Instructions for using PHD2 with The SkyX Pro

[John Downing]

New to this group as I have been using PHD2 with APT with no problems. 

Have moved over to TSX Pro as it works better with my photometry sequencing needs. SGP does not support my vintage SBIG camera. My mount is an iOptron CEM60. 

Can someone direct me to where I can find information on how to use PHD2 with TSX Pro? Searches on this forum weren't successful. Anyone using PHD2 with TSX? 

Thanks,

John 

[Bruce Waddington]

Hi John.  Assuming you have ASCOM installed, you also have to install a plug-in from Software Bisque called the ASCOM 2x mount adaptor. 

https://ascom-standards.org/Downloads/ScopeDrivers.htm

 

Then you have to configure it according to this document:

 

https://github.com/OpenPHDGuiding/phd2/wiki/SkyX-Settings

 

For future reference, there is a ‘search’ function on the PHD2 Google forum.  If you do a search on ‘TheSkyX’ you’ll find many threads where people have talked about using TSX and have worked through various problems.  One recent caution has come up: don’t use the 64-bit version of TSX if you need to work with independent astronomy apps like PHD2.

 

Good luck,

Bruce

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[John Downing]

Thanks so much Bruce. I did search and found the github reference. But I didn't understand what I was to do with the ASCOM driver once it was installed. From what you sent and a response from Cloudy Nights I  have a glimmer of how this will work. Which is very good news for me as this dummy is just returning after a long, long layoff and having one-less app/program to learn is a blessing! PHD2 is amazing, I am thankful it is available to all. Amateur astronomy is amazing, a help forum provided for a program that is free. How cool is that. 

[Chris Duffey]

I just looked at the Github reference - I use a The SkyX with my ME-2 and PHD2/SGP - if you have a model set up for your telescope/mount be sure and check the box that inhibits Sync to protect Tpoint model or you WILL trash your model the first time you do a platesolve.

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[Chris Woodhouse]

I just caught sight of this thread and would venture a word of caution. I use TSX extensively with my Paramounts and guide with PHD2 through the TSX ASCOM driver, using the direct drive protocol.  I recently bought a Rainbow mount and thought to use TSX as the telescope hub for PHD2 and SGP/NINA - which means I only need to change the mount connection in TSX.

Although the ASCOM conform utility and direct PHD2 connection to the Rainbow ASCOM driver confirms it pulse guides, and the ASCOM driver for TSX has pulseguide enabled, I cannot get PHD2 to pulse guide through TSX. I have to do it directly to the mount driver.  I think what I am saying is that the combination with TSX does not always work as expected.

[Peter Scheuter]

Hello,

I have read through your posts and thought that I have installed and configured both the ASCOM and the SKYX X2 Driver.  The document in the GetHub didn't help, only one line that I can see ( When using the SkyX ASCOM Driver, make sure to select the Can Get Pointing State option:). Is there not more? The images show how I'm configured and what error I'm getting.  Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

peter

[bw_msgboard]

What mount are you trying to use?  Is it a Paramount?  If not, you're probably going about this the wrong way.  The error message you show in the screen-shot is being generated by some part of TheSkyX, not PHD2.

 

Bruce

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From: open-phd...@googlegroups.com [mailto:open-phd...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Peter Scheuter
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2021 12:30 PM
To: Open PHD Guiding
Subject: Re: [open-phd-guiding] Instructions for using PHD2 with The SkyX Pro

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/open-phd-guiding/fee02164-d09c-4da5-bdd9-b348b7428ec3n%40googlegroups.com.

[Peter Scheuter]

Bruce, 

Thanks for the reply.  I'm not using the 64bit and the mount is the ME2 I having been using about 1 1/5 years.  I will look for more threads.

Thanks

peter

On Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 2:52:01 AM UTC-6 Chris Woodhouse wrote:

[bw_msgboard]

Ok, if it's an ME2 you should be able to find a solution.  Software Bisque has gotten into a 32-bit/64-bit goat rodeo and I don't know how that affects their 2X plug-in.  You can probably get more specific help either on the SB forum or perhaps on Cloudy Nights.  You also need to be sure you didn't install things with Administrator privileges, there should be no need for that. 

 

Good luck,

Bruce

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From: open-phd...@googlegroups.com [mailto:open-phd...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Peter Scheuter

Sent: Monday, October 25, 2021 2:28 PM
To: Open PHD Guiding
Subject: Re: [open-phd-guiding] Instructions for using PHD2 with The SkyX Pro

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/open-phd-guiding/64d1a64c-a866-4a46-952a-d7af8fac05f2n%40googlegroups.com.