ZWO ASI290MM Mini As An Auto-Guider?

[Jim Waters]

Some questions. 

Is anybody using this as an autoguider with a 50mm f/4 scope?  If so, how well does it work?  I am currently using a QHY5L-II.  The Q.E. looks good along with the read noise.  Not sure about the overall sensitivity in relation to the QHY5L-II.

I will be using Open PHD Guide 2 2.6.4 Dev 10.

https://astronomy-im...90mm-mini-mono/

[Jim Waters]

Sorry - the URL is https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/products/usb-2-0/asi290mm-mini-mono/

[Matt Clements]

I use the asi290 for guiding with a 60mm f/4 and it's a great cam for guiding. One thing I've found is that the default gain in PHD is too high most the time for this cam. I typically run the gain from the low 70s to 80 depending upon exposure setting and seeing.

I actually also use it to help frame the subject as most target show up with only 2sec exposure (~mag 10+).

I am planning on moving to OAG soon for my SCT and that's when I'll see how good it is at picking out stars when there a few to be seen.

[Brian Valente]

I use it on my oag 120 ed and is a brilliant fir camera. Matches the zwo oag well.

Brian

---

From: open-phd...@googlegroups.com <open-phd...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Matt Clements <benden...@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, April 9, 2018 11:44:56 PM
To: Open PHD Guiding
Subject: [open-phd-guiding] Re: ZWO ASI290MM Mini As An Auto-Guider?

 

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[jamesl...@me.com]

Guys.  I've got a new ASI290MM Mini and trying to use it with PHD.  Connects fine and I'm getting an image.  Problem is, the image is really blown out.  I've run the gain way, way down and it's just bright.

I noticed that the camera settings tab just to the right of the brain is grayed out and I can't adjust anything, like adjusting the exposure like I can do with my other guide camera.

Am I missing a driver, SDK or something that will allow me to tweak the exposure?  Or do I just let it go the way it is?  I"ve running PHD 2.6dev10 and I loaded the latest ZWO ASI camera ASCOM and windows drivers just this last week.

JT

[Andy Galasso]

On Mon, Apr 23, 2018 at 10:24 PM, <jamesl...@me.com> wrote:

I've got a new ASI290MM Mini and trying to use it with PHD.  Connects fine and I'm getting an image.  Problem is, the image is really blown out.  I've run the gain way, way down and it's just bright.

JT,

Are you testing the new camera in daylight, or are you testing with a guide scope (or OAG) well focused and pointing at a star field?

There's very little you can accomplish testing in the daytime other than to see if the camera basically connects and communicates with PHD2.  Actual testing must be done at night through the guide scope or OAG. Ensure you have good sharp focus on a star field. You can adjust the screen brightness with this slider (only affects the screen histogram stretch for display on the screen, internally PHD2 only uses the un-stretched raw camera data.)

I can't adjust anything, like adjusting the exposure

You can adjust the exposure here:

Andy

[steve]

El 24/04/2018 a las 07:00, Andy Galasso escribió:

On Mon, Apr 23, 2018 at 10:24 PM, <jamesl...@me.com> wrote:

I've got a new ASI290MM Mini and trying to use it with PHD.  Connects fine and I'm getting an image.  Problem is, the image is really blown out.  I've run the gain way, way down and it's just bright.

JT,

Are you testing the new camera in daylight, or are you testing with a guide scope (or OAG) well focused and pointing at a star field?

There's very little you can accomplish testing in the daytime other than to see if the camera basically connects and communicates with PHD2.

Hi

If it's cloudy and you just want to see if PHD2 will work, use a cheap artificial star to practise with.

HTH and clear skies,

Steve

[jamesl...@me.com]

Thanks guys.  Great questions and suggestions and thank you.  I'm pretty experienced with PHD2, been using it a couple years now so while your questions are great ones, they weren't the issue.  I figured it out after I posted the question.

I was pulling up ZWO Camera in the camera type instead of ASI Camera (1); which I didn't even think to look for until after I looked at it a while.  Problems solved after that.

Once again, user error was the problem.

Thanks again for the responses - much appreciated.

JT