6 replies to this topic

[130FeetDeep]

I was wondering if anyone has experience with the Moonlight NiteCrawler rotation and NINA for a couple questions?

First, let me say I am an imager only. I am trying to set up the rotator to use for my imaging. If I leave the mechanical limits at 190 degrees each side, I just coil my cables too much. I was hoping I could go 100 degrees each side and NINA accept the image may be “flipped” versus what framing wizard would show. I plan on testing tonight, so I was hoping I could get some guidance first.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[ghilios]

Open up the focuser options page. You can set mechanical limits to a 180 degree range.

[130FeetDeep]

Open up the focuser options page. You can set mechanical limits to a 180 degree range

With a 180 degree limit, NINA will still plate solve then rotate and accept a “flipped” image versus what the framer request was? I just don’t want NINA to go into a loop then fail.

 

if this works, why would anyone run a full 360? It just feels like a snag waiting to happen.

[kevinkiller]

I had trouble with NINA's Slew/Center/Rotate never settling on a rotation (it just kept adjusting forever) until I checked the "Reverse" button in the NINA Equipment tab.   Strangely, the reverse option in the ASCOM driver didn't seem to help at all.

[lucam]

I had trouble with NINA's Slew/Center/Rotate never settling on a rotation (it just kept adjusting forever) until I checked the "Reverse" button in the NINA Equipment tab.   Strangely, the reverse option in the ASCOM driver didn't seem to help at all.

This is very important. Before you start limiting rotation ensure that Slew/Center/Rotate converges rapidly (two iterations should be all it takes). Once that's out of the way, you can test limiting mechanical rotation to 180 degrees.

[yzhzhang]

I guess you just have to set the mechanical limit to 90deg in NINA rotator setup..

[130FeetDeep]

I had trouble with NINA's Slew/Center/Rotate never settling on a rotation (it just kept adjusting forever) until I checked the "Reverse" button in the NINA Equipment tab.   Strangely, the reverse option in the ASCOM driver didn't seem to help at all.

I did some research on this one and know quite a bit more now then when I originally posted this. Huge thanks to those for helping me on the NINA discord!
 
NINA 2.x required an auto-rotator to turn clockwise to target. That is to say from your zero point to say 180 degrees, the rotator should be turning clockwise. As an example, if your 0 point for your rotator is 1 o'clock, then in 2.x, NINA would require it to turn to 3 then 6 etc.

NINA 3.x requires the auto-rotator to turn counter clockwise. With the same above example, the rotator turning from your 0 point to 180 should be rotating counter clockwise. If your 0 is 1 o'clock, then it should be turning toward 12 o'clock then 9 o'clock, etc.

This means you need to test your rotator when you advance the rotation to determine which direction it is rotating. Mine was rotating clockwise. I wasn't sure if I should use the NiteCrawler ASCOM "reverse" or the command on NINA, so I tested both. The NiteCrawler ASCOM reverse check box did nothing in NINA. The reverse button in NINA has it now rotating counter clockwise as NINA 3.x requires.

Next, I see no reason to go for 360 degree rotation because it seems to increase the likelihood of cable issues. I felt that 180 degree rotation would work because, well, we all get flipped images after the meridian flip.That is part of the game, so why risk that much rotation and the potential headaches it can cause. I selected 180 and I have been told that NINA's Slew, Center, and Rotate will solve to the correct rotation and accept if the image is inverted versus your framing. To be clear, setting the mechanical limit to 180 allows you to go from your "0" point (set in the NiteCrawler non-ASCOM program) counter clockwise to 179 degrees. Sadly, the unrelenting clouds have not allowed me to verify this just yet. I will report back when I can confirm.

Edited by 130FeetDeep, 21 May 2025 - 09:34 PM.