Exposure Failure with Nikon Z7II + identifying DSOs

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Hello all

My first post here and I am fairly new to AP.

My gear : ZWO Asiair plus , Nikon Z7II, Astrotech AT60ed, losmandy GM8 non go-to mount, Zwo guide camera and 30mm guide scope.

The Asiair and the mount are powered separately using a DIY 12V power supply.

My issue is every alternate exposure fails for some reason. All my camera settings are based on the app prompts (raw only, manual mode, single exposure etc) and I am connecting the camera to the Asiair using a USB c to USB 3.0 cable (brand new).

Even in preview mode, every other exposure fails, every time I try it. It is quite frustrating as you can imagine.

Anyone else have the same issue? Wondering what the remedy is.

My second question:

My mount is not go-to . I am star hopping to get in the vicinity of my dso of interest. But I was hoping to take an image, plate solve and do the final centering based on Asiair identifying the DSO. But somehow I cannot figure out how to do that.

Would really appreciate any help and advice.

Thanks!

Avi

Tech@ZWO

1.Alternate Exposure Failure:

This could be caused by various factors such as USB communication issues or power supply inconsistencies. Since you're using a DIY 12V power supply, I recommend ensuring that the voltage is stable and sufficient for both the Asiair and the mount. Sometimes, power fluctuations can cause the camera to fail intermittently.

Also, try using a different USB cable, as sometimes even new cables can have poor data transmission quality.
If possible, test with a different power source or even a dedicated power bank for the Asiair to see if the issue persists.
Plate Solving with Non-GoTo Mount:
Since your mount isn’t GoTo, you can manually align your scope using star hopping, and then use the Asiair to perform plate solving.
In Asiair, after aligning your scope roughly to your target, select "Plate Solve" and follow the on-screen instructions to center the object. This will help Asiair adjust your position and refine your framing.
Make sure your mount is roughly aligned in the right area before attempting plate solving, as large deviations might cause errors in the process.