×

INDI Library v2.0.6 is Released (02 Feb 2024)

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

guide module (internal)

  • Posts: 1309
  • Thank you received: 226

Replied by Andrew on topic guide module (internal)

I don't think enough people own an Astrophysics mount to make comment. But a buddy of mine just got an 1100 that apparently the manufacturer recommends 100% correction 'aggressiveness' on guiding.
4 years 11 months ago #38194

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 77
  • Thank you received: 16
Ron Kramer (et al),
The Astrophysics Experimental driver is intended to be used with the newer GTOCP(X) mount controllers, specifically the GTOCP3 & GTOCP4 with version V or later firmware. If you have one of these controllers with the proper level of firmware then you should be using this driver to take advantage of some of the features in these newer controllers. That being said, it is still labeled experimental as it is felt that more testing is needed. I have used this driver on my AP900 with GTOCP3 controller quite successfully for many months. Michael Fulbright did a great deal of work implementing this driver. I worked with him and Jasem testing the driver over a period of weeks during the main development phase. There is a good deal of documentation for the AP mounts here:

www.indilib.org/devices/telescopes/astrophysics.html

I highly recommend you spend some time reading this information which will help in setting up and using your Astrophysics mount with INDI.

About guiding the mount please consider the following:
1. Astrophysics recommends using a guide rate of 1 for these mounts. This applies to using pulse guiding or the ST4 connection. This rate is set in the INDI control panel (see the documents linked above).
2. If using Pulse Guiding then make sure to turn on the "Use Pulse Cmd" in the Main Control tab of the AstroPhysics Experimental driver from the INDI Control Panel. Then you need to choose "AstroPhysics Experimental" in the via selection of the Guide Module in EKOS.
3. If using ST4 Guiding then make sure to turn off the "Use Pulse Cmd" in the Main Control tab of the AstroPhysics Experimental driver from the INDI Control Panel. Then you need to choose the CCD or CMOS camera in the via selection of the Guide Module in EKOS (For example - ZWO ASI178 or whatever camera you use for guiding) so the guiding will then be done from the ST4 port of the guide camera.
4. While using the Pulse Guide option further consideration need be given the pulse length as set up in the options (click the "Options ..." button on the lower right corner) in the Guide Module of EKOS. (Following is a simplified explanation) Any pulse length of 1000 (ms) or longer is handled with a different move command in the driver rather than the standard pulse command due to a limitation on the GTOCP3 controller. Michael had this working well and then had to fix this again in recent weeks due to a regression in the code. I have tested his recent fix and it seems to be working properly again.

I use a pulse length of 900 (the default unit is ms) and I usually only do 4 or 5 iterations and have found that this works well for the calibration of the mount while using either the ST4 connection or the Pulse Guide function. I have been using KStars/Ekos/INDI with my kit for 2+ years and in recent months run several all night "automated" imaging runs with good success. I understand the frustration of software bugs or user error in learning a new set of tools and encourage you to keep at it as I am sure it will come together for you.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Ron Kramer
4 years 11 months ago #38201

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 1309
  • Thank you received: 226

Replied by Andrew on topic guide module (internal)

That's quite a lot of useful information by 'LinuxUser' specifically that the driver is only suited for certain controllers, or firmware and specific toggles for st4/pulse guiding...

Anybody else feel that indi drivers should have an Info tab with developer notes for such key information?
The following user(s) said Thank You: Alfred
4 years 11 months ago #38251

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 311
  • Thank you received: 42

Replied by wotalota on topic guide module (internal)

Ron,
Comparing your good night to the bad ones, was the quality of "seeing" and the target/elevation similar.
The guide star you presented on the good night looks decent compared to the bloated one on the bad night.
Just wondering why the results with same balance/focus settings etc. are so different.

I'm out of it for a bit, just changing over to a heavy long focal length payload and waiting for some extra weights to arrive
to be able to balance.
4 years 11 months ago #38263

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 328
  • Thank you received: 53

Replied by Ron Kramer on topic guide module (internal)


Thanks - I had all correct, but I have over 1000 in this field. I'll set it to 900. Thank you - when it starts jumping across the sky - might be when it uses the other move motion. Can't wait to try it again.
AP Mach1 / CP4 APCC & PEMpro.
EXP SCI - ED152cf APO - Celestron 11" RASA - Stellarvue 80mm
Baader F2 HS NB filters, Lodestar X2 guide camera / OAG - ZWO 290mm mini
ZWO ASI1600MM Pro / ASI174M (solar) / ASI094MC
NEXDome, CLoudwatcher, AVX mount/ASIair and Stellarmate

4 years 11 months ago #38275

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 328
  • Thank you received: 53

Replied by Ron Kramer on topic guide module (internal)

Yes - conditions were close enough. The difference is - sometimes when I calibrate it goes jumping around instead of just nudging the star. The good night (the only one I had). it somehow skipped calibration and worked WELL.
The above msg points out that a <1000 needs to be entered for max pulse. I've had 1000-2000 and 5000 in there. He suggests 900. So that it my next test. If it can calibrate I should be golden.
AP Mach1 / CP4 APCC & PEMpro.
EXP SCI - ED152cf APO - Celestron 11" RASA - Stellarvue 80mm
Baader F2 HS NB filters, Lodestar X2 guide camera / OAG - ZWO 290mm mini
ZWO ASI1600MM Pro / ASI174M (solar) / ASI094MC
NEXDome, CLoudwatcher, AVX mount/ASIair and Stellarmate

4 years 11 months ago #38276

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 328
  • Thank you received: 53

Replied by Ron Kramer on topic guide module (internal)

I t can't hurt. But I already knew the settings/options just by seeing them in the driver. AP does say guiding rate is 1.00.
I knew about ST4 and Pulse and I was using it correctly. (I guess guessed, locially) but I never knew about the <1000 move. I'll set my max pulse to 900 and try again!
I have a newer Mach1 with GTO4 (their latest) with >V chip and latest firmware.

AP Mach1 / CP4 APCC & PEMpro.
EXP SCI - ED152cf APO - Celestron 11" RASA - Stellarvue 80mm
Baader F2 HS NB filters, Lodestar X2 guide camera / OAG - ZWO 290mm mini
ZWO ASI1600MM Pro / ASI174M (solar) / ASI094MC
NEXDome, CLoudwatcher, AVX mount/ASIair and Stellarmate

4 years 11 months ago #38277

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 311
  • Thank you received: 42

Replied by wotalota on topic guide module (internal)

Ron,
No errors in your log/indi telescope panel when it goes bad?

Hope the 900ms setting helps but you should not be encountering that problem, Mike fixed it about 4 months ago.
indilib.org/forum/mounts/4280-astrophysi...l-pulse-guiding.html
/tom
4 years 11 months ago #38310

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 328
  • Thank you received: 53

Replied by Ron Kramer on topic guide module (internal)

I can include logs here. I tried last night at a max pulse of 900.
Same thing occured (small steps - then large jumps during calibration). I did later get it to calibrate, but guiding was mediocre and the guide star was often lost. (I have not focused the guide scope since I switched to it) I need to try that to see if it helps.

Anyone know the difference in the 2 axis calibration button? I suspect that means calibrate NS and EW (both directions) wouldn't we WANT TO DO THAT ALWAYS? - I turned it off and it did calibrate if I did iterations reduced to 3.

I turned it back on and it calibrated sometimes and later started jumping across the sky again. It seemed like 50/50 if a calibration would work or it would start jumping. When it did calibrate, guiding was pretty poor. (NOT ANYHING like that GREAT FLUKE guiding I had last week in previous post in here).

Trying some test subs. I couldn't get a usable sub in 180 seconds. Luckily I'm a nebula lover and nothing above my tree line this month. I suppose I could try PHD on the server again. = (

I'd give most anything to have guiding be like it was last week resulting in under .39 for over 2 hours straight. I'll check my balance, I'll swap the 290mm to the Lodestar, I'll fine focus the guide scope and see what becomes of that.
AP Mach1 / CP4 APCC & PEMpro.
EXP SCI - ED152cf APO - Celestron 11" RASA - Stellarvue 80mm
Baader F2 HS NB filters, Lodestar X2 guide camera / OAG - ZWO 290mm mini
ZWO ASI1600MM Pro / ASI174M (solar) / ASI094MC
NEXDome, CLoudwatcher, AVX mount/ASIair and Stellarmate

4 years 11 months ago #38356

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 1957
  • Thank you received: 420
Ron, could you once more explain how you connect your mount to Ekos (cables, driver, etc) and what mount you have? That may give us a hint as to what's happening.

And perhaps you could list your imaging gear in your signature as most of us do so it is easy to see that.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Ron Kramer
4 years 11 months ago #38360

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 328
  • Thank you received: 53

Replied by Ron Kramer on topic guide module (internal)


AP Mach1 (recent) GTO4 latest chip (V+)
I have excellent guiding results using windows and PHD2 (Typically guiding at .35 average total rms. This is when I used SGP and PHD2.

With indi - I have a PI with Stellarmate installed. All hardware is connected to the pi. (lots of devices are connected to a quality powered 3.0 HUB on the mount that has never been a problem. (yet).
The mount however I run directly to the pi with its own cable. (guide camera is through hub).
I am using USB connection to GTO4. I also tried ST4 (which seemed to work better for calibration but didn't guide well. (over 1.2 tot rms and all over the place).

Driver is AP experimental (likely latest) as I always update.

Currently a new ASI290 mini (but I had exact same issue with the lodestar SX ) I will probably change back to. I am using the ZWO CCD driver with the mini, but I use the lodestar SX driver with that guide camera.

With everything connected to the PI. I then connect to it from my windows desktop. (wifi) through mesh router. (win 10)
Will do.

So curious... I'm checking the log. I see during calibration the steps say move N 500# does this 4 times, E and S and all that - but near the end
it says SIMULATED pulse? for 1000? (HAULTED) which is probably me clicking STOP because it likely started jumping across the sky?

[2019-04-23T23:05:32.874 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - AstroPhysics Experimental : "[DEBUG] GuideSouth using simulated pulse for duration 1000 "
[2019-04-23T23:05:32.882 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - AstroPhysics Experimental : "[DEBUG] selectAPMoveToRate: Setting move to rate to GUIDE "
[2019-04-23T23:05:32.890 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - AstroPhysics Experimental : "[SCOPE] CMD <#:RG#> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:32.899 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - AstroPhysics Experimental : "[SCOPE] <MoveTo> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:32.907 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - AstroPhysics Experimental : "[SCOPE] CMD <:Ms#> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:32.979 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - AstroPhysics Experimental : "[DEBUG] Moving toward South. "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.174 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.guide] - Capturing frame...
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.194 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - AstroPhysics Experimental : "[SCOPE] CMD <:GR#> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.208 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - NexDome : "[DEBUG] CMD <m> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.215 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - NexDome : "[DEBUG] RES <M 0> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.249 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - NexDome : "[DEBUG] CMD <q> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.258 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - NexDome : "[DEBUG] RES <Q 232.7> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.267 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - NexDome : "[DEBUG] CMD <z> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.277 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - NexDome : "[DEBUG] RES <Z 0> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.290 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - NexDome : "[DEBUG] CMD <k> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.300 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - NexDome : "[DEBUG] RES <K 1269 1272 0> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.350 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - NexDome : "[DEBUG] CMD <o> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.389 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - AstroPhysics Experimental : "[SCOPE] RES <12:23:10.4> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.397 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - AstroPhysics Experimental : "[SCOPE] VAL [12.3862] "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.405 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - AstroPhysics Experimental : "[SCOPE] CMD <:GD#> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.439 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - NexDome : "[DEBUG] RES <O 0.69> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.448 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - NexDome : "[DEBUG] CMD <u> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.480 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - NexDome : "[DEBUG] RES <U 1 1> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.524 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - NexDome : "[DEBUG] CMD <b> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.554 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - NexDome : "[DEBUG] RES <B 90.00> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.561 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - AstroPhysics Experimental : "[SCOPE] RES <+27*22:21> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.569 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - AstroPhysics Experimental : "[SCOPE] VAL [27.3725] "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.584 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - AstroPhysics Experimental : "[DEBUG] CMD: <:pS#> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.596 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - NexDome : "[DEBUG] Snooped RA-DEC: 12.386222222222221134 "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.606 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - NexDome : "[DEBUG] Snooped RA-DEC: 27.372499999999998721 "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.623 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - NexDome : "[DEBUG] Snooped RA: 185.793 - DEC: 27.3725 "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.692 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - AstroPhysics Experimental : "[DEBUG] RES: <West> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.730 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - AstroPhysics Experimental : "[DEBUG] AstroPhysicsGuideTimeoutNS() pulse guide simul = 1 "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.738 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - AstroPhysics Experimental : "[SCOPE] <HaltMovement> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.784 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - AstroPhysics Experimental : "[SCOPE] CMD <:Qs#> "
[2019-04-23T23:05:33.794 Eastern Daylight Time DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - AstroPhysics Experimental : "[DEBUG] Movement toward South halted. "

File Attachment:

File Name: log_23-01-55.zip
File Size:82 KB

File Attachment:

File Name: log_23-08-24.zip
File Size:193 KB
AP Mach1 / CP4 APCC & PEMpro.
EXP SCI - ED152cf APO - Celestron 11" RASA - Stellarvue 80mm
Baader F2 HS NB filters, Lodestar X2 guide camera / OAG - ZWO 290mm mini
ZWO ASI1600MM Pro / ASI174M (solar) / ASI094MC
NEXDome, CLoudwatcher, AVX mount/ASIair and Stellarmate

4 years 11 months ago #38362
Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 328
  • Thank you received: 53

Replied by Ron Kramer on topic guide module (internal)

Driver Info

AstroPhysics Experimental
indi_lx200ap_experimental
vers 2.0
interface 5
AP Mach1 / CP4 APCC & PEMpro.
EXP SCI - ED152cf APO - Celestron 11" RASA - Stellarvue 80mm
Baader F2 HS NB filters, Lodestar X2 guide camera / OAG - ZWO 290mm mini
ZWO ASI1600MM Pro / ASI174M (solar) / ASI094MC
NEXDome, CLoudwatcher, AVX mount/ASIair and Stellarmate

4 years 11 months ago #38364

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Time to create page: 0.246 seconds