ASIAir all-sky polar alignment issues

[jurkob]

I'm having an issue with the ASIAir all-sky polar alignment when I my telescope is positioned so it can't see the pole or immediately nearby to it.

It goes through the PA process and gives a reasonably accurate assessment of polar alignment, but when I press the refresh button (even without touching the mount) it progressively shows rapid increase in distance from the pole of multiple arcminutes per minute. In reality it is tracking fine, and an extended exposure doesn't show any significant drift.

I'm having to repeat the entire polar alignment sequence to find out the amount of error I need to correct, rather than just being able to press the refresh button. This doesn't happen when I am set up in a position that I can see the pole (or nearby to it)

Has anyone else come across this? Any suggestions?

[Nikolas]

This list of youtube videos (https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=asiair+all+sky +polar+alignment) may help

[jurkob]

Those videos seem to explain the process generically, none of them address this specific issue.

I have used both polar alignment modes in the ASIAir many times previously without a problem. This is the first time I am trying to image from a place where I have severely restricted visibility to the south.

[jurkob]

Looks like this is a known issue (possibly limited to the ASIAir mini). Frustrating nonetheless, doesn't seem like ZWO is engaging well with the community regarding it.

https://bbs.zwoastro.com/d/15513-polar-alignment-error-increasing-by-itself-at-somewhat-constant-rate

[Leo.G]

That's people waiting well over 12 months for resolution of what seems like it could very well be a firmware bug.

[Pasko]

Which version of ASIAIR are you on? Also are you on the mini or the plus?

[jurkob]

I'm using the ASIAir Mini on the latest firmware

[Pasko]

I felt that this issue was fixed for me after the last firmware update (AM5 and AAP). Do you have a way to confirm if your mount is actually tracking outside the asiair mini? Apparently with this bug even though the asiair app says that it is tracking, the mount is not. However if you have a hand controller connected to the mount you might be able to turn on tracking or confirm its truely on. I have the AM5 and on the hand controller a light should come one to show that it is tracking in sidereal.

Plan B - Do you have access to a mini pc? I would suggest as a temporary fix to use NINA's all sky polar alignment - until ASIAIR fixes this bug which seems to still be happening for some.

[jurkob]

I have a separate app to control the mount over WiFi and that reports it is still tracking.
I tried with NINA using TPPA but it kept struggling to plate solve - I might need to update ASTAP and download a bigger star database