Focusmax and mount hub pro question

[Paul Haese]

Hi all,

well got my V curves done and acquire star performing as it should, but I have noticed that before I can connect the mount hub pro focusor in the system tab of focusmax I need to start the actual mount hub pro software (the control panel for mount hub pro).

As you can appreciate I would prefer not to do this for automation purposes. Is there something I am missing here or will I need to start this program when I automate? and, can I start this in one of the automation programs?

One other question I have is I have noticed that the maxim drops out a bit now and cannot find the camera and displays no camera. Is this a power issue or is it a USB issue or is it software related. Feel free to ask me some question to clarify this, as it is very odd behaviour. There appears to be power to the camera, and the USB once I repower it enables the connection. So I am wondering if the issue is something to with power to the hub? Seeking guidance from those that know, but this happened a lot last night once I got focusmax working.

Other than this I am now well on the way to the next step. Selection of an automation program.

[ReaPerMan]

I have been using the mount hub pro since they first came out and I have noticed simular 'glitches'. With my set up I find that I have to start the mount Hub Pro software with the USB cable attched and then provide the 12v power after the software has started. If I don't do this then the software will not allow any devices to connect. Strangley if you have connected for the first time and if you then have to restart the computer you don't have to do this again as it will connect even with both cables attached? I have had the same thing also with the camera dissappearing in Maxim. After restarting it also reappears just fine. I can only hazard that it's a software thing and I tend to work around it if I can. I would imagine that this would not work well fully automated.

Not withstanding these quirks I really love my MHP.

There have been only a few updates to the software and the latest would be v 1.52 http://www.hitecastro.co.uk/support/MHP/MHP_Setup_152.exe

All the best

Paul

[bert]

I have 2 observatories with mhp's. Both are stable, I have no issues with dropouts and I never have issues with powering them up on before usb and vice versa.

I have used the focuser part of it. Seemed to work fine for me. Both used with ccdap5.

[Paul Haese]

Thanks guys,

Paul I have the latest software and drivers but I think I might have installed some software out of order and am confirming with Dave from MHP as to the sequence. I installed the driver after the ascom platform but before installing the dot net network software and I think this has to be installed prior to the driver.

Bret which focusor are you using? The drop outs I suspect are to do with voltage perhaps. I am using a 13.8 volt unit with 5 amp, but maybe need to use a 10 amp unit to power this all up. It might also be a cable from the camera to the hub that is not right. I had drop outs before with low voltage being the main cause. I think this might also be the case this time and I will investigate this more once I have the connection problem with the MHP and focusmax sorted. Unless of course you can lend some guidance as to what power supply you are using and what voltage and amps?

Appreciate you guys taking the time to help out.

[bert]

I use a 27amp 12v computer power supply.

I just remembered with both my computers there was driver that would not register. I had to install a file manually.

[Paul Haese]

Ok one problem sorted. I uninstalled the driver and then reinstalled this. What I did not know was that the ASCom platform and .net network software has to be installed before the driver. By uninstalling and reinstalling I sorted the problem of connection. I went down to the observatory today and opened focusmax and closed it twice and each time the focusor and was connected and the camera was automatically connected.

I will need to do a bit more analysis on the power/USB drop outs on the camera. I checked and the power supply is a 10amp system. I had thought it was 5 amp but that is not the case. Once I get it sorted I will report back, if anyone has an idea please feel free to comment.