configuring an Ultrastar

[L Harris]

I am wanting to configure my Ultrastar camera as a guide camera using my Tak guide scope.  I tried setting it up on PHD2 using the 'on camera' connection with a cable from the Us to the guider port on the Celestron 11 Edge scope. It would not connect.  Presumably my next attempt would have to be via the Us's USB port into the laptop instead?

Advice welcomed.

Lawrence Harris

[Andy Galasso]

Lawrence,

What type of mount are you using?  Also, what type of computer are you running PHD2 on: Windows, Mac, or Linux?

The reason I ask is that we recommend using an ASCOM or INDI connection to the mount and not using the ST4 guide port at all, and the options available to you depend on your computer OS and what mount you are using.

There is some good information on this topic in the Equipment Connection section of the PHD2 User Guide.

Andy

[L Harris]

Hello Andy

FWIW this is the first time  that I have tried this configuration. It is a Celestron 11 Edge scope on a CGX mount and I had thought that I would try the simple direct connection.  I can easily convert it to the ASCOM method (which is my normal approach).  The Ultrastar manual offered the direct approach.  The scope itself is currently operating at f2 but I want to use longer exposures via guiding. Laptop running Win-10.

Lawrence

[Andy Galasso]

On Thu, Oct 26, 2017 at 3:11 AM, L Harris <lawren...@gmail.com> wrote:

FWIW this is the first time  that I have tried this configuration. It is a Celestron 11 Edge scope on a CGX mount and I had thought that I would try the simple direct connection.  I can easily convert it to the ASCOM method (which is my normal approach).  The Ultrastar manual offered the direct approach.  The scope itself is currently operating at f2 but I want to use longer exposures via guiding. Laptop running Win-10.

Ok, great, it sounds like you may already have the ASCOM driver for your CGX mount installed. You should select the ASCOM driver as the mount in PHD2.

It may seem counter-intuitive at first glance but the ASCOM connection is actually a more direct connection since PHD2 is communicating directly with the mount to make guide corrections and receive information about where the scope is pointing and which side of the pier it is on.  With the on-camera approach PHD2 sends commands to the camera to make the guide connections, and the camera makes the ST4 signalling changes. These are "blind" commands and there is no direct way to know if the commands are actually received by the mount, nor does PHD2 receive any information about the orientation of the scope.  If you have not had a chance yet I recommend taking a look a the Equipment Connection section of the user guide where this information is elaborated in more detail regarding the pros and cons of using a direct mount connection versus an indirect on-camera connection.

Andy

[L Harris]

Thanks Andy

For clarification here, presumably then the cable connection is USB (camera) to USB (laptop - via hub in my case)?  I had read the article but the actual cable connections were not obvious to me.  From what you say, the mount's auto-guider port is generally best avoided.

Thanks 

Lawrence

[Andy Galasso]

On Oct 26, 2017 10:45, "L Harris" <lawren...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks Andy

For clarification here, presumably then the cable connection is USB (camera) to USB (laptop - via hub in my case)?  I had read the article but the actual cable connections were not obvious to me.  From what you say, the mount's auto-guider port is generally best avoided.

Right, first you need the usb connection from the Ultrastar camera to the pc. Next you have the pc to mount connection that the ASCOM driver uses to talk to the mount. And that's it.

[L Harris]

I had originally believed that the pc to mount connection (via ASCOM) was only for the slews (eg when software commands a move to a new target). I gather now that commands can be sent by ASCOM to make mini moves - those from the guider - using the same connection.  I don't think that I had understood that bit!

Lawrence

On Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at 8:13:02 PM UTC+1, L Harris wrote:

[Brian Valente]

Lawrence you want to use ASCOM for all communications.

 

If you can use ASCOM, discontinue using ST-4. It’s older technology and not as reliable

 

 

Thanks

 

Brian

 

 

Brian Valente

Brianvalentephotography.com

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[L Harris]

Hi Brian

I've reverted to ASCOM.  I had been using it previously but the notes on both the mount and the camera implied that 'direct' was fine .....

Thanks.

Lawrence

On Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at 8:13:02 PM UTC+1, L Harris wrote: