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Ekos Celestron mount pointing error

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Hello All,

I'm trying to use kstars/ekos for controlling my Celestron AVX mount. From the FAQ indilib.org/forum/ekos/3192-ekos-faq.html, it seems straight forward. So I connect USB cable and do visual polar align using mount polarscope and then start and connect ekos. But I see couple of problems
1. When ekos connects, the mount position location shown in kstars is random and never near north pole (i tried initial mount setup using HC to set index positions - but still the position shown is incorrect)
2. When I issue a GOTO from kstars or move mount using 'mount control', mount moves but the 'mount indicator' in kstars doesn't.

I wonder i overlooked any initial setup or configuration but cannot see what it is.

Any suggestions to try out?

Thanks in advance
3 years 9 months ago #56004

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The log from Ekos panel
2020-06-23T20:16:18 Re-enabling debug logging for Celestron AVX...
2020-06-23T20:16:18 Guider port from Celestron AVX is ready.
2020-06-23T20:16:18 Celestron AVX is online.
2020-06-23T20:16:18 Celestron AVX is online.
2020-06-23T20:16:16 CCD Simulator filter is online.
2020-06-23T20:16:16 Guider port from CCD Simulator is ready.
2020-06-23T20:16:16 CCD Simulator is online.
2020-06-23T20:16:15 INDI services started on port 7624.
2020-06-23T20:16:15 Starting INDI services...

log from INDI panel
2020-06-24T01:16:19: [INFO] Debug is enabled. 
2020-06-24T01:16:19: [INFO] Observer location updated: Longitude () Latitude () 
2020-06-24T01:16:19: [INFO] Device configuration saved. 
2020-06-24T01:16:19: [INFO] Saving device configuration... 
2020-06-24T01:16:19: [INFO] Device configuration saved. 
2020-06-24T01:16:19: [INFO] Saving device configuration... 
2020-06-24T01:16:19: [INFO] Device configuration applied. 
2020-06-24T01:16:19: [INFO] Observer location updated: Longitude () Latitude () 
2020-06-24T01:16:19: [INFO] Debug is disabled. 
2020-06-24T01:16:19: [INFO] Loading device configuration... 
2020-06-24T01:16:19: [INFO] Debug is enabled. 
2020-06-24T01:16:19: [WARNING] Mount is NOT aligned. You must align the mount first before you can use it. Disconnect, align the mount, and reconnect again. 
2020-06-24T01:16:19: [INFO] Mount UTC offset: -4.00. UTC time: 2020-06-24T00:16:15. DST: On 
2020-06-24T01:16:19: [INFO] Mount supports guiding. 
2020-06-24T01:16:19: [INFO] Mount is unparked. 
2020-06-24T01:16:19: [INFO] InitPark: No Park data in file /home/<user>/.indi/ParkData.xml: No such file or directory 
2020-06-24T01:16:19: [INFO] Mount tracking is off. 
2020-06-24T01:16:16: [INFO] Mount model: AVX 
2020-06-24T01:16:16: [INFO] Controller version: 5.31 
2020-06-24T01:16:16: [INFO] Celestron AVX is online. 

ekos and indi mount log attached
3 years 9 months ago #56005
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I’m not sure if this will help you but I use a different set up routine with my AVX. So like you I polar align first. Then I do a quick alignment using the hand controller. I use the quick alignment to avoid having to do the other manual alignment routines. From here I plates solve using the sync option to give the mount the coordinates. I usually have to slew to a couple of stars and do a couple of plate solves. On the second or third plate solve I use the solv/slew option to get more accuracy.

I was using APT and I could just tell it to plate solve to Polaris and after that I could get pretty good goto’s. But with EKOS I find I have to do two plate solves minimum and sometimes more. I sent Celestron an email a few weeks back asking them to consider letting third-party software connect to The AVX without the need to use any handset alignment routine. They were not very helpful.

This doesn’t really answer your question. But it may give you a different approach.

Kevin
3 years 9 months ago #56006

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The error message tells you exactly what is wrong. The mount is not aligned. You have to do some sort of alignment using the HC. The alignment gives the mount the information it need to be able to get and set the position.
A quick align is enough, then a solve and sync will refine the position locally. DO NOT do this close to the pole.
3 years 9 months ago #56011

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Yes I saw that alignment message in the log. But I (mistakenly) thought once the computer is connected the mount is just a dummy and alignment module in ekos can do the proper alignment. i'll try quick-align.
3 years 9 months ago #56027

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