Erstellt am 05.10.2006 - 22:10

Guten Abend,

I have 2 ideas to improve Guidemaster :

The first one is an easy one, just a crosshair, but full screen, jus to help to center the guide star, but the main funcion will help to orientate the webcam : you center a star on the crosshair, then move on one axis then turn the webcam to put the star on one of the crosshair's axis, the webcam will be almost perfectly oriented. Then calibrate ... and enjoy !

The second if for use in conjunction with the DSLR imaging : taking images at the exact same place on the CCD/CMOS sensor is not the best, defect will be amplificated with the number of images, even if they have been pre-processed. The trick is to slightly mode of a few pixels and take the new image. What should be nice is, during the time between two exposure to generate this small and random shift from the original position, let the scope move to a new position to autoguide, like if you disengage the autoguiding, move a little bit, and reengage the guiding on the new position of the guide star

Cheers

Erstellt am 07.10.2006 - 17:33

Hi,
both ideas are already implemented. To see the crosshair you have to click with the right mouse button on the main image.

The secon feature you described is dithering. To aktivate dithering you have to set the Dither-radius to a value greater than 0. e.g. 10 that means you dither in a square of 10x10 pixel.
If you use another program to control the imager you have to press the manual dither button in the guide window.

I hope the answere will help you, otherwise please let me know.


Best regards,
Matthias

Erstellt am 09.10.2006 - 22:21

Thanks Matthias, this answer 100% to my question. I actually use an other software to manage my DSLR, I will try the following : I will use the LPT1: port for the real image taking and the COM1: with Guidemaster with appropiate timing to have both of the dithering and the possibilities of my usual image taking software

Erstellt am 10.10.2006 - 22:07

Which carmera are you using?
Is there a way to help you?

Best regards,
Matthias

Erstellt am 11.10.2006 - 22:06

I'm using a Canon 350D. In fact I'm using DSLR Focus to take the images because it transfer the file directly to the PC as well as mirror lock up, file naming, focusing assitance ... I use as well IRIS for the same reason.

Both of this software can use Serial or // port to take images. I will try run Guidemaster on COM1 with the same time of exposure and pause than the picture taking software so that Guidemaster will move between images.

The nice thing would be Guidemaster to listen the image taking port (serial, //, USB) and when it change from on to off the dithering is done but I don't know if this is possible

Erstellt am 06.11.2006 - 22:27

Silly question,

when the dither take place, before the picture, after the picture and before the pause, after both of them

Danke

Erstellt am 08.11.2006 - 15:48

Hi,
dithering is done after a picture, if there is a picture following. After dithering there is a wait statement (the wait time can be programed in the option menu). The user has to take care, that the wait time is long enough for the telescope to re-center again. I use 20sec as wait time.

You can click on the button "Manual dithering" at any time you like to do a manual dithering (e.g. if you do single pictures).

Best regards,
Matthias