I setup phd using sky simulator camera ticked the has gain, but phd's camera settings is grayed out. The image is dark and causes lost star and tracking. I tried all the exposure settings including auto no joy. I get only magnitude 4 or>. Any suggestions, what did I miss?
BR
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The normal gain of simulated camera is 100. You could set it higher in the simulator. If I remember well you can only adjust in ASCOM Alpaca not in the normal ASCOM interface.
I have not moved to Alpaca and have no experience with it, have not even looked at documentation. My needs have always been met with standard ASCOM. The slider only washes out the image no change in real gain so only very bright stars show up and their SNR is too extreme. The sim itself had a pretty good star field it simply does not translate to phd. Should I set up pixel and resolution to my scope cam and let that default to phd?
BR
The normal gain of simulated camera is 100. You could set it higher in the simulator. If I remember well you can only adjust in ASCOM Alpaca not in the normal ASCOM interface.
Looking to your screenshot, the field of view/ image height in armin is set at only 12.4 arcmin. That will not give many stars using the default database G14 down to magnitude 14 . You could download from the hnsky webpage the G17 database down to magnitude 17 for more stars. Put it in the same directory C:\Program Files (x86)\ASCOM_Sky_Simulator
Thank you Han,I have never had the response and help you have kindly provided. Will do as you advise and thank you, hope this solves things as the weather here in West Texas has gone to hell in a hand basket.Do I need to put the g14 and g17 data in separate folders?
Looking to your screenshot, the field of view/ image height in armin is set at only 12.4 arcmin. That will not give many stars using the default database G14 down to magnitude 14 . You could download from the hnsky webpage the G17 database down to magnitude 17 for more stars. Put it in the same directory C:\Program Files (x86)\ASCOM_Sky_Simulator
Thanks Han, Let me first wish you a great Christmas and a prosperous new year.
I tried the g17, also setup multiple focal lengths and resolutions, pixel sizes both in phd, SC and Sky Simulator. The images remain dark and even with a lot of gain in SC the stars are faint, phd just can;t maintain a lock. I appreciate your help but without gain control in phd I don;t think I can test sequences, so will just accept that I sacrifice a few evenings to get my sequence working.
Safe travels, thanksBm
I did run a test today with a FOV of 60 arcmin and 20 arcmin with M13 in the center. See attached screenshots. For 60 arcmin it runs fine but for a FOV=20 armin the image contrast is too low. Most people have a very wide FOV for guiding so this was missed. I will fix it the coming days. Continue with you field test if the weather allows.
Here's hoping Santa does good by you. My next window and a narrow one, Friday 29th. Full moons do not make testing possible, but it wikk givw me a few hours to test.
Bm
I did run a test today with a FOV of 60 arcmin and 20 arcmin with M13 in the center. See attached screenshots. For 60 arcmin it runs fine but for a FOV=20 armin the image contrast is too low. Most people have a very wide FOV for guiding so this was missed. I will fix it the coming days. Continue with you field test if the weather allows.
I made some changes and added a telescope focal ratio setting rather then limiting magnitude. Work for me fine with PHD2 for a small field of view. Just change the default f/7 to f/2.
Thanks again Han, Happy new year, we all need one.I just came in from the observatory getting ready for an expected Friday night effort. Will get on this right away and give you the update.
I made some changes and added a telescope focal ratio setting rather then limiting magnitude. Work for me fine with PHD2 for a small field of view. Just change the default f/7 to f/2.
Greetings Han,Your modification worked great! However I managed to shoot myself in the foot, allowed phd and Cdc to update and now The sequence runs up to the slew to coordinate and crashes. CdC shows no mount movement so it looks like I will need to uninstall and find the older version and start over. Crap! Will get back to you when I get this fixed. You did good,
Bm
I made some changes and added a telescope focal ratio setting rather then limiting magnitude. Work for me fine with PHD2 for a small field of view. Just change the default f/7 to f/2.
I setup phd using sky simulator camera ticked the has gain, but phd's camera settings is grayed out. The image is dark and causes lost star and tracking. I tried all the exposure settings including auto no joy. I get only magnitude 4 or>. Any suggestions, what did I miss?
BR
Hi Billy,
The normal gain of simulated camera is 100. You could set it higher in the simulator. If I remember well you can only adjust in ASCOM Alpaca not in the normal ASCOM interface.
But PHD2 should stretch the image. Did you adjust the " Gamma adjustment slider" in PHD2? See https://openphdguiding.org/man/MainScreen.htm
Han
I have not moved to Alpaca and have no experience with it, have not even looked at documentation. My needs have always been met with standard ASCOM. The slider only washes out the image no change in real gain so only very bright stars show up and their SNR is too extreme. The sim itself had a pretty good star field it simply does not translate to phd. Should I set up pixel and resolution to my scope cam and let that default to phd?
BR
Hi Billy,
The normal gain of simulated camera is 100. You could set it higher in the simulator. If I remember well you can only adjust in ASCOM Alpaca not in the normal ASCOM interface.
But PHD2 should stretch the image. Did you adjust the " Gamma adjustment slider" in PHD2? See https://openphdguiding.org/man/MainScreen.htm
Han
Phd2 guider
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Can you attach a screenshot of the simulator settings? Then I will have a look here with same settings.
Exposure time should be a few seconds
Han
Thanks Han, Sorry I'm such a pain. More than likely it's a case of Stupid me.
Can you attach a screenshot of the simulator settings? Then I will have a look here with same settings.
Exposure time should be a few seconds
Han
Phd2 guider
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Thanks. No problem. We will find problem.
The screenshot of the simulator itself is too small. Can't read the values. Can you also add a copy of the simulator window?
Han
Sorry, did not preview! I still had to zoom some even in preview. Hope these work........
Bm
Thanks. No problem. We will find problem.
The screenshot of the simulator itself is too small. Can't read the values. Can you also add a copy of the simulator window?
Han
Phd2 guider
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Hi Bill,
Looking to your screenshot, the field of view/ image height in armin is set at only 12.4 arcmin. That will not give many stars using the default database G14 down to magnitude 14 . You could download from the hnsky webpage the G17 database down to magnitude 17 for more stars. Put it in the same directory C:\Program Files (x86)\ASCOM_Sky_Simulator
Download G17:
http://www.hnsky.org/software
https://sourceforge.net/projects/hnsky/files/star_databases/g17_star_database_mag17.zip/download
Easier is to increase the field of view/ image height to something like 60 arcmin unless you want to simulate the same situation as your normal setup.
Can you try that? Tell me if this works.
Han
Thank you Han,I have never had the response and help you have kindly provided. Will do as you advise and thank you, hope this solves things as the weather here in West Texas has gone to hell in a hand basket.Do I need to put the g14 and g17 data in separate folders?
Bm
Hi Bill,
Looking to your screenshot, the field of view/ image height in armin is set at only 12.4 arcmin. That will not give many stars using the default database G14 down to magnitude 14 . You could download from the hnsky webpage the G17 database down to magnitude 17 for more stars. Put it in the same directory C:\Program Files (x86)\ASCOM_Sky_Simulator
Download G17:
http://www.hnsky.org/software
https://sourceforge.net/projects/hnsky/files/star_databases/g17_star_database_mag17.zip/download
Easier is to increase the field of view/ image height to something like 60 arcmin unless you want to simulate the same situation as your normal setup.
Can you try that? Tell me if this works.
Han
Phd2 guider
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The G17 should be in the same folder as the G14. Once in the folder you should be able to select G17 or G14.
I'm traveling today. Tomorrow I have more time.
Han
Thanks Han, Let me first wish you a great Christmas and a prosperous new year.
I tried the g17, also setup multiple focal lengths and resolutions, pixel sizes both in phd, SC and Sky Simulator. The images remain dark and even with a lot of gain in SC the stars are faint, phd just can;t maintain a lock. I appreciate your help but without gain control in phd I don;t think I can test sequences, so will just accept that I sacrifice a few evenings to get my sequence working.
Safe travels, thanksBm
The G17 should be in the same folder as the G14. Once in the folder you should be able to select G17 or G14.
I'm traveling today. Tomorrow I have more time.
Han
Phd2 guider
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Hi Billy,
I did run a test today with a FOV of 60 arcmin and 20 arcmin with M13 in the center. See attached screenshots. For 60 arcmin it runs fine but for a FOV=20 armin the image contrast is too low. Most people have a very wide FOV for guiding so this was missed. I will fix it the coming days. Continue with you field test if the weather allows.
Happy holidays.
Han
Here's hoping Santa does good by you. My next window and a narrow one, Friday 29th. Full moons do not make testing possible, but it wikk givw me a few hours to test.
Bm
Hi Billy,
I did run a test today with a FOV of 60 arcmin and 20 arcmin with M13 in the center. See attached screenshots. For 60 arcmin it runs fine but for a FOV=20 armin the image contrast is too low. Most people have a very wide FOV for guiding so this was missed. I will fix it the coming days. Continue with you field test if the weather allows.
Happy holidays.
Han
Attachments:
Phd2 guider
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If your still interested in using it:
I made some changes and added a telescope focal ratio setting rather then limiting magnitude. Work for me fine with PHD2 for a small field of view. Just change the default f/7 to f/2.
Download:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/sky-simulator/files/program/windows_installer/Sky%20Simulator%20v2.0.3.exe/download
See screenshot.
Han
Thanks again Han, Happy new year, we all need one.I just came in from the observatory getting ready for an expected Friday night effort. Will get on this right away and give you the update.
If your still interested in using it:
I made some changes and added a telescope focal ratio setting rather then limiting magnitude. Work for me fine with PHD2 for a small field of view. Just change the default f/7 to f/2.
Download:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/sky-simulator/files/program/windows_installer/Sky%20Simulator%20v2.0.3.exe/download
See screenshot.
Han
Attachments:
Phd2 guider
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Greetings Han,Your modification worked great! However I managed to shoot myself in the foot, allowed phd and Cdc to update and now The sequence runs up to the slew to coordinate and crashes. CdC shows no mount movement so it looks like I will need to uninstall and find the older version and start over. Crap! Will get back to you when I get this fixed. You did good,
Bm
If your still interested in using it:
I made some changes and added a telescope focal ratio setting rather then limiting magnitude. Work for me fine with PHD2 for a small field of view. Just change the default f/7 to f/2.
Download:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/sky-simulator/files/program/windows_installer/Sky%20Simulator%20v2.0.3.exe/download
See screenshot.
Han
Attachments:
Phd2 guider
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