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Re: PHD2 Dec tracking goes runaway after Meridian Flip with Mach1
That is quite possible... (making it harder than it needs to be)
After I hit the problem the first time - I went and unchecked the "Reverse Dec" box... and restarted guiding - but it ran away again. But that was AFTER the Meridian flip, so I suppose that's closing the door after the cow has left the barn... flip had occurred, PHD2 had reveresed Dec calibration, and unchecking that box would only help the NEXT time... I will be quite now until I can test this out next clear night (which doesn't look like this week)... Thanks again!
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Re: PHD2 Dec tracking goes runaway after Meridian Flip with Mach1
Roland Christen
The ASCOM driver doesn't have a setting for reversing the Dec on pier flip. I don't think that is part of the ASCOM platform.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: John Davis <johncdavis200@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Tue, Oct 20, 2020 11:02 am Subject: Re: [ap-gto] PHD2 Dec tracking goes runaway after Meridian Flip with Mach1 Well... doing a bit more searching on the board, I have found several posts here that do indicate the "Reverse Dec" box should NOT be checked - including
https://github.com/OpenPHDGuiding/phd2/wiki/Reverse-Dec-output-after-meridian-flip info on the PHD2 site. So now you have convinced me - so - can somebody tell me what the configuration settings SHOULD be for the AP ASCOM V2 driver and PHD2 in order for this to work? I can experiment - but I'd sure rather image than experiment :-) My versions: ASCOM 6.4.0.2618 AP ASCOM V2 5.30.10 PHD2 2.6.9 SGP 3.1.0.558 thanks for your patience! John
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Re: PHD2 Dec tracking goes runaway after Meridian Flip with Mach1
>>>
can somebody tell me what the configuration settings SHOULD be for the AP ASCOM V2 driver and PHD2 in order for this to work? Disable "reverse Dec output after meridian flip" in PHD. that's what it *should* be You might be making this more difficult than it is ;)
On Tue, Oct 20, 2020 at 9:02 AM John Davis <johncdavis200@...> wrote: Well... doing a bit more searching on the board, I have found several posts here that do indicate the "Reverse Dec" box should NOT be checked - including --
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Re: PHD2 Dec tracking goes runaway after Meridian Flip with Mach1
John Davis
Well... doing a bit more searching on the board, I have found several posts here that do indicate the "Reverse Dec" box should NOT be checked - including
https://github.com/OpenPHDGuiding/phd2/wiki/Reverse-Dec-output-after-meridian-flip info on the PHD2 site. So now you have convinced me - so - can somebody tell me what the configuration settings SHOULD be for the AP ASCOM V2 driver and PHD2 in order for this to work? I can experiment - but I'd sure rather image than experiment :-) My versions: ASCOM 6.4.0.2618 AP ASCOM V2 5.30.10 PHD2 2.6.9 SGP 3.1.0.558 thanks for your patience! John
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Re: PHD2 Dec tracking goes runaway after Meridian Flip with Mach1
>>
"I've always had the 'Reverse Dec output after meridian flip' enabled. I think that is all there is to it. I don't think your friend is necessarily wrong - the first thing you need to do is uncheck it and see if that in fact does work. There may be a number of other variables at play in a difference between yours and his - configuration settings in ASCOM, in PHD, version of PHD (1 or 2?), your firmware version, etc.
On Tue, Oct 20, 2020 at 8:25 AM John Davis <johncdavis200@...> wrote: Guys - I'm very confused... --
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Re: PHD2 Dec tracking goes runaway after Meridian Flip with Mach1
John Davis
Guys - I'm very confused...
I have a good friend who has been a LONG time Mach1 owner - is incredibly knowldgable on all things (has written his OWN imaging software equivalent to SGP or NINA) - and according to him: "I've always had the 'Reverse Dec output after meridian flip' enabled. I think that is all there is to it. You need the mount to report the pier side properly so PHD2 will know it needs to reverse DEC. I neer had a problem with the Mach1 doing this. I did use the meridian delay feature you are talking about some as well. If you uncheck the reverse dec box it will certainly not work. " His advice to me on MANY, MANY issues has NEVER been wrong, so I am really struggling with you all saying he is wrong... Seems like this should be a clear un-ambiguous answer... I guess from you guy's perspective it is :-) I will experiment the next time out - try that testing software.
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Re: PHD2 Dec tracking goes runaway after Meridian Flip with Mach1
Roland Christen
I use MaximDL and I check the reverse on flip box. Maxim DL works thru the Ascom driver and thus knows when the mount is flipped to the other side. Therefore Maxim will actively change the guide commands accordingly. I don't know how PHD2 does things.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: John Davis <johncdavis200@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Mon, Oct 19, 2020 10:20 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] PHD2 Dec tracking goes runaway after Meridian Flip with Mach1 Roland - can you answer definitively: does the "Reverse Dec output after meridian flip" need to be checked or not checked?
I ask that because over on the PHD2 board, I have a guy telling me " The ASCOM driver for A-P mounts knows the 'side of pier' for the mount; so there is no need to check the reverse Dec box n PHD2" And I have Michael Fulbright - a good friend and long time Mach1 owner telling me "if you uncheck the reverse dec box it will certainly not work"... I'd put my money on Michael - but this is why I have come to the experts. IF the box DOES need to be checked - are there any OTHER settings that I need in the AP ASCOM driver? John
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Re: PHD2 Dec tracking goes runaway after Meridian Flip with Mach1
JSeay86
Third confirmation of Brian and Steve's advice, the "Reverse Dec output after meridian flip" should be UN-Checked. I imaged over the weekend with an automated meridian flip in SGP and had successful guiding on both sides of meridian before/after (mostly at least, darn wind).
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Re: Mach2 model building and pointing with Sequence Generator Pro
Steve,
Let me ask you and Ray, is it required to have current weather conditions always while running APPM for trackingFor the most accurate tracking rate correction, precise temperature, pressure, and humidity values should be supplied to the mount. The most important value is the temperature, followed by the pressure value. Humidity has less of an effect. If you don't have a weather input device, such as a THUM or MGBox V2, then you can manually enter the values on APCC's Pointing model tab. If you have an internet connection and there is an OpenWeather device near to you, you can use the ASCOM OpenWeather ObservingConditions driver to get temperature, pressure, and humidity from the OpenWeather device. -Ray Gralak Author of PEMPro Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): https://www.astro-physics.com/apcc-pro Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver -----Original Message-----
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Re: Mach2 model building and pointing with Sequence Generator Pro
Steve,
Thanks for responding the for the suggestions. I have not used user profiles in the past, so that may be the SGPOkay, that's good. What kind of telescope are you using? One thing I am wondering is, how does the mount ever get synchronized to the sky?Using APPM is the most accurate way to synchronize the mount to the sky. As part of capturing sky data, APPM will synchronize the mount to the sky (a "RECAL"). Later, after a model is in use, the mount can be recalibrated using an ASCOM sync, but that assumes the calling program has accurately converted a plate solve's J2000 coordinates into the current epoch, and is accounting for refraction. Alternatively, using APPM's run tab is likely more accurate. APPM's "Run" tab, there are buttons that allow you to plate solve and/or RECAL the mount. The use of plate solving in APPM assumes it has been set up in APPM. Can you also let me know where are the APPC logs stored?You can use the APCC Log Zipper to find logs and to create a zipped file of the appropriate logs. You can run the Log Zipper utility from APCC's Tools menu. Providing a dropbox link to the zipped set of the logs might be helpful. Please remember to indicate the calendar date and time, so we will know where to start looking in the log files. -Ray Gralak Author of PEMPro Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): https://www.astro-physics.com/apcc-pro Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver -----Original Message-----
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Re: Mach2 model building and pointing with Sequence Generator Pro
Marcelo Figueroa
I am far from being an expert, but I believe that since you are a mobile user, you necessarily have to build a new model every time you setup your equipment. So probably the updated weather information is not that important, unless you want to do very long exposures (10 minutes or more I think). In that case you can continue to use guiding with this technique of Roland: Nudge Guiding.
In my case my installation is permanent in my backyard, I use the same model every night, so updated weather information is vital.
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Re: Mach2 model building and pointing with Sequence Generator Pro
Steve Armen
Hi again Marcelo,
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Re: Mach2 model building and pointing with Sequence Generator Pro
eckhard.voelcker@...
Hi Steve,
I am using a similar workflow with the Mach2: 1) Power On, Start APCC, Start Sharpcap, Start SGP. Connect equipment (Sharpcap to the main camera, SGP without the camera) 2) Polar Align with Sharpcap, close Sharpcap, connect camera in SGP 3) Start PEMPro, connect to mount and to SGP. Slew to point in sky for azimuth measurement. Measure azimuth drift, correct and repeat. Slew to point in the sky for altitude measurement. Measure altitude, correct and repeat. Quit PEMPro. 4) Slew to traget in SGP. Platesolve (Pinpoint, licensed version). 5) Start APMM. APMM shows me where the telescope is pointing at so it is easy to set points along the path of my target moving West. I use a corridor of 3 points with the targets path more or less in the middle. APMM builds this model in approximately 10 minutes. 6) Enable the model, center target in SGP. 7) Adjust focus and start imaging. Some comments: Platesolving close to the pole is unreliable. Better move somewhere else first and then plate solve. Afterwards entering with SGP is dead on! Since I switched to the Mach2 I don't guide anymore. My polar alignment improves considerably when I run PEMPro after Sharpcap! Building a model is surprisingly easy and fun. I have had zero problems with the Mach2 using this workflow. Eckhard
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Re: Mach2 model building and pointing with Sequence Generator Pro
Steve Armen
Hi Ray,
Thanks or responding. I am using ASCOM 6.4 SP1-6.4.1.2695. There were a couple suggestions already given that may help with SGP. I don't have a local environmental monitor. How important is that for accurate modeling. In addition, sometimes I do not have a web connection where I image at. Primarily I am mobile, no observatory. -Steve
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Re: Mach2 model building and pointing with Sequence Generator Pro
Steve Armen
Thank you for responding Marcelo.
Yes, your flow sounds very similar to what I have tried with APCC with the Mach2. I have not used it in the past. In addition, I want to use CdC for planetarium ultimately to drive the mount around, that would be fantastic if I can get it to work! I have used Frame & Mosaic Wizard in the past. It works very well as a planning tool. Let me ask, do you have a user profile setup for SGP. I never took that step or read that was necessary for pointing to work. It just always worked for me in the past. Maybe with a more recent release of SGP, that changed? I will look at the weather information site to use with APPM. -Steve
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Re: Mach2 model building and pointing with Sequence Generator Pro
Steve Armen
Hi Brian,
Thanks for responding the for the suggestions. I have not used user profiles in the past, so that may be the SGP issue. I will set one up. I do have the coordinates stored in the AP v2 ASCOM driver, using ASCOM platform 6.4 SP1 6.4.1.2695. -Steve
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Re: Mach2 model building and pointing with Sequence Generator Pro
Hi Steve,
This is meant for Ray Gralak. With the new mach2 being controlled by SGP version 3.2.0.613 and APCC/APPMAre you using ASCOM Platform 6.5? There is a known breaking change (bug) in 6.5 that causes the translation of the plate-solve coordinates from J2000.0 to the local apparent (JNow). So, if you are using 6.5, you must either go back to ASCOM 6.4, or use the beta version of ASCOM Platform 6.5 Service Pack 1. Then you must recapture pointing data with APPM. -Ray Gralak Author of PEMPro Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): https://www.astro-physics.com/apcc-pro Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver -----Original Message-----
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Re: Mach2 model building and pointing with Sequence Generator Pro
Marcelo Figueroa
I also upgraded from a Mach1 to Mach2 and I also use SGP. This is what I do, it works perfectly:
1) Polar alignment
2) Launch APCC (make sure the location data is correct)
3) Connect Mount -> Initialize Mount
4) Connect Driver (make sure that the option use pc time is selected).
5) Launch SGP and connect all the equipment.
6) Slew the mount to a random point in the sky.
7) Solve & Sync.
And that's it. You can use the Frame & Mosaic Wizard option to direct the mount where you want, also you can connect and use your favorite planetary program to make tests (I use CdC).
Finally, for the modeling to work it is vital to have updated weather information. If you don't have a device that does, this option works fine (requires internet connection).
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Re: PHD2 Dec tracking goes runaway after Meridian Flip with Mach1
CurtisC <calypte@...>
On Mon, Oct 19, 2020 at 08:31 PM, uncarollo2 <chris1011@...> wrote:
That is definitely a wrong approach. If the mount runs away in Dec it's because the guide pulses are in the wrong direction and need to be reversed. It's fundamental Of course it will guide ok for a few seconds or even longer as long as no pulses are sent to Dec, but as soon as Dec receives any correction pulses, it will send the mount in the wrong direction and every pulse after that just adds to the error until it goes completely off the guide window. This is fundamental, guys!You are correct, of course. What was I thinking?
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Re: PHD2 Dec tracking goes runaway after Meridian Flip with Mach1
steve.winston@...
>IF the box DOES need to be checked - are there any OTHER settings that I need in the AP ASCOM driver?
I can second Brian's advice: The "Reverse DEC output after meridian flip" option should NOT be checked.
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