Your complete imaging equipment configuration (camera model, equatorial mount, operating system...)
Mount: SkyWatcher CQ350
Scope: 10" f/12 RUMAK maksutov, F = 3025mm from platesolvimg. No reducer, no flattener. Image circle is flat > 54mm diameter and most stars are 4-6 pixels (under 1 arcsec) including on the guide sensor.
Main Camera & Guide Camera: ASI2600MC DUO.
Focuser: ZWO EAF with handset. Temp sensor not used.
Rotator: manual (I had a CAA but removed it because there is no way to stop the 180 degree rotations after a flip)
I also have an ASI533MC PRO and ASI120MM Mini, but no longer use them.
The exact software version (e.g., 2.4.4, iOS)
ASIAir:
Version 2.3.3 I regard as stable, all functions work
Tried 2.4.1, 2.4.2 and 2.4.4 - all fail in various ways.
iPhone 15 with iOS 26.1
iPad 10" with iOS 26.1 - dedicated for astro use only and software update OFF,
Apple Silicon M3 MacBook Air running Sequoia 15.3,
I also use iMazing and can instal ASIAir 2.2.2, 2.3.3, 2.4.2, 2.4.4, 2.5B on any of the above devices.
A detailed description of your steps before the issue occurred
Standard setup each night:
Assemble scope and power up the mount - without ASIAir connected.
Using the Synscan handset, configure date, time, site latitude and longitude in the mount.
Using the Synscan handset, 1-star polar alignment to align the mount within a degree.
Set the mount to PARK.
Connect ASIAir to USB port and power up ASIAir.
Configure the mount, cameras and EAF in ASIAir.
In the MOUNT settings GOTO AUTO CENTRE = ON.
With the scope at the PARK position - ASIAIr shows it is pointing at +90 degrees declination - which is wrong.
Press SYNC TO MOUNT to make ASIAir acquire the correct position of the telescope as well as date, time and the site latitude and longitude from the mount.
Select PREVIEW mode and adjust focus to show some stars.
In the ASIAIR info page, NEW PLATE SOLVE = OFF and ALL SKY POLAR ALIGN = OFF.
Past experience is that NEW PLATE SOLVE fails more often, and ALL SKY POLAR ALIGN is not so accurate.
Commence POLAR ALIGNMENT and adjust the mount to within 1 arc minute.
In PREVIEW mode, select the star atlas and choose a star within declination +/- 20 degrees.
Select GOTO to that star.
Use AUTOFOCUS to focus precisely, typical focus minimum is 4...6 pixels.
Calibrate GUIDE CAMERA.
Select Deep Sky Object and use GOTO to that target.
Configure AUTORUN, typical settings are GAIN = 100, exposure time 180 or 300 sec in BORTLE 4 sky with OPTOLONG L-PRO filter.
The things that stand out are as follows:
- With version 2.3.3, GOTO with plate solving works reliably and typically makes 3-4 moves to settle exactly on the target - it will settle within an arc-minute.
With versions 2.4 onwards, the mount slews near the target, then takes one frame and plate-solves that. It then moves the mount once to around 10 arc minutes of the target and then stops, but plate-solving never finishes. It is close enough that people with small scopes would think it's on target, but actually it isnt. I proved that one night while hunting for objects by manually entering RA and DEC, the final GOTO position is not where it is supposed to be - but the plate solving does not finish.
With version 2.3.3 manually entering RA and DEC, the final GOTO position is exactly where it is supposed to be within an arc minute - the platesolving is precise and finishes properly.
2. Autoguiding
With 2.3.3 Autoguiding for me has been reliable. Reliable as in like using a toaster - works every time.
In good seeing the typical; guiding performance from the rig is 0.3-0.5 arcsec RMS and it has been as good as 0.2 arcsec.
2.4.1 and 2.4.2 Autoguiding is broken - the guider will acquire a star, settles and shows "GUIDING", but after a few seconds loses the guide star. It still shows GUIDING, but the mount is running free and stars look like snakes.
Essentially useless for imaging.
3. Meridian flips.
With version 2.3.3 meridian flips are reliable:
- Imaging stops a few minutes before the scope reaches the meridian,
- the scope stops tracking and waits a few minutes,
- it flips the scope to the east side when the target is west of the meridian,
- it successfully refocuses (this option is turned on);
- it successfully acquires a guide star,
- AUTORUN recommences.
With 2.4.1 - 2.4.2, 2.4.2 the scope stops before the meridian, then flips. But it does not re-acquire a guide star, and imaging does not resume. Hence it cannot be trusted to run unattended for a long session.
You can see pretty much everything in screenshots per the manual
The site I use is remote and does not have internet connection so submitting bug logs does not work, since ASIAIR does not have any mechanism to extract them and send later.
- Sky conditions: BORTLE 4...5.
- Filter: Optolong L-PRO
