Asiair and Celestron polar align problem

stevesp

Since years I make the polar align with Asiair but without connecting the mount: I rotate the axis of 60° by hand
Yesterday I tried the automatic system but it didn’t go well
When Asiair rotated the axis of my AVX it initially did at max speed for 20-30° then it reduced the speed for some degrees and the accelerated again until around 60°
The problem is that, at this point the Asiair was idle like waiting the mount to give an end signal
So the mount was in position not moving and Asiair waiting
After 2 minutes I stopped and did by hand as usual
Any idea of what I did wrong?

w7ay

stevesp it initially did at max speed for 20-30° then it reduced the speed for some degrees and the accelerated again until around 60°

Connect the hand controller to your mount, and check the slew speeds on the mount. Make sure the speeds are the factory default speeds.

I believe the AVX has 9 slew speeds, and your AVX manual should have the speeds (as multiples of sidereal rate).

The ASIAIR algorithm for making that 60º is based on using two different slew speeds on the mount, and also assume that those two slew speeds are the factory default speeds!

I know, it is outright stupidity; but that is what ASIAIR chose to do.

Detail: it uses a slower speed A to make a short (timewise) move. After the move, it measures how may degrees in RA it has moved. It then switches to higher speed B, and using the ratio of the speeds B/A compute the time needed to slew the rest of the 60º.

So, if the ratio B/A is not what ASIAIR expects, that 60º can turn into 2º, or it can turn into 360º (smashing your equipment). ASIAIR assumes that A and B are the factory default speeds, and therefore the ratio is a constant. They are not considering that the customer could be using their mount visually, or with other computer programs. ZWO thinks the world only uses ASIAIR.

Chen

stevesp

Chen thanks for the answer
In the HC I can set one speed from 1 to 9 times the sideral rate to manually move when I use the HC arrows. When it failed it was at 9. It moved the first step fast, the second slow (around 4-5x sideral rate) and a third fast again
9x should be the goto speed
Asiair can set it as well. When you are around a target you can move the mount with the arrows of Asiair and slide a cursor from 1 to 9 as well. Asiair sets the start at 5x
Should I set 5x as well in HC? Why can’t they set it?
When you run the calibration you get an alert if the speed is not 1x and Asiair can set 1x from app if you confirm

stevesp

If there is a Celestron mount user that can successfully run PA automatically with Asiair could please tell me what speed does he/she sets in HC and where?
Thanks

w7ay

stevesp please tell me what speed does he/she sets in HC and where?

https://celestron-site-support-files.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/support_files/Advanced%20VX%20Telescope%20Series_Manual_5lang_2021.pdf

Page 15.

Check the shipping box. The paper manual should have come with the mount.

stevesp

I set it there as well but what value? 1-9?

w7ay

stevesp I set it there as well but what value? 1-9?

Page 15. Direction Buttons give the factory default rates. MOtor Speed Button tells you how to change the defaut rates.

Chen