SC 3 massive oscillation while guiding first light

Discussion in 'Guiding and Adaptive Optics - StarChaser and AO' started by mike shade, Feb 21, 2021.

  1. mike shade

    mike shade Cyanogen Customer

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    Aluma AC4040/FW7/SC3-long/AP1600 GTO/CDK17/Maxim V6.26. Got the system installed and up and running, finally after figuring how to bolt it together (thanks Doug). The Aluma Pinpoint tells me is PA 0. Got the SC3 focused (I think pretty well). Scope pointed to east sky, calibrated in Maxim, got some 40 pixel movement. Started guiding in ASCOM direct, binned 2x2. In RA, continuous oscillation, would move the star from one side of the guider image box to the other, the guider graph showed a beautiful sine wave pattern, with large amplification, guided images useless. Also guider graph showed almost constant corrections in RA. I calibrated several times. DEC looks fine. Worked with guide exposure, aggressiveness, delay after correction, nothing helped. Tried using guider relays with guide cable, same thing. Seemed any setting change and subsequent calibration didn't do much.

    As a note, just the night before and from time immortal, my trusty STL6303E with internal guider worked just fine.
    *Could position of pick off mirror cause this (I may need to move this out a bit more from current)?
    *Could the cover be on the mirror (saw this in previous posts)? How does one tell?
    *Although I believe I have the latest drivers, is there perhaps a special ASCOM driver needed or something?
    *Are there some unique settings that I am not aware of for the SC3? In other words, does it like A or B setting?
    *Does how the SC3 is orientated make a difference? In other words, does it need to be "flipped" 180 degrees on mounting to the FW7? I don't know how this would make a difference, but maybe it is "reversing" itself?

    I have no idea.
     
    mike shade, Feb 21, 2021
    #1
  2. Colin Haig

    Colin Haig Staff Member

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    You probably did this, but I'll ask anyway:
    Did you Calibrate Guider, and did you save your Calibration and Tracking Images and a Tracking log?
    Zip up your MaxIm Settings folder and attach here with Upload a File?

    Edit - you did say ASCOM Direct.
     
    Colin Haig, Feb 21, 2021
    #2
  3. mike shade

    mike shade Cyanogen Customer

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    Collin, pointed scope about 65 degrees elevation, calibrated on star in guider. Calibration looked good, 40 pixels or so. Started guiding on star. As the guider log shows there is a pattern where it will run up numbers in the
    + direction, then back in the - direction. I tried both ASCOM direct as well as guider relays. ASCOM direct worked quite well with my STL6303E camera and internal guider and this system worked fine night before last. Did not save calibration or tracking images, it was late when I packed it in. I'm not sure what files you need for "settings" the whole folder zipped is some 8mb. Can you be more specific as to what you are looking for? Thanks,
     

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    mike shade, Feb 21, 2021
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  4. Colin Haig

    Colin Haig Staff Member

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    Zip up:
    C:\Users\YOURNAMEHERE\Documents\MaxIm DL 6\Settings
    include subdirectories.
    To save space, you can ignore the DOWNLOADS folder - it usually has the manual in it.
    The Log folder probably has a pile of old junk - you might want to archive it, and include just the last few nights.
     
    Colin Haig, Feb 21, 2021
    #4
  5. mike shade

    mike shade Cyanogen Customer

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    Hopefully this is the needed information...Thank you.
     

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    mike shade, Feb 21, 2021
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  6. Colin Haig

    Colin Haig Staff Member

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    Here's one thing that needs to change - Options - Advanced - Threading should be on in the [Options] for both Camera 1 and Camera 2.
    Here's a screen shot of where to find it:
    threading.png

    Also, [x] Auto-dark Subframe Extraction is usually on. (It's off in my screenshot).
    Am seeing some messages about auto-dark in your logs.

    On the Expose tab, what Readout Mode is the camera 1 AC4040 running in?
    On the Guide tab, can you give me a screen shot with it connected, and then the Settings tab, screen shot?
     
    Colin Haig, Feb 22, 2021
    #6
  7. Colin Haig

    Colin Haig Staff Member

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    Please launch the DL Config Utility, and report the driver version eg 1.9.4.0.
    Then for each of the two cameras (AC4040 and SC3 in the list of devices, click on each in turn), provide the FPGA firmware revision.
    e.g. AC4040 = FPGA rev 3 and SC-3 = FPGA rev 6

    Thanks
    Colin
     
    Colin Haig, Feb 22, 2021
    #7
  8. Colin Haig

    Colin Haig Staff Member

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    Please also confirm you weren't using a script, ACP, CCDAP, or other third party program to drive MaxIm, and that you were running it manually.
     
    Colin Haig, Feb 22, 2021
    #8
  9. mike shade

    mike shade Cyanogen Customer

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    I have changed the parameters you suggested (they will be active tonight).

    I will report on the readout modes
    I will shoot a screenshot (or try to)
    There was NO OTHER program running Maxim, just Maxim alone.

    Thanks
     
    mike shade, Feb 22, 2021
    #9

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