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Park position doesn’t stick.

Stefan Berg Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy (N.I.N.A. / NINA) GoTo Troubleshooting
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Mossyback avatar
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I use TSX as my database source when using N.I.N.A. I open TSX, put in the target and hit Find. I then minimize TSX and load N.I.N.A. In which program do I establish the home position?  I don’t seem to be able to establish a permanent position. It seems to fluctuate.

I now have my roll off roof (Arduino) working properly and need to know that the  permanent park position is below the roof to avoid having it guillotine my scope. 

Hank
Jeffery Richards avatar
Jeffery Richards avatar
It would be helpful to know what mount you are dealing with. Some require park to be set in the driver or in the control system (TSX for Paramounts). Are you asking about home or park?
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My mount is an SB MtY. I’m concerned about the Park position.
Jeffery Richards avatar
Jeffery Richards avatar
That has to be set in TSX. NINA will then just issue a park command (make sure the X2 driver is set to allow parking) and TSX will then move the scope to the TSX defined park position.
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I’m software illiterate. Where in N.I.N.A. would I find the X2 driver?
Jeffery Richards avatar
Jeffery Richards avatar
The X2 driver is the Software Bisque ASCOM mount driver (the thing that allows NINA to talk to the mount). It has numerous settings that need to be adjusted (selected) that allow or don't allow actions to be taken with the mount by 3rd party apps like NINA.
Well Written Concise
Mossyback avatar
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Thanks, Jeffery. I'll get into the ASCOM mount driver and try and sort things out.
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Jeffery Richards avatar
Jeffery Richards avatar
Make sure you do not allow sync in the driver. Can't recall how that check box is written but choose whatever makes sense to not allow sync. Also recommend not allowing "home on connect" if you are concerned with roof impact.
Jeffery Richards avatar
Jeffery Richards avatar
Also if you plan to use PHD2, make sure the reverse corrections on meridian flip (or whatever the wording is) is set in the PHD2 advanced settings.
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Ok. I’ve got the ASCOM to “mount can be parked.” Also I previously set “don’t sync” to preserve my TPoint model and also the “reverse” after the Meridian flip.

My only problem now is setting the “Park” position. Apparently you can’t just position the scope where you’d like “Home” to be. It seems that you have to find an object close to where you want “home” and then slew to it. At least that’s the conclusion that I’ve come to. Before I start imaging tonight, I’ll try and establish a home location. Does this sound logical to you?

Hank
Jeffery Richards avatar
Jeffery Richards avatar
Home and park are two different things. Home is a fixed reference position for mount initialization that has a position sensor on each axis and it can't be changed. Park is a user defined position and can be pretty much wherever you want it to be and where the mount will go to on a "park" command (either via the mount shutdown dropdown or via a 3rd party software command). Once parked, tracking will turn off. The "set park position" is also under the shutdown dropdown. All you need to do is initialize the mount and then slew it to the desired park position (this might be easier to do with the hand paddle) and then hit the "set park position" under the shutdown dropdown. Now your park position is remembered and any park command will put the scope there and turn off tracking.
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Jeffery Richards avatar
Jeffery Richards avatar
I am assuming a MyT that does not have encoders (only possible on a new MyT6 mount).
Jeffery Richards avatar
Jeffery Richards avatar
Since you are obviously in an observatory based on your first post, you could leave the mount powered up after park and then when you reconnect to it in TSX it won't require the "home" routine so it will be ready to slew immediately. This is the case as long as the mount itself isn't powered down.
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Mossyback avatar
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Hi Jeffery,

Thanks for all your help. I now have the mount parking where I want it to.

Hank
Jeffery Richards avatar
Jeffery Richards avatar
Glad I could help Hank!

Enjoy,
Jeff