Hi guys...

Been out since twilight .. wanted to try out my dual setup and autoguiding... its still dark out and very clear... but due to frustration had to call it a night!

I'm using a QHY5 in an ST80 with a 350D mounted on the C6S. Firstly I cudnt get the guide cam to focus on any stars... tried it with a diagonol and that fixed that problem - half hour wasted messing about trying to get focus.

Opened up PHD and set it to camera control, and selected the CCD labs Q guider - all looked good, got a green square on the star and clicked go... it tried to calibrate but went mental! The star seemed to drift off the axis it was trying to calibrate.. also gave big black borders like an old TV where the channel had to be tuned properly (see below) I had a quick search here and saw beamers post from yesterday... so have tried setting the calibration step from the default of 750 up to 3000.. but no change.

Also below is a few minutes cap whilst the PHD guiding shenanigans was going on.... any ideas on why this is happening and how do i fix it? Was looking forward to my first long exposure autoguided image tonight but got nothing but grief :S
Appreciate any help to crack this

Chris

oh and turned on PHD logging too... thought it might help if you could see what it was doing:

Logging manually enabled
7,23.734,0.00,0.00,0.0,0.0,-1.72,0,0
8,25.844,0.00,0.00,0.0,0.0,-0.17,0,0
9,27.953,6.86,19.04,1.2,1000.0,-17.08,4547.0,-16.15
10,35.438,0.00,0.00,0.0,0.0,-1.71,0,0
11,37.531,6.99,19.14,1.2,1000.0,-17.37,4564.3,-16.21
PHD Guide 1.7.0 -- 07/04/09 00:58:37
Guiding begun
lock 505.2 367.1, star 505.2 367.1, Min Motion 0.25
RA angle -2.27, rate 0.0009 aggr 1.0
DEC angle -1.27, rate 0.0036, Dec mode 1, Algo 1
Frame,Time,dx,dy,Theta,RADuration,RADistance,DECDu ration,DECDistance
1,1.828,-15.02,-0.11,-3.1,1000.0,8.82,0.0,4.35
2,4.453,-4.11,-1.03,-2.9,1000.0,3.98,0.0,0.24
3,7.078,-15.26,-18.40,-2.3,1000.0,21.91,3676.3,13.06
4,13.687,-1.14,-11.00,-1.7,1000.0,10.40,0.0,-10.17
5,16.312,15.86,8.74,0.5,1000.0,-14.20,1028.8,-3.65
6,20.281,9.81,0.86,0.1,1000.0,-7.73,0.0,-2.08
7,22.890,15.90,8.82,0.5,1000.0,-16.08,1046.1,-3.72
8,26.875,9.77,0.79,0.1,1000.0,-7.84,0.0,-2.14
9,29.484,15.92,8.80,0.5,1000.0,-16.10,1039.4,-3.69
10,33.453,9.75,0.85,0.1,1000.0,-7.87,0.0,-2.08
11,36.093,15.92,8.79,0.5,1000.0,-16.09,0.0,3.68
12,38.703,13.88,-12.41,-0.7,1000.0,-1.17,0.0,-15.97
13,41.312,8.82,-13.15,-1.0,1000.0,3.77,0.0,-15.17
14,43.921,0.00,0.00,0.0,0.0,0.38,0,0
15,46.062,9.79,1.00,0.1,1000.0,-6.35,0.0,-1.95
16,48.656,15.88,8.78,0.5,1000.0,-15.91,0.0,3.68
17,51.265,0.00,0.00,0.0,0.0,-1.59,0,0
18,53.312,9.75,0.85,0.1,1000.0,-6.42,0.0,-2.08
19,55.906,15.87,8.81,0.5,1000.0,-15.93,0.0,3.72
20,58.531,0.00,0.00,0.0,0.0,-1.59,0,0
21,60.593,-10.12,-19.03,-2.1,1000.0,18.79,0.0,-15.17
22,63.187,-4.15,-1.10,-2.9,1000.0,5.05,0.0,0.18
23,65.812,-15.31,-18.28,-2.3,1000.0,21.96,3637.9,12.92
24,72.406,-10.17,-4.99,-2.7,1000.0,11.54,494.6,1.76
25,75.859,-8.22,-4.30,-2.7,1000.0,8.89,471.1,1.67
26,79.296,-5.24,-4.13,-2.5,1000.0,6.77,674.2,2.39
27,82.937,-2.17,-3.28,-2.2,1000.0,4.20,701.1,2.49
28,86.593,1.75,-3.24,-1.1,1000.0,1.62,1016.2,3.61
29,90.578,4.94,-3.19,-0.6,583.1,-0.52,1270.7,4.51
30,94.390,7.80,-3.21,-0.4,1000.0,-2.39,1513.1,5.37
31,98.875,7.84,-3.01,-0.4,1000.0,-2.74,1462.3,5.19
32,103.296,9.87,-3.04,-0.3,1000.0,-3.94,1641.7,5.83
33,107.906,12.92,-3.21,-0.2,1000.0,-5.72,1942.0,6.90
34,112.812,16.77,-3.80,-0.2,1000.0,-7.73,2420.6,8.60
35,118.187,0.00,0.00,0.0,0.0,-0.77,0,0
36,120.265,9.78,0.82,0.1,1000.0,-6.33,596.3,2.12
37,123.828,0.00,0.00,0.0,0.0,-0.63,0,0
38,125.890,9.73,0.85,0.1,1000.0,-6.31,582.0,2.07
39,129.468,9.77,0.92,0.1,1000.0,-6.95,568.7,2.02
40,132.984,9.77,0.86,0.1,1000.0,-6.97,582.9,2.07
41,136.500,9.76,0.85,0.1,1000.0,-6.96,586.7,2.08
42,140.031,9.76,0.84,0.1,1000.0,-6.95,587.6,2.09
43,143.546,9.71,0.99,0.1,1000.0,-7.03,543.4,1.93
44,147.031,9.72,0.90,0.1,1000.0,-6.98,568.1,2.02
45,150.546,9.77,0.89,0.1,1000.0,-7.00,574.3,2.04
46,154.062,9.78,0.90,0.1,1000.0,-7.01,573.9,2.04
47,157.578,9.69,0.98,0.1,1000.0,-7.01,545.6,1.94
48,161.062,9.78,0.84,0.1,1000.0,-6.97,589.3,2.09
49,164.625,9.75,0.85,0.1,1000.0,-6.96,584.7,2.08
50,168.171,9.79,0.78,0.1,1000.0,-6.94,605.9,2.15
51,171.734,9.79,0.92,0.1,1000.0,-7.03,568.8,2.02
52,175.265,9.76,0.90,0.1,1000.0,-7.01,571.9,2.03
53,178.796,9.77,0.83,0.1,1000.0,-6.96,590.9,2.10
54,182.343,9.77,0.89,0.1,1000.0,-7.00,574.8,2.04
55,185.875,9.69,0.96,0.1,1000.0,-7.00,550.3,1.95
56,189.390,9.77,0.85,0.1,1000.0,-6.97,586.1,2.08
57,192.937,9.69,0.87,0.1,1000.0,-6.93,574.9,2.04
58,196.468,9.75,0.96,0.1,1000.0,-7.03,553.3,1.97
59,199.984,9.76,0.98,0.1,1000.0,-7.06,551.3,1.96
60,203.500,9.75,0.75,0.1,1000.0,-6.90,612.2,2.17
61,207.078,9.74,0.84,0.1,1000.0,-6.94,586.8,2.08
62,210.625,9.79,0.87,0.1,1000.0,-6.99,582.7,2.07
63,214.171,9.75,0.85,0.1,1000.0,-6.96,583.6,2.07
64,217.718,9.74,0.93,0.1,1000.0,-7.01,561.4,1.99
65,221.250,9.70,0.94,0.1,1000.0,-6.99,557.2,1.98
66,224.765,9.79,0.90,0.1,1000.0,-7.02,575.0,2.04
67,228.296,9.76,0.94,0.1,1000.0,-7.03,560.9,1.99
68,231.843,9.74,0.95,0.1,1000.0,-7.03,556.5,1.98
69,235.359,9.77,0.89,0.1,1000.0,-7.01,574.8,2.04
70,238.890,9.74,0.87,0.1,1000.0,-6.97,578.8,2.06
71,242.421,9.74,0.77,0.1,1000.0,-6.90,605.7,2.15
72,246.031,9.75,0.84,0.1,1000.0,-6.95,586.0,2.08
73,249.609,9.77,0.90,0.1,1000.0,-7.00,571.9,2.03
74,253.140,9.68,0.88,0.1,1000.0,-6.95,569.6,2.02
75,256.671,9.73,0.96,0.1,1000.0,-7.02,552.6,1.96
76,260.218,9.70,0.78,0.1,1000.0,-6.89,599.2,2.13
77,263.781,9.83,0.77,0.1,1000.0,-6.94,612.5,2.18
78,267.359,9.77,0.91,0.1,1000.0,-7.01,569.7,2.02
79,270.906,9.73,0.89,0.1,1000.0,-6.98,571.0,2.03
80,274.406,9.83,0.81,0.1,1000.0,-6.98,600.5,2.13
81,277.953,9.73,0.87,0.1,1000.0,-6.97,576.4,2.05
82,281.484,9.79,0.92,0.1,1000.0,-7.03,569.5,2.02
83,284.984,9.76,0.90,0.1,1000.0,-7.01,571.3,2.03
84,288.484,9.73,0.86,0.1,1000.0,-6.96,578.6,2.06
85,292.015,9.77,0.86,0.1,1000.0,-6.98,582.8,2.07
86,295.531,9.73,0.76,0.1,1000.0,-6.89,608.1,2.16
87,299.078,9.75,0.90,0.1,1000.0,-6.99,569.7,2.02
88,302.593,9.68,0.83,0.1,1000.0,-6.91,584.7,2.08
89,306.125,9.79,0.87,0.1,1000.0,-6.99,583.0,2.07
90,309.875,9.75,0.92,0.1,1000.0,-7.01,565.3,2.01
91,313.406,9.77,0.88,0.1,1000.0,-7.00,577.2,2.05
92,316.953,9.78,0.81,0.1,1000.0,-6.95,598.0,2.12
93,320.546,9.83,0.82,0.1,1000.0,-6.98,598.0,2.12

Been doing some reading and not really sure if my PHD settings are correct, I'm using a C6S and ST80 with 350D/QHY5 on a CG5 - I'm guessing this is within the mount weight limit... but have read that if the weight is heavey then to set up PHD diffrently.

Anyway, heres my settings... anyonr have experience of PHD and CG5's?


EDIT: is that setting for min motion (pixels) correct? it looks rather small...

Not that I'm an expert (heck, I was all sorts of problems my self last night with a similar setup [HEQ5]), but the first thing you should do is get the latest version of PHD (1.10?). I was having those 'banding' problems but I think they went away. I say 'think' because I only noticed this banding when guiding with ST4, and I'm not using that method at the moment.
Those settings look correct to get you started.

Steve

I have the QHY5/ST80 combination, try reducing the calibration step to 1500ms.

Try replacing the cmos.dll file in the PHD folder with this one.

I had a lot of problems when the drivers kept changing but now I'm using the ones on Berns site then I've had no problems. Certainly upgrade to the latest version of PHD (1.10) and then update the Cmos.dll file (found on Bern's site) in the PHD folder.

As to your problems it sound more like a mount issue. If the QHY5 if focused on the star then its not likely to be the camera. Does it calibrate OK? If it doesn't then it might need the axis reversing. There is an check box in the options to do this. If it does calibrate then it likely to be the agressiveness setting. The help file in PHD gives some guidance on this but I would recommend going for the default settings; they work 99.9% of the time, if necessary re-install PHD. I guide using the ST4 output to a EQ6 Pro and have never had to do anything. I think the CG5 is a synta mount but check that it is fully ST4 compatible.

Rob

Are you sure that the PHD commands are getting to the mount? Have you tried selecting "Tools -> Manual Guide" to see if you can get PHD to move the mount manually as requested? If its not moving, the problem issnt with PHD, its with something else.

Tried again last night... upgraded to 1.10 and used the dll from this post.. but when guiding via the ST4 it was the same.. the banding occured and it calibrated ... but appears not to be moving the mount. Tried using the ASCOM drivers and celestron plugin via serial and all came together!! Not an ideal solution as i would prefer to guide direcct rather than via the lappy.. but it works so
Think i have a problem with the QHY5 drivers for my CG5 ST4 .. will investigate further.

You are still guiding "via the lappy" if you use ST4, as the laptop still needs to process the images and send the command to the QHY5 to send the commands to the mount.

buy, hey, if it aint broke now, dont touch it!

You say that its not moving the mount during [ST4] cal - did you DISABLE pulse guiding?
On chosing the telescope in EQmod, select Setup... and uncheck the Enable Pulse Guiding box.
I'm sure that this is what I did, but can't be certain.

Steve