Trouble calibrating using new Celestron OAG and ZWO asi174mm camera

[John Natale]

I have a C8 Edge telescope, and just tried using a new Celestron OAG/174mm camera, but PHD2 would not calibrate. I attached the log below, which indicates "STAR LOST - low mass" multiple times. Note that I can see stars on my screen with the new OAG/174 combination but they are fairly dim. While it was trying to calibrate often times the green circles encircling the stars would go away, then re-appear (using the multi-star guiding  function). 

I also got an error message (which I did not write down) indicating something about needing to use a dark library for this configuration. I am not sure if the dark library message had anything to do with the failure to calibrate. I am sure I set up a dark library when I created the OAG/174  profile in PHD2. Does each profile need its own separate dark library, or is there only one that is stored for all profiles?

Note: I have two PHD2 profiles; one for this C8 Edge/OAG/174mm camera, and another for a ED50 guidescope and 174mm camera. The ED50 and 174mm profile works fine with PHD2-it calibrates and runs correctly.

Why am I not able to calibrate in PHD2 with the OAG/174? Does it have something to do with a dark library, or is it something else?

[Brian Valente]

Hi John

The guidelog didn't have much there, but it sounds like you aren't getting enough light. The C8 with OAG camera is going to result in very dim stars: it has significant light falloff where the OAG would be positioned, so it's a double whammy there. Plus you are only using an exposure time of one second

I suggest you create and use a dark library, increase your exposure time to 3 seconds (and be prepared to go higher if needed) and possibly look at increasing your camera gain (if you do, increase the camera gain first, then make your dark libraries)

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[Bruce Waddington]

You need to follow the "Getting Help" instructions and upload both your guide and debug log files to our site.  If we have both files, we can tell you more about what's wrong.

https://openphdguiding.org/getting-help/

Bruce

[John Natale]

Thanks Bruce and Brian. I attached all of the log files (both debug and guide). Hopefully those will give you more information.

I have a few more questions:

1. I thought I previously made a dark library with the wizard for each profile (OAG /174, and ED50 guidescope /174) when I first set it up. Do you suggest I make new dark libraries again for each profile? When I tried to make a new dark library just now I got this message: "guiding parameters have been re-set because the binning or pixel size changed unexpectedly. You should use separate profiles for different image scales."  And should there be a separate dark library for each profile I set up or is there only one dark library?

2. I also noticed that the star mass detection box was not checked for the profile with the OAG/174. Should I check it, and if so, what number should I put in for tolerance?

3. Can you think of anything else I should do differently, besides increasing the exposure to 3 sec and making another dark library?

I am beginning to think I should just erase the existing profiles and start again. Thoughts?

Thanks again.

 

[Brian Valente]

>>> 1. I thought I previously made a dark library with the wizard for each profile (OAG /174, and ED50 guidescope /174) when I first set it up. Do you suggest I make new dark libraries again for each profile? When I tried to make a new dark library just now I got this message: "guiding parameters have been re-set because the binning or pixel size changed unexpectedly. You should use separate profiles for different image scales."  And should there be a separate dark library for each profile I set up or is there only one dark library?

that usually means the ZWO ascom driver connected to the wrong camera. Do you have two ZWO cameras?

Check the ascom driver settings to ensure the correct camera is selected

 

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[Bruce Waddington]

The debug log log file shows you're connected to the wrong camera - it was the ZWO ASI294MC Pro.  As Brian said, this is a common problem with ZWO cameras.  You should start by re-running the new-profile-wizard with only the guide camera connected.  Then follow these instructions from the User Guide:

Doing this may still not prevent switching between cameras.  One additional work-around is to use an ASCOM camera driver for one of the cameras and a native driver for the other.  Dark libraries are always linked to profiles, so you should never intentionally change cameras or change camera binning without create a new configuration profile - any of those options that affect the guider image scale should be kept separate.  As Brian said, getting alert messages about the dark library is usually a strong clue that you're connected to the wrong camera.  Leave star-mass-checking disabled and consider binning the guide camera - in a separate configuration profile of course.  You should also do a careful job of focusing the guide camera on the OAG.  That can be a tedious process and it requires some form of quantitative feedback about focus quality - for example from the Star Profile tool.  But once you get the focus dialed in, you shouldn't have to do it again.

Good luck,

Bruce

[John Natale]

Thanks Bruce - this is very helpful! I'll set up the new profiles today. Thanks for taking the time to analyze the problem and assist; I appreciate it.