How to set calibrate PHD2 using my mount and the Simulator camera?

[Todd Dunnavant]

Hello, all,

I'm in the process of adjusting my mount in an attempt to remove grossly excessive Dec backlash.  The mount is an old Vixen Super Polaris, carrying a Celestron C8. I'm using an EQStarPro VSP controller.  I provide commands to the controller via an instance of Sky-Watcher's SynScan Pro app, which runs on a laptop.  PHD2 recognizes the mount as the ASCOM driver for SynScan Pro.

I'd prefer to not have to drag the rig outside, set it up, test it, break it down, and bring it back in, every time I tweak it.

I've set up a profile that includes the Simulator Camera and the SynScan Pro ASCOM driver as the mount.  Whenever I attempt to run a PHD2 calibration using this profile, the step sizes are very, very small -- typically fractions of a pixel.  Invariably, the calibration ends due to inadequate star movement after 100 steps.

What do I need to do, in order to run a PHD2 calibration to successful completion using the Simulator camera and my mount?

[Todd Dunnavant]

Apologies for the pidgin English in the title.  It should have been something like "How to calibrate PHD2 using my mount and the Simulator camera?"

[Bruce Waddington]

The short answer is, you can't.  We tried to explain this in the manual: https://openphdguiding.org/man/Basic_use.htm#Mount_Selection

Just scroll down to the section called "Simulators". 

You may be able to get somewhere with a different approach.  You can get PHD2 to issue guide pulses to the real mount using the 'Manual Guide' tool.  That doesn't require a star or calibration or anything else.  If you leave the gear system uncovered, you may be able to watch how it behaves when you reverse direction in Dec.  Alternatively, if you're running on a Windows system, you can use a Mount Exerciser tool: https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aos1oR-6e4eAgR4TchSfZBoTVSJj?e=3A6Ncl

Instructions for using the tool are in the folder.  In the end, the movements and errors are very small so you will ultimately have to test under a dark sky.

Good luck,

Bruce

[Todd Dunnavant]

Thanks for the swift reply, Bruce.

You might wish to change the following graphic in your documentation.  It provides the impression that some useful things can be done by mixing and matching the Simulators with real devices.

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[Bruce Waddington]

Ok, fair point, I’ll change that graphic in the manual.

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