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View Full Version here: : Mac users help with phd please

Andy01
06-04-2013, 03:32 PM
Hi guys,

I'm having probs with Phd constantly crashing.
It's the latest version of phd, on a MacBook running 10.6.8.
I'm using eq Mac. I have an EQ6 and the Orion Miniguider.

It all starts and connects ok, the mount moves well. It's connected to the mac at base of the hand controller via a key span USB/serial port adapter.

Phd starts up ok and finds the camera, captures frames and begins calibration.
Then it crashes!

Trying to run it with Nebulosity for CCD captures, with server enabled on the drop down menu.

It's taken forever to get this far, if I can get this working, I may be able to finally take some pictures : )

Any ideas?

Cheers
Andy
Nikolas
06-04-2013, 04:41 PM
What sort of mac? How much Ram?
multiweb
06-04-2013, 05:21 PM
Have you tried to run PHD only with the guider connected? Are you using ASCOM or other native drivers for your guider. Try to isolate the problem first. Does it only crash after calibration? What about not connecting the mount and letting it loop in the viewport?
Nikolas
06-04-2013, 05:21 PM
ascom on a mac?
multiweb
06-04-2013, 05:24 PM
I don't know I use a PC for my astro stuff. Cameras have usually two flavours of drivers. ASCOM or native. If ASCOM doesn't run on MAC then it must be a native driver. Crashes in PHD are mostly driver related in my experience.
Nikolas
06-04-2013, 05:53 PM
It would be something else like lack of RAM.
OP delete all preferences etc. related to PHD.
Andy01
06-04-2013, 07:13 PM
Hi Nikolas and everyone,

It's a special Black Tie Edition 13" MacBook,
2.16 intel core 2 Duo, 2Gb Ram

Hmmm...Never considered ramming it up for astro stuff,
Do you think I need more?

As to drivers, well it's the latest version of Phd, so I'll try some of the other ideas out tonight, thx for your suggestions.

Cheers
Andy
Nikolas
06-04-2013, 07:47 PM
2 gig is barely enough RAM it should help.
Andy01
09-04-2013, 08:51 AM
Hi Nik & Marc,

Tested the rig last night with interesting results.
Phd works fine, starts, calibrates & guides well until I boot up Nebulosity.
Then it either crashes or pulses with a thunking noise while the base of the phd screen highlights a brown colour around the icons.

I'm thinking that's a lack of Ram as you originally suggested.
With this Mac I think I can only add another 4Gb.
Hope that's going to be enough!

Cheers
Andy
Nikolas
09-04-2013, 10:45 AM
4 gig should be enough, in the meantime delete all the preference files from both nebulosity and phd.