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

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

Celestron Nexstar + handcontoller + autoguiding

  • Posts: 55
  • Thank you received: 3
One more time, I tried Celestron AUX through the NexStar + HC in a real situation tonight and got the same result that I have been getting since the beginning. The capture and solve with slew to target is never able to converge on the target. The program just endlessly tries to move the mount to the target and fails. I will try the Skyportal wifi module to see if the HC is causing a conflict.
Mike
1 year 4 months ago #88499

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Mike,

When it tries to converge, does it just seem to get closer in the same direction but never get there or does it oscillate around the target, first over then undershoot?
Does the lack of convergence happen in only one axis or both?

What are your backlash settings for both AZM and ALT?

Gene
1 year 4 months ago #88513

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Gene,
It never gets close. My recollection is that it is declination that has the very large error (the first number in the table of results from alignment). RA is off too, but not as large an error, about two orders of magnitude worse in declination. I have no backlash compensation on, just letting PHD2 handle that.
Mike
1 year 4 months ago #88516

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Mike,

Have you built a mount model or just did a sync at a plate solve first location then try a GoTO?

Gene
1 year 4 months ago #88517

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I believe I have tried it both ways. Sync, then GOTO, Plate solve then GOTO. And no plate solve nor sync, then GOTO. The result seems to be the same. I tried with the Wifi dongle alone inside today, and at least this is stable, no wandering off. I'm about to take my mount outside.
Mike
1 year 4 months ago #88521

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That was a very informative evening. The Celestron Wifi wedge AUX driver performed quite well when the Nexstar+HC was removed and control was done just using the SkyPortal Wifi module. The system was stable and the RA and Dec errors while still on the large side were as low as 160 arcsec for a while. That is until my AZ clutch failed! I conclude I had two issues, the AUX driver is incompatible with the HC and I had a failing clutch and/or gearbox. Now I get to take it apart and see what the damage is. The mount is 16 years old.
Mike
The following user(s) said Thank You: Jasem Mutlaq
1 year 4 months ago #88527

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Gene,
The set screw on the pinion gear for the AZ/RA drive no longer fits the hole and the epoxy holding the gear in fractured allowing the pinion to slip. One two many stalls of the motor I guess. Celestron does not appear to sell these gears separately. The pinion for the ALT/DEC drive seems to be identical and the motor assembly with the gear is available. Note sure I want to pay $159 for a gear that may not come off without damage. Any ideas on sourcing of the pinion? Or are the astronomy gods telling me to buy a new mount?
Mike
1 year 4 months ago #88540

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I able to attach the pinion by tapping a new set screw hole. So my mount is reassembled and seems no worse for wear. I took the opportunity to clean and relube both the RA and DEC drives. The gears all look in fine shape, no excessive wear. No new mount just yet!
Mike
1 year 4 months ago #88541

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Hi Mike,

I was not aware of a clutch on an SE mount for AZ? Sounds like you came through ok, get a chance to take it for a test drive, regardless of of which driver or visual?

Gene
1 year 4 months ago #88599

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Gene, Yes, it seems to be OK! I got a pretty good image of M43 last night and M77 was steady enough to show my son. He was disappointed that he couldn’t see the neutrino flux (just kidding). I misspoke about the clutch. If there is one if must be integrated into the motor assembly. I was just experimenting with the CCD simulator and the guiding simulator. The pointing error is around 30 arcsec with no bias in either axis and the guiding is within 2 arcsec.

I do not observe a conflict between the Nexstar+HC when run in parallel with the wifi dongle (each one plugged into an aux port in an aux port splitter). This is nice because it’s convenient to have the HC for initial positioning and for polar alignment.

I’m looking forward to the next clear night! Thanks for checking in.

Mike
1 year 4 months ago #88608

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The presence of HC does cause problems and eventually hangs the mount when using the Celestron Evolution Wifi driver. I just takes a while to see it. After using the HC to set up the initial scope position and polar alignment I disconnect the HC. I ended up building a computer interface a la John Schnupp to avoid any issues with wifi that might occur. Pointing, alignment and tracking all work fine with this new interface or with the wifi Skyportal dongle without the HC.

Now I'm on to autoguiding using PHD2. When I was using the INDI Nexstar driver, I could autoguide through the mount on my wedge mounted 6SE rather than having to use an ST-4 cable. Can someone confirm that the Celestron Evolution Wifi AUX driver supports PHD2 autoguiding through the mount on the 6SE? I'm having trouble getting it to work with the simulators (it's cloudy) but I don't know where the issue lies, with the guider simulator, or the AUX driver. I can get it to guide when simulating connection via an ST-4 cable, but I would rather do it through the mount. I have upgraded to Stellarmate 1.7.4.

Mike
1 year 3 months ago #88833

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The AUX driver provides guider interface, so it's *guidable* from any INDI client. This includes PHD2.
1 year 3 months ago #88835

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