Guiding with webcam & GuideDog

[rogerg (Roger)]

Well, I have finally had a clear night! And I've had some success with autoguiding on my Losmandy GM-8 using GuideDog and my unmodified QuickCam Pro 4000. It's clouded over again now so will leave it for tonight.

Things appear to be working relatively OK "out of the box". I'm quite surprised that having only changed the focal length setting in GuideDog, other default settings appear to have it running smoothly.

I am missing a little understanding which perhaps people can fill me in on though, not sure.

My main lack of understanding resides around what guide mode the Losmandy should be in. I don't really understand if having my Losmandy on Visual Mode vs Photo Mode makes any difference, or other Visual Mode speeds similarly.

I think, that because I'm simply using the ASCOM telescope control for GuideDog to move the scope, it won't actually matter if it's in Photo or Visual Mode. And that the mode would only matter if I'm using a relay box and the autoguider port (which I'm not and won't be).

Does anyone know if my understanding is right? Any other tips to add?

Thanks,
Roger.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Striker might be the one to ask Roger. I know he was using a ToUcam and guidedog on a gemini and G11 for a while and had some success

[JohnG (John)]

Hi Roger

The difference is that in Visual Mode, the autoguider port is not active.

In Photo or All Speeds mode, the port is active and receiving commands, also the Guide Speed is reduced so the mount does not start occillating with too higher guide inputs.

Cheers

JohnG

[Striker (Tony)]

All my guiding has been done through the Gemini guide port but what you have said Roger sounds correct.

If the guiding is not working it wont take long to see that it's not correcting.

[Geoff45 (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by rogerg

And that the mode would only matter if I'm using a relay box and the autoguider port (which I'm not and won't be).

Thanks,
Roger.

So what port are you using Roger? I'm in the process of trying to set something up for autoguiding.
Geoff

[rogerg (Roger)]

Geoff,

I have:

The webcam connected to the PC using guide dog.
The PC connected to the GM-8 using the RS232 connection.
Guide Dog connected to the telescope such that it can make corrections.

So, I'm not using the guide port of the GM-8, only the RS232 (PC serial) interface.

I haven't used it for a couple of months, but last I used it I was having really good success with very close to the default settings if I remember right.

Hope that helps.