Telescope Reviews: CGEM not calibrating with PHD

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Equipment Discussions >> Mounts

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Henry37
member

Reged: 12/05/09

Loc: Georgia

CGEM not calibrating with PHD
#5725597 - 03/11/13 11:07 AM

My CGEM will not calibrate with PHD version 1.14. The mount will not move at all. The calibration steps are set at 3000. The Hand Control works fine. 2 star alignment works fine. I have replaced both cables from and to the QHY5 guide camera. I have tried 2 different laptops. One running XP the other windows 7. Both have the same version of PHD. I have reloaded the ASCOM drivers. Manual Guiding with PHD does nothing in any direction. I don't know how fast Manual guiding moves the mount. Holding down the direction buttons does nothing that I can see. Yes the cable from the QHY5 is plugged into the guide port. Any help would be appreciated.

Post Extras:

Whichwayisnorth
professor emeritus

Reged: 07/04/11

Loc: Southern California

Re: CGEM not calibrating with PHD new

[Re: Henry37]
#5725666 - 03/11/13 11:48 AM

The only thing I can think of is to do what you already did. I have found that 99% of the time I grab the wrong guide cable since I have 3 that look identical except that one of them has different pin placement. Once I get the correct guide cable I am good to go. Also triple check you have selected "on-mount" as the guide type.

Post Extras:

Henry37
member

Reged: 12/05/09

Loc: Georgia

Re: CGEM not calibrating with PHD new

[Re: Henry37]
#5725675 - 03/11/13 11:55 AM

Thanks for the quick reply. As you say I have changed the cables multiple times. Can anyone tell me how the data gets from PHD to the mount? Does it pass thru any logic in the QHY5 or is it just a pass through?

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Charlie B
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 03/22/08

Loc: Sterling, Virginia

Re: CGEM not calibrating with PHD new

[Re: Henry37]
#5726019 - 03/11/13 02:50 PM

Check the pins of your guide port. Check that you are not plugged into the AUX Port (it's easy to do by mistake). Check your camera pins.

Regards,

Charlie B

Post Extras:

rmollise
Postmaster

Reged: 07/06/07

Re: CGEM not calibrating with PHD new

[Re: Charlie B]
#5726078 - 03/11/13 03:21 PM

Here are somethings to check:

Is PHD set up CORRECTLY? If you are using the ST4 output on the camera, you must select _on-camera_ guiding in PHD. If you are guiding to the mount's serial port you must use the ASCOM driver for the mount. You can't mix and match.

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Henry37
member

Reged: 12/05/09

Loc: Georgia

Re: CGEM not calibrating with PHD new

[Re: Charlie B]
#5726532 - 03/11/13 06:18 PM

CharlieB: All pins on cable ends and camera look OK.
The camera cable is plugged into the ST4 Port.UncleRod: PHD is setup correctly. This is a previously working system. On camera is checked and scope and camera become ready. The camera will take photos. I am using ASCOM (Late) camera (QHY5)

Post Extras:

wolfman_4_ever
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/15/11

Loc: El Segundo, Ca, So. Cal

Re: CGEM not calibrating with PHD new

[Re: Henry37]
#5726847 - 03/11/13 08:56 PM

You can go to tools then on screen hand controller (PHD's software hand controller) to test connectivity from PHD to your mount..

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CharlesW
sage

Reged: 11/02/12

Loc: Chula Vista & Indio, CA

Re: CGEM not calibrating with PHD new

[Re: wolfman_4_ever]
#5727106 - 03/11/13 11:18 PM

You might want to make sure your HC slew rate is set to 1 or 2.

Post Extras:

Henry37
member

Reged: 12/05/09

Loc: Georgia

Re: CGEM not calibrating with PHD new

[Re: wolfman_4_ever]
#5727809 - 03/12/13 10:27 AM

If you mean the manual guiding capability in PHD that is what doesn't work.

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Henry37
member

Reged: 12/05/09

Loc: Georgia

Re: CGEM not calibrating with PHD new

[Re: CharlesW]
#5727810 - 03/12/13 10:28 AM

Hand control guide rate is set to 5.

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Charlie B
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 03/22/08

Loc: Sterling, Virginia

Re: CGEM not calibrating with PHD new

[Re: Henry37]
#5728655 - 03/12/13 05:31 PM

Guide movement is very slow. Visually, you likely cannot see it. You may be able to hear it at the mount or through an eyepiece centered on a distant object. Also, I believe that holding down the manual slew continuously does not send continuous guide pulses but only sends one guide pulse. Each click of the manual slew sends a pulse.

Regards,

Charlie B

Post Extras:

Henry37
member

Reged: 12/05/09

Loc: Georgia

Re: CGEM not calibrating with PHD new

[Re: Charlie B]
#5728749 - 03/12/13 06:27 PM

Thanks for the info Charlie. I didn't know that. I was trying to check it indoors because of the weather.

Post Extras:

Hollywood
member

Reged: 07/04/12

Loc: San Diego CA.

Re: CGEM not calibrating with PHD new

[Re: Henry37]
#5730559 - 03/13/13 03:35 PM

Hello,
I recently picked up a CGEM and I will be guiding with a Orion SSAG and using PHD. Should I select SSAG in PHD? also will the handbox default to the correct guide rate or do I need to select the guide rate? Also what is the difference of guide rate 1 and 2 and why would one use rate 2? Thanks

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Henry37
member

Reged: 12/05/09

Loc: Georgia

Re: CGEM not calibrating with PHD new

[Re: Hollywood]
#5732673 - 03/14/13 06:16 PM

From what I can see it appears to be a problem with either the guide camera or the motor control board. anyone have any ideas how to check this out without having to buy either.

Post Extras:

Charlie B
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 03/22/08

Loc: Sterling, Virginia

Re: CGEM not calibrating with PHD new

[Re: Henry37]
#5733682 - 03/15/13 09:12 AM

I noticed that there is a pre-release of PHD guiding that fixes a problem with QHY5L-II cameras. If you have not yet updated, you may want to try the new version. See here !

Charlie B

Post Extras:

Henry37
member

Reged: 12/05/09

Loc: Georgia

Re: CGEM not calibrating with PHD new

[Re: Charlie B]
#5734974 - 03/15/13 09:05 PM

Thanks. I will give that a try if it ever clears again.

Post Extras:

tboconnor
member

Reged: 01/14/10

Re: CGEM not calibrating with PHD new

[Re: Charlie B]
#5739244 - 03/17/13 05:50 PM

Quote:

I noticed that there is a pre-release of PHD guiding that fixes a problem with QHY5L-II cameras. If you have not yet updated, you may want to try the new version. See here
Charlie B

Im assuming this is for the QHY5L-II color - I have the mono version, and it doesn't work with the pre-release.

Post Extras:

Henry37
member

Reged: 12/05/09

Loc: Georgia

Re: CGEM not calibrating with PHD new

[Re: tboconnor]
#5798728 - 04/14/13 04:15 PM

The problem is resolved. I found the battery voltage to low. Thanks to all for help.

Post Extras:

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