camera lost only when guiding.. not for polar alignment

[Dominique DANIEL]

It's mysterious: last night PHD2 had a lot of trouble keeping the connection with the ZWO 120MCS camera. I changed the cord to use the one that came with the camera. Same problem. However, I have already often used this configuration to guide. The most amazing thing is that it worked perfectly during the polar alignment which I did afterwards. This polar alignment was new to me. So it was long (and I am amazed to be able to do it with camera and guide scope, and not by the telescope itself) .. It clears the camera and the question comes on PHD2. I am using the ZWO ASI Camera driver .. How to solve this problem?

Thank you for your help

Dominique

[bw_msgboard]

We need to see the PHD2 log files – debug and guiding – in order to give you any help.

 

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

 

 

Bruce

 

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[Dominique DANIEL]

Sorry, this the link to log file.

https://openphdguiding.org/logs/dl/PHD2_logs_wpgW.zip

Thanks Bruce

[bw_msgboard]

I’m not sure what else we can tell you beyond the error messages you saw.  The beginning of the log is riddled with alert messages that say:

 

Camera connection lost

PHD will make several attempts to reconnect the camera.

 

(Connexion à la caméra perdue

PHD va faire plusieurs tentatives de reconnexion de la caméra.)

 

Once you somehow got past those there are many subsequent timeout messages along the lines of:

 

After 18.5 sec the camera did not complete a 3.5 sec exposure, and was therefore disconnected to prevent further problems. 

 

(Après 18.5 sec la caméra n'a pas terminé une pose de 3.5 sec, et a donc été déconnectée afin de prévenir d'autres problèmes)

 

So basically, the USB connection to your guide camera is in bad shape.  Since you’re running on a dev release of PHD2, it’s important you use the latest versions of the ZWO camera drivers.  The ZWO-provided SDK was changed twice since the 2.6.9dev1 release you were using last February so the camera driver version would be the place to start looking.  Beyond that, there’s a fairly extensive discussion of these sorts of problems in the PHD2 manual:

 

https://openphdguiding.org/manual/?section=Trouble_shooting.htm#Problems-_Camera_Timeouts

 

 

Good luck,

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[Dominique DANIEL]

OK Bruce, I will load new ZWO driver.

After first fais in connections the camera, I replaced the USB cable to use the one delivered with it. I had also problems and had more success when plugging it more strongly.

Dominique 

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[charles mckowen]

Connect to a different USB port 

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 8, 2021, at 12:19 AM, Dominique DANIEL <ddan...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Dominique DANIEL]

Hi Bruce

I just visit ZWO site and the driver I find is the one aged of 21,31, 2020 (V3.16.0.0) wich is installed on my system...

I just reinstall it, .. without any confidence.. 

Have  you a suggestion?

Best, Dominique

[bw_msgboard]

Nothing to add other than to work through the diagnostic procedures in the PHD2 manual.  This isn’t a PHD2 problem so there’s not much else we can do.  You can try using the ZWO ASCOM camera driver as an alternative but I doubt it will change anything – I think you’ve got lower level USB problems on your computer.

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[Dominique DANIEL]

Hi, I just do a lot of tests and the problem seams coming from PHD2. 

This is what I do:

- change ZWO ASI 120 camera with a NEW ONE (ZWO ASI 224 MCS)

- use the original cord

- connect it directly on PC port

-> same problem persist: camera lost very quickly very often

THEN, I use this camera with old connection (USB Hub - 5 meter cord) with SHARPCAP: I get a 20 min sequence with non problem.

In the same time, my imaging camera is a ZWO ASI 294 MC Pro. I use it with Sharpcap, connected via HUB USB and a 5m USB cord. never any problem.

To remember, I used my original setup (ZWO ASI 120 as guiding, ZWO ASI 294 as imaging, USB HUB, 5 meters USB cords - the telescope is also connected via this USB Hub and with a 5 meters USB Cord) for monthes. The only problem was some disconnections of guiding camera issue sometimes. it becomes unusable some weeks ago.

I join the log file. 2 main problems: camera unfinded and star lost

Thanks for your help

Dominique

[Dominique DANIEL]

Just a correction: I said "I change.." it's better to say "I replace ASI120 with ASI224 (new)..."

Last, to complete my message, I don't use ST4 connection (never).

I also remember that, when I have created a new profile for ASI224 and say that it was connected, the pixel size PHD2 got from the camera was wrong: 4.63 - the good one is 3.75 and I correct that.  4.63 is pixel size of the ASI 294. I don't understand why this value is there.
 Dominique

[bw_msgboard]

This really isn’t a PHD2 problem.  Applications like SharpCap use the camera in a completely different way than PHD2.  Those apps run the camera in video streaming mode so they start and stop a continuous stream of data.  PHD2 treats the guide camera like a normal camera, taking one exposure at a time.  That involves more back-and-forth communication with the camera, all of which is sensitive to timing and communication hardware issues.  So using SharpCap can tell you that the camera isn’t literally dead but beyond that it doesn’t mimic the behavior of PHD2.  You have a hardware problem, you just need to find it. In the log files you just sent, you have PHD2 connecting to your color imaging camera, the ASI 294MC.  I doubt that’s what you want and it’s probably why the pixel size was unexpected.  PHD2 gets the pixel size directly from the camera and that overwrites whatever (wrong) value you’ve entered.

 

The ZWO software can behave very oddly when you have more than one connected to your system.  You need to use the PHD2 camera selector button to be sure you’re connecting to the right one:

 

 

FWIW, 5 meters is the length limit for USB 2.0 so you’re running on the margin in the best of cases.  You need to keep trouble-shooting this.  For example, run the test inside using only the guide camera and PHD2 connected with a short, high-quality USB cable.  If that fails, change ports, change computers, try adding a powered USB hub, etc…

 

But again, this isn’t a PHD2 problem assuming you’re running the latest versions of the drivers for your cameras.

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[Dominique DANIEL]

Thanks Bruce, you are right. I verify the parameter you show me and it was selecting 294 camera. I change of course for the 224. 

I think that the error come when I create a new profile in the assist mode. I ddon't see the parameter you show me. I  only see that pixel size was 4.63 (indicating that it was the 294 camera that was selected).

For your information, the USB hub I use with 5meter cords is powered.

Thanks again for your help

Dominique

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