PHDMax

[8472]

Hi 

Are there any users of this software out there?

I would like to incorporate dithering into my guided imaging routine, but it seems this is only readily available to non-Canon, Nikon and ASCOM cameras.

As the owner of an Olympus M4/3 camera, there's no pc tethering option available. I currently image with PHD2 and an intervalometer (I do own an old Canon, but for argument's sake, the Oly has a better sensor).

Where Phdmax comes in, is that when my Oly takes an image, the image is instantly copied to a folder in my pc  (from my camera's wifi SD card). This folder's contents is being constantly monitored by Phdmax, and when a user specified number of images arrive, Phdmax will issue a dither command to PHD2. Rinse and repeat.

I've so far managed to perform what looks like a successful simulation, but not had opportunity to test it for real outdoors yet. Anybody have any first hand knowledge to share? It seems to be the only software option of its kind out there I can find at least for my purpose. 

Cheers 

8472

[michael8554]

I use PHDMax with PHD2.

It has a few quirks that I'm not going to comment on until the clouds go away and I can check my settings !

There's also DitherMaster, but I couldn't get that to work correctly.

Michael

 

[8472]

Hi,

I've looked into Dithermaster but it appears not to support my camera. I've gone so far as to message the creator too.

[michael8554]

Although cloudy tonight I've managed to refresh my memory of how PHDMax behaves.

For PHD2 to Dither from an external source, "Enable Server" has to be selected at the bottom of the Tools menu.

When PHDMax sends a Dither, PHD2 Dithers twice !!

This can be seen on the real-time guiding graph, the Dithers are close together so the two DITHER letterings are half superimposed.

The two Dithers can also been seen in the PHD Guide Logs:

22,66.313,"Mount",-0.477,-0.577,0.475,0.573,0.299,0.249,90,W,75,S,,,72,5.78,0
INFO: SET LOCK POSITION, new lock pos = 384.017, 355.857
INFO: DITHER by 0.000, 0.500, new lock pos = 384.015, 355.357
INFO: SETTLING STATE CHANGE, Settling started
23,69.672,"Mount",0.002,0.500,-0.000,-0.500,-0.000,-0.500,0,,151,N,,,75,5.94,0
24,72.625,"Mount",-0.377,-0.295,0.376,0.292,0.226,0.000,68,W,0,,,,70,5.76,0
INFO: SETTLING STATE CHANGE, Settling failed
INFO: SET LOCK POSITION, new lock pos = 384.015, 355.357
INFO: DITHER by 0.500, 0.000, new lock pos = 383.515, 355.359
INFO: SETTLING STATE CHANGE, Settling started

This was with PHD2 on Spiral Dither and Scale = 0.1, PHDMax was on 4 pixels.

I'm guessing it did a Spiral RA move of 0.5, then a Spiral Dec move of 0.5.

A Manual Dither from the Tools/Manual Guide menu only has one command on the graph and in the Logs.

I don't know why and I don't know how to stop one of the Dithers.

Next time out  I'll try and work out which prog is supplying the Dither amounts.

Michael

[8472]

32 minutes ago, michael8554 said:

Although cloudy tonight I've managed to refresh my memory of how PHDMax behaves.

For PHD2 to Dither from an external source, "Enable Server" has to be selected at the bottom of the Tools menu.

When PHDMax sends a Dither, PHD2 Dithers twice !!

This can be seen on the real-time guiding graph, the Dithers are close together so the two DITHER letterings are half superimposed.

The two Dithers can also been seen in the PHD Guide Logs:

22,66.313,"Mount",-0.477,-0.577,0.475,0.573,0.299,0.249,90,W,75,S,,,72,5.78,0
INFO: SET LOCK POSITION, new lock pos = 384.017, 355.857
INFO: DITHER by 0.000, 0.500, new lock pos = 384.015, 355.357
INFO: SETTLING STATE CHANGE, Settling started
23,69.672,"Mount",0.002,0.500,-0.000,-0.500,-0.000,-0.500,0,,151,N,,,75,5.94,0
24,72.625,"Mount",-0.377,-0.295,0.376,0.292,0.226,0.000,68,W,0,,,,70,5.76,0
INFO: SETTLING STATE CHANGE, Settling failed
INFO: SET LOCK POSITION, new lock pos = 384.015, 355.357
INFO: DITHER by 0.500, 0.000, new lock pos = 383.515, 355.359
INFO: SETTLING STATE CHANGE, Settling started

This was with PHD2 on Spiral Dither and Scale = 0.1, PHDMax was on 4 pixels.

I'm guessing it did a Spiral RA move of 0.5, then a Spiral Dec move of 0.5.

A Manual Dither from the Tools/Manual Guide menu only has one command on the graph and in the Logs.

I don't know why and I don't know how to stop one of the Dithers.

Next time out  I'll try and work out which prog is supplying the Dither amounts.

Michael

Hi, Michael

That is very bizarre!

I think I read somewhere that the software was actually designed for the original PHD, and not PHD2, so I guess quirks like this arent out of the question!

Hope you manage to find a workaround.

Cheers for the feedback.

[michael8554]

Here are my test results:

First I used the Manual Dither button in PHDMax
I set PHD2 to 1.0 in Dither Scale,  PHDMax to 1.0 
PHD2 was in Spiral mode, which makes whole pixel moves rather than random numbers

There was only 1 Dither =  0.00,  1.00 

Then I made a series of Auto PHDMax Dithers:

PHD2 1.00, PHDMax 1.00, Two Dithers = 1.00, 0.00 and then 0.00, -1.00

PHD2 1.00, PHDMax 4.0, Two Dithers = 0.00, -5.00 and then -5.00, 0.00

PHD2 5.00, PHDMax 0.5, Two Dithers =  -2.500, 0.00, and then 0.00, 2.500

PHD2 0.1, PHDMax 4.00, Two Dithers = 0.00, 0.500, and then 0.00, 0.500

You can see the Dithers moving in a spiral pattern.

I was hoping that one of the Dithers was using PHD2 setting, the other using PHDMax settings.

Then PHD2 could be set to 0.1 and would make a tiny Dither, PHDMax on 4.0 would make a normal Dither.

But it seems each Dither is approximately (PHD2 x PHDMax).

So you can get your desired Dither, but the two moves and settling time are nearly twice as long as it needs to be.

Are you getting two Dithers on your setup ?

Tried DitherMaster again, but Canon 6D wasn't on the list of supported cameras in the dropdown menu, so it reported Camera Not Connected.

None of the cameras on the menu were DIGIC 5+ which might be the problem, or it just needed a match to the camera reported in EOS Utility.

Michael

[8472]

Hi,

Thanks again for your great findings, Michael. I really so appreciate it. 

I'll update you with my findings as and when I get chance.

 

[michael8554]

I was under the impression that you've got PHDMax to work with your Olympus, but seeing your other post on Dithering non-Canon cameras,  am I misunderstanding? 

Michael 

[8472]

7 hours ago, michael8554 said:

I was under the impression that you've got PHDMax to work with your Olympus, but seeing your other post on Dithering non-Canon cameras,  am I misunderstanding? 

Michael 

Hi,

I'm not quite sure what you mean about another post?

I have only got as far as running PHD2 in simulation mode, synchronizing it with phdmax and seeing my RAW images automatically sent from camera to a monitored folder on my laptop over flashair wifi. Phdmax then tells me it sees the new file, stopped guiding, dithered, then resumed guiding again, as expected. I've yet to test this in the field due to time and weather constraints.  

[michael8554]

I see now it was your post in January that has been resurrected.

So only one Dither in your simulation ?

Michael 

[8472]

I can't be sure until I get a live run, to be honest.

All I can say, if Phdmax is to be trusted, however many dithers it did perform, it was back guiding again pretty quickly.

I guess all will be revealed, on my next guiding session. 

[jjosefsen]

Quick question: How do you pause exposing when phd2 is dithering when you are not tethered?

[8472]

1 hour ago, jjosefsen said:

Quick question: How do you pause exposing when phd2 is dithering when you are not tethered?

You calculate how long your setup takes to dither and settle. Add a few seconds for insurance and then you have your pause-between-subs time for your intervalometer. Alternatively, use a shorter pause, but be prepared to lose a sub every time a dither command is initiated.

When PHDMax receives a predetermined number of image(s) into a folder of your choosing, it tells PHD to stop guiding, dither and begin guiding again. Rinse and repeat.