Hello, i have a problem of loose connection with my mount during a session.
I use ccdautopilot 3.42.5 on WinXp,
Titan mount and the Sky6 Pro
CCDsoft 5.00.182 and stl11000
robofocus.

As you can see on the log i get this message:
03:40:49 Target: ngc7023 at RA: 21 01 35,5, Dec: +68 10 10 , PA: 285
03:40:49 Rise: n/a
03:40:49 45° E elevation: 03:25 26 avr.
03:40:49 Transit: 08:38 26 avr.
03:40:49 45° W elevation: 13:52 26 avr.
03:40:49 Set: n/a
03:40:51 Slewing scope...
03:41:55 Slewed to RA: 21 01 40,4, Dec: +68 11 46
03:41:55 Mount settling for 3 sec. after slew.
03:41:58 Plate solving...
03:42:01 P:TS1 TheSky6.Document: No connection.

Error code = 200 (0xc8).

But when i chek the mount with the keypad all is fine and i can park the mount with it.

Thank you for your help.
Max

ccdap20080425_233544.log (19 KB, 105 downloads) log

quote:

But when i chek the mount with the keypad all is fine and i can park the mount with it.

Hello Max-Alain,

I assume by the keypad, you mean the mount's keypad. This error seems to indicate a bad "connection" between either the CCDAP and TheSky's automation interface or between TheSky and the mount. Since the session ran fine most of the night until you slewed to a new target, I suspect the latter to be the problem.

A good way to isolate this problem is to try to move the telescope from TheSky after this error has occurred. If the problem is between the mount and TheSky, you will not be able to move the telescope, park it, etc. from TheSky and you need to address that issue.

Hello Max,
Same problem here. I can connect to the telescope thru the sky6 and operate the telescope via the same, but when I try to operate with ccdauto, no luck. Ccdap shows I'm connected with the sky6 when I first open it up and it is connected with fm, maxim,ect. Is there a way to operate the scope thru ccdap (slewing operation)when you first open ccdap and do not initialize. This should determine if the connection with the sky6, ccdap, and the telescope are all connected and working. After that, it would seem that you would be pointed to which piece of software is the culprit. What say John?
I have yet to be able to initialize ccdap successfully and all signs for my troubleshooting indicate that ccdap is at fault.
.........Jerald

Thank you,
I thing that the problem is between the Sky and the mount, because i cannot move the telescope after the error, and no success when i try to relink. But if i move with the mount keypad, after that, the link with the Sky is succesfull.
It happen always during the last part of the night (?) and i don't understand. I try with The Sky's support group with no success.
Max

Hi Max,

How are you connecting TheSky6 to your mount? Are you using a USB to serial converter? Some of these work better than others.

Hello Max,
I am having a similar problem with the same error message. I show a connection with the sky6 and all the other softwares, but when I initialize, ccdap gives the same error message 200 that you receive. I am able to connect and slew the scope with the sky6 alone. So there is not a problem with the sky6. The problem seems to reside with ccdap. John hasn't responded to my latest message about this problem.
Hope you have better luck than I've had so far.....Jerald

Franck, i use com port 2 (no usb to serial) and no conflict with irq.
Jerald, if i find a solution i will mail you.
Max

Hello all,

Just back from NEAIC/NEAF on the east coast and slowly getting dug out

As I understand it, regardless of what is going on with TheSky6 and CCDAP, you can always move the mount via the hand control. That indicates a software issue.

You can always operate the mount when connected to CCDAP via the target page. Simply select a target using the Get function and select slew telescope. Uncheck precision slew temporarily to prevent confusing the issue with plate solving. (Don't forget to reselect it when the test is complete. You can also test the connection by using the Park test button on the options page. My guess is that you will get mount movement as long as Error 200 isn't thrown by TheSky6. After that error, I doubt you would get mount movement through either TheSky6 or CCDAP.

Again, the error message is not coming from CCDAP - it is coming from TheSky6. I see you have engaged SB on their support forum and Daniel has provided some diagnostic steps. Depending on the PC you are using, and what is running in the background, that may be the cause of connection dropping.