Help with PHD and Pulse Guiding (EQMOD)

sheeny (Al) · #1 09-12-2009, 10:17 PM

Just having my first play with PHD...

...but I'mm getting a couple of error messages, and I can't see how to fix them

.

The error messages I'm getting from PHD are:

"ASCOM driver failed checking IsPulseGuiding"

and then

"ASCOM driver failed PulseGuide command".

Any clues?

It's probably something really simple, but I'm not seeing it

.

I feel like there should be a check box I need to turn on, but I can't see it. In the Pulse Guiding panel RA and DA rate checkboxes are checked... and I've tried every combination of the other apparently relevant checkboxes (RA and Dec Pulsewidth override, and Slew at pulseguide).

Any clues greatly appreciated!

Al.

g__day (Matthew) · #2 09-12-2009, 11:47 PM

Are you on the current ASCOM 5.5 I believe?

Is there an ASCOM test utility to check you features are enabled on the mount (could be a mount or wiring error).

sheeny (Al) · #3 10-12-2009, 06:52 AM

I'm not sure , Matt. I'm fairly low on the ASCOM / EQMOD learning curve (not to mention PHD!) I will have a look.

Thanks for the tip.

Al.

multiweb (Marc) · #4 10-12-2009, 01:44 PM

Al I can't comment on the EQMOD part but I'm pretty sure it's an ASCOM/mount communication problem, not a PHD glitch. Drivers... who needs them

bmitchell82 (Brendan) · #5 10-12-2009, 02:32 PM

There is a check box when you configure your Ascom driver for EQMod eg where you set the baud rates com ports. the check box says enable pulse guiding. I belive that it isn't checked as defult

sheeny (Al) · #6 10-12-2009, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

Al I can't comment on the EQMOD part but I'm pretty sure it's an ASCOM/mount communication problem, not a PHD glitch. Drivers... who needs them

Yep. I realise that - probably just didn't express myself clearly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmitchell82

There is a check box when you configure your Ascom driver for EQMod eg where you set the baud rates com ports. the check box says enable pulse guiding. I belive that it isn't checked as defult

Aha! This has the right small about it... I'll check it out.

Al.

sheeny (Al) · #7 10-12-2009, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmitchell82

There is a check box when you configure your Ascom driver for EQMod eg where you set the baud rates com ports. the check box says enable pulse guiding. I belive that it isn't checked as defult

No... it is checked...

Al.

sheeny (Al) · #8 14-12-2009, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g__day

Are you on the current ASCOM 5.5 I believe?

Is there an ASCOM test utility to check you features are enabled on the mount (could be a mount or wiring error).

No... I was on 5.0.

I've just upgraded to 5.5 now, so when I get a chance I'll see if that makes a difference.

Al.

gbeal · #9 16-12-2009, 12:32 PM

Any joy Al? I get the same thing. I am waiting for my auto-guider to come back from a bit of open heart surgery, and have been wanting to use the DMK in the meantime. I get the "go away" routine as well, in relation to PulseGuide.
Gary

sheeny (Al) · #10 16-12-2009, 02:19 PM

I haven't had a chance to try again unfortunately... combination of family issues and weather

.

I have since upgraded to ASCOM 5.5 (from 5.0) just in case that makes a difference though.

I'll be away on hols from the weekend, so there's probably not much chance I'll get back to this until the new year...

Al.

Visionoz (Bill) · #11 30-12-2009, 11:15 PM

Stating the obvious - Check to see if Sidereal Tracking mode is ON and running - PARK position doesn't do anything!!

Cheers
Bill

sheeny (Al) · #12 03-01-2010, 08:49 AM

Yeah thanks Bill... it certainly was

.

I'm back from holidays now, but got a couple of weeks of major shutdown work to do at work, so it might be a couple more weeks before I get back to it

...

Al.

Astrobserver99 (Rob) · #13 03-01-2010, 07:45 PM

Try setting the RA and DEC Rates in EQMod Pulseguide to x0.5...

sheeny (Al) · #14 03-01-2010, 08:17 PM

Thanks Rob.

I'll give that a whirl when I get back to it!

Al.

sheeny (Al) · #15 19-01-2010, 10:18 PM

Well I finally got back to testing out PHD again...

... and it works.

I upgraded to ASCOM v5.5 from v5.0. I haven't changed anything else, and voila!

Gotta be happy with that.

Unfortunately, I had problems with my GPS and other little technical gremlins tonight, so it was productive in terms of images or spectra, but at least I should be able to start guiding now.

Al.

allan gould · #16 20-01-2010, 12:14 PM

Glad to see that all is now working. PhD is quite the standard and Im now using it but miss the information feedback that Guidemaster gave me. Im going to look at Metaguide as that seems very comprehensive. For good info on guiding have a look at http://aajonahfish.com/autoguiding.htm as its an excellent source.