FocusMax questions

[troypiggo]

Finally got around to trying FocusMax and setting up some V curves. I've got 4 V curves done. They take a while. But now I want to image and I can't just hit a focus button. Is there a min no of curves you have to create in your profile before it lets you?

Second question. The telescope option won't let me pick either my EQ6 EQASCOM driver, or MaxPoint that I'm using MaximDL with. The "Chooser" option is grayed out and the only telescope I can select is the EQMod Simulator.

Any ideas?

[troypiggo]

I reinstalled FMax and now I can choose all the telescopes.

Still not sure about the no of V curves needed.

[RickS]

Troy,

I'm pretty sure it can focus with a single V curve. That's what the First Light wizard does...

Cheers,
Rick.

[troypiggo]

Thanks Rick. I'm going through it all again with the new FM install. See how this goes.

[allan gould]

Troy, just use SGPro like you know you should.

Allan

[troypiggo]

Aren't you the one that told me to just cough up the money and get MaximDL in the first place? :)
Should know better than to trust someone with a fox as an avatar...

[allan gould]

I'm only doing what Peter told me to!

[Paul Haese]

Doing the video tutorials help with settings Troy, just double check all your settings via the tutorials. I would suggest doing at least 9 v curves too. That will make a significant difference to the averages.

[troypiggo]

Haha.



Thanks. I got the V curves and now running fine. Very happy chappy.

[pvelez]

troy

this is worth a close read

http://www.flemingastrophotography.com/focusmax.html

Pete

[DavidTrap]

Paul - have you got a link to those tutorials?

ta

DT

[troypiggo]

Thanks mate. I was using that tutorial as it's one of the first few hits you get when you google "focusmax tutorial".

[troypiggo]

Assume he was talking about the ones on the FocusMax website? http://www.focusmax.org/videos.html

[DavidTrap]

Thanks Troy

DT

[Paul Haese]

Yes those are the ones.

[OneCosmos]

Hi,

Which capture software can I use with FocusMax? I used it years ago with CCDSoft, but there is simply no driver for the QHY12 and CCDSOFT.

I have Nebulosity 3 but don't know if FocusMax can use that. The FocusMax help implies only MaximDL or the Sky - is that really true?

Chris

[troypiggo]

In the camera selection window the only 2 options it gives are MaximDL and CCDSoft. And in the help docs it says system requirements are either one of those 2.

[troypiggo]

Sequence Generator Pro might be an option for you? It has autofocus routines in it. Not free, but very affordable and I know a few IIS users that can't stop blubbering about how awesome it is. (Yes, I'm talking about you Allan and Peter :) )

[OneCosmos]

Yes, I remember now people at Astrofest last year talking about it a lot. I will take a look.

On a related note - can someone please tell me the purpose of using something as complex as MaximDL for capture? I always think that at 01:00, when I'm cold and tired all I want to do is program the camera to open and close the shutter in a sequence - why do I need more?

Chris

[troypiggo]

Image capture and guiding in Maxim is as easy as Nebulosity. What's so hard?

[Bassnut]

Because at 1.00 when your cold and tired you dont want to program anything and still be able to focus and take pics?:P.

Albeit with a bit of time spent 3 weeks earlier when your not cold and tired, you set up DL and focusmax to focus with aquirestar. On a click, and no programing, focusmax will make your mount zip off to a handy 5 mag star, focus automatically, zip back, and continue taking pics in perfect focus. And with DL focus offsets, you only need to focus on one filter.

One click sounds doable at 1.00 to me, programing not.

[allan gould]

You are confused Troy. We don't blubber! That sound you hear is muffled amusement as we watch people try to integrate the sky 6 pro with CCDSoft or maxim dl and FocusMax, dome control, plate solving as well as set up either a mosaic or detailed control of camera, filters and different objects with a meridian flip as well coupled with autofocus as well as temp/humidity information for control of dew heaters.
Snort, snort it's all under one roof with Sequence Generator Pro for $100. Every other component it uses is free or ASCOM.
What's not to like?
:lol::D:lol::D:lol::D:lol::D

[troypiggo]

What you wrote:



What I read:

[allan gould]

I'll pay that one Troy, had a great laugh.
But I always do when your house of cards comes down and you try and patch it up with another Heath Robinson contraption.
I'll listen for your girly wimpers and curses at Astrofest coming out of the dark when I have your USB in my hand.
Allan McBlubber

[troypiggo]

You'll have to hold out until 2014. I won't be able to come to AF this year. There's a blubber from me to you.

[frolinmod]

TheSky6? TheSky6 has been obsolete for many years now. Please upgrade to TheSkyX already. As a TheSky6 owner you get a hefty discount.

If you want automation, get CCDAutoPilot.


The Bisques fully embraced ASCOM in TheSkyX (on the Windows platform which is the only platform where ASCOM exists). Now we get to enjoy ASCOM driver bugs like everyone else. Oh Joy.

[troypiggo]

Allan. I see there have been reports of a bug in Seq Gen Pro where it loses tracking and focus stability at certain locations and times. Only reported case is around 152-153E and 26-27S in August 2013 they're estimating.