AO-X calibration help

There are two types of calibration - are you calibrating the AO tip/tilt or the mount?

If the mount isn't responding, check your software settings. I'm not very familiar with the software you are using, but there should be a way to select how guider commands are sent to the mount.

 

Please try it with CCDOPS. That will tell us whether it is a software or hardware issue.

(That said, the fact that the exercise works suggests to me that it is a software issue.)

 

It's been a while since I've used TSX with an AO-X.
I recall something about you have to calibrate the guiding with TSX's camera and guider set up as regular SBIG, then you have to repeat with it selected as SBIG w/AO.

Are you running TSX 10.5.0 Daily Build 12304 ?
Make sure you download the latest version of their user manual, as I saw a note a few months back that they had fixed the instructions for using the SBIG AO in their manual.
I think its up to 6.6.

Did you try the steps in their online manual:
http://www.bisque.com/help/TheSkyXSAEAndPro/index.htm#t=Autoguide_Using_Adaptive_Optics.htm

If I get a few minutes, I'll have a look on the Bisque support forum and see if anybody else has an issue with this or if somebody has an issue getting it working and a solution is posted.

 

Here's one possibility:
a) Do you have a cable from the camera's guide port to the LX200 mount ?
OR
b) are you using ASCOM Direct Guide ?

If a) then it may be that you have to sort out whether its a flipped vs straight thru cable.

 

CCDOPS can’t tell the difference between AO-7 / AO-8 / AO-X. When it was written originally the current model was AO-7.

If it can’t calibrate just one direction then the tracking interface cable is suspect.

 

Maybe you just need to increase the bump time.

 

Okay I think we're getting confused about which part we are calibrating. Since you are using CCDOPS there are two separate calibration functions.

Track menu Calibrate is required to calibrate the relays. That uses the Tracking Interface Cable to send commands to the mount. This is needed to prevent the AO tilt from hitting the limits over time. It could easily fail in one direction if there is a problem with the TIC cable.

AO menu Calibrate is used to calibrate the AO tilt. It would be very strange for it to not calibrate in one direction when the exercise command works in all directions.

Which command are you having trouble with?

 

Please use CCDOPS for testing - we don't have tsx and are not familiar with it.

Can you pull the camera off the telescope and run the calibration process while watching the AO plate? Make sure it is moving correctly each time in all directions X and Y?

 

That's really strange. I'd check the cable first - make sure it's properly screwed down and all.

Failing that, pop the lid off the AO-X. Gently (without touching glass) tilt it in all directions by hand - make sure it's not binding anywhere. Inspect (but do not touch) the magnet wire connections to the board and make sure they're not damaged.

If there isn't something obvious then it may have to come back for service. I'll also ask @Tim to chime in if he has any suggestions.

 

It should tilt smoothly on all 4 axes as it floats magnetically.

While you have the lid off, you can verify the polarity of the coils: Push and release the button labeled “SW1” on the board. This will begin energizing the coils in the sequence X-, Y-, X+, Y+.

Also make sure the gimbal tilts equally on all 4 axes.