AP1600 autoguiding gone bad
|
The GTOCP3 can be used with APCC as long as it has the latest V2 ROM chip. Of course, the GTOCP4 has all the latest bells and whistles, and will take advantage of all the features that APCC can offer.
|
|
|
|
Greg Bradley
Update:
turns out my tpoint us giving me a bum polar alignment. I used Pempro polar alignment wizard to check the polar alignment as I was getting a lot of drift. my polar alignment was waaayyy off. Corrected it using Pempro and got some imaging done. I’ll have to check into what happened with tpoint being so off. Tume to switch to APCC. Does it work with CP3 or only CP4? Is there hone switch upgrade available for the AP1600? Greg |
|
|
|
Greg Bradley
Thanks for the replies Roland, Ray and Steve. |
|
|
|
Ray Gralak
Hi Greg,
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Which version of the ASCOM driver are you using? Since you are using a GTOCP3 you might want to stick with one of the older ASCOM drivers like 5.21.01. New rate commands were added in the 5.30.xx versions for the Mach 2 and newer GTOCP4 firmware, so maybe one of those rate tables is getting used. Here is the link to AP V2 v5.21.0: https://www.gralak.com/apdriver/AstroPhysics_V2_Setup_5.21.01.exe -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----- |
|
|
|
Steve Reilly
I would also look for loose equipment, snagged cables, and software settings. It sounds like you image using TSX software so maybe try a simple stand alone program and see what happens without TSX. What camera/guider are you using?
-Steve
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> On Behalf Of Roland Christen via groups.io
Sent: Saturday, January 9, 2021 6:46 PM To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] AP1600 autoguiding gone bad
P.S. unplugging the keypad won't do a thing one way or other. The keypad does not communicate with the mount unless you push one of the buttons. It is totally silent at all times and does not interfere in any way with any other program that you connect to the mount.
Rolando
-----Original Message----- Guide at 1x. Going slower will not help. Make sure you have a good calibration run. Remove all backlash compensation, both in the keypad and in the guide software.
If using PHD2, you should first use the mount wizard to find out what you have fundamentally. You can find out things like PE, Dec backlash, sky scintillation and other good stuff.
A good calibration near the celestial equator and meridian is a MUST. Without that, you won't be able to guide successfully.
Rolando
-----Original Message----- I have a usually reliable AP1600 mount.
|
|
|
|
Roland Christen
P.S. unplugging the keypad won't do a thing one way or other. The keypad does not communicate with the mount unless you push one of the buttons. It is totally silent at all times and does not interfere in any way with any other program that you connect to the mount.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Roland Christen via groups.io <chris1011@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Sat, Jan 9, 2021 5:44 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] AP1600 autoguiding gone bad Guide at 1x. Going slower will not help.
Make sure you have a good calibration run.
Remove all backlash compensation, both in the keypad and in the guide software.
If using PHD2, you should first use the mount wizard to find out what you have fundamentally. You can find out things like PE, Dec backlash, sky scintillation and other good stuff.
A good calibration near the celestial equator and meridian is a MUST. Without that, you won't be able to guide successfully.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Greg Bradley via groups.io <bradgregley10@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Sat, Jan 9, 2021 5:31 pm Subject: [ap-gto] AP1600 autoguiding gone bad I have a usually reliable AP1600 mount.
It is slewing fine but autoguiding suddenly went wild a little while ago. So normally I get very small guide errors .2 to .6 arc sec guide errors. They suddenly went to 15-20. I couldn’t get it to callibrate either using relays. I switched to pulse guiding and I could callibrate. But guiding is still wild. I tried various settings for the guiding. I pulled apart the electronics box and inside it looks lile new. I noticed in the driver you can set the guide rate and it was set at 1 so I reduced that to .5 and I can set it lower. I will disconnect the hand controller tonight in case that is having an effect. Any suggestions? I am using SkyX, ascom mount and the AP driver. Its an AP cp3 electronics. I am able to do plate solving, polar alignment using TPoint so go to’s are working. Greg Greg -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics |
|
|
|
Roland Christen
Guide at 1x. Going slower will not help.
Make sure you have a good calibration run.
Remove all backlash compensation, both in the keypad and in the guide software.
If using PHD2, you should first use the mount wizard to find out what you have fundamentally. You can find out things like PE, Dec backlash, sky scintillation and other good stuff.
A good calibration near the celestial equator and meridian is a MUST. Without that, you won't be able to guide successfully.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Greg Bradley via groups.io <bradgregley10@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Sat, Jan 9, 2021 5:31 pm Subject: [ap-gto] AP1600 autoguiding gone bad I have a usually reliable AP1600 mount.
It is slewing fine but autoguiding suddenly went wild a little while ago. So normally I get very small guide errors .2 to .6 arc sec guide errors. They suddenly went to 15-20. I couldn’t get it to callibrate either using relays. I switched to pulse guiding and I could callibrate. But guiding is still wild. I tried various settings for the guiding. I pulled apart the electronics box and inside it looks lile new. I noticed in the driver you can set the guide rate and it was set at 1 so I reduced that to .5 and I can set it lower. I will disconnect the hand controller tonight in case that is having an effect. Any suggestions? I am using SkyX, ascom mount and the AP driver. Its an AP cp3 electronics. I am able to do plate solving, polar alignment using TPoint so go to’s are working. Greg Greg -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics |
|
|
|
Greg Bradley
I have a usually reliable AP1600 mount. It is slewing fine but autoguiding suddenly went wild a little while ago. So normally I get very small guide errors .2 to .6 arc sec guide errors. They suddenly went to 15-20. I couldn’t get it to callibrate either using relays. I switched to pulse guiding and I could callibrate. But guiding is still wild. I tried various settings for the guiding. I pulled apart the electronics box and inside it looks lile new. I noticed in the driver you can set the guide rate and it was set at 1 so I reduced that to .5 and I can set it lower. I will disconnect the hand controller tonight in case that is having an effect. Any suggestions? I am using SkyX, ascom mount and the AP driver. Its an AP cp3 electronics. I am able to do plate solving, polar alignment using TPoint so go to’s are working. Greg Greg |
|
|