STXL Driver Timeout

Discussion in 'STX and STXL Series Cameras' started by Chris Hetlage, Oct 26, 2014.

  1. Chris Hetlage

    Chris Hetlage Standard User

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    I too am still experiencing the timeout issue using TheSkyX, I have not tried CCDSoftor MaxIMDL. 2 of the last 3 imaging sessions have failed since updating the driver. Not that it is SBIG's fault but when the driver fails so does CCDAP...and when it does my logic to park the scope (or meridian flip) and as a result I have had several pier crashes...I have an STXL-11002 camera. I am currently using an external guider. Driver 4.81 Build 1. I've been battling this driver error all year and its frustrating I understand but we really need a fix. Thanks!
     
  2. Jan Soldan

    Jan Soldan Cyanogen Customer

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    Chris,
    we will probably have to update firmware and/or driver to finally get rid of this random bug.
    Regards,
    Jan
     
  3. Chris Hetlage

    Chris Hetlage Standard User

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    Thx Jan and keep me in the loop...

    -Chris
     
  4. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    Jan - as you know I have been seeing this receive and/or transmission timeout for sometime now.

    I do have an important observation to share. I switched to regular guiding through the FW8G and have been imaging with that without any errors now for several days. This was largely due to the unavailability of suitable guidestars for AO use.
    Two nights ago, I returned to AOX use and the transmission timeout occurred within a couple of hours of imaging.

    Not concrete evidence of course, but again, I have used traditional guiding using the FW8G for several days without error.

    regards
    Martin Pugh
     
  5. Jan Soldan

    Jan Soldan Cyanogen Customer

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    Martin,
    thank you for this valuable information, I will check today, if there is something specific in communication with AO unit.
    Regards,
    Jan
     
  6. Chris Hetlage

    Chris Hetlage Standard User

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    FYI, if it matters, I am also not currently using the internal filterwheel guide camera. I have a camera lens on the front of my STXL, and in this configuration you have to remove the filterwheel front plate (with the guide camera), and use a thinner plate (without the guide camera)...I am using the SBIG STXL remote guide head. I don't recall having this issue with the internal guider.
     
  7. Jan Soldan

    Jan Soldan Cyanogen Customer

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    Martin,
    if I understand you well, you used two setups without Rx/Tx timeout errors:

    1a)
    Regular guiding through the FW8G with the following cables:
    STXL HDMI <--> FW8G which controls tracking CCD chip and
    STXL I2C <--> AOX <-->FW8G, ie. AOX was connected, but didn't use

    or did you use:

    1b)
    STXL HDMI <--> FW8G and
    STXL I2C <--> FW8G

    Q: Was your AOX electrically connected - case 1a) or disconnected - case 1b) during this regular guiding ?

    2)
    I suppose that in your second setup, you used:
    STXL HDMI <--> RGH and
    STXL I2C <--> FW8 (no tracking ccd chip)

    There shouldn't be difference between an internal tracking ccd inside the FW8G and RGH, because both cameras are controlled independently on
    FW8, ie. have their own I/O bus and do not use I2C bus, whci is dedicated to FW & AO.

    I have found only one possible issue in CC_AO_DELAY function which hangs computer while waiting for its milliseconds delay to expire,
    but right now I can't say this is really the source of TX/RX random errors. I have to check this possible issue and let you know.

    Thank you for your help.
    Jan
     
  8. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    Jan - configuration 1a is the one I have been using i.e the AOX is electrically connected, but I simply choose the non-AO SBIG camera configuration in the Sky X or CCDSOFT. So yes, while I was performing regular guiding with the FW8G the AOX was not operational.

    To confirm - I am not using an RGH and the AOX remains electrically connected but not in use throughout

    That CC_AO_Delay sounds like it might be related.

    cheers
    Martin

     
  9. Chris Hetlage

    Chris Hetlage Standard User

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    Where are we with this issue?
     
  10. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    Still the same and still waiting on a fix. I was under the impression that Jan Soldan was working this from his posts above dated 28 Oct 14. Jan has all the details.
     
  11. Jan Soldan

    Jan Soldan Cyanogen Customer

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    Hi,
    unfortunately, I do not see this TX/RX timeouts on my camera setup, although a bit different to your one: STT, FW8G and AO8.
    What should realy help is some log file generated by SBIGDriverChecker64 as shown on attachment.
    Jan
     

    Attached Files:

  12. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    Jan

    you are forgetting that we have done this a couple of times already. I have sent you driver logs that capture the error and again, in order to reproduce the problem, you have to have identical kit. Please review your posts above also, perhaps that will shed some light.

    Martin
     
  13. Jan Soldan

    Jan Soldan Cyanogen Customer

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    Martin,
    I have two log files from you, which show problem when the readout temperature status request (A5, 30) is send to the camera.
    Sometimes, quite randomly, the driver is not able to write this request to the STXL camera and I am not able to catch
    or repeat this problem, especially because this is quite random and pops after, say, thousands of good I/O temperature status
    communications .

    At t = 763.915: data : A5, 30, 02, 04, DC, 01, 01, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00
    At t = 763.916: MicroCommand : SendMicroBlock, cameraID = 17, error = 7 - TX Timeout

    I know, you do not care about type of the error and you all need reliably working imaging system. Colleagues check the firmware of the
    camera too.
    Jan
     
  14. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    What about your post on 28 Oct regarding the CC-AO-DELAY issue you may have found?
     
  15. Jan Soldan

    Jan Soldan Cyanogen Customer

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    Martin,
    I have checked the CC_AO_DELAY function, it simply adds a requested delay, something like OS sleep, but delay is in milliseconds.
    I am not even sure, any application uses this function. I have checked all logs related to AO problems I have here from users, but there
    were only CC_AO_CENTER and CC_AO_TIP_TILT functions called, so I think, this function is not used at all by MDL.
    Jan
     
  16. Adam Robichaud

    Adam Robichaud Lead Developer Staff Member

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    For the record, we are also waiting on development kits to arrive on site so we can begin debugging the firmware in earnest.
     
    Stephen Leshin likes this.
  17. Martin Pugh

    Martin Pugh Cyanogen Customer

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    Perhaps that delay needs to be adjusted - My AO exposures are typically in the millisecond range. I amnot sure of the relevance as to whether this is used by MDL, this is an 'SBIG' driver function, possibly and most probably required by an SBIG device that may depend upon it for correct use.

    Martin
     
  18. Jan Soldan

    Jan Soldan Cyanogen Customer

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    Martin,
    I understand what you mean, but the CC_AO_DELAY is just one of the public driver's AO functions offered to developers.
    It just suspends the current running thread for number of milliseconds passed to it as parameter.
    This function is never called internally by the driver.
    Jan
     
  19. Chris Hetlage

    Chris Hetlage Standard User

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    This error is killing me....please let me know what I can do to help...two nights in a row and a total loss....
     
  20. Jan Soldan

    Jan Soldan Cyanogen Customer

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    I am in contact with Adam to kill this thread forever...
    Jan
     

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