Hello everybody,
I recently purchased a Star Adventurer Astro Photo Set (SA) along with a Mini 50mm Guide Scope and a QHY5L-II Mono Camera to try some basic guided astrophotography.
I'm currently trying to use PHD2 to guide but I'm having issues related to my lack of experience,so I would need some advices...
The load:
Canon 1100d
Tamron 70-300 f/4-5.6
L-Bracket + 1 kg counterweight
TS 50mm Guide scope + QHY cam
The software:
PHD2 V.2.6.4
QHY Drivers 160304
The issues:
1) when guiding (or trying to) the arrow buttons on the SA blink very fast,like 3 times per second. Some SA users reports blinking lights when guiding,but I would be interested to know the correct blinking rate,since 3 per second could be related to some problem.
The manual refers a Motor Error Status either for overload, low battery level or mount blocked by some external force
The total load should be less than maximum, SA is powered via an external power supply (5v)
2) I try to balance as best as I can the weight on the SA, a little east or west heavy depending on where I would start imaging,then I lock the RA clutch a little to avoid rotation prior to start imaging. Should be the RA axis completely free to move when the motor is running? Could the locking of the clutch be the cause of the flashing buttons? I just gently rotate the clutch a bit to prevent rotation,not forcing it.
The outcome:
180 seconds at 300mm,all stars are trailing
PHD2 graph shows corrections sent to the mount,but I don't really know if the SA is receiving the pulses
List of dumb questions:
1) In the PHD2 connect equipment wizard,where you create a profile for your setup, I entered the focal length of the guide scope (162mm) and the pixel size of the camera (3.75 µm).
What I need to enter as the mount guide speed? 0.5x or 1x sidereal?
2) Should I install ASCOM drivers for the QHY?
In PHD2 I have chosen QHY (ASCOM isn't present as a choice) from the camera drop down menu.
From the QHY manual "Note: 12-bit mode do not support hardware guide port" as Louise from another forum found out. Could the camera be operating in 12 bit mode and so disabling the ST4 port?
The camera properties are greyed out when using non ASCOM drivers,so I can't tell if it's working in 8 or 12 bit mode.
3) Probably the dumbest of all questions: is there a way to surely tell if PHD2 is driving my SA at all?
Apologies for the noobness but I would like to rule out all the problems related to inexperience,it's frustrating when you get one decent night once in a while and you waste most of the time fighting with equipment.
If I can provide more informations or some point is not clear just ask!
It would be nice to have a separate thread dedicated to the Star Adventurer to quickly find hints and suggestions!
I hope all of the above makes sense,not english native
Thank you all and clear skyes
Andrea