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QHY5L-ll-M guide camera voodoo

QHYCCD QHY5-II M Open PHD Guiding Project PHD2 AstroSharp Ltd SharpCap Guiding Troubleshooting
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Zontar avatar
Zontar avatar
My QHY5L-ll-M has always been unstable regarding seeing an image in PHD2 and SharpCap. It's been a hit and miss like trying to start an old car.
I hope someone has a better fix or an explanation then my recent voodoo fix…

My first step of course is polar alignment, in which I use SharpCap. Often I don't get an image.

If I first start PHD2 and connect to the camera I also don't often see an image. But doing this step first and then open SharpCap, and connect to the guidecam then SharpCap works and I see an image at the exact same time PHD2 pops up an image. After I'm finished with my polar alignment and close SharpCap and leave PHD2 open and get back to it when I'm ready to start guiding.

Sure is a nutty way to get PHD2 and SharpCap to work for me.

I've tried different cables and ports, installed the latest versions of PHD2, Sharpcap and QHYCCD drivers.

Glad to have a work around… just want a reasonable explanation for this relationship between the camera, PHD2 and SharpCap.

I use BackyardEOS and there is a direct connection between PHD2 and it for dithering. Is there an obvious connection between PHD2 and Sharpcap?
Helpful Engaging
Peter Bresler avatar
Peter Bresler avatar
What scope and mount are you using; what are you shooting? This camera usually is used for small objects using lucky imaging with Sharpcap. Phd2 is not in the picture.
Zontar avatar
Zontar avatar
I have a 6” Celestron reflector with an AVX mount. Local telescope store sold me the guide scope knowing the gear I have.
Peter Bresler avatar
Peter Bresler avatar
The qhy5lL-II-M is a guide or planetary camera; not really suitable for galaxies or nebulae. You could shoot Saturn using Sharpcap. Finding it is always a challenge.

Peter
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Brian Puhl avatar
Brian Puhl avatar
I think theres are some clues missing to this puzzle.    I presume you are using the QHY5 as a guide cam and not an imaging camera.    Do you by chance have another QHY camera in your setup somewhere?  I've found that having both QHY guide cam and main cams, the driver for some reason gets them mixed up, and will often kick one offline.   Just a thought.
Helpful Concise Supportive
Peter Bresler avatar
Peter Bresler avatar
In Phd2 you select the camera to be used by selecting the icon next to the connect button.
Well Written
Zontar avatar
Zontar avatar
I use the QHY as the guide camera, I don’t have another QHY camera.

I use a Canon T3i to image and the Celestron StarSense camera for plate solving.

It’s weird that works sometimes and not other times.
Nick Grundy avatar
Nick Grundy avatar
I was using a qhy 178 for guiding for a bit. I had to make sure it was in the usb 2 port of my power box or it had major problems. I ended up moving back to a zwo for guiding. Never saw the same issues again though
Peter Bresler avatar
Peter Bresler avatar
The Celestron Starsense is completely extra baggage for plate solving if you use a program like SGP or NINA, both of which have plate solve abilities, when they have been set up to do that.

Peter
Zontar avatar
Zontar avatar
I’m aware there’s multiple ways and gear to do most steps in astrophotography.

Only been at this hobby for a bit. It’s taken a long time to pull everything together to the point that I have almost ironed out the problems. Getting fast at my routine is rewarding. 

I had a great session last night at Pitt Lake (British Columbia). Bortle 4, no clouds and warm. My gear worked… I’m happy.

The guide scope worked great with 27 light frames at 320 seconds each.

The fix to my problem with loosing the image in both SharpCap (polar alignment) and PHD2 is this. Before I launch SharpCap start PHD, connect to the guide camera then hope over to SharpCap and everything thing works in both apps. all night long. 

It’s freaking mysterious and makes no logical sense in my wee brain. Perhaps aliens are assisting me for a greater purpose.
Helpful Engaging
Zontar avatar
Zontar avatar
Nick Grundy:
I was using a qhy 178 for guiding for a bit. I had to make sure it was in the usb 2 port of my power box or it had major problems. I ended up moving back to a zwo for guiding. Never saw the same 

I suspect it is a USB port issue.