Maxim dl vs Phd2

[DaveNZ (Dave)]

I have purchased Maxim dl and initially will use it for telescope control and to control my imaging camera.

Currently for guiding I'm using Phd2 which Ive had reasonable success with over the last couple of months.

My question is which is the better autoguiding solution Maxim dl or Phd2? Is it worth changing from Phd2 to Maxim dl ?

Thanks
Dave

[RobF (Rob)]

You should be able to get Maxim to do everything you need Dave. Both are mature and powerful guiding solutions. You'll probably need to run within Maxim to get dither going - don't think Maxim would dither PHD2 even though its possible to command it to do so from other packages (e.g. Sequence Generator).

PHD2 has a nice drift alignment tool and possibly bit easier to use.
Maxim used to have the lead in the number of options that could be tweaked, some in real-time - but PHD2 pretty well closed that gap.

It'll come down to quality of your mount and camera solution in the end more than software capability. From the specs in your signature line you'll have no worries with either....

[DaveNZ (Dave)]

Thanks Rob. I think I will give Maxim a go. I rather like how it allows for dec changes.

Both sound good options however it would be rather nice to run everything off the same software.

[Nico13 (Ken)]

Hi Dave,
I'm about to embark on the same myself as I've just gone to a QSI WSG camera with the off axis guider and so moving away from the separate guide scope etc.
I will be interested to see how you go as well and I hope to incorporate dithering through Maxim in the process.
Good luck with it.

[LewisM]

MaxIM has a VERY strong guiding algorithm - sometimes when slewing to a new target I have forgotten to disengage MaxIM guiding - you VERY quickly realise your error when the mount starts grinding etc trying to fight your slew command! With PHD, I have never had an issue with it slewing off - didn't seem to fight it much. Odd really.

I do love MaxIM guiding - once locked on, I have NEVER had it lose guiding, EVER, apart for clouds. It does require a better backlash adjustment, as if backlash is out, i find it tends not to successfully calibrate. PHD seems to not care much and just takes longer calibrating if BL is out, but then the star won't stay locked.

8 times out of 10 I will use MaxIM for EVERYTHING. I will use PHD the rest, particularly if I have not taken care of a few housekeeping issues first.

MaxIM will NOT dither if PHD is connected as guider.

MaxIm has been my be-all solution, APART for processing, where I find it clunky compared to PS or PI.

[Octane (Humayun)]

To make guiding even further robust in MaxIm DL, couple it with CCD Commander (or, ACP; the Rolls-Royce of automation software).

H

[DaveNZ (Dave)]

Thinks for the input guys,just need a few clear nights to test things out.

In the mean time I have been playing with the Maxim simulator mode :-)