Epic fail with guiding so far.

[Chris]

I'm feeling less than clever at the moment having been defeated by a program called Push Here Dummy. 

I've dabbled with unguided imaging for several years being reasonably happy with the results at short focal length. More recently I've tried to image at 1422mm f/7 which has given me a lot of incentive to start guiding, but I've failed on 2 attempts so far.

I'm using an Atik 16 with WO66 to guide a C8 Edge HD plus .7 reducer (I know, I know, an OAG would be better but I thought I'd start with what I have to hand). 

I've connected the ST4 cable from the mount to the camera, and the USB cable from the camera to my laptop. I have the ASCOM platform installed, PHD2, and I must have the correct drivers for my Atik 16 because it works with Artemis. 

When I go into PHD2 I set the camera to Atik 16, the tab below to 'On Camera' (I've also tried most the other settings). I then start the loop exposure at 2 seconds. At this point it pauses and a message appears at the top of the page which says the camera has been disconnected, reconnect the camera once the problem is resolved. 

I've tried multiple reboots, checked cables, played with the different setting, but so far nothing seems to get me close to up and running.

Does anyone know off hand what this issue is likely to be before I try wiping the PC and re installing the software?

I'ts tempting to retreat back to 300-700mm focal length unguided, but I've put this guiding business off for so long its become almost a fear.

Thanks for looking

Chris

[Leveye]

All of my issues when I've had them using PHD have been cable related. Possibly your cable run is to long and your having dropouts. You should use USB repeater cables every 15ft.

[MattJenko]

If this is not cable related (if it works in Artemis, sounds like it isn't), from searching past internet threads, seems a common cause of other problems with the Atik 16 cameras and guiding are with ST4 guiding. Do you have the capability to do pulse guiding - ie let the PC or Mac send the guiding commands to the mount directly? This would eliminate possible problem with the ST4 part of the Atik 16 as PHD would simply be using the Atik as a camera for getting guide images only.

If this doesn't work, then try posting on the PHD forums as it is a communication issue between PHD and the camera, which means drivers or cables.

Hope it works out, because when it works, it is like magic...

[Davey-T]

You could try PHD1 instead to eliminate a few things.

Dave

[glowingturnip]

yes, try posting on the phd forum, turn on both logging options next time you try, and send them the logs, they are very helpful.

I've not managed to get ST4 to work on either my mount or the school mount, and instead use ascom pulse guiding via the synscan handset

[Chris]

Thanks for the suggestions guys

Leveye - My cables are quite short, maybe 8' for the USB and 4' for the ST4. The USB cable works ok (I think) because I can use the camera with Artemis image capture software. Its possible that the ST4 cable itself could be dodgy maybe.

Mattjenko - Ah you could be onto something there! I've not heard this about Atik 16's so I'll do a more refined Google search and see what I can find out. I'll also have to read up on pulse guiding, I'm a proper newby when it comes to all this guiding stuff.

Davey-T - Its worth a shot isn't it, I might try that first.

Matt & Stuart - I'll try the PHD forum if non of the above works, cheers

Cheers all