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Corpze

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Posts posted by Corpze

  4. Knowledge base for ASA mounts

    in Software

    Posted

    Have you looked at the video of me running a autopoint and calculating the pointingfile? I do not wan't to add something that might contain eny errors...
    It worked for me that time but you never know with autoslew (especially on win10) :angry: 
    Wen't back to win7 and everything was operating flawlessly within an hour.
    Personally, as a newbe - the hardest thing for me to get the mount up and running was;

    - How crucial the balance and tuning is. Best result did I get when i did a;

                  Rough balance

                  Autotune
                  Manual tune

                  Balance

                  And to finish it off with a final servo tune.

    - The second most important thing was to me in which order you have to set up autoslew the first time

                  Power on
                  Start Autoslew

                  Motors on

                  Homefind

                  etc...

     

    - The third most horrific experience was setting up the parameters for autofocus - but I think there was a quite good PDF on that subject.
     

    We could also add what kind of USB-cables, extensions and USB-hubs we are using, i change brand three times before finding a 5m USb 2.0 Cable from Deltaco that worked for me; This one (For both the COM and the HUB) https://www.deltaco.se/produkter/deltaco/kablar-adaptrar/usb/usb2-a-ha-a-ha/USB2-10 (Swedish) - but you have the right part nr.
    There is possibly tons of things i can think of, and i will be contributing from a total newbe perspective - which I think this wiki will be awesome for. 
    /Daniel



     

  5. Knowledge base for ASA mounts

    in Software

    Posted

    Hi, just registred for this awesome initiative.

    I have recorded some videos and put on youtube, just as a reminder to myself but also for other to watch - anyone who wan't can use this with my permission.

     

    This is how The balance routine works - https://youtu.be/SuIuHkcxjJw

    Here is a conplete recording of a autopoint,- hopefully without errors? - https://youtu.be/1mrjV1gOUk0

    And here is a recording of me running a sequence i have already setup - https://youtu.be/wOgA41y-RpM

     

    /Daniel

  8. Important fix for USB driver all mounts!

    in Tips & Tricks

    Posted

    Tried all of the above, no change what so ever... I am rollig back to win7 now :/
    I had to many strange errors.
    I had just the mount and the keyboard plugged in to my computer, flushed the com-ports, uninstalled all the drivers, reinstalled, new ftdi, the old ftdi, nothing seems to work. i only hope there is no harm with the mount :/

    The powersupply is putting out 13.5v (have a lcd voltmeter added to my power distrubution box)

  9. Wierd polar align calculations

    in ASA DDM85, 100, 200, 500

    Posted

    Ok... this is getting mroe and more worse - now i can't even connect to my mount - i am running win 10 and is getting constantly error 43 - USB device is not recognized by windows... I have tried to reinstall the older ftdi driver located under C:\programx86\Autoslew with no success...
    No wonder autoslew/the mount have been behaving strange (if this is the problem)
    anyone seen this behaviour before?

     

    /Daniel

  11. Solve settings?

    in Software

    Posted

    Hi Daniel,

     

    1.69"/px is correct by my calculation - Sequence will calculate the figure if you enter the CCD and focal length details into the appropriate Settings windows.

     

    I always synch Sequence before going to Autopoint. If synch is OK, it should ensure that the scope is pointing close enough for Pinpoint to work with the 3 star PA routine.

     

    I also leave the Max. Magnitude in the Plate Solve Settings window at 14 and the Expansion% at 20.

     

    Mark

    The problem is that i haven't been able to do a sucessful synch with SEQ either.

    The one point i am thinking of might have screwed things up for me is that i Did not restarted autoslew after i set new home position - is this crucial? if the mount doesn't know where it is pointing (even though i have made a manual synch in AS) it isn't that strange that SEQ pinpoint can't solve any images :/

     

    I will check the settings again.

     

    Daniel

  12. How to configure my new gamepad within Autoslew ???

    in ASA DDM60/PRO

    Posted · Edited by Corpze

    I set up mine gamepad a while ago but i think i had the same problem, i thought it wasn't moving, but it was, very very slowly. so i had to push a second button on the gamepad to activate a faster slew rate.
     

    Some controllers also have a toggle switch to switch between analog mode or digital mode... could be worth checking that to.

    /Daniel

  13. Solve settings?

    in Software

    Posted

    Hi Mark.

     

    The original fl is 700mm f7, which i have mounted a .79 reducer to... so 553mm gives me 1,69 as/px... not 1,64. it was late last night (eyes rolling)

    No i did not synch sequence (i presume you mean vai the synch-button in the left menu? - i only synched AS with aql aplha and set the new home pos...

    /Daniel

  14. Solve settings?

    in Software

    Posted · Edited by Corpze

    Hi, i just can't get my head around why on earth i can't make a three-star PA autopoint in seq.

    I managed to do a 3-star PA a few weekends ago and made the first rough PA (well within 10arc minutes) so the physical mount setup should be ok. the pinpoint Went fine that time.

     

    ​the last weekend i tried again with no luck. Now i am wondering if my settings in seq. is off?

    i ahve a meade 102mm APO with a 0,79 reducer which takes me to a 1.44 as/px with my Atik 460.

    ​i have lowered the maximum magnitude to 11.

    ​i did get one succesful solve througout the night thoug.

     

    ​initially i do this;

    ​Power on

    start AS

    motors on

    reset config

    ​homefind

    near meridian Aquila Alpha in this case, center and new home pos.

     

    heading over to Seq and... well, no luck there.

     

    ​What the heck am i doing wrong?

     

    Got this error during my "test solve"

    pointerror.png

     

    /Daniel

     

    Ps... I might (fingers crossed) have manage to pinpointed out what i have been missing out.

    I read the manual for AS (again) and have missed to save and closed down autoslew after i set the new home position.

    Is this crucial?

    I will also double check my pixelscale - my second calculation ended up with 1,643 as/px

  15. Wierd polar align calculations

    in ASA DDM85, 100, 200, 500

    Posted

    This is what I do:

     

    First night:

    Motor on

    Homefind

    Clear old config

    3-star polar alignment using SEQ

    Solve frames

    Using AS - load autopoint

    Calculate 3-star config

    Polar align

    Correct slew via Az and Alt

    If not cleared automatically by AS, manually clear (polar) config

    Slew somewhere on same side of meridian

    Take picture and solve

    Sync solved picture (Maxim)

    In AS: cross ckeck if config is cleared, then set new homeposition

    In SEQ: 22-star pointing file

    Solve frames

    In AS: load auotopoint file

    Calaculate config normally Ra

    Save config for next start

    Start SEQ run - MLPT enabled, dither 4 pix, grouped by slot

    After SEQ finished, Telescope parked (near homeposition, counterweight shaft on E), then motors off, shut down all soft, shut down computer, axes fixed by inbus screws...

     

    Second night (and following, so weather will):

    Unfix screws in Ra and Dec

    Switch on motors, Ra and Dec calibration

    Homefind

    Start SEQ run for desired object

    99% perfect frames

     

    Whenever I did an additional polar alignment with my config file used, it became crap...if I follow what I described above, everything fine...forgot to mention AS 5.2.1.9 and SEQ 2.0.9; latest AS version (5.2.2.3?) screwed whole system...! Therefore I am back on 5.2.1.9

     

    Regards,

    Christian

    Thanks for your input - so you don't do a synch on a star after you have cleared the old config?

    maybe thats what's causing my troubles?

    other than that, i am using the AS version 5.2.2.3.

     

    So here is your routine:

    "First night:

    Motor on

    Homefind

    Clear old config

    3-star polar alignment using SEQ              - I do a synch on a near meridian star and i new home position before heading over to sequence.

    Solve frames"                                             - All my solves failed, maybe because of my synch?

     

    /Daniel

  16. Wierd polar align calculations

    in ASA DDM85, 100, 200, 500

    Posted

    Si6pack:

    I have done a homefind, but maybe i have to do another after i have reset the configuration?

     

    Motor on

    Homefind

    Synch a star near the meridian

    New home position

    New home find?

    Autopoint or manual three star?

     

    Christer;

    I di not use GPS but will check the settings so AS hasn't added a GPS for me :)

     

    / Daniel

  17. Wierd polar align calculations

    in ASA DDM85, 100, 200, 500

    Posted · Edited by Corpze

    I can try to set the "wrong" pier side to see if that solves it...
    The first star was 0.0 degree dec and 0.3 degree RA off and the second star that much.
    The strange thing is that last weekend i did a autopoint and that time, it manage to pinpoint the images, not this time :-/

     

    As you see on the image, the reported coordinates from CdC and the coordinates from the mount isn't that faar away, so i presume it isn't any fault between my planetarium and the mount. Seems to be an translation error just like the pierside is wrong, hence the huge errors?

     

    The pierside is how ever the right side as reported from autoslew (pierside east) and m counterweight was indeed pointing east.

     

    error.jpg

  18. Wierd polar align calculations

    in ASA DDM85, 100, 200, 500

    Posted

    Ok, did some new test today with zero progress.

    I reset autoslew and started off from scrath.

    Choosed a 40 degree dec near the meridian with the right pierside. Synched and set a new home position.

    Then i tried a synch in sequence but pinpoint couldnt solve that one.

     

    I then tried to make a three star pointing model in autoslew, with huge errors, 140degree in dec and 70 min in RA... But i was only 1,3 degree off compared to CdC and the values in autoslew.

    I have no idea whats going on :-/

    I rebooted my pc several times, restarted AS with reseting the configuration each time...

    Internet time synch and the right observer coordinates is right as well :/

  20. Wierd polar align calculations

    in ASA DDM85, 100, 200, 500

    Posted

    Hi, just wanna share my latest experience in this jungle of making the right settings in the right order.

    I was going to make a new PA for the upcoming season here in Sweden.

     

    Loaded the old pointing file, slewed to a 40deg Dec star near the meridian, cleared the old config, synched the star with CdC and set the new home pos.

    Started a new pointingfile, three stars, same Dec, same pierside. Calculated the file and got a neat error of 340 degrees RA and 70 degree Dec.

     

    Started over again but checked my location, time, date, old configs... Even in CdC... Everything looked ok.

    Made the same procedure and with same result (just like Einsteins quote - only a fool expects different results from the same procedure. Well well.

     

    Next time, started a new instance of autoslew, cleared config, new CdC instance, synched a star and new home position. But this time, autopoint did a 3 star,msame pier side for me. Calculated the file and got 7x12 degree off...

     

    What dis i do wrong? It would make me understand Autoslew if i know what made it go so terrible off.

     

    /Daniel

  21. How often do you have do a new PA/model?

    in ASA DDM85, 100, 200, 500

    Posted

    Well, it is a while ago i made my model (end of January) and it worked well quite a few weeks, but as of last night, the tracking was not good. (No error in tracking, just not good)

     

    I guess I have to do a model every other month or so. - But why?

     

    I should mension that the ice in the ground "might" have altered the concrete/pier... even though it is almost a ton of concrete in the ground it might have moved due to what we here in Sweden call tjällossning :)

     

    So, is this beaviour the same with other mounts? or is it just ASA that looses tracking performance over time?

     

    /Daniel

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