Staff Assigned: Brian Brown AO-8a won't bump mount

That message occurred because you had configured your Expose tab / Autosave sequence to have dithering. But that only works if you are running conventional autoguiding. When you are dithering with the AO you have to turn the Autosave dithering setting off and activate dithering in the AO control instead.

Unfortunately that message is not related to your bumping problem.

Bump commands are sent to the mount via the Guide tab Settings / Control Via selector. You need to make sure that is configured for "Camera Relays" if using the Tracking Interface Cable on the camera itself, or via some other method (usually Telescope or ASCOM Direct) as appropriate.

Also we expect to release an update to MaxIm DL within the next week. It includes a bunch of improvements. It's currently in beta release, available through the Cyanogen Software section of this forum.

 

Try the beta release:

https://forum.diffractionlimited.com/threads/maxim-dl-6-21-beta-test-2.6454/

 

Mike, the final 6.21 release is out. You should go get that.
Can you zip up your MaxIm settings and use the Upload a File button to the lower right to attach?
The settings live in somewhere like:
C:\Users\Mike\Documents\MaxIm DL 6\Settings

How is the Autoguider output controlling the mount?
Guider Relays? ASCOM Direct?

 

Hi Mike,
Some things are a bit messed up with your Settings. The Settings directory is normally named Settings, and CCDPlugAOShip is normally a directory underneath it.
Maybe it's just a bit of accidentally mouse clicking ;-)

Questions:
Have you updated the firmware in your camera to the latest?
http://diffractionlimited.com/aluma-fpga-firmware/

Are you running the latest DL Imaging drivers?
https://forum.diffractionlimited.com/threads/dl-api-version-1-4-0-0-released.6677/#post-35753

Did you notice MaxIm DL 6.21 - the final (not beta) release is available? Please update that too.
In MaxIm, use Help... Check For Updates.

After all that is done, here's the next bunch of stuff:
-------
In MaxIm 6.21, you need to clean up some important settings, as it impacts the calculations going on.

Do the following:
Edit... Preferences
Site and Optics
I'm pretty sure you telescope aperture is larger than 10mm. That's smaller than my pinkie finger.

The guide scope settings are missing entirely.
Since you are using a self-guiding filter wheel with an internal 0.7x focal reducer, you to use the same (corrected) aperture of the main scope, but change the focal length to 0.7 x 925 = 647.5. I'm assuming 925 is correct.

These settings are essential, or the math won't work.

If you're in Nova Scotia, then you're coordinates are ok, except elevation ZERO is a bit low... but you're not far from the ocean.
--------
You might also want to put something useful in the FITS Header - so you will know how the images were taken 10 years from now.
Edit... Preferences
FITS Header
--------
In the Camera Control window, Setup tab, there are a couple things that aren't coming up as I expected on my PC.
Camera Control Window, Setup, under camera 1, Options.
Confirm that "[ ] Use Filter wheel as a shutter" is UNCHECKED (OFF).
Confirm that "[ ] Auto-dark subframe extraction" is UNCHECKED (OFF). (Unless you need this later for some reason).
Advanced
Confirm that "[X] Camera Threading on" is CHECKED (ON).
Confirm that "[X] Filter wheel thread on" is CHECKED (ON).
-------
Camera Control Window, Guide tab
Settings
Control Via...

Right now I see it is set to Telescope, not ASCOM Direct or Guider Relays.

Guider Relays would be the correct setting if you are using the RJ11 flat cable between the Guide Port on the Aluma camera and the mount.
iOptron mounts used to have the reverse wiring, so you may need a straight-thru RJ11 cable instead of the one supplied.
Otherwise the guide pulses will have no effect.

If you are using Telescope or ASCOM Direct, then have you got the ASCOM driver configured ? (I dont have an iOPTRON CEM120 here, so can't test this sort of thing).
iOptron updated their stuff several weeks back:

Full MaxIm DL Pro is usually needed to control the scope, dome, focuser etc., - this is an upgrade from MaxIm LT.

Next steps would be to test that the guide commands are actually moving the mount.
An easy way to test is to use:
Camera Control Window
Guide
Move button
and then use the direction buttons to check correct movement in each axis.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.
Cheers
Colin
Let us know how you make out.


Let us know once you have all that sorted out.

 

Mike, thanks for the update.
It's a wonder that it ever worked for the NGC891, without the complete set up of values.
In the windows control panel, apps, you can uninstall 6.21 and re-install 6.20.
Do not install over top.
Your settings will be preserved.

I'd like our @Adam Robichaud to review this thread and comment.

 

Calibrating the guide derives the mount movement directions and pulse lengths. This is a necessary first step.
Calibrating the AO determines the amount of tip and tilt needed to move the star around the sensor. The Mount bump is also determined this way. In other words, when the AO can't compensate by tilting or tipping any further, it has to tell the mount to move, via the guide pulses.

These two things aren't really related.

Site and Optics are necessary to do many calculations.
For example, it provides necessary data for calculating the arcseconds per pixel resolution of your optical system. That way you know how big a pixel is on the sky. e.g. If your star drifts 2 pixels, then you know it moved 1 arcsecond.
Positions and coordinates can only be calculated if MaxIm knows your "home base" - where your stuff is located. Things like the thickness of the atmosphere cause refraction of starlight, and so when doing calculations, we need to know something about where you are pointing and how much to correct for it.

MaxIm LT has fewer capabilities than MaxIm DL Pro. We provide it to Aluma camera owners at no charge, so they have something to start imaging with. The observatory controls include a bunch of extra capabilities - like controlling a dome, getting weather data from a Davis Instruments weather station or ASCOM Weather hub, a mini-planetarium to go to targets, switch controls, all kinds of stuff. MaxIm DL Pro also includes a scripting interface / COM components so it can be driven by other programs like FocusMax, ACP, CCDAP and so on.

 

Where did you make this upgrade request?

 

I've given a poke to the upgrade process. (It's currently manual for LT to Pro.)

 

Although it's a good idea to set things up properly in Site and Optics, the values there should not impact the operation of the AO.

The discussion above is a bit confusing, so maybe we can start at the top. AO Locate Tab:

https://www.diffractionlimited.com/help/maximdl/AO_Locate_Tab.htm



Step 0 - go to the Guide tab Settings and choose your mount Control Via mode. Guider Relays if you're using the Tracking Interface Cable. ASCOM Direct if you're using PulseGuide commands through the mount (if using MaxIm DL Pro you can use Telescope instead). Click OK.

Step 1 - Set an Exposure time, select Locate, click Start. Make sure you have a nice bright guide star visible. If not you may have to nudge the telescope.

Step 2 - Select Calibrate Drive. Click Start. You should see the star position change in an "L" shape as the telescope mount is exercised. If it doesn't move then check your Control Via settings on the Guide tab. (Note: if your star doesn't drift very quickly, you can optionally turn off telescope corrections on the Drive tab. That requires your polar alignment to be spot-on.)

Step 3 - Select Calibrate AO. Click Start. Again the star should move but in a different pattern.

If at any point it doesn't work correctly, then post your Log here.

Note that if you are using a German Equatorial mount, the drive calibration changes when you flip over the pier.

 

Are you running V6.21?

 

Curious. I did pretty extensive tests in my observatory before we released.

Can I get your settings files? Zip the folder Documents\MaxIm DL 6\Settings, and upload here.