×

INDI Library v2.0.6 is Released (02 Feb 2024)

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

Problems with AZ-GTI mount and PHD2

  • Posts: 2247
  • Thank you received: 223
The 3.26 still has the DEC issue from reading the last update off the CN thread. Downgrade to 3.20 instead and do your testing.
3 years 6 months ago #60636

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 226
  • Thank you received: 88
Had a more precise look to the logs, and immediately notice an unexplained variation of the DEC axis position as reported by the motor controller firmware. For instance during the calibration:
[2020-09-23T23:25:15.234 CEST DEBG ];EQMod Mount : "[SCOPE] Current encoders RA=8153754 DE=9502321 "
[2020-09-23T23:25:15.885 CEST DEBG ];EQMod Mount : "[DEBUG] Timed guide North 1250 ms at rate 7.52053  "
[2020-09-23T23:25:15.887 CEST DEBG ];EQMod Mount : "[DEBUG] SetDERate() : rate = 0.5 "
[2020-09-23T23:25:15.887 CEST DEBG ];EQMod Mount : "[MOUNT] SetMotion() : Axis = 2 -- dir=forward mode=slew speedmode=lowspeed "
[2020-09-23T23:25:15.900 CEST DEBG ];EQMod Mount : "[MOUNT] SetSpeed() : Axis = 2 -- period=1329692 "
[2020-09-23T23:25:17.181 CEST DEBG ];EQMod Mount : "[DEBUG] End Timed guide North/South "
[2020-09-23T23:25:17.290 CEST DEBG ];EQMod Mount : "[SCOPE] Current encoders RA=8153804 DE=9502334 "
[2020-09-23T23:25:18.478 CEST DEBG ];EQMod Mount : "[SCOPE] Current encoders RA=8153832 DE=9502332 "
[2020-09-23T23:25:19.455 CEST DEBG ];EQMod Mount : "[SCOPE] Current encoders RA=8153856 DE=9502342 "
[2020-09-23T23:25:19.601 CEST DEBG ];EQMod Mount : "[DEBUG] Timed guide North 1250 ms at rate 7.52053  "
[2020-09-23T23:25:19.604 CEST DEBG ];EQMod Mount : "[DEBUG] SetDERate() : rate = 0.5 "
[2020-09-23T23:25:19.605 CEST DEBG ];EQMod Mount : "[MOUNT] SetMotion() : Axis = 2 -- dir=forward mode=slew speedmode=lowspeed "
[2020-09-23T23:25:19.611 CEST DEBG ];EQMod Mount : "[MOUNT] SetSpeed() : Axis = 2 -- period=1329692 "
[2020-09-23T23:25:20.890 CEST DEBG ];EQMod Mount : "[DEBUG] End Timed guide North/South "
[2020-09-23T23:25:21.533 CEST DEBG ];EQMod Mount : "[SCOPE] Current encoders RA=8153907 DE=9502344 "
[2020-09-23T23:25:22.602 CEST DEBG ];EQMod Mount : "[SCOPE] Current encoders RA=8153934 DE=9502343 "
At the end at the first Timed guide pulse, the DEC axis changes by itself: 9502334, 9502332 then 9502342. Starting from 9502321, the first guide pulse is correct leading to 9502334 (~12-14 steps), then it moves by itself, and the second guide pulse is only 2 steps from 9502342 to 9502344. But 9502344 is almost correct starting from the beginning. Unless another application is moving the mount, I have no explanation. I did not go further, if I understood South guiding works correctly as you reported, I don't know why the firmware makes special corrections on the North axis. I don't own a STM32 dev board to debug the firmware and I suppose their ASCOM driver is closed source. Did you try with the ASCOM eqmod driver ?
It seems they did not solve the issue (or consider this is not a normal usage of the mount) (thanks @Gonzothegreat) What do they mean with 'telescope pointing forwards' ?
An explanation of the existence of these 2 motor firmwares (altaz and eq) may be that the handcontroller is altaz only and always send commands to the motor board as if it was in altaz mode. If the mount is on an eq wedge you then have to change the Dec axis speeds in the motor firmware and that may explain this issue. But not sure.
3 years 6 months ago #60640

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 969
  • Thank you received: 94
Hi everyone
Guys, are we sure the azgti is reporting side of pier correctly?

@OP: (pointing south for now, there maybe different issues crossing the pole to the north) slew east of meridian:
indi_getprop *.TELESCOPE_PIER_SIDE.*

now slew west of meridian:
indi_getprop *.TELESCOPE_PIER_SIDE.*

What's the output of each command?
Cheers and clear skies,
Steve
3 years 6 months ago #60647

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 10
  • Thank you received: 0
Hello everyone.

Last night I tested firmware v3.20 and this solved the problem. But the guiding was not as good as in Windows (I tested too).

It could be an encoders problem? I think I have read in a forum that it should be done, but I'm not sure.

I attach PHD logs from INDI and ASCOM. I can't attach KStars log because it's 48Mb long :-S.

I think that this problem is solved.

Thanks again.
3 years 6 months ago #60716
Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 2247
  • Thank you received: 223
Good to hear you got the main problem sorted out :)
3 years 6 months ago #60717

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 1
  • Thank you received: 0
maybe it is naive, but I just send an email to support in Sky-Watcher. According, the change log in 3.26, it looks like that they added new features and also wanted to improve something for astrophotography in 3.22, then tried to fix some bugs in 3.26, maybe even this bug. Maybe they will pay attention to this problem now... I hope! AZ GTI is a great and unique product on the market with a lot of fans meanwhile.
3 years 5 months ago #61497

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 2247
  • Thank you received: 223
Sky-watcher has always advertised this mount as not being designed for astrophotography, it is a shame they are not spending more time on it.
3 years 5 months ago #61503

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 1
  • Thank you received: 0
Hey, everyone, there's already news here? Guiding over the Astroberry doesn't work for me either. I have similar problems to those described at the beginning. Thank you very much and clear sky
3 years 4 months ago #63216

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 910
  • Thank you received: 86
I have two AZ-GTi's. Love them.
RA guiding is pretty good. DE is often quite bad. But it's still good enough for my AT72EDII.
My rig is not well balanced - need a heavier counterweight (I am using the standard 1 kg).

Using internal guiding.
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
Last edit: 3 years 4 months ago by maxthebuilder.
3 years 4 months ago #63398

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Time to create page: 1.045 seconds