Plan mode goes to idle

jwcarr

I have been trying to move from Autorun to Plan Mode with my ASIAir Plus. After following all the instructions and videos I can find, it simply goes to Idle when the plan is started. I am probably missing something, any ideas or suggestions.

andybutt

jwcarr is auto cooling set to on? If yes the plan will wait until camera has cooled before starting.

Byrdsfan1948

jwcarr Also in addition to what Andybutt mentions check your Plan start time.

jwcarr

andybutt The camera was cooled and running normally.

jwcarr

Byrdsfan1948 It was set to start now.

Byrdsfan1948

jwcarr I have never had the problem you describe but let's try something here. You say you have the PLAN start time set to START NOW. Try switching that setting From START NOW to START AT. Then dial in a specific time. Say 15 minutes later than your current time. Hit OK. Then return to the main PLAN page and hit the Start button. You will get a small pop up screen for you to enable certain actions. Set them as you wish, then hit START. Hopefully you will see a notice in green at the bottom right saying Wait Start and a count down from the 15 minutes you entered at START AT time. If so your PLAN will then start when that times out and depending on the actions you do or don't set up before it actually stars imaging. ( wait for cooling, and/or Guiding,/autofoucs, etc).
Good Luck !! Al

jwcarr

Tried your thought last night and set it to start in 15 minutes. Countdown went perfect, then it went straight to idle and stayed for over 30 minutes when I stopped the plan. Plan mode looks like such an amazing tool, but I'm at a loss as to what I'm doing wrong. I think I'm going to swap out to my old Air Pro and try it there.

Byrdsfan1948

jwcarr Well I'm glad at least all went well up to when it went to Idle. There obviously is some solution here just need to find it.
Anyway back to your problem. Given you have tried all the most obvious stuff It's probably time to suspect that your OS has been corrupted.
I was recently dealing with a very strange problem and after trying everything I could think of I finally decided to whipe clean my OS and reloaded my back up OS. Whatever the problem was that resolved my problem.
So I would either try doing what you suggest if you have a spare Pro try swapping it out. Both my ASIAIRs are Pros and PLAN mode starts as it should on both.
Or you could do what I did which was to reload the OS from my back up. It's was easy enough fro me to do so it must be easy :-).

Sonixx

This is really unusual, never experienced something like this and I am always using Plan mode.
Is the object, by any chance not above the horizon yet, or the mount in a position where it thinks it is not safe to move?

Please send us screenshots of your plan mode settings and Object details.

BR,

Stephan

jwcarr

Reloading the OS worked! Thanks for the suggestion, I really appreciate the help.

Byrdsfan1948

jwcarr Great news !! Enjoy using PLAN mode. I use it almost exclusively. Having said that, I'd say at least 50% of the time I find various problems do crop up that I have no solid explanations for.
I have a fairly limited FOV from my most convienient shooting location. To get the most out of those rare clear nights I typically PLAN to image 3 or maybe even 4 objects as they pass through my FOV. Getting 2 or 3 hours of imaging for each when possible. On a perfect night all images are taken, the guiding has been generally good, and the telescope is parked back in the Home position ASIAIR shutdown in the morning.
However about 50% of the time only 1 or 2 objects have been imaged, or the Telescope is not in the Home position etc. Typically some message in the log that offers no help. My best guess is that since I have a limited FOV that the timing I put into my PLAN schedule is not accurate enough, and as my PLAN runs from one target to the next perhaps that target is NOT yet in view.
Certainly one improvement for PALN that I have repeatedly requested but so far ZWO has not considered would be to have the ability to set more than one start time for our PLANS. That way it would be a lot easier to make sure the object you want to image has reached your FOV. Maybe one day ZWO will consider that option. I think I'll make that request again now :-).
Glad you resolved your problem. Al