Result: Successful use of AstroStart. A Live Session was created and begun under complete automated control, without any remote monitoring.  The session ran 'successfully',  though an issue with regard to Foc1 autofocusing & use of wide option meant that images from the night were of practically no value.

AutoStart Mode was initiated from AstroMain 3.28.1 program at 23:56 (just before midnight). It's operational window was from 23:56 (straightaway)  until 04:01 (SunAlt -12 degs {ascending} minus 30 mins).  Conditions at 23:56 were unsuitable for observing due to cloud and AutoStart was deferred.  Finally at 01:35 conditions were deemed suitable and AutoStart ran, creating a new live session (S800), and beginning Observatory Night Services including powering up and connecting to the LX200 Telescope. The dome was opened at 01:39 and session began running at 01:42, starting with attempted autofocusing of Main Scope (Foc1 system) and GuideScope (Foc2 system).

A significant change in atmospheric conditions and temperature since the previous session meant that standard autofocusing of the Foc1 system couldn't find a position of best focus. Without use of a correct focus offset the session failed to deliver any in-focus images.   Whilst this issue could have been easily resolved using the wide focus search option it had unfortunately not been engaged by the user.   AutoStart needs to be modified so that it automatically engages wide focus search option before beginning a new live session.  

Foc2 Auto-Focusing was performed at start of session on a Near Zenith Star Field (Focus Field 21).   This incorporated a precursive 'wide' focusing during which the approximate position of best focus is determined first based on focus position with lowest FWHM value, followed by normal autofocusing in which position of best focus is determined by quadratic fit to set of focus points, across a smaller range centered on the approximate focus position produced by the 'wide' focusing.  Focusing performed using the recently increased backlash value of 3500.  The newly introduced post-focusing Focus Check executed as per design.

Initial Wide Profile for Focus Field 21 Focus Range :  9147 - 8397 (range: 710), centered of focus position used in last session 'Best Focus' at 8697, based on the focus point with FWHM of 2.61 arc sec.

Detailed Focus Profile for Focus Field 21 Focus Range :  8842- 8552 (range: 290), centered on rough best focus from the 'Wide' Profile above 'Best Focus' at 8695, based on quadratic curve fit to the set of focus steps. Peak FWHM estimated to be 2.98 arc sec.

Post-Focusing Focus Check 3 images taken at 'Best Focus' (8695) had average FWHM of 3.69 arc sec (av. of  3.29, 3.65, 4.13) Before starting the detailed profile above the focuser was first moved to 8842 + 3500 before moving back to 8842 to begin the profile After completing the focus profile, the Focuser was moved to 8695 + 3500, before moving back to 8695 The Focus Check should have produced a FWHM values of around 3.0 arc sec (range 2.4 - 3.1),  but the focus check produced a FWHM result of only 3.7 arc sec (range 3.3 to 4.1) Whilst this was ok for autoguiding it is unclear if the FWHM diffference is due to seeing conditions or a limitation of the focusing system.   The backlash value used (3500) ?should be higher enough to overcome backlash in the physical system.

Follow-up (2020-08-30)
In following session (S801) focus check at 'Best Focus' (8638) had average FWHM of 3.52 arc sec (av. of  2.96, 3.46, 4.15), which compares against a Peak FWHM of 2.69 from the Focus Profile (top values : 2.69, 2.88, 2.95, 3.74).  Allowing for the scatter in FWHM measurement due to seeing variations it would seem that focuser backlash is being correctly allowed for (i.e. Best Focus Position can be successfully returned to).

Detailed Focus Profile for Focus Field 22 (mis-labeled as GCVS SS Cyg), 2020-08-30 'Best Focus' at 8638, based on quadratic curve fit to the set of focus steps. Peak FWHM at 2.69 arc sec from focus point at 8645. (the Peak FWHM from curve fit appears to be at around 3.3 arc sec)

Follow-up (2020-08-31)
In session (S802) focus check at 'Best Focus' (8618) had average FWHM of 2.58 arc sec (av. of  2.36, 2.46, 2.93), which compares against a Peak FWHM of 2.77 from the Focus Profile (top values : 2.02, 2.22, 2.26). Allowing for scatter in FWHM measurement due to seeing variations it would seem that focuser backlash is being correctly allowed for (i.e. Best Focus Position can be successfully returned to).

Detailed Focus Profile for Focus Field 22 , 2020-08-31 'Best Focus' at 8618, based on quadratic curve fit to the set of focus steps.