Another attempt in getting Stellarmate to align, or GoTo and Solve, got me nowhere with just "Align Failure"'s message.
I am using a Short Tube Orion 80mm as the scope.
I am using an ioptron cube II pro with 8408 HC as a mount. The mount is currently using the IEQ45PRO driver in stellarmate. Is that the correct driver?
I am using an ZWO ASI120MC-S as the camera. Focused with a Bahtinov mask. I do not know if the setting are correct for the camera. I have tried using the "Default", "Small field", and "Large field" setting in stellarmate. Are catalogs needed to be downloaded to the Raspberry PI for these? Which is the correct setting to use? What is the acceptable error in alignment? Allot of times stellarmate reports a "0 x 0" as the FOV.
I am seeing approx. 6+ stars in the camera captures. Is that to few? Are my current sky conditions to poor to attempt EAA?
Other equipment, Raspberry PI 4 with 4 Gig, Stellarmate 64 bit, 32Gig SD card. Amazon Fire 7th generation tablet.
Tried using a .5x focal reducer on camera, but did not have enough InFocus and had to remove it
Is there something else I am missing.
Help!!!! Please!!!!
Bob
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I really think I have pick the wrong time to test this system.
Normally the spring skies on the east coast are troublesome. Add in worse than normal wet season, clouds and rain. I think we have had rain something like 19 out of 22 weekends. Add in the continuous trail of high atmospheric level smoke coming in from the fires in Western Canada. I can barely see 8 or 8 stars in the sky, with my 72 year old eyes, in my light polluted borttle 7 skies.
Plus a spouse recovering from total Knee replacement keeping me from going to darker skies.
I substituted the Canon DSLR 1100d last night for the ZWQ ASI 120MC-S. and I started to get some action like I expected the system to operate, it did not get a chance to complete. Clouds started rolling in, "Curses Foiled Again".
Will keep trying!
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I am still having problem with the align section and the go/to in target section. I am apparently not getting any plate solving to work. ( See logs on previous entry)
Trying to follow the instructions in the manual. Align section, I was neglecting the rotator Tab. Since I do not have an automatic rotator. That section in the manual is a bit confusing.
In the aligned tab, optical train set up, rotator control tab, does selecting rotator control button mean I have a automatic rotator? Should I check it?
What does "Use Scale" do, does it open another dialoged box?
"Use Position" also need more info, on what it actually does or not do.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
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From what can determine plate solving is not working. I tried 3 time with different log settings. I am trying to send compressed log files now
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Thanks the quick reply.
The mounts goes to the right part of the sky, not to object selected exactly. Then after a few seconds, reports alignment failed. does not attempt to move the mount for a solve. Will try to create logs, next clear night.
Bob
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Thanks for your help. learning what is not in the manual and how to move around in the Android App.
Using a Fire tablet Gen 7 (maybe to old, slow or not design for app), I cannot stop the looping in the camera quick tab. But using my newer phones, I can stop the looping of exposures.
I do not find logging available in the Android app, does that require using a computer simultaneously connected to Stellarmate to do the logging, while using app?
I am still having problems with the align, and "goto and solves". Hope to try to produce logs, next clear opportunity.
Thanks in advance
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Skies have been horrible to say the least, with the smoke from Canada and clouds and rain my urban skies even when reported clear skies have been murky.
I do not know if the ZWO ASI120MC is adequate for my EAA setup. From the mount quick button, I go to an object (Venus easy target), center manually and sync. I get pictures, focus the best I can, try to do a GOTO and Solve from the target screen, mount skews and alignment fails. Should I be using .default, small area or large area solves?.
I am trying to use Amazon Fire 10 7th generation tablet, it works, but I seen to get large lag times. I would like to use my Windows Surface Pro 7+, but I have not found the Stellarmate gadget for windows, just the stellarmate OS. Am I missing something?
After starting EKOS, and selecting any of the icons at the top(focus, align, camera etc.). I can never get a clean screen after that, IE the focus screen stays until i select either the target selection or another top icon, leaving any selection (Target, View, Settings) back to EKOS the screen returns to the last top selected (focus, align, camera, etc.) screen. I would like to be able to clear the screen, to see the pictures the camera is taking full screen. Is the a way to clear the screen?
I have tried to focus using the focus tab, note: "no auto focuser" so manual focusing. Selecting the continuous exposure, and nothing happens. I have to keep using the camera button and the selection window does not stay on the focus star. Is that Normal?
Selection the continuous exposure on the quick camera select buttons, top right screen. Starts continuous exposures, but will not stop with stop button. I have to go to setup and stop EKOS.to gain back control. Am I doing something wrong?
I enjoy playing with new setups, but the most frustrating thing now is the VERY, VERY poor skies. Will try a Canon DSLR, for the camera, next time I can get out It is getting to be bug season, I have to add covering exposed skin, and bug spray.
Current EAA setup
Ioptron Cube II pro mount directly connected to
Raspberry Pi 4 with Stellarmate
ZWO ASI120MC camera ( will try a Canon 1100d)
witi to a amazon fire 10 gen 7 tablet.
Any help will be appreciated.
Bob
both powered from a 250W power bank.
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The mobile Stellarmate apps are changing quickly. Is there a source for current instruction/manual for these apps?
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I seem to have everything working and talking., except the solving issue.
Last night the Scope would go to a very rough find on selected object, maybe 5 degree or more off from object, takes a picture and then fails to solve.
I have been looking for complete instructions for setting up the Stellarmate app on tablet or phone, can't find any addressing the newest app version. Did find one that addressed the area of alignment, was set at default of small area, changed to large, will test on next clear night.
Any other settings that I could test the next clear night?
Bob
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Was able to play inside while family was recovering from surgery. I think I have one problem fixed (maybe*) I change the mount type from EQ 45 to EQ 45 pro. I am using the Ioptron cube ii pro.
Have not been able to get outside to focus the camera and we have had clouded skies on every night I was free.
I have a question on the accuracy setting in stellarmate. What does that do and what parameters effect the setting?
* Cloudy skies and taking care of family member only allows short tests and no definably real life results.
Bob
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I got it to work once, second time it errored. I was not able to get to work on any of the next 5 times.
I will try just using the Pi and VNC from PC, but I will be dealing with a family medical issue the next few days.
To be continued then.
Again thanks for your help.
I hope someone who has been more successful than I, can provide more info.
Bob
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The only goto that works.
1. Set zero position on mount.
2. Use (left/right/up/down to move scope to different position.
3. Hit "Park" command and the mount returns to Zero Position.
Not sure that I follow the second tip. I will see if I can follow and will let you know.
Bob
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Thanks for the quick reply.
Yes, I have the newest sw on Cube.
Yes, I have the Cube II handset serial connected to the PI. Would like to be able to use WiFi via StarFi, but so far have not got that working.
Stellarmate App will move mount, and park the mount. But does nothing on a "Goto and Solve".
The Skywatcher AZ-GTI mount instructions "Youtube" does not require prior alignment.
On the Cube. Starting from the "Parked" position ie zerp position, with mount in home position, GPS linked. The mount has the "skew to target" ability. I should be able to "Goto and Solve" in the Stellarmate app on Cell phone. Am I missing something, or is the it a mount issue.
Bob
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Has anyone got EAA working with stellarmate, raspberry Pi and the Ioptron cube II mount?
I first tried to get the mount to connect via WiFi, but it would not connect. Went to the serial direct connect from Pi to mount, that does connect.
I can get the Stellarmate app on my android phone to park and move the mount (i might have some intermittent dropout problems.), but the stellarmate app's search ie "Goto and Solve" does not move the mount. Is there a setting or something I am missing? Is the Cube II mount compatible to do EAA? Have I bit off more than I can chew? Or do I need to buy the skywatcher AZ_GTI mount?
I am not married to Serial connection, but would like to get both communications methods working.
Newest software on both a 3 and 4 PI and android Samsung galaxy 21.
My final EAA configuration, I hope to have a Model 4 PI, Ioptron Cube II mount, and a Orion Short tube 80MM Scope.
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