I will send a support request on my AZ-GTi/Stellarmate/Canon camera setup but I think it's unlikely to improve much. I'm using it 100% over VNC to my home Google mesh network. The connection is pretty reliable. The AZ-GTi and Canon communicate with Stellarmate over USB - I have the AZ-GTi USB dongle. The connections to that hardware is reliable. That said this camera/mount/computer setup has never worked well. Possibly it's me not finding the right step-by-step instructions, or misunderstanding what I have read, but it's never tracked correctly using Ekos and KStars. As I say, targets are out-of-frame in 20-30 minutes using KStars but stays in frame for 2-3 hours using SynScan. I haven't used Stellarmate in months as it seemed pointless until Paul resurrected this thread but from memory attempting to duplicate SynScan's 3 star alignment in KStars has never been accurate, and sadly Stellarmate has never correctly plate solved a single shot for me on the Raspberry Pi, but plate solving works fine on the same shots when I do it on my Linux machine.

I'm going to attempt to save any special configurations I added, such as NFS mount instructions and a couple of batch files, and then just load the OS from scratch on a new memory card.

Like Paul I pretty much consider the AZ-GTi to be a bust. I'm glad it works for Jasem but it certainly doesn't work here for me. I don't plan on buying any new hardware. If I did it wouldn't be SkyWatcher hardware. The couple of support requests I made with them on this mount resulted in F-U responses saying they don't support astrophotography on the AZ-GTi. It's a fun little mount with SynScan though.

I've only tested for a a few minutes, maybe up to 10 or 15 minutes and I couldn't see any significant drift. Maybe it does gets much more after 2 or 3 hours. I'm not sure what can be done.. maybe actually making use of AUX encoders IS the reason why synscan app can keep such good tracking performance over a long period of time?

Hi Jasem

First the aux. encoders are used for "Freedom Find" (look it up). This allows the scope clutches to be released and the mount moved retaining the scope's position (by another set of encoders on the shaft). This will STOP the aligning processes and so needs to be turned off.

I use Synscan Pro app for my AtlAz and my AZEQ5-GT in EQ mode, in both cases I use the app to turn off the aux. encoders and get great tracking (and sub arc second guiding).

As you know in Indi/Ekos the AZGTi has 2 drivers, one in AltAz mode which is a very old integrated driver called (skywatcherAltAzSimple), this driver look very much like the ASCOM definitions and does not support aux. encoders.

The AZGTi in EQ mode uses the eqmod driver and is completely different (added as third party).
Now I believe this is the driver you use and so cannot be compared it to the AltAzSimple driver.
Now you say you mount works so I checked the driver and found this code and this would explain why your system works.

In eqmodbase.cpp

if (mount->HasAuxEncoders())
{
defineProperty(AuxEncoderSP);
defineProperty(AuxEncoderNP);
LOG_INFO("Mount has auxiliary encoders. Turning them off.");
mount->TurnRAEncoder(false);
mount->TurnDEEncoder(false);
}

So there are 2 options add a comment in Ekos to say AltAz mounts with "Freedom find" are not supported, or add this comment and develop a new driver in the same approach as the eqmod format.

I know how complicated the maths is to track on AltAz mount, because in this type of mount the target and observation position with the time determines the speed and direction of the motors. Unlike in EQ the tracking value is a constant.

Paul

I added AUX encoder detection to SkyWatcher Alt-Az and they are getting turned off by default. However, I remain skeptical that this would have any effect. Please test it and report back.

Jasem,
Which firmware version are you using in your AZ-GTI? Is it the newer one that supports equatorial operation or the original one that only supported Alt-AZ?

Thanks,
Mark

The newer version with equatorial support.

Thanks Jasem
I don’t know what time zone you are in, seems you never stop.
You have done as much as you can hope for, I think it’s going to be clear tonight so I will give a full test.
Paul

I have been using an AZGTi in EQ mode successfully with EKOS for a couple of years, most recently with AZ/EQ firmware 3.39 used only in EQ mode. I just recently bought a new AZGTi with SkyMax 127 combination for AZ visual ‘grab and go’. The AZGTi came loaded with firmware v3.36 (for left hand side AZ use) and I stumbled across this issue that the auxiliary encoders remain engaged even if apparently switched off in SynScan Pro. I updated to the latest v3.39 (still left hand) which changed nothing. The impact of the auxiliary encoders seems to be due to their rather rough granularity, and inaccurate setting up, so that for instance the AZ home position of ‘level, pointing north’ is precisely some arc minutes away in both directions.
I plan to change firmware to the right hand side AZ/EQ v3.39 next, and will report here any differences in the auxiliary encoders operation.

Hi
I have updated INDI (and third party) with Jasem's code.
Started indi to my mount in AltAz mode and received the warning message that Aux. Encoders have been found and have been turned off.
This is good news, so again during daylight (here in London), I carried out a test star alignment on Polaris
1) Goto Polaris
2) Release clutch and pretend to adjust the alignment
3) Sync
4) Goto Vega
5) Goto Polaris
Good news it went back to position 3 and not position 1 which was the previous case.
But before we pop the champagne I will try a real setup tonight (providing that the clouds stay away)
Paul

So I changed to right hand AZ/EQ firmware v3.39 but the AZ mode still retains auxiliary encoders even though apparently turned off in SynScan Pro. I was hoping to use the AZ mode for ’grab and go’ convenience, but with my Astroberry installation I guess I’ll have to change over to EQ mount wedge and EQ mode.

Please don’t give up.
Jasem that code worked.
I aligned on Vega released the clutches and put Vega on the centre and created a sync.
Then did a goto Deneb again centred on star and created a sync.
Then did a goto Vega right bang on the nose.
I’m taking 30 sec subs with round stars and have been spot on Vega for the last 10 mins.
I use Astroberry but to get these latest mods you will need to perform an INDI and Thirdparty updates (see earlier).
Thanks Jasem

Paul - Are you using the EQ or Alt-AZ mode for your subs?

Jasem is a star. He got my Stellarmate working again with at least the Alt-AZ driver from the 3rd-party family. I need to test the EQ driver as I currently have the wedge attached but at least I have a chance of testing again if it doesn't work and I remove the wedge.