Phd2 with gs server

346 views
Skip to first unread message

Joerg Koenig

unread,
Feb 3, 2022, 11:06:17 AM2/3/22
to Open PHD Guiding
Hi there,

am a beginner with gs server and phd2 and have a question. Maybe someone can help me...

* System is Windows  10.
* Installation ok
* Mount is an AZGTI in EQ mode.
* Connection via a USB-RJ11 cable to gs server, so do not use a st-4 cable and do not control via AZGTI's own WiFi.
* Can control the mount via gs server.

So far so good. Tried both gs server Skywatcher and the simulator.

Now I just wanted to practice a bit with phd2, so use the simulator cam in phd2. Choose a star and go. I also see the guiding impulses in the gs server, but the image in the guiding cam shows no change and I also don't see any graphs for the guiding progress.

09:53:06.649 00.001 21956 Status Line: calibration failed

And Warning-Window - RA Calibration Failed: Star did not move enough.

Hence my question - can the Simulator Cam actually do that? Or is something only with a "real" Cam / at night.

Thanks so much!
joerg

I will provide the phd2 log files.

Brian Valente

unread,
Feb 3, 2022, 11:07:59 AM2/3/22
to Open PHD Guiding
Hi Joerg

You cannot use the simulator for the types of things you mention. you will need to use real stars under the night sky

--
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/568e4e1a-6f82-4287-a2ee-281cb6b71ee1n%40googlegroups.com.


--
Brian 



Brian Valente

Joerg Koenig

unread,
Feb 3, 2022, 11:11:22 AM2/3/22
to Open PHD Guiding
Thanks! Super fast! Understood… 

bw_msgboard

unread,
Feb 3, 2022, 11:16:46 AM2/3/22
to open-phd...@googlegroups.com
Hi Joerg.  The use of the simulators is discussed in the manual, a good starting point to get questions answered since you're just beginning:
 

https://openphdguiding.org/man/Basic_use.htm

 

Simulators are covered in the Equipment Connection, just scroll down to that paragraph.

 

Regards,

Bruce

 

 



From: open-phd...@googlegroups.com [mailto:open-phd...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Joerg Koenig
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2022 8:06 AM
To: Open PHD Guiding
Subject: [open-phd-guiding] Phd2 with gs server

Joerg Koenig

unread,
Feb 3, 2022, 11:22:48 AM2/3/22
to Open PHD Guiding
1st thanks for all the good work and support you provide! I looked at the page you mentioned and fall into this „trap“:

… But you can use the built-in simulators to explore how PHD2works and to decide how you want to use the program.  There's no reason to waste valuable dark-sky time learning to use PHD2! Virtually all of  PHD2's features, including full calibration and all the graphical display options, will work properly when the built-in device simulators are used.„ 

As a beginner I thought it’s maybe possible. 

Now it’s clear. Again thanks a lot! Will give it a try ASAP and pretty sure it will work flawlessly… ;)

Brian Valente

unread,
Feb 3, 2022, 11:34:37 AM2/3/22
to Open PHD Guiding
Joerg i apologize i should have been more clear the ASCOM simulators will not work

As Bruce pointed out, the built in ones do provide limited capabilities including calibrate and simulate guiding. It won't help you diagnosing or tuning your equipment, but  it's a starting point 

I should also mention when you use the simulator, there is an additional button where you can quickly access setup parameters for the simulated camera

image.png



Joerg Koenig

unread,
Feb 3, 2022, 11:45:04 AM2/3/22
to Open PHD Guiding

Actually I was not using the Ascom simulator for the guiding cam. I use the one called Simulator. So, by using that one it should be possible to see the fake star from the Simulator Cam moving in the screen, and guiding graphs should begin to show the guiding, even I know it has nothing to do with my actual equipment, correct? 

Then I will give it another try as sky will not be clear tonight … ;)

Brian Valente

unread,
Feb 3, 2022, 11:49:46 AM2/3/22
to Open PHD Guiding
Yes, within limitations. Make sure you choose On Camera for mount, and connect to both the simulator camera and on-camera mount

you can calibrate and guide and see the results. As you mentioned, this is only simulated so it won't reflect anything about your equipment

Joerg Koenig

unread,
Feb 3, 2022, 11:55:57 AM2/3/22
to open-phd...@googlegroups.com
Cool, that’s maybe my mistake as I thought on-Camera works only with st4 is used. As I have a azgti as a mount an this does not have this guiding port on it, I use pulse guiding. I use one of those  usb to rj11 cables and I can move the Mount via gs server. Could it be the case that this simulator cam „only“ works with using st4 for guiding and does not support pulse guiding?

bw_msgboard

unread,
Feb 3, 2022, 11:58:24 AM2/3/22
to open-phd...@googlegroups.com
In the process of doing this, you can get used to another good practice: *always* use the new-profile-wizard to create separate profiles for what you're doing, including just testing.  Trying to do it on the fly in the Equipment Connection dialog is a bad idea.  Using the wizard, when you choose the PHD2 camera simulator, the correct simulated mount connection will be chosen for you.  Pick a suitable pixel size for the simulated camera, a suitable focal length and guide speed for the simulated mount, and you have a profile that will work.  You should do a separate profile for your "real" equipment, you want to keep the settings completed separate between the two.
 
Bruce


From: open-phd...@googlegroups.com [mailto:open-phd...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Brian Valente
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2022 8:50 AM
To: Open PHD Guiding
Subject: Re: [open-phd-guiding] Phd2 with gs server

Brian Valente

unread,
Feb 3, 2022, 12:02:38 PM2/3/22
to Open PHD Guiding
The on-camera relates to the simulator, so it has no relationship to your equipment. I am not familiar with the code behind the simulator, but my guess is that it was easier to write the built-in simulator as a self-contained camera connection, and the mount simulation is inside of that.

When you switch to your equipment, you will want to switch to pulse guiding assuming your mount supports it



Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages