Sequence Generator Pro Tips

[RobF]

At Qld Astrofest this year there were so many guys using SGP I figured I needed to give it another try. A friend was getting plenty of assistance from regular users which also helped me up the start of the learning curve.

It would be great to hear any tricks and tips from power users. I haven't really devoured the manual or spent too much time on the Main Sequence forums to be honest. Some initial thoughts on SGP/PHD2 versus Maxim/CCDC, both using a full licence of Pinpoint for plate solving:

Pros:

Meridian flips and guiding re-acquisition seem reliable (no point automating if this doesn't work!)
Autofocus routines robust and easier for me to understand than FocusMax through CCDC
Powerful, configurable graphic interface
Love the way you can pause a sequence, refocus or tweak something, then resume
Plate solves failing to Astrometry.net (believe later Maxim versions may now do this?)
PHD2 now offers very high level of configurability over versions from years ago - which used to be huge Maxim advantage IMHO
CCDC very configurable, but impressed with the level of integration between SGP/PHD2 (Maxim/CCDC/FocusMax always seems to leave me scratching my head about pier flip guiding settings, why focusing failed - maybe just hadn't invested enough effort to understand)
Love the Polar Alignment routine in PHD2
Dithering easily configured
Price



Cons or concerns:

Setting up equipment in sequence/Control Panel/Equipment Manager seems non intuitive - why wouldn't the Equipment Manager always maintain your current profile settings for example without clicking to reload? I can appreciate the flexibility the extra dimensions add for having different equipment configurations saved, but it seems overly complex figuring out when you're changing current settings, default settings, profile settings, etc
Would be nice to be able to see camera status (temp etc) a little bit easier - is Control Panel the best way to see this?
Some very minor issues with sub-windows fighting for priority on occasion - the Control Panel would go to the back sometimes when I was trying to manipulate it with the Big Status window



Really kicking myself haven't invested the time to get my FSQ rig properly automated in recent years. Where does all the time go! :lol:
Couldn't find a specific SGP thread here but have seen many positive comments in recent years. Does anyone have any tips that took a while to figure out or websites/resources worth checking out?

Thanks in advance.....

[peter_4059]

Rob, I thought the same thing regarding it not loading your default setup - I asked the guys however for some reason they couldn't do this. I just select the last sequence from the file menu and this loads your equipment settings. Re camera status, there is a docking module called Temperature that displays the camera temperature and cooler setpoint andanother called Sequence that shows the progress without having to use the control panel or big status window.



You should be able to use the control panel button to hide/reveal it.



Only thing I've found is it is good to start the session with a blind sync to get the parameters set up correctly for Elbrus.

[RobF]

Thanks Peter. Was great to see yourself, Grady, Geoff, Alan, etc in action at AF using SGP. Learned so much. I think Martin and I would have gone insane without all the assistance - always tough figuring out new software in the wild through red cellophane :D

Thinking about my successes last couple of nights realise SGP has lifted quite a few mind-clouds that were bugging me and seems likely to speed up my portable/semi-fixed setups.

Will try those modules you suggested, especially temp control.
The config thing confused me initially, but agree is seems there are multiple ways to save templates etc from existing sequences and will probably be doing that in future too. Compared to the 4 letter words I uttered for months figuring out the Maxim interfaces (tabs, Options buttons leading to menus, advanced settings, etc etc) this is all pretty small stuff really.

Your post about blind solve/sync is valuable too. This was the only other thing my homemade drift align and syncing script did - once you've yourself set on a single star everything generally falls into place quickly. My technique used to rely on centering a bright star near SCP region in case manual alignment required. Really must invest the time around blind solves.


Actually, do you have to have an internet connection? Now I think about it Geoff said something about a self-installing setup for astrometry.net to trick it into thinking you were online. So much to learn....

[RobF]

What about getting RA/DEC co-ordinates in with minimal fuss. I seem to recall people being able to copy to clipboard from Stellarium? Does that work from Starry Night or other packages? (suspect not)

Which planetariums "play" nicely with SGP?

[RobF]

Bit late for me, but this looks good for people starting out with SGP:

http://mainsequencesoftware.com/content/SGP-The%20First%20Week.pdf

[peter_4059]

You can do a local install of astrometry.net so you don't need an internet connection:

http://forum.mainsequencesoftware.com/t/astrometry-net-local-solver-installation/691

[peter_4059]

I'm using Starry Night and Astroplanner. Under what circumstances do you want to get RA/DEC coordinates into SGP? It already gets these from the plate solves. You can manually enter if you want or import a list from astroplanner (and possibly others) however I just slew to the object based on AP or SN, plate solve and then use centre here function to frame. Once I've got the image framed the way I want it I use one of the subs as the reference image for the next imaging session.

[RobF]

Thanks for the reference Peter. Will check it out.

[RobF]

SGP/PHD2 seems to completely hog the EQASCOM interface so I can't get SNP or AP to connect for telescope control. Do you connect them, point, then disconnect, or some other trick I'm missing? (POTH hub?)

[mithrandir]

Have you tried to connect POTH to EQASCOM and then SGP/PHD2/AP to POTH? http://ascom-standards.org/FAQs/POTH.htm

[peter_4059]

Rob,

I've not had any issues connecting PHD2, AP, SNP and SGP all at the same time and I'm not using POTH. I can have them all connected to EQASCOM without disconnecting however I always disconnect AP before minimising that window as it seems to hang and won't re-maximise - no problem just putting it in the background though.

Pete.

[RobF]

Thanks guys. This wasn't a priority this week, but I did try connecting different planetariums softwares AFTER SGP/PHD2 were established. Its helpful to know it all plays together for you Peter, and Andrew I'll certainly have a look at POTH next as an option.

Didn't want to make too complex for my initial sessions.

[peter_4059]

Rob, you shouldn't need POTH. Do you want to compare software version numbers?

Peter

[RobF]

Sorry for delay Peter. Had the astro laptop stashed away.

SGP 2.3.15.2568
PHD2 2.3.1
Astroplanner 2.1
Starry Night Pro Plus 6.4.3
EQMOD V1.271

Currently I've got SGP and PHD2 (and EQMOD) happily running.
If I then open Starry Night, and Connect telescope, I get another EQMOD window opening with "Connect Error Port Not Available".

[Spookyer]

Hi Rob, been using SGP since I got my CCD camera earlier in the year. I find it pretty good. I have just started using the filter focus offsets for NB filters. Seems to be working better. At times I was struggling to get reliable focusing with Ha and OIII. LRGB focusing works great.

Brett

[RobF]

Hi Brett

I've been trying my first NB focusing tonight actually, and came to same conclusion that offset settings likely to be important for those filters.

So are you focusing on L then offsetting, or using the preset steps against each filter but still running autofocus on each filter?

R

[RobF]

Next question - I wrote a sequence for 4 objects and defined timeslots each would be visible, however SGP stop imaging the first at the designated time but then kept on tracking it all night.

Is there a setting I'm missing to tell it to give up on an object and move on to the next, or do events/sequence have to be calculated to finish at the correct time? (I'm spoiled by CCDC's skip ahead by time or altitude features).

[RobF]

My fault - the sequence ran ok between trees/weather, and seems to be extraordinarily resilient at restarting through clouds etc.
The rig/setup seems to have a problem responding to mount Parks which is surprising - will have to fiddle with that. Have changed to "Physical" setting for EQMOD after a reference in the SGP forums.

[peter_4059]

I've got:
SGP 2.3.15.2568
PHD2 2.3.1k
Astroplanner 2.1
Starry Night Pro Plus 6.4.3
EQMOD V127l

so all the same as you however I've never had any issues connecting multiple things (including SGP, PHD2, AP, SNP, alignmaster) to EQMOD at the same time.

[RobF]

Using Win7 Peter?
Phil suggested to me it might be an Admin rights thing :rolleyes:

[peter_4059]

yep win7 64bit

[peter_4059]

I'm running SNP,SGP and PHD2 as admin.

[peter_4059]

Rob,

Just remembered this:

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/mainsequencesoftware/conversations/topics/6408

You need both SNP and SGP to be running same permission level.

[RobF]

Just fired everything up ensure Admin rights and SNP was happy for the first time with SGP - said "already connected". I haven't fired up PHD2 yet is the only thing I suppose.

Looks like same permissions is indeed the trick.

[Spookyer]

Hi Rob, on a NB target I am focusing with Lum for Ha and OIII. On a LRGB target I just focus through each individual filter. You need to have a separate profile for NB and LRGB target for this to happen automatically.

Brett

[RobF]

Thanks for explaining you have 2 profiles Brett. If I understand SGP well enough, there is a setting on the filters/focus pages for always focusing on a single filter then using the differential values for the filter steps against each filter to set focus.

Will check it out. I've had reasonable success with Ha autofocus as long as exposure time is over 30 secs. Not quite so onerous on an automated session but not ideal either unless 100% reliable.

[RobF]

More queries from my never ending tirade...:P

Do people prefer JNow or J2000 in EQMOD and SGP?
I had put in JNow, but the more I think about it Pinpoint spits out J2000 from memory, so I should probably set everything to J2000.

I recall a couple of people scratching their heads over this at AF. Can anyone save my hair with some advice?

[ozstronomer]

Rob,

I have mine set for J2000 and it works well for me.

Geoff

[RobF]

Thanks Geoff.
I've set EQMOD to J2000 now. I don't think there's anywhere in SGP itself that has to be set though?

[ozstronomer]

I couldn't see anywhere in SGP either, If you have it set in EQMOD you should be good to go.

Geoff

[RobF]

Thanks Geoff. :)

Have quite enjoyed the last couple of weeks learning, but early morning clouds are still stopping me feasting on Orion. My plans to get in before the summer monsoon/clouds haven't worked out well so far :tasdevil:

Have also joined the SGP forum and posted a query about keeping temp plate solve FITS. Would be great to direct keep these images for troubleshooting rather than losing next time SGP starts?

[RobF]

Does anyone have a link for installing the local blind astrometry solver for SGP?
I finally get around to setting it up to run locally on my laptop and the SGP forums seem to currently be down :rolleyes:

[peter_4059]

Here it is:

http://adgsoftware.com/ansvr/

[RobF]

I salute you Sir! :thumbsup:

[RobF]

Main Sequence forum and main page still down for me.
Thanks for posting the direct link again Peter.

Seems to be working offline from net ok. Wished I'd done this before heading out to 10Chain last month.

[RobF]

Main Sequence/SGP website and forum still down....

[alocky]

That's odd - I posted a question last night 11/11/2014 and had two very helpful responses this morning.
I did notice some odd behaviour when logging in, though.
Cheers,
Andrew

[RobF]

I can get to the main site now, but Forums link says "No site configured at this address".....

[peter_4059]

it's all working for me.

[Spookyer]

Yeah now working for me as well though it was down earlier.

[RobF]

I think I had some weird domain caching error, although don't know why its affect their site. Strange both Chrome and IE11 were saying the same thing.

Off to scan my system fully just in case.

[RobF]

Hope people don't think I'm carrying on too much about SGP long after others happily made the switch, or stealing SGP thunder in some way. After stumbling around blindly learning without the manual during Qld AF really appreciate input from others to speed up the learning curve for a mate I was imaging with.


I am genuinely impressed with the autofocus routines. After starting with as many as 13 pts per run initially, now using 9. Noticed in the SGP forums people recommending the change in HFR from largest to minimum value should be about 3x. I'm closer to 2x to 2.5x usually for LRGB and Ha, but very happy with performance/reliability.

After posts earlier in this thread, have started practicing with settings to focus Ha from offsets (now I have collected data over a number of nights) and find this very workable too (and likely to save valuable minutes).

Realised last night my Plate Solve settings set to always use L filter meant SGP insisted on refocusing after a plate solve (box for refocus on filter change is always selected along with a time value for my refractor). Again, should save valuable minutes if I plate solve slightly longer images through what WB filter is in use. When shooting NB would have an Equipment Profile set up for L for plate solve and focus.


There does seem to be a lot of phaff slewing to a target when you have "Centre On" turned on. SGP insists on plate solving before the slew which personally I'd turn off if I could. Seconds and minutes doing this stuff adds up over the course of a night, even with automatic runs.


Anyway, still happy with my changeover, and happy to hear any tips from expert users. See from the SGP forums V2.4 is likely to include a new pay add-on for notifying user by email/SMS when certain error conditions are encountered.