Problems with QHY5L-IIC and ASCOM

[adh325]

Hi - I'm hoping someone might be able to help me, I'm going nuts with this!

I invested in a QHY5L-IIC and was really looking forward to some great long exposure imaging, but I've had a frustrating couple weeks. I'm using it with a converted finder scope.

I'm using the latest version of ASCOM with a HEQ5 (which I'm also struggling with, will post separately). I'm using Stellarium through Stellarium Scope.  I've also installed PHD (I've tried with 1 and 2, get same results).

All the drivers I've installed are the most recent I could find.

The problem is when I connect the QHY to my PC, and it doesn't matter if this is through PHD, or other software - within a few minutes I get a timeout error from ASCOM and it stops communicating with the mount.  Separately the QHY seems to work fairly well with PHD, though it doesn't tolerate buttons being used out of sequence - it tends to crash. Note - this even happens when I don't connect the QHY to the mount. I could just have it plugged in.

ASCOM works fine without the QHY connected.

Any ideas? I feel like I've wasted £130!

Thanks in advance,

Andy

 

[Thalestris24]

Hi

In my experience most problems with the qhy guide cams are usb-related. Either because it may not work via a hub, usb 3, cable or laptop port not up to it or picking up noise from a power cable. One problem with the cams is that if the connection crashes they need to be unplugged so that the 'firmware' can be reloaded.

Hope you can sort it

Louise

[adh325]

Thanks Louise, I'll have a look into that one. I bought a usb 2 extender type cable, rather than an extension - so thought that would be OK. I'll try with the camera and mount connected with the supplied cable only and see if that makes any difference. I'm using two other identical cables for the mount and imaging camera and they seem to work ok.

[Thalestris24]

Just now, adh325 said:

Thanks Louise, I'll have a look into that one. I bought a usb 2 extender type cable, rather than an extension - so thought that would be OK. I'll try with the camera and mount connected with the supplied cable only and see if that makes any difference. I'm using two other identical cables for the mount and imaging camera and they seem to work ok.

The problem with the camera is that it uses a high bandwidth and cables need to be usb 2.0 hi speed spec (480Mbps) and within the usb length spec i.e. 5m absolute max but preferably shorter. It's worth spending the extra few quid to get a really high quality cable.

Good luck!

Louise

[adh325]

This is the cable I'm using:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/CSL-Repeater--amplification-expandable-gold-plated/dp/B00NORHCE8/ref=sr_1_8?srs=3760694031&ie=UTF8&qid=1456956417&sr=8-8&keywords=10m

looking at the spec it seems to tick the boxes - other than the fact it's pretty long.

[MarkyD]

I am going to be in the same situation as you with my setup.  my mount will be approx 6m from the pc.  I would expect to pay quite abit more than £9 for a decent cable that long.  Novatech do a good range of active cables http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/cables/externaldatacables/usb2.0/usb2aaext10m.html

 

[MarkyD]

I'm also running usb 3.0 from the 2 hubs and power box/dew controller setup I'm building

--

Mark

 

 

[Skipper Billy]

I am with Thalestris24 on this - that lead you have linked to is almost certainly the root cause of the problem.  Try the camera connected with a short high quality lead - I bet it works just fine.

Try to stick with a good mid range brand of cable - Belkin or Lindy etc - the claims are not all marketing bull.....

Good luck and dont give up !

 

[Thalestris24]

53 minutes ago, adh325 said:

This is the cable I'm using:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/CSL-Repeater--amplification-expandable-gold-plated/dp/B00NORHCE8/ref=sr_1_8?srs=3760694031&ie=UTF8&qid=1456956417&sr=8-8&keywords=10m

looking at the spec it seems to tick the boxes - other than the fact it's pretty long.

It's instructive to read through all the reviews - some say it didn't work, at least one says there was a voltage drop... Easy to test the camera with a short cable

Louise

[adh325]

Thanks, will definitely give the shorter cable a go and see how I get on.