PolAlignMax / MaximDL 4.11 says can't open Meade DSI

[g__day (Matthew)]

Ever seen this problem? I downloaded PoleAlignMax to try software assisted polar alignment - it connected via ASCOM to the mount fine - but it couldn't open the Meade DSI (can't open camera - no FITS file generated) was the diagnostic error message it showed.

On select camera -> Meade DSI -> properties - only gain and offset show.

PHD grabs the Meade DSI whenever I want it no trouble - any ideas?

[gbeal]

It continues, this head bashing hobby.
If anything I wonder if the DSI doesn't produce FITs, is this correct? Or maybe it does, but you don't have it set to produce a FITs file??
I looked at PolarAlignMax, but then found trouble with the plate solve bit, and maybe I didn't have the correct data downloaded. It all got too hard. so I gave up. Good luck.

[Karls48 (Karl)]

Yes, it saves FITs, but not as default

[g__day (Matthew)]

So is there something I have to do somewhere - that you know - that makes it all work please?

[gbeal]

No idea, but following on from what Karl stated, maybe you need to make sure that the DSI spits out a FITs file, as this seems to be the requirement.

[Karls48 (Karl)]

I tried DSI Pro with Maxim once. It works but you cannot get live image, only captured images will come up on the monitor. There is no setting for “live preview”. I have been told that to get around it is to use “focusing display. Did not try it yet.

[jase (Jason)]

For PolarAlignMax to work (or for that matter any plate solving process), the camera must output the images in FITS format. Within the FITS header, the telescope RA and DEC are recorded (expected center of image) and image scale in arcsec/pixel. The plate solve process used in PolarAlignMax looks up these, which in turn references the star catalogue - either GSC 1.1 or USNOA 2.0 to match stars in the image.

[g__day (Matthew)]

Jase - huge thanks, so...

Is there a utility needed or a function somewhere within MaximDL (which says at that version level its supports the Meade DSI) where you can instruct the output of the Meade DSI to go into FITS format mode? I just can't find anywhere in MaximDL to make this happen!

Many thanks,

Matt

[jase (Jason)]

The DSI x has been supported since 4.11. The latest version of MaximDL is 4.60 -
http://www.cyanogen.com/down/MaxImDL460.exe.

The DSI II and Pro have the capabilities to output in FITS format (default). The regular DSI outputs in raw only. The set up guide also infers this - http://www.cyanogen.com/help/maximdl/Meade_DSI.htm

[Karls48 (Karl)]

G—day, if you set file output file to FITs in Envisage it will output FITs to MaximDL

[g__day (Matthew)]

I'll look into this thanks. I downloaded the 30 day trial version of MaximDL 4.6 to my Laptop - and it grabbed output from the Meade DSI easily. I ponder maybe just switch the version 4.6 Meade driver for the version 4.11 driver until I read your replies.


More things to experiement with - Envisage may be my next test, I have that loaded already.

Jase - thanks for those tips - I'll try and find the tabs referenced by the MaximDL DSI how to guide. Wouldn't you think they'd say under tools -> processing options or whatever it is!

[g__day (Matthew)]

Originally Posted by Karls48

G—day, if you set file output file to FITs in Envisage it will output FITs to MaximDL

Karl

I've wandered thru Envisage Version 5.85 - under Save Proc I set the format to fits,

MaxDSLR 4.10 can see the Meade DSI and connnect to it and expose
but under MaxPoleAlign I still get

Failed to star camera
Error -2147220453 Not fits file attached, mod cmdrun

Any ideas?

[Karls48 (Karl)]

Mat, I’m using Maxim DL 4.60 and DSI Pro. When I set DSI to output FITs in Envisage (I use FITs all the time for capturing anyhow) I can expose image in Maxim but regardless of setting I cannot get “Live image”, image will appear only after I exposed it. That may be source of the error you are getting, because the “live image” is not present.

[g__day (Matthew)]

Well a DSI Pro is coming my way in a few weeks - looks like I might have to polar align without MaxPoleAlign!

One weird thing - after installing the 30 day trial of the latest MaximDL then MaximDSLR - from MaximDL the telescope button is now greyed out (and so is the camera button). You can get to the camera setting from MaximDSLR - but how do I get to the telescope settings?

Unusual.