PHD2 Guiding via Skywatcher WiFi Adapter...

[Joe LeVine]

Good day PHD2 Guru’s,

 

My setup is as follows,

Guide scope APM Image-Master 50mm

Guide Camera ZWO ASI120MM Mini

Mount Skywatcher HEQ5

Skywatcher WiFi Adapter

Android Synscan 1.16.0

 

I am using an Android phone with Synscan Pro 1.16.0, I have PHD2 setup with the ASI120MM and the ASCOM SynscanMobile Telescope (ASCOM) driver pointed to 127.0.0.1,  everything seems to work as I am able to slew the mount when in manual autoguiding from PHD2, I also see the DEC calibration change on PHD2 when I goto an object (Star etc.), but was not sure if there was a problem with this configuration for PHD2 so I wrote to Skywatcher and they replied with the below e-mail chain.

The problem I have with the below instructions is the “Dual Alignment” when running the Windows Synscan and the Android Synscan together. Also when PHD2 connects to the mount with both sysnscans running it asks to which host to connect, one being to the mount direct 192,168.4.2 (WiFi Adapter) and then one to the windows Synscan at the 4.3 address. I think they recommend having the windows sysnscan running to reduce WiFi traffic.  When I asked for clarification on the Dual Alignments, they did not really clarify it or maybe they did not understand the questions.

Anyway I am hoping that my original configuration (Android Synscan and PHD2 connected via 127.0.0.1 and then to the WiFi Adapter) is okay. Logfile URL below.

https://openphdguiding.org/logs/dl/PHD2_logs_F5wo.zip

Thank you for your input and Help.

Joe

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Joe,

Please find response below.

Synscan App Team

Get Outlook for Android

 

 

From: Joe LeVine

Sent: Saturday, June 15, 1:40 AM

Subject: RE: Synscan android app, Windows App Mount Alignment question.

To: App

 

Good day SynScan App Team,

 

Many thanks on the quick reply, I have lab tested your directions below and in the process of trying to do 2 alignments, one with the Android synscan app and one with the Windows synscan app I noticed that PHD2 is talking directly thru 127.0.0.1 (Link local) and connects to the mount (via the 192.168.4.2 WiFi adapter IPA) without the windows synscan pro app, I have verified this by using the Android sysnscan app and slewing to one star checking phd2’s calibration dec, and then slewing to another star and checking phd2’s dec again and they match the Android sysnscan apps declination.

 

SynScan App Team: It is normal. Both SynScan Pro on PC and the one on smart phone have their own alignment model, but they are almost the same. While the smart phone move the mount, the SynScan on PC can still interpret the pointing correctly and report to the PHD2.

 

Have you seen this work in this configuration? If there is no problem with this operating like this I would rather be able to use the Android synscan app to control the mount without having to use both Windows app and Android app together. The only thing I am thinking is that there maybe a conflict with PHD2 and the android synscan app as PHD2 is trying to make mount corrections and it does not know anything about the Android synscan app and vice a versa.

 

SynScan App Team: You may use both of them, but when PHD2 is guiding, just do not operate the SynScan on smart phone, including not using the Utility\Information to reduce WiFi tracffic.

 

If you advise that there is a problem with this config (I can’t fully  test this until I can get out in the field again) then I will need to use both synscan apps together.  The only problem I am having is performing the dual alignments.  I have aligned with the Android synscan pro app, and then left it in sidereal tracking but I am unsure if I need to put the mount in home position for the windows synscan pro app for the second alignment.  Would you be able to clarify this procedure?

 

SynScan App Team: You do not need to home the mount for alignment after another device has align on itself. You just need to home the mount when you turn on power to the mount

 

From: App <a...@skywatchertelescope.net>

Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2019 02:21

To: 'Joe LeVine' <>

Subject: RE: Synscan android app, Windows App Mount Alignment question.

 

Hello Joe,

 

We recommend you to connect your PC and smart phone to the mount simultaneously, and then do alignment on both devices(for PC, you can use the SynScan Pro for Windows http://www.skywatcher.com/download/software/synscan-app/ ). When you do the alignment on your PC, you can use you smart phone to center stars in FOV. Just make sure sidereal tracking is enabled on your smart phone.

 

Then you run the PHD2 to connect to the SynScan Pro app on Windows. You may use the local host IP address 127.0.0.1 for the connection. It can provide better performance.

 

Regards

 

SynScan App Team

 

From: Joe LeVine <>

Sent: Friday, June 14, 2019 4:54 PM

To: App <a...@skywatchertelescope.net>

Subject: Synscan android app, Windows App Mount Alignment question.

 

Good day SynScan App Team,

 

I am hoping you or your team might be able to answer this question.

 

I am using a HEQ5 Mount with Sky watcher Esprit 80ED Super APO and I am using the Skywatcher WiFi adapter, I also use a guide scope

Via the Skywatchermobile ASCOM driver which allows PHD2 to talk directly to the HEQ5 eliminating the need for the ST4 cable

Which allows more precise guiding. 

 

My question is: Is there a way to align the mount using a Cell Phone with SynScan app and once the

alignment is completed to connect my windows laptop (via WiFi) which has PHD2 autoguiding

(which connects to the mount via the synscan app on the laptop) and the Windows Synscan app

on it  and the mount to keep the alignment that was done using the Cell Phone app?

 

In a nutshell if you align the mount with the Cell Phone synscan app and then disconnect and reconnect with the windows synscan app does the mount retain

the alignment that was done with the Cell Phone app?

 

Greetings and Regards,

 

Joe

 

 

[Andy Galasso]

Joe,

Although I am not familiar with Android SynScan or the Skywatcher WiFi Adapter, whatever you are doing appears to working fine as the mount is responding to guide commands and reporting its pointing information properly to PHD2.

One thing I notice is that you have entered your guide scope aperture as the focal length and that is causing the guiding results arc-seconds values to be reported incorrectly.  You should create a new equipment profile (Connect Equipment > Manage Profiles > New using Wizard) and be sure to enter the guide scope focal length when prompted (not aperture.)  Doing so will get you better configuration settings, better calibration, and probably better guiding results.

Andy

[Joe LeVine]

Hey Andy, Much thanks on that, the FL of the Image Master is 210mm and that was something I just looked at yesterday when I re-lab tested my rig to verify that PHD2 talking and receiving info from my mount, I just totally forgot to look at the FL and change it.  That explains why I was seeing some large adjustments in the guide graph.

Again many thanks on spotting that.

Joe

[Joe LeVine]

205mm vice 210mm

On Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at 8:19:59 AM UTC+2, Joe LeVine wrote:

Hey Andy, Much thanks on that, the FL of the Image Master is 205mm and that was something I just looked at yesterday when I re-lab tested my rig to verify that PHD2 talking and receiving info from my mount, I just totally forgot to look at the FL and change it.  That explains why I was seeing some large adjustments in the guide graph.