Software Bisque Knowledge Base Article – 1203

CCDSOFT FAILS TO MAKE AUTOGUIDER CORRECTIONS

ISSUE

CCDSoft fails to make corrections while autoguiding using either the Imager or Autoguider.

Specifically, the settings listed in CCDSoft's “Autoguider.log” or “Imager.log” file indicate that the X-Axis and Y-Axis guider corrections are “Not Enabled” even when the Yes option is marked on the Enable X-Axis and Y-Axis autoguider correction setting under CCDSoft's Camera | Autoguider, Settings button, Drive Settings tab, Advanced option. The screen below shows these settings.

Below is a sample Autoguider Log File “header” that indicates that the X-Axis and Y-Axis are not enabled.

CCDSoft Tracking Report
Camera: SBIG ST-10/10XE
X Axis: Not Enabled      <

---

Y Axis: Not Enabled      <

---

ExposureTime = 1.00
Aggressiveness Factor = 5
Calibration Time X = 50.00
Calibration Time Y = 50.00
Calibration declination = 1.48
Declination now = -0.07
Minimum Move = 0.01
Maximum Move = 1.00
Backlash X = 0.00
Backlash Y = 0.00
Delay After Move = 1.00
Autoguide using DirectGuide

Calibration Determined Velocity Vectors (pixels/sec)
XPlus Speed= 0.54010 (XPlus X= 0.10170, XPlus Y= -0.53044) Angle= 280.85000
XMinus Speed= 0.55370 (XMinus X= -0.09922, XMinus Y= 0.54474) Angle= 100.32000
YPlus Speed= 0.45550 (YPlus X= 0.45198, YPlus Y= 0.05648) Angle= 7.12000
YMinus Speed= 0.45280 (YMinus X= -0.45105, YMinus Y= -0.03971) Angle= 185.03000

RESOLUTION

A CCDSoft Camera Event Plug In named AutoDither.dll is turning off the Enable X-Axis and Y-Axis settings (so that it plug in can implement it's own autoguiding).

Note that the behavior described above is normal and expected for this particular Camera Event Plug In, and this behavior has been carefully documented in the AutoDither Camera Event Plug In documentation. 

To verify that the AutoDither Camera Event Plug In is responsible for this behavior,

1. From CCDSoft, click Camera | Setup, and then click the Event Plug In button.

2. Disable all the Camera Event Plug Ins listed.

APPLIES TO

CCDSoft Version 5

KEYWORDS

SBKB

Last Reviewed: 08/11/2005