I am trying everything I can to test and get autoguiding working but so far no luck.
I have swap-out spares of everything except the telescope and camera.
I must be doing something fundamentally wrong, I hope someone here can catch.
Using as many configurations of my equipment as I could I attempted to test autoguiding using MANUAL mode in both PHD2 and MetaGuide.
At no point did the telescope move from commands of the software, I was focused on a street light 1/4 mile away out of my home office window.
I was told, and perhaps this is the issue, that I could TEST autoguiding in ALT/AZ mode. However, the reason I am testing indoors is because I also could not get it to work outdoors on the EQ Wedge. My outdoors testing was only with PHD2, my older Hbx and ST4 through the guide camera during poor seeing conditions.
If someone could please verify the following will or will NOT work:
Manual guiding in Alt/Az mode ( I was previously told this would work)
Manual guiding without the scope actively tracking ( I was previously told this would work)
Equipment used.
LX90, 10 inch
LNT module with time antenna
2 Handboxes: New AudioStar Stock, New old stock AutoStar patched to 43GG, both seem to recognise 909.
3 909 devices, 1 meade original 909, 1 Gene 909 clone, New Meade "dongle" 909
1 Meade Serial Adapter cable with USB adapter. Software 'finds it' and I was able to use it to update the older style handbox to 43GG
1 ZWO ASI120MC-S as guide camera with st4 cable
2. Windows 7 64bit SP1 laptops with USB-3 ports
PHD2 version 2.4.1
MetaGuide version 5.2.6
Meade Classic and AutoStarI Driver ASCOM (for usb-serial attempts)
ASCOM Platform 6.1 Sp1 -6.1.1.2627
Latest ZWO drivers
Testing procedures:
Powered up scope. Alt-Az mount. Scope got time from LNT
Pressed "mode" hold to verify "focuser" menu appeared recognising Meade 909 APM
Focused scope using ZWO camera on street light some distance away.
Audio Star HBX slew worked well.
Using PHD-2, Camera: ZWO, Mount: On-Camera went into "manual" mode.
Scope would not move using manual mode even when buttons were pressed for more than a minute at a time to test for backlash as a possible issue.
Repeated with Gene Clone 909 APM same results
Repeated with New Meade APM dongle same results
Switched to MetaGuide, same results
Switched to 43GG controller same results
Switched to USB/Serial adapter and Classic ASCOM. Appeared to move but then unable to duplicate even after complete reset.
I then did a 'fake' indoor alignment of the scope. Repeated procedures above but I could not detect any change in tracking rate. this was very hard because I was focused on a terrestrial object that was always moving in the view.
Tried again with second computer.
At this point other than outdoor testing again on a real star while tracking in EQ mode I don't know what else I can try. I have swapped everything out except the scope. I also did a couple of tests where I switched the LNT AUX port with the ST4 AUX port but not in all configurations. I also tried one configuration with the LNT module unplugged but I unplugged it after power up.
Any ideas??
Thank you.
