Continuing calibration error

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Paul Wilson

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Sep 25, 2025, 10:19:20 AMSep 25
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Hi, hope I am putting this info in the correct place this time.,
After my recent guiding failures following swapping to a new mount, I got the newest version of PHD2, and made a new profile from scratch using the menu.  Then I used the calibration assistant and later the guiding assistant.  All of my equipment was connected and the spec boxes were auto populated.
But the result was same as before, guiding steps "too few", and it also said that my PA appeared to be off by greater than 10'!  They usually get it to within 3'
I tried to calibrate again with the slew and calibrate buttons,  PHD did select stars and send the guiding prompts but the result was same.
I tried in NINA to check my PA via 3PPA, but my main camera showed a camera download failure.
This software is on a remote mini pc 200 miles away, so I can't check the rig myself  Here are the logs

Brian Valente

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Sep 25, 2025, 10:39:17 AMSep 25
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HI Paul

it shows your guide camera as the ASI2600? My guess is it is connecting to your main imaging camera with the longer focal length telescope, and as a result it's showing too few steps

Go back to your profile and make sure you select the correct guide camera. and make sure you make a dark library for that camera as well

Brian

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Brian Valente

Paul Wilson

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Sep 25, 2025, 10:50:24 AMSep 25
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Thanks Brian, yes my main camera is the 2600.  I swear I saw the little arrows that allowed me to select beteeen the main and the guide and I of course selected the guide, the ASI120.  But that’s an easy fix and if you saw that in the log I certainly believe you.  I will go to the connection page and recheck that.  Or my profile page.
I am unable to just go put a lens cover on the guide scope because it is not physically present.  I have to make a request which I planned to do as the moon increases.
Thanks for your help!

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Brian Valente

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Sep 25, 2025, 10:56:21 AMSep 25
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>>>I am unable to just go put a lens cover on the guide scope because it is not physically present.  I have to make a request which I planned to do as the moon increases.

Yes, i understand about remote observing, but these kinds of activities are common, it's one of the drawbacks to a remote observatory. I'm sure they are more than capable of doing things like this so just get your request in sooner rather than later, it can take a while.

Brian

Paul Wilson

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Sep 25, 2025, 11:21:16 AMSep 25
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I will send them a message.  If they can find the lens cap that would be great.  Perhaps they have one that will fit.  
I went to my profile from the remote mini pc and made sure that it shows a dot by the guide camera.  An ASI290, not a 120 as I said.  It showed both main and guide.  I would love to get this fixed so I can move on to redoing my autofocus.


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Brian Valente

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Sep 25, 2025, 11:24:32 AMSep 25
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Paul

I should have said "go back to the profile wizard". you can't just switch the camera because the pixel size is different. I suggest creating a new profile and selecting the 290 in the profile wizard, so it will make all the correct settings

Also a suggestion if they are going to cover the guidescope during the day, maybe they can throw a cover over it as well. lens caps may let like leak in, particularly something as bright as day

Paul Wilson

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Sep 25, 2025, 3:32:47 PMSep 25
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It's a little confusing.  When I use the wizard, my equipment is not connected to NINA, just to the rig.  So, there is no specific choice for my camera apart from the connect equipment arrows.  That one I have  correctly selected.  In the new profile, I manually filled in the numbers there for the focal length, the pixel size was correct at 3.76.  I hope this time it will not be able to select my main camera ASI2600.  I only can choose "ZWO camera". I would have felt better if the wizard had said, "you appear to have more than 1 ZWO camera, which is it"?

Brian Valente

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Sep 25, 2025, 4:37:15 PMSep 25
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Actually there's a feature coming in the next Dev release to make this easier

Sounds like you've sorted it out for now.

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