 75 amp hour AGM batteries in parallel, along with 300 watts of solar charging.  And I always run a buck-boost converter between the batteries and the astro gear to keep the voltage regulated at 13.5 volts.

 

One other suggestion as I think about it, if the mount looks like it’s getting no power at all, check out the center pin on the power socket in the CPx on the mount.  If I remember right, the pin has a slot in it.  If that slot has become compressed, it can cause a faulty connection.  In that case, take a small, slotted screwdriver and gently widen the slot in the center pin.

 

From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> On Behalf Of Woody Schlom
Sent: Sunday, March 8, 2020 5:00 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] GTOCP4 Not powering up

 

Even if that power supply has worked in the past, try a different one.  I’ve had one Pyramid not only die on me, but almost take a couple of other pieces of equipment with it.  Smoke suddenly coming out of a 12v video monitor was the first clue something was wrong. 

 

And when I did a simple test of the PS with a volt meter, it tested fine.  But it wasn’t.  Never did figure out what the problem was with that PS.  But everything worked (and still works to this day) with other power supplies.  So that one is gone now.  And I’ve also retired my other older Pyramid to emergency spare status.

 

Woody

 

From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> On Behalf Of Bill Long
Sent: Sunday, March 8, 2020 4:41 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] GTOCP4 Not powering up

 

Unplug the power cable, from the box and blow on it, and plug it back in. 🙂 

 

From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> on behalf of Wayne Hixson via Groups.Io <wayneh9026@...>
Sent: Sunday, March 8, 2020 4:33 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io>
Subject: [ap-gto] GTOCP4 Not powering up

 

The person who bought my Mach1 is having trouble. He’s using a Pyramid power supply that has worked before. He set up today but the CP4 light isn’t coming on and the Hand Controller doesn’t start. Looking for troubleshooting tips

Wayne

Re: GTOCP4 Not powering up

Lawrence Lopez
 

This has happened to me years ago on a different an AP1200.


One other suggestion as I think about it, if the mount looks like it’s getting no power at all, check out the center pin on the power socket in the CPx on the mount.  If I remember right, the pin has a slot in it.  If that slot has become compressed, it can cause a faulty connection.  In that case, take a small, slotted screwdriver and gently widen the slot in the center pin.



On Sun, Mar 8, 2020 at 10:09 PM Wayne Hixson via Groups.Io <wayneh9026=yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:
I’m hoping to get some actual time under clear skies, but ‘I’ll say so far in the exploratory period it’s exceeded expectations. I really appreciate the ability to not get lost. Clutches are a nice refinement on earlier designs. Motors are almost whisper quiet. I think it’s going to do a great job in replacing my Mach1 and 1100, both of which I sold to buy this. I’ll report more as I go.

Re: GTOCP4 Not powering up

Wayne Hixson
 

I’m hoping to get some actual time under clear skies, but ‘I’ll say so far in the exploratory period it’s exceeded expectations. I really appreciate the ability to not get lost. Clutches are a nice refinement on earlier designs. Motors are almost whisper quiet. I think it’s going to do a great job in replacing my Mach1 and 1100, both of which I sold to buy this. I’ll report more as I go.
Re: GTOCP4 Not powering up

Bill Long
 

Wayne you really need to get onto that Mach 2 report sir. 🤣

From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> on behalf of Wayne Hixson via Groups.Io <wayneh9026@...>
Sent: Sunday, March 8, 2020 6:47 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io>
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] GTOCP4 Not powering up
 
Thanks everyone! We figured it out. This was the first time he’d had it out on a bright day.... you can tell where this is going. We went through a lot of the troubleshooting steps and all was fine. Then the clouds rolled in and he noticed he could see the power light, and then the hand controller display. Something I should have asked first. Sorry for bothering everyone! Thanks again for possible future need!

Wayne


On Mar 8, 2020, at 6:35 PM, Woody Schlom <woody_is@...> wrote:



The OP says it’s a CP4 controller which I understand uses a different power connector.  As I recall it’s a HiRose connector on the controller and the power cable has PP connectors on the other end.  My experience with HR connectors is that they’re very good so I doubt that’s where the problem is.  So your suggestion regarding the split center pin conductor doesn’t apply – even though it’s a good one.

 

Woody

 

From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> On Behalf Of W Hilmo
Sent: Sunday, March 8, 2020 5:13 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] GTOCP4 Not powering up

 

I second the suggestion.   Even better, try to power it from a fully charged 12v battery.

 

I had a Pyramid 20 amp power supply fail on me.  This was as Oregon Star Party, and I was running the power supply from my motorhome’s AC inverter.  The power supply went “click” and started buzzing.  At that moment, I had a bunch of equipment fail all at the same time.  I always run with a power meter inline, and it showed that the power supply was putting out 20v.  That was enough to shut down a bunch of gear.  I switched out the Pyramid and went to straight 12v from a spare set of batteries.  Fortunately, there was no permanent damage (except for the power supply), and I was able to get everything up and running again.

 

Since then, I’ve switched from Pyramid to a 30 amp PowerWerx power supply.  It is much smaller than the Pyramid, and runs *much* cooler than the Pyramid ever did.  I’ve also stopped using any kind of AC power when I’m out in the field.  The observatory tent gets its own pair of 75 amp hour AGM batteries in parallel, along with 300 watts of solar charging.  And I always run a buck-boost converter between the batteries and the astro gear to keep the voltage regulated at 13.5 volts.

 

One other suggestion as I think about it, if the mount looks like it’s getting no power at all, check out the center pin on the power socket in the CPx on the mount.  If I remember right, the pin has a slot in it.  If that slot has become compressed, it can cause a faulty connection.  In that case, take a small, slotted screwdriver and gently widen the slot in the center pin.

 

From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> On Behalf Of Woody Schlom
Sent: Sunday, March 8, 2020 5:00 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] GTOCP4 Not powering up

 

Even if that power supply has worked in the past, try a different one.  I’ve had one Pyramid not only die on me, but almost take a couple of other pieces of equipment with it.  Smoke suddenly coming out of a 12v video monitor was the first clue something was wrong. 

 

And when I did a simple test of the PS with a volt meter, it tested fine.  But it wasn’t.  Never did figure out what the problem was with that PS.  But everything worked (and still works to this day) with other power supplies.  So that one is gone now.  And I’ve also retired my other older Pyramid to emergency spare status.

 

Woody

 

From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> On Behalf Of Bill Long
Sent: Sunday, March 8, 2020 4:41 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] GTOCP4 Not powering up

 

Unplug the power cable, from the box and blow on it, and plug it back in. 🙂 

 

From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> on behalf of Wayne Hixson via Groups.Io <wayneh9026@...>
Sent: Sunday, March 8, 2020 4:33 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io>
Subject: [ap-gto] GTOCP4 Not powering up

 

The person who bought my Mach1 is having trouble. He’s using a Pyramid power supply that has worked before. He set up today but the CP4 light isn’t coming on and the Hand Controller doesn’t start. Looking for troubleshooting tips

Wayne

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