I ran into my first problem. I need to be able to refocus after every 30 min. However, I must focus on the filter I am using. Going to the clear and using an offset will not work. How can I use the filter I am shooting with.

The reason the offset will not work is I an using a 300mm lens with a belt system. That belt can slip. So when the offset is used and the belt slips, it won't work.

Even if this was not my problem, there needs to be a way to not use an offset. I am trying this tonight so I wait for an answer.

Uncheck the box that states, Focus with [Filter] On the Focus page.

rb

Pefect, Thanks for the quick reply

well, I guess a Goto mount is required to use this program the way it was meant to. I was hoping to use if to refocus my camera every 30 minutes on the object I was shooting. I do not have a goto mount.

The problem is I only have 2 choices with FocusMax. The one that gets the brightest star is useless because if there is something bright like M42, FocusMax will focus on M42. FocusMax has a select feature to get around this. You are using an X,Y position. That may or may not work if the star moves around during the imaging. A better choice would be a (X1,Y1) (x2,y2) and look for the brightest star in the box defined. I wish FocusMax would do this. Something I am going to suggest to FocusMax.

Anyway, this still may work out if they object is weak enough so a star is focused on instead of an object. But I am not sure if I can use this product the way it is now and what I have to work with. Good thing I have 60 days, I am going to need it.

How do you get rid of that status dislog. I need to see Maxim DL, now have the Status dialog box that hides everything.

Dean,

Two things:

1. On the setup tab in FocusMax is a frame width option. This is by default set to 100. When you select focus at X,Y in CCDAP3, that will be the center of the 100 pixel box setup in FMx. If you want to make that box smaller or larger, you can change that in FMx and CCDAP3 will use whatever frame width you set.

2. On the Status Dialog box, select the Window menu option and uncheck Always on Top. You can also make the Dialog box smaller by hiding the log under the same menu.

rb

Thanks, I did get it working on one image trying the Brightest star shoice. I will try these as well. My hope is to use this on very faint objects requiring many hours.

What happens when Maxim DL looses the guide star. Is there a way to abort the image and get the guided star again (even though it will be at a new X,Y). In this case a gust of wind.

Dean,

CCDAP with a goto mount, would start its Automatic Guide Star Recovery process which would re-acquire the guide-star and continue imaging.

With a non-goto mount, this would not be available to you.

rb

That is what I thought. It was nice while it lasted. I guess if I uninstall it and can reinstall it later when I have a got mount if it lets me do that.