Exacta mundo!?
>>> Fundamentally, it has got me imaging and capturing images really for the first time after years of not doing much because of the ¡°hassle¡± I perceived with PC or other Rpi based systems.
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that's great to hear, to me that's pretty much what these all-in-ones are about
-- Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?
? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
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Hi John,?
I use a ZWO 178mc for guiding and on my 60x242 guide scope the stars are on the small side also. I've got into the habit of using "phd2->view->Display Star Profile" to see what's going on with the star. You get a zoomed in view, and It's very helpful tool to monitor if phd2 is loosing a star. It shows FWHM and a cross-hair that I assume is what phd2 believes is the centroid. I had issues in the past where the centroid seemed to be moving around in the star, and the RMS numbers were very bad. I enabled noise reduction in PHD2 camera settings, and set them to "2x2 mean" and it settled things down quite a bit.?
Jamie
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Hi John
great thanks for the info.
I have all the same cameras as well, and it sounds like you also guide with the 290mm
A short answer is you can't magnify that portion of your display, but you shouldn't need to. I hope the following will help?
There are things you can do to improve the star field visibility, like maximizing the app, and dragging the various window sizes to maximize the size of the image area. but of course that can only get you so far.
I think PHD's intention is that you use the auto-select features for whatever you need, and use various tools to fine tune guide star acquisition or rejection. The software doesn't prioritize viewing the starfield because you shouldn't need to manually select guidestars.?
Features like multi-star guiding *only* work with auto selected guidestars. if you manually select a guidestar it will disable that feature.
Roughly it goes something like this (i apologize in advance if you know all this already):
For focus/star evaluation Loop the exposures click on auto-select guidestar view this in the Star Profile window (enable it under View menu if it's not visible) you can adjust focus or evaluate FWHM there.?
For guiding that is managed by you click on loop exposures click auto select guidestar click guide (or shift click guide if you need to calibrate) and off it goes, including multi-star selection
If you find it's not picking good stars, or picking hot pixels, etc. you need to use tools like dark frames, bad pixel map, and minimium?HFD, max saturation values, etc. (a little in depth to cover here)
For guiding that is managed by your imaging app just make sure it's connected and everything handled by the imaging app ;) you may not even need to do this, SGP and others automatically connect PHD to the equipment using the profile you specify
On Tue, Dec 8, 2020 at 10:35 PM John Kmetz < jjkmetz54@...> wrote: Brian,
Normally I use a ZWO ASI290MM (2.9 micron) on an 80x400 mm guide scope, which works out OK. Or sometimes I use a William Optics 50x200mm guide scope or a Lodestar X2 (8.3 micron) in combination with the former two.
For imaging I have a side by side setup with an ASI1600MM (3.8 micron) on a Zenithstar 61 (360mm) on one side and an ASI071MC (4.8 micron) with an ES102 (500mm with FR) on the other. When I try connecting PHD2 to either of the imaging cams I see really tiny stars after a 1-2 seconds exposure. This is about the same image scale I would see while using SGPro. When running PEMPro, I use either of the two main cameras for getting a PEC curve. But in the PHD2 view screen, the stars are so small they are barely visible. PHD2 can't seem to perceive the small stars well or use them to guide and it keeps shutting down with that flashing red screen. For a size comparison, if I put bright star like Capella in the view screen, it is probably 20x larger with the guide cam vs. the imaging cams. Yes, I do make sure the scope FL is entered into the PHD2 brain.
The ASI 290Mini has a 6.1mm diagonal sensor, the ASI1600MM - 18.4mm, and ASI071MC - 24.3mm. So the imaging cams have much larger sensors with greater pixel arrays than the guide cams. I thought I could use one or the other arrangements as a super guide scope but it did not work out that way.?
If you know how I can get these working with PHD2 I would like to hear. Hope I am explaining the issue properly.
Thanks so much,
John
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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>>>
Fundamentally, it has got me imaging and capturing images really for the first time after years of not doing much because of the ¡°hassle¡± I perceived with PC or other Rpi based systems.
that's great to hear, to me that's pretty much what these all-in-ones are about
On Wed, Dec 9, 2020 at 3:51 AM Bryn Evans via <brynevans2000= [email protected]> wrote: I have been using the ASIAir Pro (AAP)with a GM-8 and Gemini 1 for a few months now.
Pretty much, provided you are in the ZWO environment, everything just works. Of the issues I have had, they have been me learning a new mount control (Gemini 1) and guide settings in the AAP.
my latest being slightly off goto. I think this is a difference between the jnow epoch and I suspect a j2000 setting in the mount, but it¡¯s been cloudy so no chance to check.
Wifi is poor, but if you control locally, no problems. Also, I have excellent WiFi coverage in my garden so I haven¡¯t added anything to the ASP to improve coverage. The slate is an option but many people use the TPlink travel router as an extender solution.
Basically, if you want something that works and is largely configured out of the box, with all functionality controllable via a phone or tablet app from the comfort of the chair in front of your tv, I can highly recommend it.?
yes there are more comprehensive solutions out there, but you have to constantly update drivers or configure them, and it won¡¯t work with non ZWO components. But if the ease of use of the AAP is something you want, just get it, I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t regret it. I won¡¯t be using it for all my setups (moonlite focuser with Ron at moonlite will not warranty if a ZWO focuser is fitted!), but for my small refractor, I think it¡¯s great.?
Fundamentally, it has got me imaging and capturing images really for the first time after years of not doing much because of the ¡°hassle¡± I perceived with PC or other Rpi based systems.
There are also 2 very active Facebook groups, ZWO ASIAIR with is monitored by ZWO and ASIAIR PRO users group, which doesn¡¯t seem to be monitored.
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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Thanks everyone great info and help. ??
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I have been using the ASIAir Pro (AAP)with a GM-8 and Gemini 1 for a few months now.
Pretty much, provided you are in the ZWO environment, everything just works. Of the issues I have had, they have been me learning a new mount control (Gemini 1) and guide settings in the AAP.
my latest being slightly off goto. I think this is a difference between the jnow epoch and I suspect a j2000 setting in the mount, but it¡¯s been cloudy so no chance to check.
Wifi is poor, but if you control locally, no problems. Also, I have excellent WiFi coverage in my garden so I haven¡¯t added anything to the ASP to improve coverage. The slate is an option but many people use the TPlink travel router as an extender solution.
Basically, if you want something that works and is largely configured out of the box, with all functionality controllable via a phone or tablet app from the comfort of the chair in front of your tv, I can highly recommend it.?
yes there are more comprehensive solutions out there, but you have to constantly update drivers or configure them, and it won¡¯t work with non ZWO components. But if the ease of use of the AAP is something you want, just get it, I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t regret it. I won¡¯t be using it for all my setups (moonlite focuser with Ron at moonlite will not warranty if a ZWO focuser is fitted!), but for my small refractor, I think it¡¯s great.?
Fundamentally, it has got me imaging and capturing images really for the first time after years of not doing much because of the ¡°hassle¡± I perceived with PC or other Rpi based systems.
There are also 2 very active Facebook groups, ZWO ASIAIR with is monitored by ZWO and ASIAIR PRO users group, which doesn¡¯t seem to be monitored.
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I use a lowly Pi 2B with Ekos, should be similar to ASI air, with a Wifi dongle.? It has never been a problem, speed is OK.? If I want more speed or if I am in the field with no router I use an ethernet cable.? I use a Galaxy Tab A to control it using VNC, I have an Ethernet to micro USB adapter so I can use Ekos via Wifi or ethernet. It has it's own KStars planetarium so I haven't tried SkySafari on it.? It has driver for OnStep, which my DIY control system.? It all works pretty well and was not difficult to get going.? If you don't need an ASI air maybe a regular Pi will work, it's cheap and you can install the latest at will.
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Brian,
Normally I use a ZWO ASI290MM (2.9 micron) on an 80x400 mm guide scope, which works out OK. Or sometimes I use a William Optics 50x200mm guide scope or a Lodestar X2 (8.3 micron) in combination with the former two.
For imaging I have a side by side setup with an ASI1600MM (3.8 micron) on a Zenithstar 61 (360mm) on one side and an ASI071MC (4.8 micron) with an ES102 (500mm with FR) on the other. When I try connecting PHD2 to either of the imaging cams I see really tiny stars after a 1-2 seconds exposure. This is about the same image scale I would see while using SGPro. When running PEMPro, I use either of the two main cameras for getting a PEC curve. But in the PHD2 view screen, the stars are so small they are barely visible. PHD2 can't seem to perceive the small stars well or use them to guide and it keeps shutting down with that flashing red screen. For a size comparison, if I put bright star like Capella in the view screen, it is probably 20x larger with the guide cam vs. the imaging cams. Yes, I do make sure the scope FL is entered into the PHD2 brain.
The ASI 290Mini has a 6.1mm diagonal sensor, the ASI1600MM - 18.4mm, and ASI071MC - 24.3mm. So the imaging cams have much larger sensors with greater pixel arrays than the guide cams. I thought I could use one or the other arrangements as a super guide scope but it did not work out that way.?
If you know how I can get these working with PHD2 I would like to hear. Hope I am explaining the issue properly.
Thanks so much,
John
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Hi!
Yes, your solution seems nice and stable :)
Magnus
Den 2020-12-09 kl. 01:38, skrev Chip
Louie:
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[Edited Message Follows]
[Reason: clarity ]
Hi Magnus,
Yes, R-Pi4B WiFi sucks even in the open air, this is a known issue
with the R-Pi4B boards. So when an R-Pi4B is put into a heavy
aluminum (but pretty!) case then sandwiched with a Hat designed
with a ground plane to carry current for the PWM power application
the radiated Wi-Fi RF power getting out of the box is going to be
pretty low and somewhat directional. This is what happens when you
put the WiFi antenna in a Faraday cage.
Originally I was just going to modify the R-Pi4B board by adding a
u/FL connector socket to the WiFi RF section and run a cable to an
external connector and use a high gain antenna. But that seemed a
little much for most people to attempt and it is easy to screw up
the installation due to there being a very small pad area for the
soldered down u/FL socket. Plus it required drilling the very
pretty case so instead I found a solution anybody with a credit
card with $60 left on it could do. Buy an off the shelf solution
that allows the ASIAIR-PRO to work at full speed with full power
WiFi and adds capabilities that help Gemini users like me and
other herem? on the Losmandy users group.? ? ?
Hi!
Just about "the wifi sucks". The ASIAIR-PRO has a metal
case, right? If so, that is why it sucks. Plug in a wifi
dongle and you probably have good wifi. That is what I have
with my R-Pi 4. Metal case, good for cooling, very bad for
wifi. Dongle produce high speed wifi.
Or tried and tested solution: an ethernet cable. Which is
what you do, Chip, right?
Best,
Magnus
--
Chip Louie
Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?
? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
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Re: counterwieghts for GM811G
>>>
So with the additional 7 pound counterweight you can more easily put the two 11 pounders in the best position on the CW shaft and use the smaller 7 pound to fine tune mount balance with the counterweights in the best location on the CW shaft.?
totally good approach. you are twanging my counterbalance heart strings :)
Mike,
I think it would be best to add a second 11 pound plus a 7 pound. I say this because ideally you want to place the counterweights about the same distance from the RA axis as the center of mass along the counterweight shaft on the opposite side of the RA axle. This presents a problem as the two 11 pound counterweights would likely need to be further down the shaft than ideal. So with the additional 7 pound counterweight you can more easily put the two 11 pounders in the best position on the CW shaft and use the smaller 7 pound to fine tune mount balance with the counterweights in the best location on the CW shaft. This is pretty much what I do with the C11 and M10 SCTs.??
?
I am considering a GM811g for use with my celestron 9.25 SCT. Weight with what i have on the 9.25 with my evolution mount is about 24-25 pounds. The GM811G comes with one 11 pound counterweight . I have a 16 inch DOB and the evolution and many years ago a meade EQ mount. So no recent experience with EQ mounts. Any ideas on amount of counterweight i would need for balance?
--
Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?
? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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Re: counterwieghts for GM811G
Mike, I think it would be best to add a second 11 pound plus a 7 pound. I say this because ideally you want to place the counterweights about the same distance from the RA axis as the center of mass along the counterweight shaft on the opposite side of the RA axle. This presents a problem as the two 11 pound counterweights would likely need to be further down the shaft than ideal. So with the additional 7 pound counterweight you can more easily put the two 11 pounders in the best position on the CW shaft and use the smaller 7 pound to fine tune mount balance with the counterweights in the best location on the CW shaft. This is pretty much what I do with the C11 and M10 SCTs.?? ?
I am considering a GM811g for use with my celestron 9.25 SCT. Weight with what i have on the 9.25 with my evolution mount is about 24-25 pounds. The GM811G comes with one 11 pound counterweight . I have a 16 inch DOB and the evolution and many years ago a meade EQ mount. So no recent experience with EQ mounts. Any ideas on amount of counterweight i would need for balance?
-- Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?
? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
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>>>
The comment "off the shelf solution" was for the use of the $60 Slate nano router as the WiFi connection?
ah yes.?
i'm 100% believer :)
thanks CHip
Hi Brian,
The comment "off the shelf solution" was for the use of the $60 Slate nano router as the WiFi connection between the outside world and the ASIAIR-PRO. Using the wired 1Gb Ethernet port? connections means losing no speed because the ASIAIR-PRO and Slate are both 1Gb Ethernet ports which are at least twice as fast than even using a 5GHz. WiFi connection with a matching AC750 class WiFi devices. So you are effectively using the Slate as a front end to the ASIAIR-PRO and the bonus for Losmandy Gemini 2 (and AstroPhysics GTOCP4/5 users) is easy mount access over Wi-Fi or wired LAN.??
--
Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?
? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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Hi Brian,
The comment "off the shelf solution" was for the use of the $60 Slate nano router as the WiFi connection between the outside world and the ASIAIR-PRO. Using the wired 1Gb Ethernet port? connections means losing no speed because the ASIAIR-PRO and Slate are both 1Gb Ethernet ports which are at least twice as fast than even using a 5GHz. WiFi connection with a matching AC750 class WiFi devices. So you are effectively using the Slate as a front end to the ASIAIR-PRO and the bonus for Losmandy Gemini 2 (and AstroPhysics GTOCP4/5 users) is easy mount access over Wi-Fi or wired LAN.??
--
Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?
? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
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On Tue, Dec 8, 2020 at 03:01 PM, Brian Valente wrote:
but again, you may be using it in a way i don't know about?
Hell, that wouldn't surprise me, Brian. Most of the time I'm trying stuff out just to see what happens. Then if it gets to off, I remove the program and reinstall it for the ultimate fix. Or Windows does an update that carves up my whole turkey. LOL! Mostly I read posts like this and like today, I open up my Baby Dell and look at my stuff compared to others. After all, as long as I don't destroy hardware, I can go back to square one. Well, so far that is... LOL! ? -- SonnyE (I suggest viewed in full screen)
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Tim,
You gotta see this thing in action! I roll out the Losmandy on the Wheelie Bar, I point it north using the marks on the concrete driveway (blue painter's tape, my wife has issues, go figure) I level out the Wheelie Bar using the screw levelers. I fire up the battery pack and the router comes on line then I turn on the Gemini 2-mini and cold start it. I use my phone and connect to the Slate router using the Slate's IP address and then flip the power switch on the ASIAIR-PRO and verify it sees all of the peripherals it needs to talk to. In the mean time I get roughly polar aligned and then go to a bright star and do a one star alignment using the elevation and azimuth knobs to center the bright star. The I go to a second bright star and verify that I am close to centered. I cannot use the polar alignment routines in the ASIAIR-PRO because my view to the north is usually blocked by trees in the driveway. For me I have to take a little extra time to get a good PA but normally in the field or after the trees have been thinned or the winter has blown the leaves off I use a PoleMaster camera and SharpCap's PA routines which IMO are better than the PM's original app.?
Then you just pick an object and tell it to GOTO and then let the ASIAIR-PRO plate solve to center the object. Focus and pick a guide star and press play for the sequence of exposures. Go make tea to have with maybe a Biscotti or six and watch the ASIAIR-PRO collect your data for you. Of course this is simplified as I would use library files for flats and dark frames if possible. But this is pretty much all there is to this part.
--
Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?
? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
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John what camera are you using for guiding?
Brain,
Several times I have tried to use a full frame sensor on the main scope for guiding in PHD2 and the stars look microscopic. Even the green guide box is barely perceptible in the main view screen. Is there a way to zoom in on a smaller region, comparable in size to a guide cam? I am missing how to do this somehow.
Thanks,
John
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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Brain,
Several times I have tried to use a full frame sensor on the main scope for guiding in PHD2 and the stars look microscopic. Even the green guide box is barely perceptible in the main view screen. Is there a way to zoom in on a smaller region, comparable in size to a guide cam? I am missing how to do this somehow.
Thanks,
John
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Re: counterwieghts for GM811G
Hi Mike,
Welcome to the group!
No, no idea really. But the GM811G has a 1.25" solid steel shaft which is rather hefty in itself, then the counter weights are solid cast iron with a hammertone paint finish.
If I was in your boots, I think I would opt for the one 11 pound (provided), and maybe one or two of the
You can always move them up or down, or take one off. But you cannot put on that which you do not have.
But this would be a good question to ask the Losmandy team. Their customer base has surely got someone who has purchased with your combo in mind.
--
SonnyE
(I suggest viewed in full screen)
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I don't have an asiair, I've got the same rpi4 though, and I chopped the end of the flirc case off. Kind of worried that I was wrecking the thing. But in the end it works perfectly! Don't send me a bill if it doesn't work for you though!!!
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Chip my astrophotography interest is similar ?to yours. ?I have the G11ii asi1600mc pro 290mc. ? I have my equipment in the garage. ?I set it up on clear nights on the driveway. ?Sounds like the ASIAIR may be a faster and simpler system for my use. ? Thanks?
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Chip Louie
Jamie Amendolagine
Tim Kimbler