Thanks so very much for taking the time, in a clear precise way, without disturbing music. Very well done and extremely helpful. I wish the software writers and telescope makers made such informational video's.
Absolutely awesome video for a guide beginner like me. i'm going straight to your second video, can't thank you enough for taking the time to record it .
This is going to be interesting … first I contacted celestron to see what cables I need to plug in first 😂 as I wait I’ll learn PHD2. I’m using an alt az and im not looking to be as perfect as you but the general facility without extreme trails, with low wobbles. 😄 I downloaded PHD2, now I just got to get a guide scope and an imaging train together for my CPC Deluxe 925… 👀 I’m worried more about backlash. 🤷♂️ I don’t want to fry the chip with quick response, if it time lags in resolving that’s fine… that’s what backlash is for… i think 🤷♂️ Assuming you are on a eq mount I double the length in my estimate as ra 25 and dec 58, it’s going to be on a wedge so right ascension will be easy as its the whole mount turning while declination is the vertical. 😃 i get poked in the eye alot with being alt az, at first I’m not going to be conservative with my guide cam and when I get good enough hopefully i can hit 1.5 to 2 second exposure after I align and pec.
I started a very similar way. LX200. Alt-Az. Wedge. After 2 years of fiddling about I had one image that while I was proud of at the time, looks like a comedy of errors to me now. I’m using a $600 scope on a $800 used mount now and wish I’d just sold the LX when people suggested I not try to learn AP on it. While not perfect and still a lot to learn, my images would be magazine quality 30 years ago. The right equipment makes all the difference.
I had RMS of 0.45 seconds of arc when I used Sharpcap as my alignment tool. Yes I have photos with 2 minute subs and they are round except for not having well aligned optics.
I'm using PHD2 2.6.9dev4 using the multiple star feature as introduced by Dylan O'Donnell. So far I've only tried this in sim mode. My question to you is that while I'm in sim mode if I change the Pixel size to my QHY 5L-ll M's pixel size of 3.75 I keep losing the star (sim mode). What's going on? Should I switch this to 3.75 in the field? I'm pretty new to this stuff and your video is just what I've been looking for. Thanks.
Great videos-twice got me over humps of giving up. My question: When I go through steps of setup in first video then come to the calibration, I loop and first go to manual guiding and I can't get my star to move as you did. If I loop then select a star then hit PHD, the graph populates and starts trend lines and for objects close to the equator it seems to track and allegedly puts pulses to help it track. However on objects closer to the celestial pole, it does not track well...it goes out of bounds and says my RA and DEC max are too low. I increased these to 4000 but no joy. I suspect now that the PHD software is not actually sending signals to my mount-that my mount tracking motor is doing all the work and the pulses I see to correct tracking are virtual? I have selected Generic Hub (ASCOM) for connection to mount as I do not see my mount. On another video someone said you have to download the ASCOM software to your computer. I am going to try this next but wonder if there is some trick to verifying that your PHD software is sending signal to mount prior to calibrating?? I would assume the manual guiding would be the way. Is there something I am doing wrong? It appears that when I select manual guiding, the looping stops. I have Celestron CGEM DX mount and Celestron telescope for imaging and 60 mm Orion guidescope with Orion Starshoot Autoguider PRO camera for guiding. The laptop I am using for all this runs Windows 10. I downloaded the PHD 2 software version 2.6.4. Thanks in advance for any help!
+Libby Kozlowski Not much to say really. WDM Native mode, I think I chose YUY2. Since making this video I started using the new PHD QHY test version which can be downloaded from the PHD2 Google group. After several nights of testing it seems to have fixed the reliability issues of my 5LII: groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!topic/open-phd-guiding/VC9zliAbe4w
The host's version of PHD2 is not the same as mine (which is 2.6.9). So, unfortunately, the menu structure is different, making it nearly impossible to follow.
Matthew, I'm watching your video with hopes I can get my autoguiding to work. Your video is fairly recent Oct 2015 and you are using Ver 2.5.0. Are you using the new 2.6.1? Or do you recommend sticking with the 2.5.0. I did notice at first light the contents in the tabs is similar but not the same. Thanks, Al
Question: do you turn off tracking that is set in the hand controller for the mount before calibration and during guiding? Using iOptron Controller on laptop and that the tracking check box is automatically engage whenever I slew to a target. Makes sense. I have yet to be able to calibrate using PHD2; failed star movement errors. The connections to the mount are sound, but the that tracking by the mount, itself, is enabled and would seem to be fighting against the PHD calibration commands. Thank you for a very informative video.
Sorry but I won't be much good at individual equipment setups. I only used my Atlas and don't use a hand controller at all. You might try the CloudyNights forums for specific gear questions.
+Stevan Plavsa I couldn't reliably connect using the any of the 3 available selections for QHY cameras in 2.5.0. However I've been using the beta QHY test version for several nights now and have yet to experience any disconnects or crashes: groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!topic/open-phd-guiding/VC9zliAbe4w
If you get sub 10 arc second accuracies with Sharpcap polar alignment is the drift star necessary? Will doing this step after that alignment method+drift alignment improve your PhD2 guiding?
@@vanarchy8037 I am watching your PhD2 video because there aren't too many good ones on the topic. You cover a lot in the first video. Haven't watched the second one yet.
Thanks for sharing this awesome tutorial it is very useful. One question i have thouhg is should i turn on or off Dec compensation in phd2. I have the 2.6.3 version. Maybe if i do so i should disable it on my controllers avx mount. And what about dithering? Should i check do it random, spiral or better just in Ra only? Thanks in advance
I hope no question is too stupid for a beginner. lol This is my first guide scope and ever using guide software. I am a little lost at what the Calibration Declination Degrees field is for? Also, would you not start running this your guider/PHD until you had your DSO in view with your main OTA? Get back when you can. Thanks!
Calibration Declination Degrees is the Dec that your scope is currently pointed at during calibration. My Atlas is hooked up via EQMOD so this autopopulates whenever I open the tool Its not terribly critical since the Calibration Step Calculator is just a tool to help you figure out what to put in the Calibration Step (ms) field. Manually change the Calibration Step field up or down until you you get the required calibration star movement in 10-15 steps. The Calibration Step (ms) won't need to be touched again unless you get a different guide cam or guide scope. I start PHD before sunset to make sure the camera is connected and everything is working. As soon as I can make out Polaris with my naked eye I'll use the polar alignment tool in PHD which requires me to target stars near the CE. Once my PA is
For the mount or do you mean the camera? There should be plenty of videos on setting up an equatorial mount and others that offer specifics on your particular brands of equipment.
I am using my MacBook for this program using the ASI120MM-S and I can't seem to make it work. It says that it is connected to the camera but that's as far as it gets. Much to learn but do you have any tips?
I too started AP using a Mac and spent many frustrating hours tweaking things to try to make them work. What I found is that a $230 laptop from Fry's is a heck of a lot cheaper than all the wasted hours making stuff work. This video was recorded on that $230 laptop.
Things change very fast. I can run now (7 month after your reply) my ASI120MC-S camera with PHD2 2.6.3dev7 on my MacBook Pro without any problem. Thanks very much for these tutorials.
Are you using ST4 guiding to get around not having EQMOD on your Mac, or are you using EQMAC? I couldn't get it working with my EQDIRECT cable but I only messed with it for 20 minutes or so. I would like to use an all-OSX workflow if I can, to save myself from using a Windows VM and having to use a power inverter in the field for my charger.
This tutorial probably was good when it was published in Oct of 2015. It is now, October 2017. This version is 2.5.0. The version of Oct 2017 is 2.6.3. It looks a lot like this old version but when you open it up, the views of Global settings and other settings are completely different. So basically, if you have the 2.5.0 version this tutorial will work. If you have the latest version, you will STILL BE LOST because PHD has changed everything. Like most software updates, the software writers 'think' they've helped. They have not. So, if you have the new version, you might want to skip this tutorial. Maybe it'll help but if you are depending on being guided step by step, you lose out on the first mouse click...Just sayin... It might be time to re accomplish this video. I appreciate it being here, it's just of little value.
Been meaning to make a new video but life has a way of making that difficult. I recently got the new version and although things have moved around, it appeared that most features have the same name and function. Still, it's definitely overdue that I update this video.
Thanks. I'm new, as you once were, and absolutely and totally lost and desperately looking for step by step help. The issue is with the software guys. I very much appreciate the program being available and I'm sure the changes were for the better but as someone who lacks the skills to operate the darned thing, it isn't me. So, did I mention, I'm desperate for help. Thanks. I DO appreciate your efforts. I saw the software guys on an hour long discussion of the proram's finer points on the astroimaging channel. They're smart guys. But out of my class. I am well educated but with interpreting software, somewhere way down the slope. Thanks for helping me. PS, it is my belief that I'm not alone.
Thanks so very much for taking the time, in a clear precise way, without disturbing music. Very well done and extremely helpful. I wish the software writers and telescope makers made such informational video's.
For being new to this you know a lot. What I've been looking for !!
thanks,
Monty
It's been very useful to me, as a beginner at PHD2 guiding! Thanks!!
Absolutely awesome video for a guide beginner like me. i'm going straight to your second video, can't thank you enough for taking the time to record it .
Thanks for putting the effort to create such an excellent tutorial.
This is going to be interesting … first I contacted celestron to see what cables I need to plug in first 😂 as I wait I’ll learn PHD2.
I’m using an alt az and im not looking to be as perfect as you but the general facility without extreme trails, with low wobbles. 😄 I downloaded PHD2, now I just got to get a guide scope and an imaging train together for my CPC Deluxe 925… 👀
I’m worried more about backlash. 🤷♂️ I don’t want to fry the chip with quick response, if it time lags in resolving that’s fine… that’s what backlash is for… i think 🤷♂️
Assuming you are on a eq mount I double the length in my estimate as ra 25 and dec 58, it’s going to be on a wedge so right ascension will be easy as its the whole mount turning while declination is the vertical. 😃 i get poked in the eye alot with being alt az, at first I’m not going to be conservative with my guide cam and when I get good enough hopefully i can hit 1.5 to 2 second exposure after I align and pec.
I started a very similar way. LX200. Alt-Az. Wedge. After 2 years of fiddling about I had one image that while I was proud of at the time, looks like a comedy of errors to me now. I’m using a $600 scope on a $800 used mount now and wish I’d just sold the LX when people suggested I not try to learn AP on it. While not perfect and still a lot to learn, my images would be magazine quality 30 years ago. The right equipment makes all the difference.
I had RMS of 0.45 seconds of arc when I used Sharpcap as my alignment tool. Yes I have photos with 2 minute subs and they are round except for not having well aligned optics.
Well done mate and thanks for going to all that effort. It's appreciated.
Very basic question. Am I correct in assuming that you slew to your target first and then pick a guide start that is close? Thanks.
Great Video Tutorial. Keeps it at the right level for a beginner like me. Thanks
Great video! Thank you for creating this.
I'm using PHD2 2.6.9dev4 using the multiple star feature as introduced by Dylan O'Donnell. So far I've only tried this in sim mode. My question to you is that while I'm in sim mode if I change the Pixel size to my QHY 5L-ll M's pixel size of 3.75 I keep losing the star (sim mode). What's going on? Should I switch this to 3.75 in the field?
I'm pretty new to this stuff and your video is just what I've been looking for. Thanks.
Really helpful - thanks.
Excellent video helped me a lot thanks
Great videos-twice got me over humps of giving up. My question:
When I go through steps of setup in first video then come to the calibration, I loop and first go to manual guiding and I can't get my star to move as you did. If I loop then select a star then hit PHD, the graph populates and starts trend lines and for objects close to the equator it seems to track and allegedly puts pulses to help it track. However on objects closer to the celestial pole, it does not track well...it goes out of bounds and says my RA and DEC max are too low. I increased these to 4000 but no joy.
I suspect now that the PHD software is not actually sending signals to my mount-that my mount tracking motor is doing all the work and the pulses I see to correct tracking are virtual? I have selected Generic Hub (ASCOM) for connection to mount as I do not see my mount. On another video someone said you have to download the ASCOM software to your computer. I am going to try this next but wonder if there is some trick to verifying that your PHD software is sending signal to mount prior to calibrating?? I would assume the manual guiding would be the way. Is there something I am doing wrong? It appears that when I select manual guiding, the looping stops.
I have Celestron CGEM DX mount and Celestron telescope for imaging and 60 mm Orion guidescope with Orion Starshoot Autoguider PRO camera for guiding. The laptop I am using for all this runs Windows 10. I downloaded the PHD 2 software version 2.6.4.
Thanks in advance for any help!
I also have a QHY5L-IIM guide camera. I am interested in your detailed setup when you select the WDM driver.
+Libby Kozlowski Not much to say really. WDM Native mode, I think I chose YUY2. Since making this video I started using the new PHD QHY test version which can be downloaded from the PHD2 Google group. After several nights of testing it seems to have fixed the reliability issues of my 5LII: groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!topic/open-phd-guiding/VC9zliAbe4w
The host's version of PHD2 is not the same as mine (which is 2.6.9). So, unfortunately, the menu structure is different, making it nearly impossible to follow.
Matthew, I'm watching your video with hopes I can get my autoguiding to work. Your video is fairly recent Oct 2015 and you are using Ver 2.5.0. Are you using the new 2.6.1? Or do you recommend sticking with the 2.5.0. I did notice at first light the contents in the tabs is similar but not the same. Thanks, Al
Use the most recent version. Some of the items have moved or changed name but it's 99% the same interface that this video describes.
Thanks, very halpful video!
Question: do you turn off tracking that is set in the hand controller for the mount before calibration and during guiding? Using iOptron Controller on laptop and that the tracking check box is automatically engage whenever I slew to a target. Makes sense. I have yet to be able to calibrate using PHD2; failed star movement errors. The connections to the mount are sound, but the that tracking by the mount, itself, is enabled and would seem to be fighting against the PHD calibration commands. Thank you for a very informative video.
Sorry but I won't be much good at individual equipment setups. I only used my Atlas and don't use a hand controller at all. You might try the CloudyNights forums for specific gear questions.
Hi, thanks for the video, it's really helpful. I have the same camera and am wondering why the WDM driver is better than the QHY one?
+Stevan Plavsa I couldn't reliably connect using the any of the 3 available selections for QHY cameras in 2.5.0. However I've been using the beta QHY test version for several nights now and have yet to experience any disconnects or crashes: groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!topic/open-phd-guiding/VC9zliAbe4w
If you get sub 10 arc second accuracies with Sharpcap polar alignment is the drift star necessary? Will doing this step after that alignment method+drift alignment improve your PhD2 guiding?
Dan Kahraman you just need to be aligned well enough that you aren’t throwing out frames because of elongated stars. How you get there is up to you.
@@vanarchy8037 I am watching your PhD2 video because there aren't too many good ones on the topic. You cover a lot in the first video. Haven't watched the second one yet.
Thanks for sharing this awesome tutorial it is very useful. One question i have thouhg is should i turn on or off Dec compensation in phd2. I have the 2.6.3 version. Maybe if i do so i should disable it on my controllers avx mount. And what about dithering? Should i check do it random, spiral or better just in Ra only?
Thanks in advance
Carlumba93 I’m wondering same thing, phd2 hates my avx dec motion
I hope no question is too stupid for a beginner. lol This is my first guide scope and ever using guide software. I am a little lost at what the Calibration Declination Degrees field is for? Also, would you not start running this your guider/PHD until you had your DSO in view with your main OTA? Get back when you can. Thanks!
Calibration Declination Degrees is the Dec that your scope is currently pointed at during calibration. My Atlas is hooked up via EQMOD so this autopopulates whenever I open the tool Its not terribly critical since the Calibration Step Calculator is just a tool to help you figure out what to put in the Calibration Step (ms) field. Manually change the Calibration Step field up or down until you you get the required calibration star movement in 10-15 steps. The Calibration Step (ms) won't need to be touched again unless you get a different guide cam or guide scope.
I start PHD before sunset to make sure the camera is connected and everything is working. As soon as I can make out Polaris with my naked eye I'll use the polar alignment tool in PHD which requires me to target stars near the CE. Once my PA is
Ohhhhkaaay.... What about the physical setup???
For the mount or do you mean the camera? There should be plenty of videos on setting up an equatorial mount and others that offer specifics on your particular brands of equipment.
I am using my MacBook for this program using the ASI120MM-S and I can't seem to make it work. It says that it is connected to the camera but that's as far as it gets. Much to learn but do you have any tips?
I too started AP using a Mac and spent many frustrating hours tweaking things to try to make them work. What I found is that a $230 laptop from Fry's is a heck of a lot cheaper than all the wasted hours making stuff work. This video was recorded on that $230 laptop.
Things change very fast. I can run now (7 month after your reply) my ASI120MC-S camera with PHD2 2.6.3dev7 on my MacBook Pro without any problem. Thanks very much for these tutorials.
Are you using ST4 guiding to get around not having EQMOD on your Mac, or are you using EQMAC? I couldn't get it working with my EQDIRECT cable but I only messed with it for 20 minutes or so. I would like to use an all-OSX workflow if I can, to save myself from using a Windows VM and having to use a power inverter in the field for my charger.
yokken: Did you get it working? I'm about to try the same setup.
How do you relocate the history graph to the upper part of the screen, mine always at the bottom of the screen,? Thanks .a guiding newbie using 2.6.3
Every window can be grabbed, resized, and moved around by grabbing the edge of the window. They're touchy though.
Thanks, I thought that was the case, I can grab the top, but not the bottom, will just plod on with the graph down at bottom.
Fixed it now, Thanks
This tutorial probably was good when it was published in Oct of 2015. It is now, October 2017. This version is 2.5.0. The version of Oct 2017 is 2.6.3. It looks a lot like this old version but when you open it up, the views of Global settings and other settings are completely different. So basically, if you have the 2.5.0 version this tutorial will work. If you have the latest version, you will STILL BE LOST because PHD has changed everything. Like most software updates, the software writers 'think' they've helped. They have not. So, if you have the new version, you might want to skip this tutorial. Maybe it'll help but if you are depending on being guided step by step, you lose out on the first mouse click...Just sayin...
It might be time to re accomplish this video. I appreciate it being here, it's just of little value.
Been meaning to make a new video but life has a way of making that difficult. I recently got the new version and although things have moved around, it appeared that most features have the same name and function. Still, it's definitely overdue that I update this video.
Thanks. I'm new, as you once were, and absolutely and totally lost and desperately looking for step by step help. The issue is with the software guys. I very much appreciate the program being available and I'm sure the changes were for the better but as someone who lacks the skills to operate the darned thing, it isn't me. So, did I mention, I'm desperate for help. Thanks. I DO appreciate your efforts. I saw the software guys on an hour long discussion of the proram's finer points on the astroimaging channel. They're smart guys. But out of my class. I am well educated but with interpreting software, somewhere way down the slope. Thanks for helping me. PS, it is my belief that I'm not alone.
this video is a SCAM i didnt get phd