7 replies to this topic

[DanMiller]

This has just been one of those nights.  Man.

First, connection issues which really comes down to I need a new powered USB hub.  And probably cables. BUT

    Spend over an hour trying to figure out why something just would not connect.

        Uh duuu, I didn't have the USB plugged in for that speicific device.

         * I did this a number of times, so that just made it worse.

 

On top of that, EAF wanted a firmware update that I didn't see coming.  But between not knowing I had the wrong equipment plugged in or having real connection issues.  Lets just say it was a wonderful jump and down experience.

 

Then I just had a weird one.  My mount kept grabbing the com port even before I tried to connect it.  I missed that for a good bit of time.  But once I seen that the com port was being denied, and not a connnect issue.  I rebooted, checked the device manager before bringing up N.I.N.A. and seen the com port taken by the mount.  Disable/Enable.  If in doubt, throw that bad boy out.  That resolved that issue.

 

So, lets say I wasted.  Eh, 4 hours fighting this.  I kept saying, I give up.   But I didn't.  Clear sky right now is to far and inbetween to waste.  So, I kept at it.  I finally got an image session running.  We will see how this goes.  I think I will stay awake long enough to see the flip to see if anything else wierd happens.

 

I just kept seeing the old Benny Hill skits in my head as I did this where he would do the slap on top of the head.

 

 

Dan

        

[imtl]

Your posts are very social media style. You're funny.

[DanMiller]

Your posts are very social media style. You're funny.

I'm not right, I know.  Thats ok.  The voices in my head tell me, don't worry.  Be happy.

 

Dan

[hyiger]

I'm not right, I know.  Thats ok.  The voices in my head tell me, don't worry.  Be happy.

 

Dan

Anyway, I now have "Yakety Sax" stuck in my head...

[DanMiller]

It was frustrating, what can I say.  I look at it this way.  At least I can find humor in what I thought was a terrible night.  And I haven't seen the meridian flip yet, which I am worried about.  We will see.

 

Dan

[BucketDave]

I occasionally have nights like that. The more it happens, the more i think i'd like an observatory in the back garden. Everything aligned permanently, hooked up permanently, no software updating etc etc.

At least you're outside Dan. I've had thee nights imaging at home since the start of December and one of those was just an hour or two. It's been a bit like rock climbing in winter - all we get to do is go into a climbing shop, fondle the shiny toys and dream... (except that we read CN instead!).

What's tonight's target?

Edited by BucketDave, 14 April 2024 - 02:46 AM.

[Sheridan]

Benny Hill, now that's a blast from the past.

[DanMiller]

Well, it looks like everything went ok. I thought that I had another clear night tonight, but doesn't look like it is happening.  I was hoping to leave everything set up the way it was, but looks like I have to tear everything down except the mount and scope.  I will be pulling my cables and everything because it appears the connections have got damp and are corded.  Moisture getting under the tarp with the wind I would imagine. All new cables AGAIN are on my shopping list.

 

But hey, I got a night of imaging in.  The good thing is, I had the manual rotator on and did set a rotation.  So, the rotation is stored in both the sequence and the files created.

 

So, even with all the things that happened tonight.  Here is a list of the good things.
1). I thought I had issues with power with the DSLR, doesn't appear to be.  It imaged till 5am this morning.
2). I took the time and rebalanced out the mount and tripod a couple weeks ago.  This seems to have paid off.  It was a more consistent night.
3). I have the latest firmware for the EAF and I should be good with that for awhile
    ** I normally don't like doing things like that in the dark when I am stark raving mad, but I got it done.
4). Last time I imaged, every time autofocus would launch from the sequence I had built.  it would mess up my dither counts.  I would have multiple ditthers happen one right after the other. This did not occur last night.  There were issues with the camera I was using and NINA didn't have the proper pixel size and focal length.  This came back from ASCOM driver wrong, which I am looking at.
5). Autofocus. I changed the trigger I used in the sequence to launch autofocus only when the HFR changed 5 percent.  This will probably be the pits when clouds roll in.  But I think I like that trigger better.
6). I had previously taken the time to level out my mount again.  It really needed it.  This appears to have helped with a lot of things.  I think I am going to look at that again. Maybe

 

so, after everything.  It actually turned out to be a good night of testing and imaging

 

Dan