8 replies to this topic

[AstroCity]

Hello Cloudy Nights Members,

 

Apologies if this has been asked somewhere deep in the forums. I am having difficulty getting my ASIAIR Mini to read and connect to my Canon DSLR.

 

Here is my current set-up:

 

ZWO AM3 Mount

ZWO ASIAIR Mini

William Optics Redcat 51

Canon EOS Rebel SL3/250D

Bluetti EB3A Portable Power Station

 

I am currently not auto guiding. The ASIAIR Mini can connect and control the AM3 effectively. However, in the app's main page, when selecting the main camera, the only option is "None". My DSLR does not auto-populate in the drop down menu. As such, I am unable to plate solve and polar align via the ASIAIR.

 

I have spoken to tech support, both from ZWO and Canon and have appeared to exhaust all their suggestions with no luck. I have tried the following:

 

Uninstalling & Reinstalling the ASIAIR App

Resetting firmware on ASIAIR App

Confirmed that my DSLR is fully upgraded

Confirmed that the USB cable provided with my DSLR has both power & data lines

Camera settings are switched to: Manual, RAW, Bulb, Auto Power Savings = OFF, WiFi = Disabled

Attempted to connect ASIAIR Mini & DSLR via WiFi  (I was able to connect the two but still the only option is "None" under main camera)

I've tried connecting my DSLR to all 4 USB ports on the ASIAIR mini

 

I think that pretty much covers it. The only thing I can think of is to additionally connect the DSLR to the ASIAIR Mini for continuous power supply via an ACK-E8 cable.

 

If anyone has any suggestions on next steps I could take or if you believe this is a defective ASIAIR model, I'd appreciate it.

 

Note: When my DSLR is connected to the Mini via the USB cable, I'm unable to manually use my DSLR as a "BUSY" message appears. I don't know if this is relevant to anyone.

 

Thanks!

[PeteConrad]

Did ZWO confirm the SL3 should work with the AAP? On their latest DLSR compatibility list that particular model is labeled as "untested"

[AstroCity]

Thanks for the reply! ZWO didn't explicitly say it wouldn't work. Can I ask where you see their latest DSLR compatibility list? This is the list I consulted and it says the Canon 250D has been tested.

 

https://astronomy-im...ct/asiair-plus/

 

 

[vidrazor]

Did you try a different USB cable?

[PeteConrad]

Thanks for the reply! ZWO didn't explicitly say it wouldn't work. Can I ask where you see their latest DSLR compatibility list? This is the list I consulted and it says the Canon 250D has been tested.

 

https://astronomy-im...ct/asiair-plus/

The EOS 250D has been tested, but the Rebel SL3/250D has not.

[AstroCity]

Did you try a different USB cable?

No, I haven't. I used the USB cable that came with the camera and allows me to connect the DSLR to my Macbook to download images - I assumed it would also work for the ASIAIR. Canon tech worker confirmed that it has both power and data lines. I assumed that would have been sufficient no?

 

I suppose I could try another.

[AstroCity]

The EOS 250D has been tested, but the Rebel SL3/250D has not.

Hmmm... interesting. It's my understanding that the EOS Rebel SL3 is the same as the EOS 250D, just a different name.

[vidrazor]

No, I haven't. I used the USB cable that came with the camera and allows me to connect the DSLR to my Macbook to download images - I assumed it would also work for the ASIAIR. Canon tech worker confirmed that it has both power and data lines. I assumed that would have been sufficient no?

I suppose I could try another.

If a new cable still doesn't work, as Pete has pointed out, there's may be a difference in the cameras and yours won't work.

 

If your ASIAIR Mini is within a return period, you may want to consider it and getting this instead. It's more in line with what the ASIAIR Plus has to offer hardware-wise, has a WiFi hotspot to log into, cellphone/tablet software to control, and is a full Windows computer that you can run NINA or Asto Photography Tool on it. It would also free you to use whatever hardware you want to use down the road, as opposed to being locked into ZWO hardware and a handful of cameras.
 

[AstroCity]

If a new cable still doesn't work, as Pete has pointed out, there's may be a difference in the cameras and yours won't work.

 

If your ASIAIR Mini is within a return period, you may want to consider it and getting this instead. It's more in line with what the ASIAIR Plus has to offer hardware-wise, has a WiFi hotspot to log into, cellphone/tablet software to control, and is a full Windows computer that you can run NINA or Asto Photography Tool on it. It would also free you to use whatever hardware you want to use down the road, as opposed to being locked into ZWO hardware and a handful of cameras.
 

Thanks for the suggestion! I won't be able to return the mini but I'll definitely look into those options.