PHD2 guiding repeatedly stops working with NINA

[John Schultz]

I have resolved several problems but last night Phd2 guiding failed repeatedly when working with NINA and TheSkyX.

In the attached PHD2 debug log about 20:29:58 PHD2 seems to lose it with "get_exposure" not working.
restarted 21:01:52 and reran calibration. Again, PHD2 was soon "unable to make sufficient corrections in DEC" 21:11:06.350
In the PHD2 guide log, the star is lost at 128,449.974 and again at 228,914.767 after retarting
I was using a guide speed of 0.5 initially and tried increasing to 0.75 after the first guide failure.  This was worse if anything.
I also reduced the binning for the guide camera from 2x2 to 1x1.

My setup is an Eagle 3 Win 11, Paramount MEII, normal encoders, 400mm guide scope with ASI120mm-s.
Main sensor is ASI6200MM Pro, Wanderer Empire rotator,EFW filterwheel, Focuslynx focuser

I have resolved SOME problems:
1. replaced the USB cable to the mount = Poor mount communication error was gone.
2. TheskyX - enable tracking offsets, pulse guide and direct guide  =  ASCOM and PulseGuiding errors were gone.
3. redid PHD2 dark library and calibration 
4. tried guide speed of 0.75 since intermittent complaints about 0.5 (did not seem to help)

I don't have any cable snags.  
I did a TPOINT with 96 points. While the raw data showed quite a lot of spread in DEC,  the Supermodel looked good.
Tpoint Supermodel - telescope is polar aligned with 1 arcminute for both RA and DEC.

I attached the NINA log and the PHD2 guide and debug logs as well as some pictures of my calibration, PHD2InsufficientCorrectionsInDEC, the TPOINT plots and TheSkyControlledDriverSetup.  

Thanks for any suggestions - I am pulling out my thinning hair :-) 

[Bruce Waddington]

I think PHD2 was trying to tell you what was wrong by displaying this alert message:

Alert: PHD2 is not able to make sufficient corrections in Dec. If the side-of-pier has changed from where you last calibrated, check to see if the 'Reverse Dec output option' on the Advanced Dialog guiding tab is wrong. If so, fix it and recalibrate. Otherwise, check for cable snags, try re-doing your calibration, and check for problems with the mount mechanics.

Your Paramount requires that the "reverse" option be set.  Your calibrations were done from side-of-pier east and your problems occurred when you meridian flipped and started to guide from side-of-pier west.  So, to start, fix the "Reverse Dec output after meridian flip option" and try again.  The behavior of this option and a procedure for deciding how it should be set is described in the User Guide.

Good luck,

Bruce

[John Schultz]

reverse DEC was not checked so I will do that when I am back up and running.  However in the past I recall that if I check the reverse DEC box, I need to uncheck it sometimes. I'll see if I can quantify the situation. 
Thanks. 

[Brian Valente]

>>> I recall that if I check the reverse DEC box, I need to uncheck it sometimes

I'm not sure what situations the option would selectively need to be checked for the same equipment and configuration. It's pretty much and on-or-off setting

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Brian 

Brian Valente

astronomy portfolio https://www.astrobin.com/users/bvalente/ 

[Bruce Waddington]

Yes, please just set it and leave it alone.

Bruce