ASIAR Plus Goto issues with EQ6-R Pro

kvonner

Hello all, I'm an astrophotography beginner, running into some issues - I've posted a similar post to the Cloudynights forum but coming here as it seems to be ASIAIR specific.

I’m running into a problem with the Goto function on my ASIAIR Plus controlled astrophotography setup. Full gear list is below, but I’m using the ASIAIR with a Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro mount connected via USB. I did not run into any issues with the EQ6-R Pro being recognized by the ASIAIR App (plugged into mount via USB-B, set up in app as "Skywatcher AZ-GTi/SynScan WiFi" at Baud 115200). My issue is that the Goto feature does not seem to know where it’s going and takes many, many tries (1 hr+) of repeated plate solving and Goto’ing to successfully find and center on a target. I have not updated the ASIAIR OS per the stickied post in the forum since I was able to connect and control the mount successfully.

I’m shooting from my backyard, and so have a limited field of view due to trees and my house, including Polaris which is obscured by some trees. As a result, here’s my process:

-Set up the mount to face North
-Power up mount, update date, time via the hand controller, other settings like GPS coordinates, altitude, etc were set up initially and have stayed static. Set “park” location to a neutral position facing North. Turn off the mount per the hand controller instructions. Disconnect hand controller.
-Turn on the mount. Turn on the ASIAIR.
-Face the scope roughly south, autofocus.
-Use ASIAIR’s “all-sky” polar alignment feature to polar align (since I can’t see Polaris). Adjust screws until smiley face achieved in ASIAIR’s PA mode.
-From here, I have tried directly plate-solving and using the goto feature, I’ve also tried going “home” via the mount menu and then progressing from there per recommendations from a few CN threads. Both have the same outcome - platesolving and choosing “sync to mount” and then using the goto feature result in the mount slewing to seemingly random parts of the sky, attempting to center and then swinging around often until it faces the ground or bang into a tripod leg. Occasionally it will target where I know the target roughly is, but more often than not it’s nowhere close.

Generally resetting to “home” via the mount menu doesn’t work as expected - the scope doesn’t return to facing north, instead it will slew to a different angle. If I platesolve and goto from there, no luck. There does not seem to be any consistency with where the mount slews to (i.e., it does not always point to the ground or something similar). Based on reading a few other threads, it seems that the home setting might have something to do with this. Since facing my scope north and setting that to home has it directly facing some trees, I wonder if I’m setting myself up for failure with that home position but not sure what the alternative is.

I’ve managed to get a few targets centered (Andromeda, The Pleiades) by using the ASIAIR app’s manual mount controls to get the scope pointed in roughly the right direction, plate solving, syncing to mount and then goto’ing many times - eventually the mount seems to move towards the target and successfully center, but only after many failures and only when it starts relatively close to the target.

Any troubleshooting advice is very appreciated, this has been a super frustrating issue as I’ve had to call it quits on a few nights with really great conditions, and otherwise my setup seems to be producing some great photos. Thanks in advance!

Full gear list:
ASIAIR Plus
EQ6-R Pro
William Optics GT71 71mm f/5.9 Apo Refractor
William Optics 6AIII Reducer / Adjustable Field Flattener
ZWO ASI533MC Pro
ZWO EAF
ZWO ASIAIR Plus
ZWO ASI120MM-Mini Camera
ZWO 30mm f/4 Mini Guide Scope
Astrozap dew heaters and controller

Hara

Have you checked that the focal length is correctly set in Asiair? if the number is wrong, plate solving doesn't work properly or at all.

Hara

There is an other possibility too... if you have not made the alignment of your EQ-6R using SW handset BEFORE connecting it to ASIAIR, it doesn't work properly with that Synscan setting. You should use "EQmod Mount" option and 115200 Baud.

kvonner

Hara Thank you that could definitely be it - I have not beeing aligning the mount before connecting to the ASIAIR. Would I need to connect the mount via an EQMod cable to make that option work or would my current USB cable connection still work?

ckoos

I have a similar setup as yours. Once you have the initial settings done in your mount via the hand controller, you don't need to ever connect the HC again. Unless you want to use PPEC, but that's optional.
As Hara says, make sure the focal length in the ASIAir settings is correct, the GT71 should be 335mm with the flattener.
It looks like you are selecting an Alt/Az mount in the Air using AZ-GTi? Change that to the EQMod Mount as recommended by Hara. 115200 Baud. I would guess this is your main problem.
I've had the mount slew to very odd directions, and it turned out that the Latitude setting in the mount somehow changed from West, to East. So the mount thought it was on the other side of the planet, not ideal.
The EQ6R Pro doesn't like voltage to be on the low side. It will definitely act up if it's below 12v. I have my power supply set to 13.5v and I never have issues with it. Absolutely do not try to power the mount via the ASIAir's 12v ports.
Here's the set up procedure I recommend:
Set up the tripod and ensure it is level.
Put the mount and scope on the tripod and adjust the elevation screws until the dial on the mount indicates your location's Latitude.
Balance the scope/mount in RA and DEC.
Rotate the mount to get the scope pointing as close to North as possible (use a compass).
With the HC connected, power on the mount. The mount now thinks it's in the home position. You don't need to do anything with the Park function.
Using the HC, go into setup and set the Latitude and Longitude to your location. Make sure that daylight savings is off, regardless of what time of year it is. It should always be set to off.
Power on the ASIAir. It should be able to connect to the mount. Check the mount type, scope focal length, Latitude and Longitude, making sure they are all correct. The Air now thinks the scope is in the home position.
From this point on, you don't need the HC connected to the mount as long as you are using the ASIAir. Date, time and alignment are all controlled by the Air going forward.
Use the mount controls in the Air's Preview screen to slew South to a clear view of the sky and run focus.
Do your All-Sky polar alignment. (I've never used this function so I have no input on this.)
In the Preview screen mount controls, you can manually set a declination. Set it to 0 and hit GoTo.
Go into the guiding screen and clear the calibration.
Hit the loop button, followed by the guide button. The Air should now do a guiding calibration (10-12 steps).
Select a target and hit goto. Start guiding.
Unless I've not had enough coffee yet this morning and I've missed something, this should work.

-chuck-

kvonner

ckoos Thanks for the advice and the detailed steps for process - as a beginner, it's very much appreciated! I will try your recommended steps, it sounds like my choice of mount type in the app may be the root cause issue, I will try it as EQMod.

ckoos

kvonner

I'm close enough to being a beginner myself that I know the struggle to figure this stuff out.

-chuck-

enaiman

You need an EQMOD cable. Get rid of the Hand Controller because it is doing no good.

ckoos

enaiman

He already said, "Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro mount connected via USB", so I think he's good.

enaiman

ckoos USB to the Hand Controller?

ckoos

enaiman
I assumed that since they were new to the hobby, they had a current mount with a USB port. I shouldn't assume that since lots of people buy used equipment, so a good question to ask.

-chuck-

Lain402

Just connect your mount using an USB cable ( A to B port > aka usb printer cable) , no hand controller required. , no EQmod cable.

In the ASIAIR App chose EQMod Mount, Baud 115200 and connect. That's it.