Guidemaster 1.4 Beta available

[allan gould]

Since Matthias became aware of this site and the popularity of his program he has forged ahead and released version 1.4 Beta. The beta has the following:
Changes from Version 1.3 to 1.4β
ASCOM bug fix
DLSR display in Hour, Min, Sec
Crosshairs to center Image
Center of Guidestar possible
High precission timer (better accuracy)
Branding possible (Disable features)
LPT3,4 support added
LXUSB implemeted
COM1..16 supported for DLSR and WEBCAM
Bugfix store RA aggressivness
ASCOM now in Option Form
Validation of settings improved
Circle around star
"Really quit" during guiding
DEC and RA slews at the same time and sequentially

Download at http://www.guidemaster.de/index_en.asp
also have a look at the new features to be offered. Looks nice
Regards, Allan

[Striker]

Thanks Allan,

downloading now.

[seeker372011]

I could not get v 1 to work with my CG5 at all..will have to try this new version

[Striker]

I use the shoestring adapter that connects to the printer port...then you run the guide cable from the adpter to the guide port on the mount...works very well.

go into autoguide port interface.

http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/products.htm

I also use the Shoestring DPUSB that connects to my canon 20da and enables full control of exposures via DSLR Focus.

[JohnH]

Great news! Thanks Matthias, we get long exposure LPI support with the DirectX yes? Would love to see that working....

[[1ponders]]

Cheers, I'm on it. Bring on the new moon!

[mgarza]

Hello,
in version 1.4 of Guidemaster the longexposure mode for LPI cameras is not jet implemented. Sorry I know I promisied this feature and I'm still worink on this. DirectX is more difficult than I thought, but I hope in a few days I have it running. Today a friend borowed me his LPI camera so I can do some basic tests. I'm working on this with highest priority.
In the last days I had so many people requesting serial control for cameras and a lot bug reports of the ASCOM interface, so I decided to release what I already had.

Best regards and greetings,
Matthias

Ps. I would be happy to show some pictures guided with this software on the guidemaster homepage.

[JohnH]

Matthias, happy for you to use this one:

Eta Carina Nebula - 120s at ISO 400 with a Canon 20d at prime focus of a Vixen VC200L on a Sphinx mount, guided with a Meade LPI using Peter Enzerink's ASCOM drivers and Guidemater v1.3.3, the imaging run was 16 shots, result is a stack of the best 9 processed in IP 2.75 (darks, flats and bias) plus digital development and a little boost for the red channel (camera is not modified).

The mount was only roughly polar aligned (carried and placed at same spot I always use) - no drift alignment was done and my mount has severe DEC backlash (10s approx!) and is due to go back to the shop to have this fixed. Guidemaster coped with all of this and kept the tracking good enough to show the small dust motes on my sensor, something I have not seen before! Can send you the full size fits if you like (31 Mb approx). Hope you like it, great software, thanks.

[allan gould]

Also my very first DSOs with a DSLR camera. 5min guided with Guidemaster version 1.3.3 as per JohnH. Prime focus shot with 8" Celestron and Canon 350D DSLR at ISO400, mount HEQ5-Pro [guided at 0.5x] GPint // port adapter and modded webcam [quickcam pro 3000]. Guidescope 70x500mm with NO barlow also mount was only roughly polar aligned.
Only levels adjusted on single shots - no darks -no flats. Nice guiding on the stars Matthias and thanks for a great program. Can't test the newer features of ver 1.4 until I get a laptop with 2 USB ports
Allan

[allan gould]

Apparently there have been a number of reports that ver 1.4 beta is buggy and Matthias is working on this. Unless you want to beta test ver 1.4, use version 1.3.30 as that is fine.