Version 1.7 Dec swings: Page 2

Version 1.7 Dec swings

wvreeven

Byrdsfan1948 what mount do you use, by the way? And do you use any external software connected to AAP, like SkySafari?

Byrdsfan1948

wvreeven I use the Iopton CEM25EC. My scope is the WO GT71 and my guide scope is the WO 200mm. Cameras are the ZWO183MC PRO and I have both the 120mm and 290mm guide cameras. Currently I'm using the 290mm. Lastly the ZWO EAF......... No other external software.

BTW While I was poking around in that ABOUT area you mentioned apparently I uploaded my logs and sent them to ZWO. That was not my intention at the time, but off went whatever I sent them. I already got a "generic" response saying they have received, and will review them. What ever I sent :-))). So obviously I can send them something next time I'm up and running if this problem persists.

Byrdsfan1948

wvreeven I MAY have found the problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I noticed at the bottom on my guide camera page a toggle switch that is called "Auto Restore Calibration"....... In my case it was set to "ON". From what I read under the little question mark there, I think it is saying that when it is toggled 'ON" it will NOT re calibrate but just keep restoring the last calibration. Apparently, that could be useful for someone who may have an observatory or some more permanent set up, and not need or want to re calibrate often. If that is the case, then obviously in my situation it needs to be set to "OFF ". Since this problem came on the other night literally like flipping a switch, I'm now assuming I must have always had it set to "OFF", and somehow the other night, I unknowingly set it to "ON". I now have it set to "OFF". At this point this makes perfect sense to me as the cause of my sudden problem. If I can get even just 1/2 hour opportunity tonight even through hazy skies to check this out, I certainly will......... If this solves my problem, I will be far more than thrilled to accept this as human error on MY part !!!!!!!!!!!!

astrosatch

Byrdsfan1948 I MAY have found the problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I noticed at the bottom on my guide camera page a toggle switch that is called "Auto Restore Calibration"....... In my case it was set to "ON". From what I read under the little question mark there, I think it is saying that when it is toggled 'ON" it will NOT re calibrate but just keep restoring the last calibration. Apparently, that could be useful for someone who may have an observatory or some more permanent set up, and not need or want to re calibrate often. If that is the case, then obviously in my situation it needs to be set to "OFF ". Since this problem came on the other night literally like flipping a switch, I'm now assuming I must have always had it set to "OFF", and somehow the other night, I unknowingly set it to "ON". I now have it set to "OFF". At this point this makes perfect sense to me as the cause of my sudden problem. If I can get even just 1/2 hour opportunity tonight even through hazy skies to check this out, I certainly will......... If this solves my problem, I will be far more than thrilled to accept this as human error on MY part !!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't worry about hijacking Byrdsfan. The more the merrier. 😄 I hope you solve your problem. I can’t see though why would auto restore calibration do that, but you never know what you're gonna get from this little red box.
Cross my fingers.

Byrdsfan1948

Byrdsfan1948 GOOD NEWS!!!!!! THAT WAS THE PROBLEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thankfully the skies cooperated enough tonight for me to try again. After switching Auto Restore. to the "OFF" position I was able to re calibrate as usual....... Obviously at some point I had unknowingly and apparently inadvertently, switched that to "ON"!! MY BAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Byrdsfan1948

astrosatch Thank you so much Astro. I really feel badly by unintentionally making your thread all about my problem. Unfortunately one of the problems we are dealing with here with ZWO is a language problem. I often find their translations into English leave much to be desired. I'm an engineer by trade, so I am used to resolving problems by dissecting very precise details. Too often the translation into English leaves a lot to be desired. However who am I to complain since their English is far better than my Chinese!! In any case, from what I can decipher from their explanation of the function of "Auto Restore Calibration" the result of having that function set to "ON" should give me exactly the result or problem I have suddenly encountered. My fingers are crossed too!! Right now it looks like I could get enough semi clear skies tonight to see if by setting that to "OFF" my problem is solved. I'll certainly report the results.

So back to your problem. Any change in your DEC issues? I must agree with Chen that until this issue for me I felt ZWO had resolved the guiding problems with the 1.6 FW release and if anything they got better with the 1.7 FW releases. Until my current problem............... Which hopefully is really a user error on my end........ Even if I don't recall ever playing with that Auto Restore Calibration toggle.
This hobby maybe just a bit too complex for me at this point in my life. If this does not fix my problem I may just head back to to my music studio with my musical friends and get back to doing more recordings. There at least when we do something we always know what the results will be !! :-)

w7ay

Byrdsfan1948 "Auto Restore Calibration" the result of having that function set to "ON" should give me exactly the result or problem I have suddenly encountered.

Auto Restore Calibration simply uses the calibration that you had before shutting down ASIAIR the last time. Your polar alignment, mount leveling and guide camera angle and pier side have to be precisely as before. This is not just with ASIAIR but also if you are using the native PHD2.

This means that if you had calibrated with the OTA on the west the night earlier, and now try to reuse the guide parameters, you will need to flip the guide calibrations with the OTA on the east of the pier.

Do not reuse guide calibrations unless you have a pier set in concrete a few feet into the ground, not removed the mount, and be sure that the guide camera position and camera angle relative to the mount have not changed.

Chen

Byrdsfan1948

w7ay EXACTLY!!! Unfortunately since I had never had this problem before I had no idea it's source. After some digging I stumbled across the Auto Restore Calibration slide. After reading it's function things made sense. I must have inadvertently switched it from "OFF" to "ON". between sessions. Tonight it was just clear enough, long enough, for me to set up and run a short test with it turned "OFF". Problem solved. I was able to run a quick PLAN mode of 10 shots. All went perfectly. Calibration, auto focus, guiding ( under .50 rms error,) and of course the short run, return to home, and shut down! Still learning about some functions and how to use this little box.

astrosatch

Byrdsfan1948
Great news! I'm glad you succeeded solving your problem. I still have dec jumps. At the moment I'm doing some planetary imaging and don't guide. Maybe I'll try turning off calibration restore too. It might for some strange reason actually work. Or not. We'll see.

Andrej

Byrdsfan1948

astrosatch AHHH!!! are you saying you have been having this DEC issue at the same time you had/have that Auto Restore Calibration set to "ON"?? I assume you do not have a permanent mount set up or observatory, but like me sort of a grab and go set up? If so, then by all means turn that "OFF" and then re calibrate!! Now that we understand what the real function of Auto Restore Calibration is we know it's function is NOT intended for those of us who do not have a permanent set up. I totally agree with Chen's comments above on this matter. If you move your mount at all, DO NOT have Auto Restore Calibration set to "ON". I've learned the hard way, but at least now learned!

Since the 1.6 FW update the crazy guiding problems I was having with the 1.5.1 FW seem to have largely been resolved. However I still often get the same DEC, jumps it sounds like you are now getting. Usually as guiding is started, and then continuing. I have found that re calibrating so far has always resolved that problem.
In fact the other night as my PLAN program started my guide graph quickly showed that problem. I stopped the PLAN and tried to re calibrate as usual. That was when I found that I could not......... Of course now we know why......... Last night after turning that switch to "OFF", I was able to again re-calibrate and guide again. The result was guiding about as good I as can get with about a total .50 RMS error.

BY ALL MEANS turn that "OFF"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would be THRILLED to learn that solving my problem in your thread I "hijacked", solves your too!!!!!!!!! :-)))) FINGERS DOUBLY CROSSED!!!!

w7ay

Byrdsfan1948 Last night after turning that switch to "OFF", I was able to again re-calibrate and guide again.

Just to be clear, you can always force ASIAIR to recalibrate by tapping on the Clear button in the Calibration Data mni-window before starting guiding.

All the Auto Restore Calibration switch does is to reuse the calibration data from the night before (or the last time ASIAIR was rebooted). You can always clear it manually.

Chen

Byrdsfan1948

w7ay Chen, Let me make sure that I am being clear!!!! We have no dispute regarding what the purpose of the Auto Restore Calibration function is. I also agree that the existing calibration data can easily be cleared by simply hitting the"I" icon at the top of the guiding page, and then hitting clear. I have done that hundreds of times by now and that is exactly what I did the other night as well. However the problem I experienced the other night was that unlike all my other successful attempts at clearing existing data, and then re calibrating, I was unable to re calibrate. When I tried to initiate the re calibration process instead of that process starting with the normal W-E, N-S steps process, it went directly to guiding...... I could NOT get it to re calibrate. Of course then my guiding was totally unacceptable and the subs were just long star trails.
I was only able to successfully restore the actual re calibration process to normal by turning OFF the Auto Re calibration feature. I am only reporting the facts as they occurred. Based on my experience it would seem that if the Auto Restore Calibration function is set to ON you can still delete the data, but NOT re calibrate NEW data. When it is set to OFF you can both delete and then re calibrate new data. Which is what I did last night, and solved my problem. My guiding as a result was quite acceptable. Based on my experience here it would obviously appear that when the ARC is set to ON you can delete data but not add new data. when set to OFF you can do both. I that is how it was designed to work fine if not there maybe some new FW issue?? Al

Byrdsfan1948

« Previous Page