350 replies to this topic

[Yoddha]

Thank to Henrik the Dutch tooltips help translation is updated to the latest version! Many thanks Henrik!

Also I'm happy to announce that now there is German translation of User's guide available in the downloads page. Many thanks Martin!

[Yoddha]

Happy holidays to all CN members!

[Yoddha]

Happy New Year! A lot of wishes for health, happiness, success to you and your families! And of couse many wishes for clear skies!

[Yoddha]

The beta version 2.05 is available now The weather here is bad and will be very thankful to hear your feedback, suggestions and ideas!

In short the changes are:
- Bahtinov Aid - works with LiveView and Images in both EOS and CCD mode. It is an incorporation of the Bahtinov Grabber technology into APT
- Canon's library 2.12 integration - 6D and 1D-C are supported now
- Fixed is a bug in turning CCD cooler to OFF
- Fixed is a bug for QHY9
- Some minor CCD fixes
- Some minor tweaks here and there

For the full version:
- Framing masks are upgraded to work with LiveView
- ASCOM focusers with temperature sensor now acts as Temper sensor and can be used, to monitor the ambient temperature, to store the reading as part of the name, to get notifications for refocusing.

There are some changes in the installer program, so take a look if everything is fine there too

Looking forward to see your comments!

P.S. A screen shot http://ideiki.com/as...s/bahtinov2.png

[budman1961]

Ivo,

I have to give you major props for APT! I have recently been able to use the program, it is full featured, and very easy to use.

My best to you, and I look forward to seeing what comes in the future!

Andy

[Yoddha]

Hi Andy,

Many thanks for the kind words! I'm happy that you like APT

[Yoddha]

The newest version of APT – 2.10 is available. The main addition is the Bahtinov Aid panel. It gives possibility to analyze the diffraction spikes from Bahtinov masks and to tune the focus on sub-pixel level. All this becomes possible thank to Neils Noordhoek and his project Bahtinov Grabber. With deep sorrow I learned that Neils passed away before he can see the result of our cooperation. Thank you Neils for all that you shared with our community!

The list of the other changes is below.

2013/02/12 - v.2.10 New features and bug fixes
-Added: Bahtinov Aid - works with LiveView and Images in both EOS and CCD mode
-Added: Canon's library 2.12 integration - 6D and 1D-C are supported now
-Added: Framing masks are upgraded to work with LiveView (full version only)
-Added: ASCOM focusers with temperature sensor now acts as Temper sensor and can be used, to monitor the ambient temperature and etc.
-Fixed: A bug in turning CCD cooler to OFF
-Fixed: A bug for QHY9
-Fixed: A bug when AstroTortilla calls APT in CCD mode
-Fixed: A bug in the scroll when APT is in window mode (not maximized)
-Fixed: A bug in CCD mode, that doesn't allow to make Bias frames
-Fixed: Some minor CCD fixes
-Fixed: Some minor tweaks here and there

The next version is planned to address as much as possible of the already requested features. It is scheduled for the early March.

Don’t be shy and share your images in the APT’s gallery

A screenshot of the new panel - http://ideiki.com/as...s/bahtinov3.png

[CharlesW]

Ivo, I just read with interest how you incorporated the Biula Audio Trigger into your app. My laptop has 3 USB ports so I don't need the audio cable to control my shutter but I would like a less expensive alternative than the Shoestring adaptor to control mirror lockup. Can the Biula Audio trigger be redesigned to control only the lockup function through the 3 pin port on the camera?

[Yoddha]

Hi Charles,

I'm not a guru in this area, but looks that you only have to map the stereo jack to the 3 pins and it should work fine

[Yoddha]

Just for the records to mention that all Digic 4 cameras don't require additional cable.

APT can control the true mirror locking only with the provided USB cable

[budman1961]

Ivo,

Last night was the first night I had the opportunity to work with your software...2 words, very nice! I was using it in conjunction with Astrotortilla, and it functioned perfectly.

I look forward to working with it much more in the future!

Andy

[Yoddha]

Hi Andy,

Many thanks! I happy that APT is in help

Maybe you will share some images in the Gallery?

[end]

One question / feature request: Is there any chance that this could be made to work with FocusMax or to incorporate a similar autofocusing algorithm?

[Yoddha]

Hi End,

Thank you for your interest! I'm working on implementation of auto-focusing and hope to have it in the next one or two versions

[end]

Hi End,

Thank you for your interest! I'm working on implementation of auto-focusing and hope to have it in the next one or two versions

That would be sensational! Thank you for the quick reply!

[Yoddha]

Hello,

With great pleasure I’m announcing that APT 2.20 is available for downloading, just in time for the coming new moon

Since the beta release are fixed some UI bugs, problems with the star catalog...

The full log of changes is:

2013/04/04 - v.2.20 New features and bug fixes
-Added: Smooth image scrolling with Shift and drag
-Added: Debayering in CCD (on camera connection and in settings dialog)
-Added: RGGB GRGB... options for Debayaring
-Added: Centering cross in Bahtinov grabber
-Added: Collimation Aid
-Added: Starts Catalog - 78 (in Object Browser)
-Added: Alignment stars maps (in Object Browser)
-Added: Smart sorting of the grids in Object Browser depending of the column type
-Added: ASCOM mount Sync by star (full version only)
-Added: Dithering without guide scope - APT Dithering (full version only)
-Added: Status for LiveView Exposure in CCD mode
-Added: LV Automation for CCD - auto selects the max binning
-Added: LiveView frames-per-second (FPS) in EOS mode
-Added: CCD Histogram is upgraded with controls for moving Black/White on steps
-Added: Possibility to store up to 5 locations in the Settings dialog
-Added: Check box "Don't save Object Name", Settings->Advanced
-Added: LX200 compatible mounts support, Settings->Advanced
-Added: Object Calculator for CCD mode
-Added: Single_ prefix for Shoot button images
-Added: Focus plan type - stores only one temporary image on the HDD and no images on the camera

-Changed: Faster cross rotation/moving
-Changed: Some UI and work-flow improvements
-Changed: Bahtinov Aid optimizations

-Fixed: A bug with EOS 40D Bulb exposures
-Fixed: 6D EXIF temperature readings
-Fixed: Bug in Plan cloning
-Fixed: No filter change when Pause = 0s
-Fixed: Shoot button file names and storing inconsistency
-Fixed: Minor fixes here and there

-Updated: User's Guide document (the new things are in green)

Looking forward to see your images and to hear your suggestions and opinion!

[Yoddha]

Hello,

There is a new section in the APT's site that contains video tutorials Take a look!

http://www.ideiki.co...tro/Videos.aspx

[madkiwinz]

Hi I have a question regarding APT v2.2 (full version). I have got it installed great and with my canon 1100d not a problem but when I connect my scope I strike a few problems. I have the latest Ascom drivers v6sp2. I can connect to the scope and it picks up that it is a Celestron AVX mount no problems but when I go to slew or sync or Goto I get the error “Cannot slew to coordinates. Exception occurred".
I run the Ascom diag with no problems any ideas.

Paul

[Yoddha]

Hi Paul,

Make sure that the tracking is enabled in the ASCOM dialog. If it is not enabled by a strange reason ASCOM gives error...

Many thanks!

[madkiwinz]

I have gone to the Ascom profile explorer and under Telescope drivers/Celestron it is set to -1(it won't let me change the settings even if I enable the root kit)was there another setting?

Paul

[madkiwinz]

Doh!! user error all sorted, as I hadn't aligned the scope it wouldn't slew....you live and learn.

Paul

[Yoddha]

Paul,

I have tried to post yesterday, that the mount should be tracking or ASCOM will give error... But I'm away with un-relyable connection and the post was not published... It is good that you have found a solution

[Yoddha]

Hello,

I'm happy to announce that the new version of APT is available for download Many thanks for all the help that made it possible!

The usual list of changes is below.

2013/08/16 - v.2.30 New features and bug fixes
-Added: Custom support for QSI cameras (check the User's guide for filter names definition)
-Confirmed: Works with Moravian cameras
-Added: Don't sync EOS clock setting in Advanced Tab
-Added: Import/Export site coordinates from/to ASCOM in Location Tab
-Added: Canon library 2.13 is incorporated
-Added: Correct B or M dial mode check for Shoot button
-Added: Filter wheel usage in EOS mode plans
-Added: Filter name is part of the file names in EOS mode
-Added: Region of Interest in CCD mode
-Added: Meridian Flip Clock (full version only)
-Added: Countdown beeps for the last 3s of a pause in focus plans and delayed execution
-Added: Temperature tab in settings dialog
-Added: Support for USB_Dewpoint sensor
-Added: Cooling/Warming Aid for CCD mode
-Added: Detection of possible thermal shock in CCD mode
-Changed: Faster focuser position feedback

-Moved: ASCOM focuser control is available in the demo version.
-Moved: Sound notifications are available in the demo version.

-Fixed: Problems with EOS 6D
-Fixed: Disappearing Cross
-Fixed: Low LiveView frame rate when Right lens control button is used
-Fixed: TIFF creation crash in EOS mode when long plan is executed
-Fixed: Minor bug in the APT dithering
-Fixed: Minor bug in EOS mode when Auto cancel feature is used
-Fixed: Crash in CCD mode when LiveView is ON and APT is closed
-Fixed: Crash in CCD mode when many images are taken
-Fixed: Bug in Darkness clock when there is no Astro twilight
-Fixed: Minor fixes here and there

-Updated: User's Guide document (the new things are in green)

[Yoddha]

If someone have problem with switching between EOS and CCD mode, just download the archive from the site again

[Yoddha]

There is a small update to fix some recently found problems missed during the beta tests

2013/08/22 - v.2.31 Small update
- Added: Possibility to set CCD temperature in one step by setting Cooling/Warming step to 0
- Changed: When PHD dithering is in progress the PHD Status is updated on every second
- Fixed: Bug in PHD dithering on some computers
- Fixed: Bug in CCD mode when Shoot and Stop combination is used
- Fixed: A bug that generates huge log file in EOS Mode during LiveView. The old file will be automatically cleared
- Fixed: Bug in EOS plan with filter wheel change and 0s pause