Still no luck with DSLR PA

bergenk

So on my 3rd night attempt im still not getting it right.

Here what im doing

1. Level mount and rough align with NCP

2. Power up mount and do 3 star alignment

3. Bring mount back to home position facing NCP

4. Power up air and start app

5. Connect to 224mc guide cam,AVX mount and 450d dslr

6. Check long/lat time and date in app

7. Do a preview to check all is in focus

8. Check dslr Bulb and manual is on.

9. Go to PA and take 5 sec at ISO800

This is where things start breaking down. First attempt found 65 stars great! Then the mount was to rotate RA by 60deg. The mount moves anticlockwise but reaches around 55deg by which point the tube and counter weight are parallel and everything stops, as i think its at the limits.

Next attempt, on solving detects 24000 stars!!! And tries to solve. But i cancel as this is not right.

So i switch it up. I use the ZWO 60mm guide scope and 224mc as main scope. I go through the whole procedure but this time when the RA is moved it goes clockwise?? And moves only half the distance. And then finally works YES!! I am able to slew to targets and everything is fine.

So there is something not right with the main imaging train. Its a celestron 6SE with a f0.63 reducer so the fov is in range. Asiair calculates focal length at 1003mm

My next attempt will be with another tablet?? As im running out of things to try. My last option will be to get rid of the asiair use a laptop or replace the dlsr with a asi183 but i want to avoid the £550 cost right now as im still learning stuff.

I will try everything first, as im sure its me.

bergenk

Ok looks like a clear night tonight. If anyone has anything left i can try please advise, as it stands all i can do with the air is guide. With PA ,goto and imaging to be handled by the mount and dslr which defeats the pupose of the air.

Thank you

w7ay

Have you checked your backfocus measurements as I had suggested earlier?

If not, set the ASIAIR focal length to zero and let plate solve compute your focal length for you. Be sure to ditch that diagonal and use proper spaces to achieve the backfocus that your reducer requires.

You can also try without the reducer -- that way, your focal length is not affected by any error in reducer backfocus. Without a reducer, your focal length is the objective;s focal length when the optics are in focus.

Chen

bergenk

Thanks Chen

I will see if removing the reducer does it. I did try with the '0' value for the focal length but it made no difference. Although the asiair did calculate FL to 1002mm when it should be 950mm. So may need to check the back focus distance.