11 replies to this topic

[cpdouglas]

Hi Everyone,

I'm having Dec alignment problems when I try to slew my mount to a target.

My setup is NINA/EQMOD/EQ6-R Pro/EdgeHD 11.

I use NINA's 3 point polar alignment for alignment (which seems to work), then try to slew to the target.

The problem is that it has stopped acquiring the target.

It slews, does a plate solve, says that the telescope is not in alignment and then just keeps repeating this process.
It looks like the reason it never properly aligns with the target is because the Dec error stops decreasing and just hovers around some relatively large value.

 

For example, from last nights attempt to target the Whale Galaxy
Time           RA Error          Dec Error
23:17:14    -00:00:10         -00 04' 39"
23:16:28    -00:00:09         -00 04' 40"
23:15:42    -00:00:10         -00 04' 40"
23:14:55    -00:00:09         -00 04' 41"

 

Further, when I gave up and homed the mount.  The Dec dial didn't return to 0, it looks like it's off by a few degrees.

Does anyone have any idea what might be happening?

I'd appreciate any help...

Thanks

[deSitter]

Hi Everyone,

I'm having Dec alignment problems when I try to slew my mount to a target.

My setup is NINA/EQMOD/EQ6-R Pro/EdgeHD 11.

I use NINA's 3 point polar alignment for alignment (which seems to work), then try to slew to the target.

The problem is that it has stopped acquiring the target.

It slews, does a plate solve, says that the telescope is not in alignment and then just keeps repeating this process.
It looks like the reason it never properly aligns with the target is because the Dec error stops decreasing and just hovers around some relatively large value.

 

For example, from last nights attempt to target the Whale Galaxy
Time           RA Error          Dec Error
23:17:14    -00:00:10         -00 04' 39"
23:16:28    -00:00:09         -00 04' 40"
23:15:42    -00:00:10         -00 04' 40"
23:14:55    -00:00:09         -00 04' 41"

 

Further, when I gave up and homed the mount.  The Dec dial didn't return to 0, it looks like it's off by a few degrees.

Does anyone have any idea what might be happening?

I'd appreciate any help...

Thanks

Is this a servo-motor mount? They can develop problems with the encoders losing track, either because the encoder wheel is fouled or in the wrong place, or more likely the the counter is losing track. Instead of trying to align, just slew in DEC from 90 to 0 and back.

 

-drl

[Sunsparc]

Was the mount powered up in Home position? Counterweight bar pointed straight down, DEC along the same axis as the mount body.

[Son of Norway]

I had this happen to me once.  It turned out that NINA wasn't getting a new image from the camera, it just kept plate-solving the same image.  Some kind of data transfer problem.  As I recall I tried a new cable and restarted the application.  That solved the problem.

[cpdouglas]

Is this a servo-motor mount? They can develop problems with the encoders losing track, either because the encoder wheel is fouled or in the wrong place, or more likely the the counter is losing track. Instead of trying to align, just slew in DEC from 90 to 0 and back.

 

-drl

I'll try to slew from 90-0, but this worked fine last year...
Do you think the board is bad?

Thanks!

[cpdouglas]

Was the mount powered up in Home position? Counterweight bar pointed straight down, DEC along the same axis as the mount body.

Yes... it's starting in the classic home position, then I'm doing a polar alignment.

After that I either slew to the target or park first, then slew to the target. 

Fails in either case

Thanks!

[cpdouglas]

I had this happen to me once.  It turned out that NINA wasn't getting a new image from the camera, it just kept plate-solving the same image.  Some kind of data transfer problem.  As I recall I tried a new cable and restarted the application.  That solved the problem.

Ahh.. this is interesting!

Didn't think of this possibility!...

 

I'm able to polar align using plate solving so this transfer problem only happens when I try to slew?....

Weird... but definitely worth investigating!

I'll change the cable and check the logs

Thanks!

[awilliams]

I had a similar issue. Changing the sync mode in eq mode from "append on sync" to "dialogue based" seems to help. Clearing the sky model in eqmod when it happens fixed it for me as well.

[Yomamma]

I have also had a similar problem with my EQ6R Pro RA being off after going home.

 

I am wondering if having two different software controllers accessing the mount may sometimes cause a hiccup with updating the location. I know ASCOM is supposed to be able to deal with this but that is when I have experienced this problem.

 

I usually always have an independent ASCOM controller connection in addition to my Sharpcap camera mount connection. I will use both during a session.  It is really weird because it only happens occasionally.

[cpdouglas]

I had a similar issue. Changing the sync mode in eq mode from "append on sync" to "dialogue based" seems to help. Clearing the sky model in eqmod when it happens fixed it for me as well.

Thanks!.... I don't know EQMOD well, but I'll look for these settings

[cpdouglas]

I have also had a similar problem with my EQ6R Pro RA being off after going home.

 

I am wondering if having two different software controllers accessing the mount may sometimes cause a hiccup with updating the location. I know ASCOM is supposed to be able to deal with this but that is when I have experienced this problem.

 

I usually always have an independent ASCOM controller connection in addition to my Sharpcap camera mount connection. I will use both during a session.  It is really weird because it only happens occasionally.

This setup worked for the last few years...

And I didn't upgrade the software before it stopped working...

So maybe a cable or power supply isn't working properly
Going to change a bunch of cables.. see if that makes a difference..
Thanks!

[luxo II]

For example, from last nights attempt to target the Whale Galaxy

Time           RA Error          Dec Error
23:17:14    -00:00:10         -00 04' 39"
23:16:28    -00:00:09         -00 04' 40"
23:15:42    -00:00:10         -00 04' 40"
23:14:55    -00:00:09         -00 04' 41"

 

Further, when I gave up and homed the mount.  The Dec dial didn't return to 0, it looks like it's off by a few degrees.

I've seen similar with an AZEQ6 I had and I'm pretty sure the culprit is that the mount has stored and is applying a "Dec offset". It does this for all declinations including the Park position, and its saved in the firmware (ie non-volatile memory).

 

Using a handset it occurs during the initial setup when, after a 2 or 3 star alignment it computes a dec offset and subsequently it will ask "Apply Dec Offset ?" if you answer Y the number is stuck in the mount firmware thereafter.

 

This parameter is alluded to in the manual on page 8, under 4. Auto-homing, yet says nothing about when it's actually set, and no mention of how to clear it. One way I found by accident is to clear it is to do a 1-star alignment; thereafter I always levels the tripod carefully and never used 2 or 3 star alignments.

Edited by luxo II, 20 March 2025 - 11:57 PM.