Can I focus My 9.25 EDGE HD mounted on EQ6-R PRO ASI224MC with the Celestron focus motor through APT or only using Celestron Focus Utility?
Celestron focus motor with APT6?
Hello Bernard,
APT can control the focuser via ASCOM driver. However it has "servo" motor and you will have to use the APT's "absolute" emulation if you want to use the auto-focusing.
It works well, but I would suggest you to look for model with "stepper" motor which is the other word for absolute focuser as it can give exact position.
Clear skies,
Ivo
APT can control the focuser via ASCOM driver. However it has "servo" motor and you will have to use the APT's "absolute" emulation if you want to use the auto-focusing.
It works well, but I would suggest you to look for model with "stepper" motor which is the other word for absolute focuser as it can give exact position.
Clear skies,
Ivo
Helpful Concise
Hi Ivo,
So I have to change the Celestron focuser for one with a stepper motor.
Do you have suggestions?
. Clear skies. Ben.
So I have to change the Celestron focuser for one with a stepper motor.
Do you have suggestions?
. Clear skies. Ben.
Hi Ben,
If you already have Celestron focuser, give a try with it
If you are about to buy it, consider something else.
If you already have Celestron focuser, give a try with it
If you are about to buy it, consider something else.Okay Ivo, I have it so, I'm going to try this now,
Ben
Ben
I have gone trough THREE (3) Celestron focus motors!!! Neither one works well
because of jamming and appts with N.I.N.A. Strongly, suggest that with A RASA 8, 11 or 14
not to use it. All Rasa's hold focus very well for the entire night. Only problem is that
you must remember to refocus by hand when changing any filters. For OSC, it is no problem
just letting it run all night as you once set it up.
because of jamming and appts with N.I.N.A. Strongly, suggest that with A RASA 8, 11 or 14
not to use it. All Rasa's hold focus very well for the entire night. Only problem is that
you must remember to refocus by hand when changing any filters. For OSC, it is no problem
just letting it run all night as you once set it up.
APT works fine with the Celestron motor. Use the ASCOM driver ( download it from the Zwo site) and the USB interface. Connect to the correct ASCOM USB Com port. You don't need to do anything else. If you connect to the wrong USB port APT goes insane!
The motor type only affects long term reproducibility. In other words if you focus one night at 25C and record the position and you focus a month latter at 25C you will probably get a different number. The variation is not large enough to affect filter offsets. A good stepper motor system would give the same position number at 25C every time.
APT can autofocus, correct for focus backlash, and load offsets appropriate for each filter (once you measure them and enter them into APT's list). You can also go back and forth between the USB Celestron focus tool and APT , but you can only have one of the programs connected at a time. If you are using CPWI you will need to prevent it from connecting to the focuser.
APT's auto focus woks best with 3 to 5 sec. exposures. It gets very confused if you ask it to "chase the seeing".
CS
The motor type only affects long term reproducibility. In other words if you focus one night at 25C and record the position and you focus a month latter at 25C you will probably get a different number. The variation is not large enough to affect filter offsets. A good stepper motor system would give the same position number at 25C every time.
APT can autofocus, correct for focus backlash, and load offsets appropriate for each filter (once you measure them and enter them into APT's list). You can also go back and forth between the USB Celestron focus tool and APT , but you can only have one of the programs connected at a time. If you are using CPWI you will need to prevent it from connecting to the focuser.
APT's auto focus woks best with 3 to 5 sec. exposures. It gets very confused if you ask it to "chase the seeing".
CS
Helpful
Well it's not working with APT 3.87. So I tried in sharp cap 3.2…not working there either. the numbers are changing but the focus motor isn't. Connecting the focuser in APT a small window opens with the brief message "Ascom device Hub" . Is this right?
Ben.
Ben.
Does it work with the Celestron app?
When the ascom window pops up select the focuser from the list.
When the ascom window pops up select the focuser from the list.
No there is no list when the window pops up. I don't have the app.
Please re-install the ASCOM driver and use Shift+Click on the Connect button and select the driver again.
Well Written Concise
Can you give me the exact name of the driver possibly a link to it?
Also do I need to uninstall the ones I downloaded?
A.D. Ben. (Attention Deficient)
Also do I need to uninstall the ones I downloaded?
A.D. Ben. (Attention Deficient)
Hi there,
had kind of a similar problem …. Tim gave pretty sound advice!
Tim Hutchison
I'm sure this isn't the kind of response that will be helpful to you, but I had the same issue with a brand new out of the box edge hd8, so I certainly didn't bend the focuser rod. I went back and forth with Celestron with replacement focusers (2) and was unsuccessful. In the end I purchased a Moonlite focuser and I ultimately think this is a much better solution. I can focus by hand and lock the mirror in place. Then all subsequent focusing is done with the Moonlite. I only redo the manual focus every month or so.
As I say, not sure if that is helpful but that is how I solved the same problem.
I hope you find a solution!
Tim
had kind of a similar problem …. Tim gave pretty sound advice!
Tim Hutchison
I'm sure this isn't the kind of response that will be helpful to you, but I had the same issue with a brand new out of the box edge hd8, so I certainly didn't bend the focuser rod. I went back and forth with Celestron with replacement focusers (2) and was unsuccessful. In the end I purchased a Moonlite focuser and I ultimately think this is a much better solution. I can focus by hand and lock the mirror in place. Then all subsequent focusing is done with the Moonlite. I only redo the manual focus every month or so.
As I say, not sure if that is helpful but that is how I solved the same problem.
I hope you find a solution!
Tim
Supportive
My setup is: I'm in the astroffice with desktop Windows 10, 60m repeater USB3 cable then a 4 ports in which I connect the EQ6-R PRO, the 224MC camera and then the Celestron motor.
the mount always works the camera works but when I run the Celestron focus utility I loose both the cam and the focuser. I then close the utility the cam comes right back.
I watched many videos on the Moonlight focuser before buying Celestron's. Wrong choice…
The option of focussing by hand will be great. Thanks for the suggestion, I'm seriously considering it. Another few months waiting.
Clear skies A.D.Ben
the mount always works the camera works but when I run the Celestron focus utility I loose both the cam and the focuser. I then close the utility the cam comes right back.
I watched many videos on the Moonlight focuser before buying Celestron's. Wrong choice…
The option of focussing by hand will be great. Thanks for the suggestion, I'm seriously considering it. Another few months waiting.
Clear skies A.D.Ben
I think the losing the camera and focuser is a key clue. Sounds like you might have the focuser and the camera set to the same Com port number.
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My device manager says port. 3 is EQ6-R port4is 224mc and port 6 is focuser. Could it be that the three units are too much for the 20m USB3 cable?
Yes!
If I use the auxiliary on the focuser where does it go from there?
I will try to connect only the focuser on the USB3.
I will try to connect only the focuser on the USB3.
I have 4 choices in in ASCOM: ASCOM.Celestron.Focuser
ASCOM.USB Motor.focuser
ASCOM Device Hub.Focuser
ASCOM.simulator.Focuser
And it doesn't work on either one.
ASCOM.USB Motor.focuser
ASCOM Device Hub.Focuser
ASCOM.simulator.Focuser
And it doesn't work on either one.
The first entry. If the Zwo ASCOM driver is installed it should work.
Turn the focuser "on" in the APT tools/Settings/Scope&Focuser menu (check the box). Go to the Gear tab, hit the Connect Focuser button and it should pop-up the ASCOM tool. Select the USB Celestron Opton.
Turn the focuser "on" in the APT tools/Settings/Scope&Focuser menu (check the box). Go to the Gear tab, hit the Connect Focuser button and it should pop-up the ASCOM tool. Select the USB Celestron Opton.
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Focuser not working SharpCap not working and now APT not working either. When I connect the focuser the window opens "focus simulator.
I'm trying to connect the focuser on DC power through Pegasus Advance power box. I also have the USB3 from the focuser connected in the Pegasus. Is this all good?
I'm trying to connect the focuser on DC power through Pegasus Advance power box. I also have the USB3 from the focuser connected in the Pegasus. Is this all good?
I think you are almost there. To the right of the Connect Focuser button in the APT Gear page there is a smaller button labeled Settings. Click on that and the ASCOM configuration tool will pop-up. Go to the window that has "Focus Simulator" displayed, scroll that list dow and select the Celestron USB Focuser.
If the Celestron focuser doesn't appear on the list you need to install the ASCOM driver you downloaded from the Zwo web page.
SEE: https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/manuals/EAF_Manual_EN.pdf pages 10 and 11.
If the Celestron focuser doesn't appear on the list you need to install the ASCOM driver you downloaded from the Zwo web page.
SEE: https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/manuals/EAF_Manual_EN.pdf pages 10 and 11.
Helpful
From the setting button I do get Focuser Simulator and the configuration button on it. I download the driver from ZWO for the Celestron focuser?
If the Celestron Focuser is not on the list then the driver hasn't been installed yet.
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