On Fri, Dec 4, 2020 at 01:28 PM, Brian Valente wrote:

"i was surprised to see using the hand controller in there"? I know...? I haven't completely switched over to the new NINA usage model.? Maybe next month - New Years Resolution.

Here's what I do.

1. Turn on and set Gemini-2 Lat/Long and Time.
2. Run PoleMaster and Polar Align.
3. Model the mount.? I usually pick 2 stars in the West and 2 in the South.? Pine trees are in the way to the East.
4. Turn on NINA and connect to everything.? Camera, Mount, Focuser, TheSkyX Pro...etc
5. Use HC to slew to imaging target.
6. Run NINA auto-focus.
7. Run TheSkyX Pro and select / frame above target.
8. Set up NINA imaging sequence and link to target reported by TheSkyX - import Lat/Long coordinates to NINA.
9. Image target until meridian flip.? Mount does a meridian flip and NINA runs ASTAP to center target.? Target is always off center almost to edge of field.? I rerun ASTAP.? Same thing, ASTAP assumes its centered.? I need to use the HC to center the target.

If I decide to select another target for step 9 on the other side of pier I have the same issue.? I use the HC to slew to the new target, change TheSkyX target and import the new target into NINA, ASTAP is always off.

At first I thought the mount was shifting but ASTAP should still recenter the target based on the new plate solve.? One note:? The Lat/Long between NINA (Decimal format) and Gemini (Degrees, Hours, Minutes and Seconds) never agree.? NINA asked me which one to pick (Sync).? I pick Telescope To NINA.

Example:
Telescope

• Lat - 33.3166666667
• Long - -111.9666666667

NINA

• Lat - 33.3333333333
• Long - -11.9833333333

On Fri, Dec 4, 2020 at 01:06 PM, Jim Waters wrote:

My m

Brian - I am guessing the 30 arc-seconds.? It could be more.? When I first do a GoTo using the HC and running ASTAP there's no issues.? If the target is out of view ASTAP will plate solve and 'center' the target.? The object is in the cross hairs - 'dead-on'.? After I do a meridian flip or change side of pier things get funny.? Naturally the target needs to be recentered.? I see ASTAP making corrections to the mount and ASTAP completes.? Its always off, almost outside of the FOV.? ASTAP pointing Tolerance is 0.1 arcmin.

My modeling could be better but I don't see how that would cause issues with ASTAP plate-solving and incorrectly recentering the scope.? ASTAP successfully completes the plate solving according to the display but its always ~30 arc-seconds off after a meridian flip or changing the side of pier.? If I restart plate solving I get the same thing.? About 30 arc-seconds off.?

[Edited Message Follows]

Brian

I am having similar or the same issue.? I am using the current release of NINA 1.10 HF2 Beta 06 and have a GM811G.? Goto using the Losmandy HC, the ASTAP plate-solving works as expected but after I do a meridian flip or change the side of pier using the HC ASTAP plate solving is always ~30 arc-seconds off.? Gemini Expects J2000... is OFF.? I am using the current release of Gemini.NET, ASCOM 6.5 SP1 and TheSkyX Pro.

There's no problems doing the above with a CEM mount with ASCOM, NINA or TheSkyX.

Hi John,
Yep, it did. I uninstalled my copy of PHD2 I had been using with my SSAG camera. The idea here was to start fairly fresh with a new copy.
Then I downloaded a new copy of PHD2 v2.6.9 for Windows. And it automatically started the wizard to walk me in.
It just threw me about the focal length. I do have subsequent install profiles, so I try to give the latest one a unique address, this one I ended in "5".
I am very pleased with my imaging results from last night. Teeny tiny stars and greater detail.

To be fair, I decided to image The Flaming Star Nebula, something I have done before, but so I could do a side-by-side comparison, roughly, of the results I got with my old guiding camera vs: the new higher definition ASI290MM guiding my 811.
During the wizard install process, I could not advance without putting a focal length in the appropriate box. So there is that Fail Safe in the pages the wizard walked me through. Good to note.
I normally set-up an informal hook up in my rats nest central (Home Office) where the wizard can detect the camera when it asks for it. Just a USB 2 cable connected to my Telescope hub, and the onboard wiring already in place between the hub and the item. I don't plug in until asked for it.
Nice point is that , (USB-a to USB-new size. Mini?) (About 19.x inches long). So I just changed out my old cable for the new.
The change was strictly the camera itself. Not the Guide Scope. And I was pleased it came up almost centered in the display. Only very minor adjusting of the guide scope to center the image in the Bullseye of PHD2.
All in all, a very easy modification. With surprisingly great results, photographically.

My GM811GHD runs so incredibly well, it really shows results when given better input. In this case, much finer guiding signals. Well, twice as fine pixel wise, and about 33% higher definition guiding references. And a much finer detailed star field in PHD2's display. I can see stars that were faint fuzzy representations before.
Couple those improvements with the mounts abilities to image through meridians, I can really enjoy my run away, hours and hours long imaging where I drag down more and more detail.
Then I do very minimal Post Processing of my OSC Atik Infinity Camera images. My aim is to present as close to "as taken"
?images as I can. Like this, where only light noise reduction and converted to jpg format to make it light on the web servers:



300s (5 minute) x 10 = 3000s stack, jpg for web.
I'm pleased with the tight little stars. ;^)

--
SonnyE


(I suggest viewed in full screen)

Hi Luis,

Using the virtual pass-through port in ASCOM driver is the complicated way to do this. Using TheSkyX ASCOM connector configured to connect to Gemini.NET driver is the easier way. Gemini.NET is a hub and allows any number of ASCOM applications to connect to Gemini at the same time.

Regards,

? ? -Paul