Decent guiding finally!

[g__day (Matthew)]

Well that was a slight oopsie on my point; I ran a 500 star Tpoint model and slightly adjusted my Dec - and my guding has been pretty decent (well within +/- 0.5 arc seconds) according to Open PHD - but it always said my polar alignment was between 1.7 - 2.5 arc minutes out.

No big deal - and I wondered if I did a slight goof somewhere - and I did. I forgot my telescope mounts handcontroller accounts for polar misalignment on both axes - and when I corrected my mounts alignment I didn't remembered to update my SkySensor2000-pc 3 point sky model. So it was still correcting for polar mis-alignmen on a slightly changed model of the sky.

Since updating the hand controller and re - running my imaging I am seeing a noticeable improvement! It now says polar mis-alignment is down to 0.5' and drift is about 0.13" per minute.

I feel like I have finally got the gear well tuned! Still some more improvements I can do - but this is rather pleasing after all the efforts!

[g__day (Matthew)]

Hopefully another step forward tonight - or whenever the clouds lift - getting Open PHD, GPUSB and TSX -> Vixen SkySensor2000-PC in LX200 compatability mode working correctly so I can do meridan flip calibration in PHD.

Turns out the Bisque boys didn't quite document their driver correctly Speaking to one of their founders - they shared how The Sky Controlled Driver is meant to be set up - but they missed Use Direct Guide check box must be checked!

Without this amongst other things side of Pier won't be supplied to PHD so calibrating meridan flips is blocked at the get go.

It's kinda their thing I find that any call for support seems to be its not our issue. My ask was if TSX can get side of pier correct - and it does to align the dome they control - can't it pass this side of pier state through their driver to PHD. Then said it was an issue with the SS2K - told them I was using this in LX200 mode. They asked does it reveal side of pier... Told them you guys can obivously work it out - can't you inject it if it is missing into the PHD get pointing state call. I have noticed in many support calls to them - the first 5 - 10 interactions always seem to be our software is doing what we expect. Once you fix it it stays fixed - but it always takes a while for them to accept the issue - being software or documentation and help (or not) you get to teh crux of the challenge and how to solve it.

Thanks to the OpenPHDForums guys who share the correct settings - for any interested. So the first image is the Software Bisque provided advice to by by THouse - the second image is the correct setting from the ASCOM / PHD folk.

https://github.com/OpenPHDGuiding/ph.../SkyX-Settings

[g__day (Matthew)]

Another small update - I tried switching RA from Hysteresis to Predictive PEC - the RMS about halves when I tried this for the last 2 hours - so I think it might be a keeper - at the very least until I update my PE curve in the mount itself!

[Startrek (Martin)]

I switched to PHD2 PPEC from Hysterisis over 3 years ago now and never looked back. I don’t PEC train my mounts either and still get good guiding numbers on both mounts ( EQ6-R Pro tuned myself and EQ8-R pro out of the box ) Not exactly super high end mounts
Good nights 0.40 to 0.50
Average nights 0.60 to 0.70
Nights with poor conditions 0.80 +
8” and 10” Newts

Cheers
Martin

[g__day (Matthew)]

The next thing I am pondering is whether to disable my mounts polar misalignment corrections - as its sky model adjustments may be helping or in fact combating what PHD sees is actually happening.

My mounts hand controller can account for polar misalignment (up to 20 degrees) once it has a lock on three well placed stars. It accounts for both the airs refacted index at any set target elevation and in polar misalignment by running the DEC and RA motors to offset for the variance it sees.

I am wondering if this might account for small but seemingly consistent periodic larger moves in DEC every 2 - 3 minutes.

[Startrek (Martin)]

Originally Posted by g__day

The next thing I am pondering is whether to disable my mounts polar misalignment corrections - as its sky model adjustments may be helping or in fact combating what PHD sees is actually happening.

My mounts hand controller can account for polar misalignment (up to 20 degrees) once it has a lock on three well placed stars. It accounts for both the airs refacted index at any set target elevation and in polar misalignment by running the DEC and RA motors to offset for the variance it sees.

I am wondering if this might account for small but seemingly consistent periodic larger moves in DEC every 2 - 3 minutes.

Post your question on the PHD2 forum ( been a member for 4 years ) and the PHD2 gurus , Bruce or Brian will give you a solid timely answer either way
It would be prudent to include your PHD2 log files so they can evaluate your query