Back to forums

Unity Software

Pegasus Astro Powerbox Advance Gen2 Power Supply Troubleshooting
21 replies•612 views
Jerry Gerber avatar
Jerry Gerber avatar
Hi,

Does anyone have a copy of one of the latest versions of Pegasus Unity for the Powerbox Advance Gen2?

I downloaded the latest version & it introduced new problems I've never had before.

Pegasus doesn't have older versions of Unity to download, only the latest version 2. 8. 4693. 435, which is the version causing issues.

If you happen to have an older version could you please share it with me?

Thanks,
Jerry
Well Written Respectful
Noah Tingey avatar
Noah Tingey avatar
AstroCapture325 avatar
AstroCapture325 avatar
Jerry,

Are these problems related to the USB2 ports randomly switching off?
Kristof Vandebeek avatar
Kristof Vandebeek avatar
I have a version that I downloaded on 13th November 2023. I shared it via the following link on Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rSKqFfonr4yITMkttKsAYS9zpnqlzTDd/view?usp=sharing
Well Written
Joel Black avatar
Joel Black avatar
What issues are you having? Since I upgraded, one of my USB3 ports quit working. If I have anything plugged into the bottom USB3 port, my main camera stops working although anything plugged into the main camera's hub keeps working.
AstroCapture325 avatar
AstroCapture325 avatar
My mount and guide camera are connected to the two USB2 ports. Somehow the dual USB2 port switch turns itself off which then clobbers the connection between NINA and my mount and guide camera.
Jerry Gerber avatar
Jerry Gerber avatar
AstroCapture325:
Jerry,

Are these problems related to the USB2 ports randomly switching off?

*
I'm not sure. I'm seeing things like my flip flat panel disconnecting, the focuser acting weird and the camera's dew heater not being able to switch on. None of these issues were present before I installed the newest version of Unity.
Well Written
Jerry Gerber avatar
Jerry Gerber avatar
Joel Black:
What issues are you having? Since I upgraded, one of my USB3 ports quit working. If I have anything plugged into the bottom USB3 port, my main camera stops working although anything plugged into the main camera's hub keeps working.

**
I'm not sure if it's a USB problem or a 12V problem.
My telescope is at a remote observatory so I can't inspect what's plugged into what. I'll have to ask the tech to check for me.

All I know is that all the problems began right after the new version of Unity was installed.
Well Written
Jerry Gerber avatar
Jerry Gerber avatar
Noah Tingey:
I have this version that I downloaded on 7/14/2024: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/nkmyb5a4ua0tw9vtt6ldm/PegasusAstroUnityPlatform.exe?rlkey=au7859ki52gq09yz8kjjme3bq&dl=0

Thank you Noah, that's probably going to work..
Jerry
Jerry Gerber avatar
Jerry Gerber avatar
Kristof Vandebeek:
I have a version that I downloaded on 13th November 2023. I shared it via the following link on Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rSKqFfonr4yITMkttKsAYS9zpnqlzTDd/view?usp=sharing

Thank you Kristof!
AstroCapture325 avatar
AstroCapture325 avatar
Jerry,

Are you at Starfront?

I hope to test tonight, but I have been told that if you don't connect the PPBA as a switch in NINA and only use the Unity app to control the PPBA functionality, then the issues may disappear.
Rostokko avatar
Rostokko avatar
I have seen problems with the new platform version too - and indeed related to connecting to the switch through NINA (or even through a vbscript accessing the switch ascom drivers). Starting Unity as soon as the mini-pc logs on, and then keeping it running in the background while NINA (or another ascom client) does its job, it seems to have corrected/worked-around the issues I was seeing.
astrojay.jp avatar
astrojay.jp avatar
Wow, I'm so glad Astrobin sent me an alert about this topic! I've had nothing but problems the past few days since upgrading. I upgraded multiple things at once including Windows 11 and could not figure out where the problem lies. I narrowed it down to something with the USB2 ports. From device manager they seem to be "greyed out" even though something like USBtree tells me the device that's connected. Last night I connected the USB2 devices direct to the mele so I could get some imaging time in. I'll try without adding PPBA as a switch but it will be cloudy tonight, of course.
Jerry Gerber avatar
Jerry Gerber avatar
AstroCapture325:
Jerry,

Are you at Starfront?

I hope to test tonight, but I have been told that if you don't connect the PPBA as a switch in NINA and only use the Unity app to control the PPBA functionality, then the issues may disappear.

No, I am at Howling Coyote Remote Observatories (HCRO) in New Mexico.  I've rolled back to an earlier version thanks to Noah and will test it as soon as the sky is clear.  I can also try what you suggest, but having NINA connected to the Powerbox as a switch has never been an issue before.   However, maybe with the the latest version it is.
Well Written
Olivier Constans avatar
Olivier Constans avatar
Hello there, 
I also confirm since I have updated the last version few days ago I have random issues with USB2 , the pegasus rotator disconnect andomly and things plugged in the usb3 also acting stranges.  Maybe also some issue with 12V stability that make the touptek2600 having some bad pictures from time to time but not sure 100% it came from powerbox.
Jerry Gerber avatar
Jerry Gerber avatar
Olivier Constans:
Hello there, 
I also confirm since I have updated the last version few days ago I have random issues with USB2 , the pegasus rotator disconnect andomly and things plugged in the usb3 also acting stranges.  Maybe also some issue with 12V stability that make the touptek2600 having some bad pictures from time to time but not sure 100% it came from powerbox.

There's quite a few people both here and on Cloudy Nights that have confirmed there are definitely issues with the newest version of Unity Platform. 

I received an email today from Pegasus that they're going to be investigating this on Monday.

Jerry
Helpful
AstroCapture325 avatar
AstroCapture325 avatar
Great. Thank you
Jerry Gerber avatar
Jerry Gerber avatar
Pegasus released a new version that hopefully fixes the issues.
AstroCapture325 avatar
AstroCapture325 avatar
I hope so
AstroCapture325 avatar
AstroCapture325 avatar
I am probably stating the obvious, but it would be much appreciated if people can share their testing results of the latest Unity software
astrojay.jp avatar
astrojay.jp avatar
It might not solve every problem but I would really appreciate a little more detail to the update notes for Pegasus firmware/software. There are often unforeseen bugs so I really hesitate to update their softwares. Before this, it was not working with Ascom Observing Conditions for months and there have been issues with the FocusCube.
Joel Black avatar
Joel Black avatar
I finally got around to testing the three versions of Unity I have. Below are my observations:

v2.7.4685.427 - bad build. Bottom USB3 doesn't work - if plugged into bottom USB3, main camera never shows in NINA. Extremely slow to load.
v2.0.4520.264 - good build. Downloaded 01 June 2024 to my system. Loads much quicker than the previous version. Main camera works on bottom USB3.
v2.8.4708.453 - good build. Downloaded 17 May 2025. Loads fine. Main camera works on bottom USB3.

During this testing, I also discovered I had a bad USB-A to USB-C cable to my guide camera. This would generally throw an error telling me I didn't have enough power through the USB hub. This is an LCom cable and, up to this point, I've historically had very good luck with LCom products.

I determined the cable issue is completely separate from the USB3 issue from the bad build of Unity above.

These are the only versions I have to experiment with.

Regards,
Joel
Well Written Helpful