Review PHD2 Log Files

[Bill Davis]

Last Friday I had multiple problems with PHD2 Guiding. I received numerous messages regarding Dark Frames are out of date. This happens multiple times during the session.  The guiding performance was also terrible, RMS: ~1.8.

Please review the attached log files and provide any recommendations.

Thanks

Bill

https://openphdguiding.org/logs/dl/PHD2_logs_dCCH.zip

[Brian Valente]

Hi Bill

what are the chances you are using two ZWO cameras, one for guiding and one for imaging?

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Open PHD Guiding" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to open-phd-guidi...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/open-phd-guiding/a44ed745-8e37-44b7-8365-f9efb41d2400n%40googlegroups.com.

--

Brian 

Brian Valente

astro portfolio https://www.brianvalentephotography.com/astrophotography/

portfolio brianvalentephotography.com 

astrobin https://www.astrobin.com/users/bvalente/

[Bill Davis]

Brian,

I'm supposed to be using the ZWO mini guide scope for guiding and ZWO 2600MC for imaging.  Do the log files indicate something different?

[Brian Valente]

>>>I'm supposed to be using the ZWO mini guide scope for guiding and ZWO 2600MC for imaging.  Do the log files indicate something different?

Regarding your error " I received numerous messages regarding Dark Frames are out of date." that is usually the smoking gun that the ZWO driver did not find your guide camera and instead connected to your imaging camera. Predictably bad results follow this.

This is a "wonderful feature" (please read in sarcasm there) of the ZWO driver. 

If you get that message, you should doublecheck which camera PHD is connecting to. Chances are it is the imaging camera

 

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/open-phd-guiding/6a847331-b09a-40bd-a2e5-183023673712n%40googlegroups.com.

[Bill Davis]

So here is what I think is happening. First, in NINA I have correctly enabled pause guiding during autofocus - thanks to Ana for making me look.

I think the problem is how I have the ZWO camera drivers assigned in the PHD2 Camera Connect setting. Currently, I have the "ZWO Camera" assigned to the "Camera" field. I found another PHD2 Forum conversation related to two ZWO cameras. In that thread there is this diagram:

The lightbulb came on, I hope - I think this is what Brian was alluding to about two ZWO cameras: I now have this Camera Connect setting:

ZWO ASI Camera is now assigned to the ASI120mm mini.

Please let me know if I'm on the right path.

Thanks for all the help and guidance.

Bill

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/open-phd-guiding/CAJa45i5vaRpnOZuORqjUgXupDpERHgEzdjp5BX3wueNmzdLLzw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Brian Valente]

>>>ZWO ASI Camera is now assigned to the ASI120mm mini.

this was likely your issue, but i just want to re-emphaisize this can be an ongoing problem caused by the ZWO driver (outside of PHD). In the future if you see a warning about the dark libraries not matching, it almost certainly means it wasn't able to find your guide camera and switched to your imaging camera *without telling you*. 

It can and does happen to many zwo camera owners

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/open-phd-guiding/CAHoaCuWADew_mu%2BrfgoBcMmMyh3_z0%2BT%3DFaOvTWGKUdzCwhGXQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[Bill Davis]

One of thing I've learned in this hobby, is that when something goes wrong its an opportunity to learn. I've now learned a little bit more about PHD2.

Thanks for the patience.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/open-phd-guiding/CAJa45i4DsxWOau2u-SnUz4FJfhYPoatSak8o59uGwX1nndQ8vQ%40mail.gmail.com.