![drift align with backyardeos drift align with backyardeos](https://dopr5yg5ob43s.cloudfront.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Screenshot-8.png)
Off produced a distinct drift, South had a couple of spike instances but then settled down to none. The first evening, with all new cables, the spikes were worse than ever so I turned off guide direction (usually set to Auto) altogether. I've resumed imaging, with some success, over the last couple of evenings that allowed a few hours of clear skies. Later, I increased the chart size to discover it did eventually stop and then slowly recovered, then repeated the cycle several times before my patience ran out with the test. Yes Joel, vertical straight off the chart. I have only used BYEOS and dither after obtaining stable guiding. It seems that this is a common problem but with variations. For backlash I've found that setting PHD2 to correct DEC only against the natural drift of the mount in DEC (and let that drift correct for DEC errors in the other direction) works well to prevent large but gradual swings back and forth on the DEC axis.Īnyway: have the same issue from the sounds of it, regrettably can't report a solution. but that's a different problem from large and very abrupt changes in DEC position.
![drift align with backyardeos drift align with backyardeos](http://www.astrosurf.com/re/polar3.jpg)
My mount has plenty of that as well, but it manifests itself as PHD2 taking a long time to correct movements in DEC. If this is the same issue that you're describing, it's not backlash. My next step, once I work up the courage, will be to flash the handset controller and mount and hope that Celestron's current firmware has addressed the issue. (I control the mount through the guide cam: also different from your set up and again pointing to the mount as the thing in common.) Things I've tried have included new cables, tying down cables to prevent laptop-side connections from moving, a high-quality powered USB hub, disabling dithering and checking fittings/clamps to eliminate sources of flexure. The fact that you're using a different guide camera and the same mount increases my suspicions that it's an issue with the mount. If the former, I've been wrestling with this for close to a year and unfortunately haven't found the solution. Hi M48: when you say " the dec trace having fallen vertically off the graph altogether" do you mean literally a near-instantaneous straight up-and-down (or very nearly so) trace, or a more gradual but persistent slope? Otherwise I don’t know what to suggest, certainly running with the dec turned off got rid of my spikes, but sadly approaching clouds signalled an end to activity. For myself, I am going to try this by using a less accurate polar alignment, using either a north or a south only setting in PHD. But I think the best way to cope with this is to ensure the motor is only driving in one direction. You need to have a certain amount of backlash, or things will be too sticky - perhaps as Tiny Small above has indicated. Often this wandering in dec can be due PHD chasing backlash in the gearing. Like yourself, I checked for mount obstructions and cable snags. Then random oscillations started to appear in dec - sometimes up to 4 seconds of arc, whereas RA was fine. Unfortunately I had already set up and was imaging automatically, so I didn’t discover the problem until a couple of hours had passed because guiding during the first two subs was fine. Last night I had a similar problem for the first time ever. It really would be nice to get back to some decent imaging. I will be very greatfull for any suggestions, help or advice in solving this problem. I am at the earliest opportunity going to try different cabling to hopefully eliminate that as a possible cause.
#DRIFT ALIGN WITH BACKYARDEOS FREE#
I have checked for cable snags and mount obstructions but these seem free and ok. After a period of learning to use the AVX, I can now achieve a good alignment with the PHD2 Drift Align feature.
#DRIFT ALIGN WITH BACKYARDEOS SERIAL#
Mount control is from Nexstar handset via serial to USB cables. Although the AVX mount is only six months old, I have used the remaining equipment successfully for a number of years. Software: StellariumScope, Stellarium, BackyardEOS, PHD2 and ASCOM. The equipment I'm using is: SW ED100 on AVX with SW 50x9 Finder-Guider and SPC900NC. The display shows the star has jumped northward out of its box and the graph shows the dec trace having fallen vertically off the graph altogether. The occurrence is regular but not evenly spread.
![drift align with backyardeos drift align with backyardeos](https://www.stevebb.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/by2-1.jpg)
In recent weeks I have been struggling, while guiding with PHD2, with the selected star suddenly lurching northward.