Several problems with ASIAIR Plus

Lukas

Hello,
I have several problems with my ASIAIR Plus. I am using it with a Skywatcher HEQ-5 Pro Synscan via Seriell/USB from the Handcontroller to the ASIAIR, an ASI120MM Mini in the USB 2 port as Guiding camera and a Canon EOS 90d as Main Camera in the USB 3 port.

My first problem is that the 90d isn't shown in the App, and I can't use the camera as long as the USB cable is connected. According to the list of supported Canons it should be no Problem. The same issue is with my older EOS 550d which is also on this list. Is there any "activation" or confirmation of some sort I have to do? Am I missing something?

Next is the PA. Because I can't set the 90d as my main camera I switch to the 120MM. When I want to start the process it takes a picture and does solve successfully. But when the mount should rotate about 60° RA it at first does nothing or slews very slowly and then speeds up to max speed to about 100° from home position then slows down but continues until I have to release the clamps of the RA axis because my guiderscope was about to crash into the tripod of the mount. I can't stop the slewing in the App until it eventually stops by itself.

Another problem is the amount of time it takes to execute commands (e.a. GoTo Target, or manually driving the mount with the arrows in the app), sometimes it takes minutes until the slewing starts.

The next issue is the whole process of setting up my Guiding. At first it calibrated but everytime when I started guiding the mount startet to slew a bit and the star was lost an guiding was aborted. I tried to redo the calibration but either it does the slewing thing or it stops calibraiting and tells me that the star didn't move enough.

These are the main problems I have and a few minor ones not specified.

Do I have connection issues such as wrong cables in ports? Or is the root cause a firmware, or communication problem, respectively, of either end? Do I need an EQMod Cable maybe?
I used serveral days/nights troubleshooting and the Internet wasn't helpful so far an it is kind of frustraiting because everywhere it is described as "plug n play" basically.

I really hope somone on here can help

Best regards
Lukas

AstroDude42

Lukas i don’t own that specific mount but it sounds like a lot of your problems are related to the connection method you chose. There are lots of posts in this forum about connecting Skywatcher mounts to the ASIAir. Did you search and read them? Afaik most of them mentioned not to connect the hand controller between AA and mount to make it work. Also, you need to select to correct protocol in the AA’s mount settings. I suggest you read what other people reported here.

Good luck.
Olli

Lukas

Hello Olli, thanks for the reply.
So I did manage to potentially solve the problem with the long time it took the system to start the GoTo process. I realised that the firmware on my HC was outdated (shame on me I didn't recognize the message in the app when activating the mount in the app...). I updated the HC and tried it during the day and now the the syncs are made successfully and the commands are executed right away everytime without a problem. I wait for clear skies (hopefully the coming days) to test if the update solves a few of the other issues as well (PA, Guiding, etc.).
I found a few threads/videos about the connection of the HC to the AA+ mentioning the benefits of a EQ-mod like alternative and general cable setup as well. I try it once again with my current setup before I buy a EQmod cable and reconfigure my cable setup respectively.
If the PA still doesn't work as it should, I try a manual PA as instructed in another thread.
The Canon still isn't recognized in the app for which I couldn't find a solution yet, but I don't need it necessarily, as I can switch to the ASI120 for calibrating and use it for guiding afterwards, and use a shutter release cable on the Canon.

AstroDude42

Lukas hi Lukas,

good to hear you could find some potential cause for your problems. Fingers crossed the updated firmware solves them all. Unfortunately i can‘t help with your DSLR as i use a dedicated astro cam and have no experience with using a DSLR. I hope you find a solution.

Clear skies,
Olli