Hi All,

I have "Initiailze" in the east using "Self guided". I then selected a target in the west for imaging.

With each guide correction the Y error got larger.

Can this problem be fixed by "Self guidedR"?

I have a SBIG Self Guided without a IR.

---- LOG FILE ----

03:29:23 Guider running
03:29:30 Guide Error X: 0.1, Y: 2.7
03:29:37 Guide Error X: 1.2, Y: 3.6
03:29:44 Guide Error X: 0.5, Y: 4.9
03:29:50 Guide Error X: 0.0, Y: 6.5
03:29:57 Guide Error X: 0.8, Y: 7.3
03:30:04 Guide Error X: 0.2, Y: 7.6

Log and Config files can be downloaded here:
http://www.southern-astro.com.au/files/4JohnSmith/guideproblem.zip

Regards,
Brad Moore

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Brad Moore,

Brad,

You should not need Self-guidedR with the ST-2000. Follow the procedure in the help system for initializing. First, select a guide star that is isolated and bright. Run a manual calibration in Maxim to be sure the guide star stays comforably in the guide window. Then run initialize. During initializing, make sure the guide star moves four times and stays in the guide window.

As a last resort, try rotating the camera a little further off the cardinal points. (Cardinal points = chip axes aligned with RA/Dec.) Move at least 5 degrees off.

Hi John,

This is exactly what I did with a bright well isolated guidestar. I connected, manually calibrated, then initialize. The guide star never came close to falling off the frame.

Would it be because I'm in the southern hemisphere?

I am 6+ degree of the cardinal points at the moment as the help file suggested. I will move it to say 15+ and see what happens.

Next time I will take a video grad for you.

Regards,
Brad

Hi John,

I did more testing tonight and can report the following:

1. After a re-Initialize in the East; I was unable to hold the guide star in the West using MaximDL as previously reported. I am about 6.2 degrees off the cardinal points.

22:46:10 Guider running
22:46:17 Guide Error X: 1.1, Y: 1.2
22:46:24 Guide Error X: 1.4, Y: 1.1
22:46:31 Guide Error X: 0.7, Y: 1.7
22:46:37 Guide Error X: 1.3, Y: 2.9
22:46:44 Guide Error X: 1.3, Y: 4.5
22:46:51 Guide Error X: 1.6, Y: 8.1
22:46:58 Guide Error X: 2.3, Y: 14.7
22:47:04 Guide Error X: 2.4, Y: 14.8

2. I also confirmed that MaximDL on its own was unable to hold the guide star in the West after it was calibrated in the East with the "Pier Flip" ticked. Which makes me believe this is a MaximDL problem.

3. I did the same test this time using CCDSoft, Initialized in the East and WAS able to hold the guide star in the West using CCDAP3.

Any Ideas?

Cheers,
Brad Moore

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Brad Moore,

Brad,

This may indeed be a Maxim/southern hemisphere issue. Maxim testing was done with the same version you are using, albeit in the north, and all worked properly. If Pier Flip doesn't function properly, then that might explain it. Did you have anything else connected to Maxim, e.g. telescope control?

When you tested with CCDSoft, where you using DirectGuide or camera relays? I assume you were using camera relays for Maxim.