Using PHD2 with SBIG Cameras

[Robert Wolf]

I have an SBIG STF8300C camera and an SBIG ST-I camera that I use for imaging and guiding, respectively, on an Astro-physics MACH-1 mount.  I would like to use PHD2 to support guiding and to refine polar alignment with my equipment.  

My question is:  Can I use the ASCOM platform and a USB-to-Serial Port adapter and serial cable to support communication between PHD2 and my mount, or do I have to use the ST4 ports and an ST4 cable to connect my SBIG camera(s) and my Astro-physics mount when using PHD2???  

I would prefer to use the USB-to-Serial connection.  If this is possible with an SBIG camera, is it necessary to download special ASCOM-compliant drivers for the SBIG cameras, or will the ASCOM USB-to-Serial configuration work with the drivers provided by SBIG? 

I plan to install the ASCOM platform and the Astro-physics ASCOM-compliant driver for my MACH-1 mount.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Bob Wolf

[bulrichl]

Hi Bob,

Am Montag, 16. Oktober 2017 14:41:48 UTC+1 schrieb Robert Wolf:

My question is:  Can I use the ASCOM platform and a USB-to-Serial Port adapter and serial cable to support communication between PHD2 and my mount, or do I have to use the ST4 ports and an ST4 cable to connect my SBIG camera(s) and my Astro-physics mount when using PHD2???  

Yes, you can use the ASCOM platform and an USB-to-Serial Port adapter. I do that connecting to my Takahashi EM-400 Temma 2M. When you buy a USB-to-Serial Port adapter, pay attention to the utilized chip set, because not all of the available chip sets behave well (I think some of them have driver issues). Have a look here: http://www.usconverters.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=62

I use an adapter with a FTDI chipset and so far did not encounter any problems.

Bernd
 

[Bryan]

Bob

I have an ST-i and use PHD2 on the A-P 1100.  You actually don't need a USB-serial adapter at all.  Connect the micro-USB port on the ST-i to a standard USB port on a hub or your PC, using the USB cable that came with the ST-i.  No connection at all to the ST-4 port on the ST-i.

When connecting the ST-i to PHD2, select SBIG from camera types and use the USB connection.  Connect the mount using the A-P ASCOM driver, which comes with all A-P mounts.

Bypassing the ST-4 approach is the preferred method, if the mount supports ASCOM.  Power to the ST-i and data from the ST-i flows through the USB cable to the PC. Corrections to the mount flow through the A-P mount cable.

Let me know if you have more questions.

Bryan

[Robert Wolf]

Thank you very much for your reply, Bernd.

Bob

[Robert Wolf]

Hi Bryan

Thank you for hour reply!

Bob

[Andy Galasso]

Bob,

In addition to what Bernd and Bryan say, I'll point out that there is some pretty detailed information about this in the Equipment Connection section of the PHD2 user guide, available from the Help menu in PHD2 and also on our website here: https://openphdguiding.org/documentation/

You may also be interested in looking at this document: PHD2 Best Practices.

Andy