AZ-GTi in Alt/Az Mode: Page 2

AZ-GTi in Alt/Az Mode

jd8080

I'm another user who uses AZ-GTI in alt-az mode. I want to do public outreach with EAA. I use alt-az mode to keep the setup as simple and light as possible since I need to transport, setup, and teardown the equipment for each outreach event. It would be great if ASIAir would support mount control, plate solving, tracking, and live stacking with AZ-GTI in alt-az mode.

The-Vman

jd8080

I've been writing about that very subject on the ASIAIR 2.0 Beta thread.
https://bbs.astronomy-imaging-camera.com/d/14642-asiair-beta-v200/149

With 2 devices I can hack my way through it. But it would be nice to have a setup to do within ASIAIR. Can't imagine it would require too many changes to the system to do.

dickson

jd8080 I think alike. I am strongly interested in getting AZ-GTiX to mount the C8 for visual or EAA purpose, so ASIAIR compatibility would be a great advantage.

http://www.skywatcher.com/post/advertisement/AZ-GTiX/?fbclid=IwAR22UteykMNT51n03vdy0jmhgcnOJdDTmmbhtMHtt6KTxGdh5cOHnwkznBQ

The-Vman

jd8080 Have you tried using the Hand Controller with the AZ-GTI in alt-az mode? I have had good success using a SynScan Hand Controller V5 and my SkyWatcher Virtuoso Telescope. I think you should be able to get the same degree of success since both telescopes seem to use the same Hand Controller. Link Below for more details about it:

https://bbs.astronomy-imaging-camera.com/d/15152-asiair-and-skywather-virtuoso/3

Either way, I hope ZWO quickly fixes this issue for both telescopes. I have no option to use a EQ setup with the Virtuoso.

francesco

jd8080 I have the same issue. AA+ does not track in alt azimuth mode connected to skywatcher AZGti

johnpd

The-Vman

I looked a little deeper into this and found that the ASIAIR does seem to have a problem with running the AZ-GTI or Virtuoso version in Alt-Az mode. Most people seem to be converting their AZ-GTI for use in EQU mode. That apparently works. The Virtuoso version does have the capability of directly connecting by cable (USB to RJ-12) to the ASIAIR which makes things simpler. This allows the ASIAIR to control the mount. The problem is what mount option you need to use to get the ASIAIR to recognize that you have an Alt-Az mount. The "Skywatcher Alt AZ Wedge" option that some tried does not enable tracking for some reason although it might assume that the mount is set up as EQU since "wedge" is included. There needs to be a straight "Skywatcher Alt AZ" option. So if there is an inherent issue with the ASIAIR running the AZ-GTI mounts in Alt-Az mode, then that is something that ZWO would have to address.

JohnD

The-Vman

johnpd

Interesting. I just got the USB to RJ-12 cable and have been connected via the "Skywatcher AZ-GTI" mount. I will play with the mount settings and see if I can make any progress that way.

The-Vman

johnpd

Okay, I was able to connect to the SkyWatcher AZ-GTi/SynScan Wifi driver instead of using the SkyWatcher Virtuoso GTi driver. The Tracking appeared including Guiding Rate, Tracking and Tracking rate that are missing from the Virtuoso driver.

I unfortunately was unable to use the driver as there appears to be some small incompatibilities between the two drivers. I think the azmuth direction is flipped. Going left goes right. And when plate solving and slewing it was moving in the wrong direction all of the time.

So it appears I'm going to have to wait until the Skywatcher Virtuoso driver is fixed to get the tracking.

thebruce

Hey all I have a similar issue. I have a new AA+ and was assuming it would be plug and play with the AZ-GTI. I purchased the AA+ after reading their official instructions showing you just use the EQMod driver. That driver appears to only be for...EQ mode, which would have been nice of ZWO to point out. Im connecting with the cable and Ive tried the virtuoso and Az-GTI wedge drivers. Both slew in the correct location but cant track. EQmod everything is flipped. And with the Az-GTI/Synscane Wifi driver it seems closest. I could hear it trying to track but it would continue to fail when trying to auto-center after slewing to a large.

The INDI site shows the Skywatcher Alt/Az driver should work. is it just not installed on the AA+? https://www.indilib.org/individuals/devices/telescopes/skywatcher/skywatcher-alt-az-dobsonian.html

jd8080

Stellarmate and Astroberry both work with AZ-GTI in alt az mode, so it can be done. Unfortunately Stellarmate is buggy, so it is not a good option for controlling a EAA/astrophotography setup.

The-Vman I don't like the idea of buying $150 Skywatcher hand controller just to connect to the ASIAir when I don't intend on using the hand controller for any other reason.

PMTeam@ZWO

Noted, guys.

The-Vman

jd8080 Its a very reasonable response. This unit should work directly with the mount bug free, and you should not have to buy the hand controller. I already made several requests here, and opened a bug report directly on the ASIAIR app. Hopefully, they will fix it and it will be in the next update in a month or two..

joey76

If the ASIair devices can be made to work fully with the AZ-GTi mounts in alt/az they will sell a lot more units. I am a Stellarmate user with this mount but the app is buggy and I will readily switch. The Stellarmate developer is working to get its app stable so to be a worthwhile competitor to the ASIair, and has the advantage of current compatibility with alt/az mounts and non-ASI cameras. ASI can leap ahead in this competition if it takes on the problem of compatibility with alt/az mounts.

poppashrink

What’s the answer to the problem ZWO Tech? “Noted” (November 8 by AISAIR@ZWO) doesn’t really let your customers know what’s being done to address the problem, and time frame for fixing it. I bought the AAP specifically because ZWO shows in the mounts supported that Az-Gti is compatible. Not that one needs to buy wedges, EQ shafts and weights, or SynScan hand controllers. Sky Watcher does not support the Az-Gti with EQ equipment. I drank the ZWO koolaide buying the aap and AIS585mc, but maybe I should rethink going further with any other components from ZWO.

Walf@ZWO

I have test AZ GTI last week，I use usb cable connect AAP and mount，choose EQmode prototol，it works well。

jd8080

Walf@ZWO Was your AZ-GTI on a equatorial wedge in EQ mode? This post is about making the AZ-GTI and ASIAir work in alt-az mode.

dewo

I'm having similar issues with my ASIAIR Pro and AZ-GTI, and waiting for something to be fixed. It's so close to working well! I can get everything to work except that the ASIAIR Pro makes the scope go down when it should go up. ALT movement is the opposite of what it should be. Surely it's a simple fix? I think I'll just sell this ZWO gear and go with another solution.

jmiller1001

It has to be an easy code fix - not sure why ZWO tech support cannot provide a definitive answer (something along the lines of):

This is an easy fix and it is scheduled for a future release.
This is a difficult fix and it's pending.

No response is odd.....

subhasism

I am also another AAP user, perfectly happy with my AVX setup with AAP. However recently I got AZ GTe for travel purpose and I bought that without reading this thread. So my travel EAA plan with AZ GTe and AAP seems like a bad investment, unless ZWO comes up with a release shortly with this capability ie ALT AZ mount control for AZ GTi/e with full feature of plate solve, sync/center and tracking, like it does for my AVX.

dickson

ASIAIR@ZWO

AZ-GTI or AZ-GTIx coupled with the ASIAIR are a perfect companion for EAA or visual use.
So, the direct support (without the physical Synscan hand controller) of the ASIAIR with AZ-GTI in AZ mode is highly desired!

MBC

So I am currently waiting on an asi385 camera and Asiair mini bought to use with an Azgti mount for EAA. I didnt realize at the time of buying there were issues running the gti in Alt/Az. I sure do hope they can fix this. Have i made a mistake buying this setup??

jd8080

MBC ASIAir not working with AZ-GTI in alt-az mode has been a known problem for years. Can you return the ASIAir mini? There are AZ-GTI owners who avoid buying the ASIAir because it can't work in alt-az mode.

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