Computer system requirements

[nal...@hotmail.com]

Hi, I can´t find the system requirements on the PHD-website - I might swith to PHD-Guiding, but I have to buy a notebook first. Is there anything to know or are just 2 USB-connecters the only requirement. Thanks!

[bw_msgboard]

PHD2 itself doesn’t impose any unusual requirements for the host computer.  What you should be concerned about is how well the computer supports the devices that you want to attach to it.  Cameras can put a lot of stress on the USB system for both power delivery and data transfer.  Cheap notebooks often cut corners in these areas.  4K displays are of no value for guiding and some users have encountered problems with rendering of some of the PHD2 dialogs.  If you’re going to run Windows 10, you probably need to get something better than the Home edition so you can control power management of the USB devices and when/how updates are installed.  As with most things in this hobby, you rarely get more than you pay for. J

 

Good luck,

Bruce

 

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[nal...@hotmail.com]

Thanks Bruce! I was thinking of a Notebook as small a possible - use only for guiding - but I have no guiding camera yet, so I can specifically pay attention to the (USB-)powermanagement. I actually thought that the computer itselve should be quite specific...

Am Mittwoch, 6. Mai 2020 17:29:12 UTC+2 schrieb bw_msgboard:

PHD2 itself doesn’t impose any unusual requirements for the host computer.  What you should be concerned about is how well the computer supports the devices that you want to attach to it.  Cameras can put a lot of stress on the USB system for both power delivery and data transfer.  Cheap notebooks often cut corners in these areas.  4K displays are of no value for guiding and some users have encountered problems with rendering of some of the PHD2 dialogs.  If you’re going to run Windows 10, you probably need to get something better than the Home edition so you can control power management of the USB devices and when/how updates are installed.  As with most things in this hobby, you rarely get more than you pay for. J

 

Good luck,

Bruce

 

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From: open-phd...@googlegroups.com [mailto:open-phd...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of nal...@hotmail.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2020 2:15 AM
To: Open PHD Guiding
Subject: [open-phd-guiding] Computer system requirements

 

Hi, I can´t find the system requirements on the PHD-website - I might swith to PHD-Guiding, but I have to buy a notebook first. Is there anything to know or are just 2 USB-connecters the only requirement. Thanks!

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[Brian Valente]

You may also consider a small nuc-style computer such as Intel NUC, Lenovo m93 mini series, etc. there are lots of options out there. there are also dedicated devices such as Prime Luce Eagle, ASIAir Pro (which uses a modified version of PHD), Stellarmate, etc. 

you mount the computer on the telescope and then remote access in using your desktop or laptop to connect

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Brian 

Brian Valente

portfolio brianvalentephotography.com 

[bw_msgboard]

Just be aware that users of the ASIAirPro won’t get any support from the PHD2 developers on this forum.  You would have to deal with ZWO for that.  There are also Linux versions of PHD2 available, some of which run on Raspberry Pi platforms.

 

Bruce

 

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[Brian Valente]

Bruce - thanks for clarifying. I was trying to say that, but i guess I wasn't direct enough! lol

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[nal...@hotmail.com]

Thanks for your comment Brian. I do set up my telescope in my balcony once in a while, but I take mostly everything with me and drive by car to a far more darker spot outside town, so the option with the Intel NUC or the Lenovo istn´t a good solution I think; a notebook might be more practical (battery and display with it) (?). Friends (who have large refractors) in my astro-club recommended the MGEN Autoguider - I´m not sure. I have a Celestron sc 11" on a Celestron CGX-mount; I´m not sure if the camera of the (new) MGEN-3 is good enough for OAG. They use the MGEN on a secondary scope, with my sc 11" is that no option I guess.

[Brian Valente]

I am no expert in MGEN, but looking at the web page, i don't think that's a good solution for you. it's a good solution for someone who may be unfamiliar with autoguiding and want more of a "push button" kind of approach, where it "just works", but an 11" SC is a challenging scope, and I don't think it will perform well for you

the Intel NUC style is perfect for travel. it would require you to have some sort of additional computer to use it, which doesn't have to be high powered at all.

if you have no computer and are looking to purchase just one, a nice laptop would suffice

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[nal...@hotmail.com]

Thanks Brian - but the Intel NUC needs power - isn´t a setup like that more for a stationary mount? I would need a battery for the Intel NUC and a monitor. There is a laptop easier, not? Are you sur that Windows 10 HOME doesn´t do the job? Small notebooks with Win 10 PRO are rare. Especially no netbooks.

[Brian Valente]

Everything requires power, right :)

in many ways the intel nuc style makes it easier. i have one battery i use to power the mount, the intel nuc, the camera, etc.  

the intel-nuc style doesn't have a screen or accessories like keyboard mouse etc. so it consumes less power

so i have one lead acid battery that sits at the base of my mount. 

it does require you to figure it out and set it up, but once you do it just goes with the telescope

as an added bonus, I've gotten off-lease nuc-style computers that have plenty of power for around $200-250. you can't get a comparable laptop in that range. i'm talking intel I5, 16gb ram, 128gb ssd, windows 10 pro license. crazy

On Thu, May 7, 2020 at 12:00 AM nal...@hotmail.com <nal...@hotmail.com> wrote:

Thanks Brian - but the Intel NUC needs power - isn´t a setup like that more for a stationary mount? I would need a battery for the Intel NUC and a monitor. There is a laptop easier, not? Are you sur that Windows 10 HOME doesn´t do the job? Small notebooks with Win 10 PRO are rare. Especially no netbooks.

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[nal...@hotmail.com]

But how do you use PHD2 as a guiding-program without a screen?

[Brian Valente]

it can be completely automated

On Thu, May 7, 2020 at 10:36 AM nal...@hotmail.com <nal...@hotmail.com> wrote:

But how do you use PHD2 as a guiding-program without a screen?

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[Richard Beck]

I use a headless NUC (on house power and wired ethernet tsince I set up my pier) and connect to it with NoMachine.  I can connect with my laptop when I need to see what's happening at the mount (e.g., polar alignment, focusing the guide scope).  At other times, I can watch what's happening from my desktop.

[Lawrence Lopez]

If all you want to do is guide then you don't need much.

On Wed, May 6, 2020 at 5:15 AM nal...@hotmail.com <nal...@hotmail.com> wrote:

Hi, I can´t find the system requirements on the PHD-website - I might swith to PHD-Guiding, but I have to buy a notebook first. Is there anything to know or are just 2 USB-connecters the only requirement. Thanks!

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[nal...@hotmail.com]

Thanks for all your nice comments - (but) I think I´ll stick to the laptop-plan. The USB-powermanagement ist also possible in Win10 home as I find out, so there´s a wide offer/choice to get a laptop with a small screen (12"). It just has to have USB 3 for the cam.And it has to have a powerfull battery. In time I could change to a full automated Intel-NUC setup. Thanks again!

[Brian Valente]

that's totally fine

regarding laptops, it's really hard to go wrong. they are all so powerful nowadays. I've had good luck with MSI brand and my buddy uses Surface Book religiously, though they seem a bit expensive for me.

Lenovo also makes some that are great deals

On Fri, May 8, 2020 at 7:27 AM nal...@hotmail.com <nal...@hotmail.com> wrote:

Thanks for all your nice comments - (but) I think I´ll stick to the laptop-plan. The USB-powermanagement ist also possible in Win10 home as I find out, so there´s a wide offer/choice to get a laptop with a small screen (12"). It just has to have USB 3 for the cam.And it has to have a powerfull battery. In time I could change to a full automated Intel-NUC setup. Thanks again!

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