Meade LPI-G Camera and CPC Celestron base

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John Matthews

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Mar 11, 2020, 9:15:27 PM3/11/20
to Open PHD Guiding
I thought PHD was supposed to be easy to use.  my camera is not listed, I was told the ASCOM drivers need to be installed and they are but PHD not seeing it.  My mount is not in the list either.  No directions anywhere and suggestions were not help.  This sucks.

Lawrence Lopez

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Mar 11, 2020, 9:47:42 PM3/11/20
to open-phd...@googlegroups.com
What camera ?
What mount ?


On Wed, Mar 11, 2020 at 9:15 PM John Matthews <grn...@gmail.com> wrote:
I thought PHD was supposed to be easy to use.  my camera is not listed, I was told the ASCOM drivers need to be installed and they are but PHD not seeing it.  My mount is not in the list either.  No directions anywhere and suggestions were not help.  This sucks.

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John Matthews

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Mar 11, 2020, 10:11:14 PM3/11/20
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Brian Valente

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Mar 11, 2020, 10:57:44 PM3/11/20
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Hi John

Sorry to hear you're having troubles. can you upload your debug file so we can take a look?

Also did you try the built-in help? it's pretty thorough.

If your ascom drivers aren't showing up, you might want to confirm you have them installed correctly by using a different ascom-capable program to ensure you can connect. there is the ascom platform, then the camera and mount-specific drivers. I googled a bit and I see meade included instructions on how to ensure your Meade lpi-g camera can be configured with PHD.  https://www.meade.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/LPI-G.pdf   

Also just FYI this is an open source project, which means the authors give it to you for free, and people in the forums (like me) are users just like you who volunteer to help you for free.  I don't know what you intended, but you might want to check some attitude at the door. 





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Brian 



Brian Valente

Robert Sapovits

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Mar 12, 2020, 8:11:18 AM3/12/20
to open-phd...@googlegroups.com, John Matthews

I've used the LPI-G for guiding and while it works, there are better cameras.  Meade does a poor job with software and drivers. 
To see if you have installed the drivers correctly, open the device manager menu.  With the camera plugged in, check to see if it is listed under "Cameras" or "Imaging Devices".  If it is and there are no conflicts (no exclamation point), go to PHD2.  If there is, try plugging the camera into another port, or if you are using a hub, bypass it and go directly into the computer.  Meade cameras don't play well with other devices and often the drivers will not install with other devices sharing USB.  Also, if you used the drivers from the CD and can't get it to work, try downloading the drivers from the website.  OR . . Do the opposite if you used the downloaded drivers.  Some folks have had problems with the most recent drivers.
Once installed correctly, open "Connect Equipment" (the little USB plug icon on the lower left).  On the pull down menu, look for "ASCOM Meadecam Driver".  Click the two arrow icon to its right and choose the Meade camera.  Then click the wrench icon just to the right of the two arrow icon and make your camera settings.  The defaults are a good place to start.  Hit connect or connect all.
There is a second way to connect to the Meade as well.  At the "Connect Equipment" screen, look for "Windows WDM-style webcam camera".  This allows you to use the camera in video mode.  Sometimes it is easier to connect to this than the ASCOM driver. 
If you have done all that and still can't see the camera, try a restart with only the camera plugged into the computer.  Also, try the Meade software (SkyCapture) and see if that will connect to the camera. 
I'm sorry I can't help with your base, but I lot of what I wrote above is applicable to installing it. 

I think you might be confusing "easy" with "simple".  I've been doing astrophotography for about three years now.  There ain't nothin' "easy".  But (at least for me), its a boatload of fun.  It's like being back in school except you have to teach yourself.  (I probably would have learned a lot faster with a mentor or by joining a club, but I don't like people very much and prefer to DIY.)  Some nights, I honestly feel like Mr. Science, although I'd freeze my ass off in just a lab coat.  Take your time.  Research.  Expect to spend many nights under beautiful clear skies trying to figure out a problem.  Try and do as much set up as you can during the day.  When asking for help, always try to provide as much info as possible.  At some point, things will start to gel. 

Bobby

On 3/11/2020 9:15 PM, John Matthews wrote:
I thought PHD was supposed to be easy to use.  my camera is not listed, I was told the ASCOM drivers need to be installed and they are but PHD not seeing it.  My mount is not in the list either.  No directions anywhere and suggestions were not help.  This sucks.
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