PHD dithering times out

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

Hello folks, I have been playing with dithering and the other night using APT and PHD my dither's all kept getting "timed out"
I was exposing for 400 sec with a 50 sec pause between frames and on the PHD settings time out time was 60 secs- the first frame in a series said it dithered then the rest of the frames timed out?
What do I need to change to get it to consistently dither?
Graham

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

Bump anyone?

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by graham.hobart

Hello folks, I have been playing with dithering and the other night using APT and PHD my dither's all kept getting "timed out"
I was exposing for 400 sec with a 50 sec pause between frames and on the PHD settings time out time was 60 secs- the first frame in a series said it dithered then the rest of the frames timed out?
What do I need to change to get it to consistently dither?
Graham

Don't use APT but with Nebulosity and the PHD server running. You set a maximum offset for dithering. That take sonly a few seconds to bump the mount out of range. Once it's reached it guides again then set a 10s time out before taking the next subs so guiding settles. Maybe there is a communication issue between PHD and APT?

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

Marc, so you advise I should just use Nebulosity to camera control?
I know the settings in Neb (I believe) are just small, medium or large?
I have a modified finder guider on top of a 1624mm fl f/8 RC 8. Which one should I use or is it a matter of trial and error?
Thanks mate
Graham

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by graham.hobart

Marc, so you advise I should just use Nebulosity to camera control?
I know the settings in Neb (I believe) are just small, medium or large?
I have a modified finder guider on top of a 1624mm fl f/8 RC 8. Which one should I use or is it a matter of trial and error?
Thanks mate
Graham

Yeah. At the end of the day it just works. I have both Neb2 and Neb3. The only capture program I've ever used. It does the job. And because it integrates perfectly with the PHD server it's ideal. Just save FITS as MAXIM 16bit.

You mean calibration steps? Through my 8x50 finder I use 2500ms, If I image with an OAG at 2m FL I set it to 500ms, 700ms if I'm close to the pole, if I use the ED80 (600mm FL) usually 1000ms or 1200ms will do it. Just try to aim for 5 to 6 calibration steps in each direction and back so about 25 to 30 steps all up.

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

I've used Neb for my QHY but never really played with it with my Canon. Can you save in RAW?
The times I was referring to were the settle times I think, also the dither distance- small to extreme.
Calibration with PHD and the finder guider seems to take much longer than with my bigger guide scope but works OK once calibrated. I will check my settings when I am at home.
Cheers
Graham