Low mass - star lost

[Stuart Taylor]

Should i consider binning my guide cam 2x2?

I'm using an OAG-L and my guide cam is 5.86um pixels

Obviously this would mean building a new dark library

Thanks

[Brian Valente]

Hi Stuart

You need to post your guidelog by using these steps and the built-in log uploader

https://openphdguiding.org/getting-help/

Binning may help, but it's also possible your settings aren't ideal for your guiding setup, but we'd need to see your logs to know

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[Stuart Taylor]

https://openphdguiding.org/logs/dl/PHD2_logs_PmVd.zip

[Brian Valente]

Thanks

It looks like your target SNR for finding guidestars is pretty low. You might try increasing this to 20-30

Also 1 second exposure is pretty short, i see you upped it to 2 seconds which is a good idea 

If you still get lost stars, you can certainly bin 2. 

Any or all of the above would help

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[Stuart Taylor]

Thank you. Yes, the 1 sec was a mistake. Normally I use 2 sec (otherwise I'm just chasing seeing). I'll change the SNR. Thanks

[Brian Valente]

Great

also just to clarify i'm assuming you are using autofind for automation, in which case you set this value

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[Stuart Taylor]

so you mean in Brain > Camera > Target SNR ? I have 6 currently. So I should change this to 20-30

[Brian Valente]

No - see the second email I sent

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[Stuart Taylor]

ok, not sure if I use autofind. Do you mean does it select a guide star on its own? If so, yes I do that

[Stuart Taylor]

Is this autofind?

[Stuart Taylor]

oh wait, you mean the gold star button? Yes, I use that

[Brian Valente]

If you use the 'gold star' to autofind, or if you use automation (such as NINA, SGP, etc.) you are using autofind

The camera SNR is used only when you use autoexposure. If you happen to use that as well, then I suggest you increase the SNR value there as well

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[Stuart Taylor]

Ok, yes I use NINA. In NINA's 'connect all' it boots up PHD2 and kicks everything off. 

How do I determine whether I am using autoexposure? If it's a default, then I am sure I do.

[Stuart Taylor]

Ok, I realise what you mean now. I don't use auto. I select 2 secs. So that isn't relevant for me.

ANyway, the changes you suggested have certainly helped. It's guiding ok at 0.6" now. I'm imaging at 0.9"/px so that's fine. Thank you again for your patience

[Brian Valente]

You bet, thanks for letting us know the outcome stuart

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[Stuart Taylor]

I've also increased the gain a bit on my guide camera and now everything is running great! :-)