Guiding alternatives

[OneCosmos (Chris)]

Hi,


I have re-built an imaging system and I'm happy with the optics, the camera, everything in fact, the RAW data is great. I'm using the Avalon M Uno, together with polemaster for polar alignment, and I reckon I was as close to the pole as you can reasonably get. And yet.....


Securing longer subs using PHD guider is really hit and miss in my experience - it always was. Calibration is voodoo and and PHD invariably complains you're not pointing in the best place, whilst I'm thinking the best place is where I want to image! Recalculate or do what you must but you've really only got one job, just do it properly


I was using PHD Guiding 20 years ago. Surely there is something better these days?


For a portable setup a while back I used an MGEN iii. It didn't care where you pointed the camera it could calibrate and start guiding. None of the nonsense PHD comes up with. Whilst its guiding algorithms are light years ahead of PHD I think it was designed as a standalone unit and its raison d'etre is questioned by the proliferation of units like ASIAIR. Nevertheless, I see NINA lists MGEN as a guiding option. Anyone using it?

I know there are a few other PHD alternatives, but it isn't clear to me that they are any better.


Chris

[Startrek (Martin)]

PHD has come a long long way since Craig Stark developed it
PHD2 , particularly the later versions have both a calibration assistant and guiding assistant to simplify and fast track folk who have to set up each night or have remote rigs.
Both my rigs at different locations are permanent fixtures ( South coast NSW NexDome Obs and Sydney backyard rig with a weatherproof cover )

The last time I performed a calibration was 3 years ago as it’s set and forget ( Auto restore calibration )
My guiding has been seamless for years no issues ( other than Mother Nature)

The algorithms used in the later versions of PHD2 are far superior from the early PHD. Multistar guiding has been a game changer plus a lot other features like improved star detection, improved guiding algorithms such as PPEC , better visualisation tools , Dec compensation and wider range of hardware compatibility.

I must say I wouldn’t use anything else for guiding

Oh and just a heads up the ASI air has copied its guiding program from the PHD2 model

Maybe give PHD2 a whirl if you haven’t used it for donkeys years , you’ll be pleasantly surprised I’m sure

Cheers
Martin
Happy PHD2 user since 2017