PHD2 works with Sharpcap but not APT

[Astro Geezer]

Hi.

Not sure what I've done but when I use Sharpcap, PHD2 works but it won't when I use APT.

I'm not getting on with Sharpcap but PHD2 won't even complete one exposure when apt is running.

Any ideas? Enable server is on.

[bottletopburly]

what version of apt and are you running,  are ascom and eqmod latest drivers .

[Astro Geezer]

2 hours ago, bottletopburly said:

what version of apt and are you running,  are ascom and eqmod latest drivers .

Latest ATP and the drivers for ascom and EQMOD about 2 months 

[Paul M]

Just make sure that APT isn't trying to use the guide camera! It has a habit of connecting to whatever camera it sees first.

If you set PHD2 running first, that it, select and start the guide camera and mount (it should loop and guide as standalone). If you now start APT it will default to the camera not already in use, i.e, your imaging camera.

If you hold shift when you click to connect the camera in APT, it will open a window that among other things allows you to select camera 1 or camera 2. one of those is the guide cam the other is your imaging cam.

The very latest beta of APT now gives the camera names in that window. Make selection easier.

Edited April 25, 2021 by Paul M

[newbie alert]

Are you trying to run it within APT?.

Not too sure if it's right or wrong but I always run it separate.. Apt always links to it ok, over never used the guider tab within APT other to change dither settings

[bottletopburly]

in dither settings is it set to phd instead of phd2

[Astro Geezer]

20 minutes ago, bottletopburly said:

in dither settings is it set to phd instead of phd2

Nope Phd2. Good call tho

[Astro Geezer]

51 minutes ago, Paul M said:

Just make sure that APT isn't trying to use the guide camera! It has a habit of connecting to whatever camera it sees first.

If you set PHD2 running first, that it, select and start the guide camera and mount (it should loop and guide as standalone). If you now start APT it will default to the camera not already in use, i.e, your imaging camera.

If you hold shift when you click to connect the camera in APT, it will open a window that among other things allows you to select camera 1 or camera 2. one of those is the guide cam the other is your imaging cam.

The very latest beta of APT now gives the camera names in that window. Make selection easier.

Tried PHD2 as a standalone and up pops EQMOD with this...

 

[Paul M]

22 minutes ago, Astro Geezer said:

Tried PHD2 as a standalone and up pops EQMOD with this...

Yeah, it's looking for the mount. If you run APT first that will look for a mount but if one isn't connected it doesn't throw up the EQMOD window. If APT connects to the mount it is via EQMOD and PHD2 connects to the same instance of EQMOD or vice versa. 

PHD2 is a standalone tool anyway. It just has a "server" that allows it to tell imaging software what it's doing and allow that software to tell PHD2 when to dither and to inhibit guiding during a GoTO/slew. 

No absolute need for PHD2 to talk to the imaging software but it can cause much difficulty if it doesn't.

Ultimately PHD2 issues the guide pulses to the mount directly so needs to be connected to the mount (via EQMOD under windows or INDI under flavours of Linux). If there is no mount connected then PHD2 won't do much.

EQMOD does have a mount simulator which can be useful when configuring software in the comfort of the lounge

If you do have a mount connected when you get that message you need to make sure PHD2 is looking for the right mount. If APT is connecting to the mount OK then PHD2 should have no trouble.

 

 

Edited April 25, 2021 by Paul M

[Astro Geezer]

Hhmmm... when I connect the mount in APT I don't get that message in EQMOD....it's all fine, yet PHD2 won't work 😡 

Camera and mount are both connected but it can't complete a single exposure to loop.

Works fine with Sharpcap but I need to use APT😭😭

 

[Paul M]

It seems then that it's how PHD2 is connecting to EQMOD that is the problem. If APT is connected to the mount and can control it then EQMOD is OK and APT is OK. 

[bottletopburly]

Drop a message on Eqmod forum Chris may have an idea what the conflict is or another member may .

https://groups.io/g/EQMOD/topics

[Astro Geezer]

37 minutes ago, bottletopburly said:

Drop a message on Eqmod forum Chris may have an idea what the conflict is or another member may .

https://groups.io/g/EQMOD/topics

Will do thanks