Anyone else have “durrr-rr” moments...?

[Hallingskies]

Just trying to set up my Vixen Visac and a SX-694 combo to try a spot of galaxy hunting, not something I’ve attempted for years.   Got gear set up on mount, sorted power supplies, plugged mount, filter wheel and camera into laptop, everything worked fine, EQMOD talking to the mount, camera/wheel control software working fine.

Could not get the Lodestar guide cam to come up in PHD though.  Checked guide cam, no LED.  Connections looked solid, camera drivers OK.  Took it indoors, connected it direct to another lap-top via a USB a-type port, LED lit up and it worked fine.  Ah, dodgy wire, I thought.

Then it dawned on me.

I had used a mini usb to type B usb cable on the rig, and had plugged the type b end into the autoguider ST4 socket on the camera!

Connecting up with the right type of cable (mini usb both ends) between the main camera hub and the right socket on the lodestar solved the problem instantly.

Is it just me or does anyone else do dumb stuff like that?

Edited March 13, 2021 by Hallingskies
Typo

[martin_h]

Every ruddy day!

[iapa]

I jave

left the Bahtinov mask on

Covered guide camera for hot pixel map, and left it on

connected filter wheel - without any filter

and best of all, managed to swap imaging and guide cameras around

 

 

 

[iapa]

Just now, iapa said:

I jave

left the Bahtinov mask on

Covered guide camera for hot pixel map, and left it on

connected filter wheel - without any filter

and best of all, managed to swap imaging and guide cameras around

when processing best was swapping flats for bias

 

 

 

 

[Andy R]

I never polar aligned last week(it’s been 5 months) and had guiding issues all night, couldn’t figure it out throughout the session until I came to putting the lens caps back on the scopes. Guide scope, telescope, polemaster ah penny dropped. 

Edited March 13, 2021 by Andy R

[banjaxed]

At my age I seem to have those moments more often.

[Clarkey]

Two weeks ago I took 5 hours of blue channel and none of luminance.

Definitely an age thing. Now where did I put mu glasses......

[Seelive]

Only when the day ends in y 

[discardedastro]

Last week I spent 30 minutes trying to work out why I couldn't get scope to focus (remotely, sat in the warm) before realising I hadn't actually taken the dust cap off...

Bahtinov mask on the scope all night I've definitely done before (one of the main reasons I moved away from Bahtinovs for imaging - hard to spot on some targets!)

[Hallingskies]

I'm the same with BMs.  I find I get better results focussing on screen by looking at FHWM anyway.  Glad it's not just me.  So frustrating when you lose time due to your own mistakes.  It's why I try and test as much stuff in the daylight as I can.

Edited March 13, 2021 by Hallingskies

[dannybgoode]

Just now - 'why the chuff can't I see polaris?  I am sure I am there or thereabouts'...  Are yes, forgot to extend the counterbalance weight bar as I am not using counterweights tonight.  Yep that would do it...