QHY5 and PHD no graph

[Nortilus]

Hi,
I got my qhy5 setup as my guider and using PHD as guide software. When i select the camera in PHD is select Ascom v6 (Old) as the camera type and then i am able to select the QHY5 as the camera. I also use mount as On camera. Not 100% sure if this is right but it seems to be fine...
However I want to use PHD to do my drift aligning, but im not getting anything in the graph...even once i start guiding...nothing...not sure why...
I also use eqmod too if that helps...

[Merlin66]

I assume you're getting an image on the PHD screen from your QHY5.
(I use the Qlabs CMOS camera settings instead of the Ascom for my QHY5)
have you done a calibration cycle?
Try this first, then look at the graph.....

[Nortilus]

yup...to image and yup to calibration cycle

[jjjnettie]

For some reason my PHD has decided that I have to choose ASCOM V5 Camera now instead of ASCOM (Late).
Give that a go Joshman. :)
btw I'm running PHD V. 1.13.0

[Nortilus]

I feel like im using the wrong driver or something, because i can only change gain settings for the QHY5 when i choose it as a camera and go into the ASCOM properties. I sure a camera like that has more settings you can play with.

[Merlin66]

Josh,
which version of PHD are you using?
Have you tried the Qlabs CMOS camera setting?

[Nortilus]

Im using the latest version that is on the PHD website...

[Merlin66]

There seems to be some issues with V1.14 - I don't know if that has any impact but you could try the earlier V1.13 which works well for me and others...what about that Qlabs CMOS camera setting??

[alistairsam]

Hi Ken,

what is the qlabs cmos setting? is it a driver?
I use a qhy5 with phd but use the ascom late driver and then the qhy5 driver that i got off the website.

as for no graphs appearing, that is odd. I presume you ticked on "disable guide outputs" for drift alignment.
does it place the cross-hairs on the star?
there won't be graphs during calibration, but should start once it says guiding in the status bar.
do you have a screen shot?
I don't think its to do with the camera driver though. could be something else.

[Nortilus]

ok...few things to try again...didnt know about that disable guide outputs...will try that...just frustrating at the moment cause when im free to do testing it is cloudy...takes time :(

[Merlin66]

Alistair,

Sorry mate. Just checked the v1.13 PHD
On the drop down camera list it comes up as "CCD Labs Qguider"
I was getting confused with AA5 which calls it a "CMOS guide"
This works 100% with the original QHY5 camera, EQMOD and the NEQ6pro...

[Merlin66]

If you have access to a second computer - laptop etc you can use the software package SGE to present a moving star image on the screen and use your scope/ PHD to lock and guide on it....great for checking out your system on those cloudy days.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=56349

[jjjnettie]

Isn't it funny how we all have our PHD setting different for the same camera. When I first started using the QHY5 I would have to use the Qguider selection. Then that stopped working so I had to use the Ascom (late) driver, and now I use ASCOM V5.
The day they develop an across the board plug and play system for us astronomers, is the day we stop prematurely greying and balding.

[alistairsam]

Hi,
From what I've understood, you need to let phd do its calibration, then go to the brain settings, and disable guide outputs and continue guiding while watching drift in Dec in the graphs.
if phd is left to send corrections to the mount, you won't catch the drift.
remember to ignore RA, just look at the Dec drift in the graph

I've moved on to the CCD Polar alignment method which I found a lot easier.
you use your main camera, then on a meridian star, start a 60sec exposure. while its exposing, you use the hand controller or eqmod to move east for 30secs then move west for 30 secs.
in the exposure you'll see the star form a "V" shape. the idea is to make adjustments till the "V" becomes a line.
a lot quicker and easier, and you don't worry about phd.
http://www.observatory.digital-sf.com/Polar_Alignment_CCDv1-1.pdf
another thing to learn!!.

btw. are you drift aligning with the guidescope or the qhy5 in the main scope? i believe you need to use it in your main scope for drift alignment. I'm not too sure if that's true, but I've had bad results when I drift aligned with the guidescope.

[cybereye]

I use a QHY5 on PHD using the ASCOM V5 to connect. I have no problems with the graph and last night polar aligned using a piece of software called PHDLab (http://countingoldphotons.com/phdlab-intro/).

It uses the log that is created (it needs to be turned on) by PHD and can also graph in real time. When you turn off the guiding in PHD and let PHDLab know that you are drift aligning it will give you a measure of how far off alignment you are. You can then adjust your RA & Dec on the mount and get instant feedback as to how you're progressing. I managed to get my alignment error down to ~5 arcmins last night which I was happy with.

I hope this helps....

Cheers,
Mario