David's Astronomy Pages
Notes - Session 888 Attempt A (2021-04-17)

 
Bullet Session Aims & Highlights
 - Observing Result
 - Night Summary Plot
 - Session Event Log
 
Bullet Operational Issues
  - Critical Issues (1),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (2)
Bullet No Images >>     [ Local Files >> ]
Bullet Investigation - Unable to Connect to LX200 Scope

Session Aims & Highlights (2021-04-17)

Main aims

  1. Targets. Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by conditions

Equipment & Software

Highlights

Notes

Summary Plots & Logs

  
Night Sky Summary Plot
Top axis: Sky Brightness at Zenith (in ADU/s)
Lefthand axis: Local Time (hh LT). Righthand axis: Sun Altitude (degs)
Image   
  
Actual Weather vs Pre-Session Weather Forecast
Image
Image   
  
Session Event Log
Time     Event Detail
21:42:27 Session Created Live Session Created (2021-04-17 S00888, ImageSaveNum: 888001)
21:42:30   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox.
21:43:50   Services Started Observatory Services started
21:43:52 Observatory (Manual) Observatory placed in Manual Mode
21:45:58   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped
21:46:00 Program Closed Program closed by User
21:46:02 Program Closed Program closed by User
21:48:41 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2021-04-17 S00888, ImageSaveNum: 888001)
21:49:08   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started
21:49:10   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started
21:49:14   Services Started Observatory Services started
21:50:14   Services Started Observatory Services started
21:51:04   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped
21:52:21 Program Closed Program closed by User
21:52:23 Program Closed Program closed by User
21:54:49 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2021-04-17 S00888, ImageSaveNum: 888001)
21:55:12   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started
21:55:14   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started
21:55:18   Services Started Observatory Services started
21:59:42   Services Started Observatory Services started
22:05:18   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 46s)
22:08:28 Program Closed Program closed by User
22:08:33   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped
22:08:35   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped
22:08:37 Program Closed Program closed by User
22:50:42 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2021-04-17 S00888, ImageSaveNum: 888001)
22:51:16   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox.
22:52:28   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started
22:52:30   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started
22:52:34   Services Started Observatory Services started
22:54:12   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped
22:54:17 Program Closed Program closed by User
22:54:19 Program Closed Program closed by User
 
Session Alerts
Time     Alert Detail
21:43:52 Telescope Alert ASCOM Telescope not connnected
22:51:05 Dome Shutter Pulsar Shutter is deemed to be asleep (last fresh data was at 22:08:27)
22:51:25 Dome Shutter Pulsar Shutter has woken up (fresh data started at 22:51:25, outage 43.0mins)

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Operational Issues (2021-04-17, S888 Attempt)

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Critical Issues

Major Issues

Minor Issues

Small Defects

Continuous Improvement

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Investigation - Unable to Connect to LX200GPS Scope

Issue:  After working relatively flawlessly for 4 years using POTH and then DH,   I’m suddenly unable to make a successful connection to my 12” LX200 GPS/R scope using the ASCOM Meade LX200GPS/R Driver (otherwise known as MeadeLX200GPS.Telescope). If the connection is made by means of DH, the principal error message is ‘Unable to write Telescope.Connected property’.

Description: Issue was first noted to occur in session S887 (2021-04-16).  It began as an error when trying to connect to scope from AstroMain. After then trying unsuccessfully to connect to scope directly from the DeviceHub window  all observatory software was exited/stopped & then restarted  whereupon the scope was successfully connected and the remainder of the session was completed ok.

In the attempted session S888A (2021-04-17)  the Scope connection problem again occurred from AstroMain, but no amount of restarting software, restarting scope, restarting computer was able to achieve a connection. In order to remove AstroMain from the equation software was cut back to just using DeviceHub and/or TheSky6 for problem investigation and was able to collect some diagnostic data but the session itself had to be abandoned.

Since then a series of further day time tests are been run, trying to connect to the scope and fix things So fart I have drawn a blank.
COM Port and settings have been checked and are all ok..

Issue appears to be the same as that reported by Marty Schultz using 16" LX200GPS scope back in 2009.  Replies suggest that driver's timeout is too short, but what has either changed the timeout or increased the process time. Cleaning keypad contacts eventually alleviated the issue in that case.  In attempting to fix issue is was noted that after time was set and the local and sidereal time on the scope read correctly the pointing is hours off in RA.  They hasto run a program to reset the timezone and time afterwhich the pointing matched up with their current model.   Mention is made of new Meade command  ":hIyymmddhhmmss#" for setting time/date correctly.  https://forums.dc3.com/showthread.php?3645-Connection-to-scope-stopped-working-through-ASCOM

Analysis:

Conclusion

Action:

Image  Try out Colin Dawson's MeadeGeneric Driver to see if it can be a replacement for the MeadeLX200GPS driver     (see MeadeGeneric driver)
Image  Try fresh attempts to connect to scope using the MeadeLX200GPS driver
Image  Explore use of Meade ":hIyymmddhhmmss#" for by-passing Date Prompts and setting time/date correctly.

Update 2021-04-23

MeadeLX200GPS driver was found to be capable of connection to the observatory's LX200 GPS/R scope but only if the 'Auto Set Time' option is turned off.
 
(MeadeLX200GPS driver continues to be unable to connect to scope with the Auto Set Time option turned on.   This issue developed during the course of session S887 (2021-04-16) and meant that attempt at an observing session the following night (S888A, 2021-04-17) had to be abandoned. This driver dates from 2005-2007 and is no longer supported.   This has prompted an effort to see if the MeadeGeneric driver (written & supported by Colin Dawson) can already and can be made capable for filling into the role of the MeadeLX200GPS driver).   Whilst 'Auto Set Time' feature has been added to Meade Generic driver following contact with driver's author there are two critical issues that make the Meade Generic driver unpratical for use during a live session.

Update 2021-04-24

MeadeLX200GPS driver was found to be capable of connection to the observatory's LX200 GPS/R scope but only if the 'Auto Set Time' option is turned off.
 
Updates to MeadeGeneric driver eventually allowed 1.0.1.327 Dev Build  to be used to run session S890 (2021-04-24) without the problems that affected the badly affected the two preceeding sessions S888 & S889 that were using older 1..0.0.296 version.

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