NINA versus CCDAp

[Oscar in Bin]

I currently use CCDAp5 with SkyX, Maxim, FocusMax, ASCOM to control my scope, focuser, cameras (main and guide), filter wheel and dome. Guider is OAG. Also manages the imaging run.

Generally works well except the initiation sequence in CCDAp. Maxim does its guider calibration fine and almost always finds a guide star and happily calibrates without shifting the FoV. However when you try to initialise CCDAp it plate solves without difficulty but then cannot calibrate the guiding. Problem seems to be the guide star brightness. If you shift around to find a field with a brighter guide star it will usually calibrate but it is very fussy getting the right star. Wastes a lot of valuable imaging time.
Thinking about changing to NINA. Would appreciate some feedback before I take the plunge.

[The_bluester]

I can't comment on NINA specifically as I am a Voyager user, however for me the benefit of this type of package (Proprietary or open source, take your pick) is as "Integrators"

Collect together the (Mostly) ASCOM drivers for all your setup, probably install PHD2 and let NINA, SGP, Voyager etc do the work.

Usually I do not calibrate guiding in sequence, I cal the guider when I change something like camera angle (I use an OAG) or if I think that guiding performance might have fallen off, and I can't recall PHD2 ever failing for find a suitable guide star on sequence start.

[g__day]

Once in ASCOM I got side of pier working correctly for The SkyX (TSX) I let PHD2 calbrate either side of the meridan near the Celestial Equator about 10 days ago and haven't changed the calibration parameters since (other than to switch RA from Hysteresis to Predicitive PEC).

Normally I often modified and recalibrated guiding per target and definitely per Meridan flip - now I never have to. My guiding is about 0.5 - 0.7 RMS of a pixel for the past 10 days on a bevy of targets.

I slew, solve and centre using TSX and Tpoint (which also handles dome geometry) and then I let SGP and APT run my two imaging scopes and cameras, focuser, filter wheels whilst PHD2 guides on the average centroid movement of the best 9 - 10 stars (multi star guiding) it selects.

Next I want to run scripting sequences of targets per night.

I heard N.I.N.A. is very good with all of this - one step at a time.

[Spookyer]

I used SGP for many years and quite like it. Recently have starting using NINA. Took a bit of time to get use to NINA but now I have I like it better than SGP.

[Oscar in Bin]

I have taken the plunge and gone to NINA. Very happy with the result although only done 2 nights so far. Has overcome the problem with Initiation being very fussy in CCDAp so up and imaging much faster. Some good videos to help you get started with NINA and all very intuitive particularly if you have used a sequence management program previously.

[Startrek]

If you have a permanent set and don’t touch your guide camera , you can keep your PHD2 calibration for a year or longer if you wish
I have without any issue, I can’t remember the last time I’ve re calibrated either in Sydney or down south at my Obs ( although it wouldn’t hurt to re calibrate every 6 months , only takes 5 mins )
One of the benefits of Ascom pulse guiding
M.
As a novice ,I use to set up and tear down my rig in Sydney ( no security issues ) for the first 6 months of the hobby and realised what a dumb thing to do
PHD2 just works and works well , even using Guide scopes with 8” and 10” Newts like I have.

[AvalonDunk]

NINA is free - whats to stop you trying it alongside your current setup? If not happy, can just delete?

[ChrisV]

Same as poster below, i was an SGP user that moved to NINA. Haven't looked back. After a bit of a learning curve I've found it great to use.