SBIG ST-i autoguider

[wglogowski]

Hello
I am attempting to set up an SBIG ST-i guide camera and as I watch the youtube video on setup, I do not see the same screen settings as in the video. I have attached a screen capture of my Prism screen. Which tab do I select to use the camera as a guider? The camera attaches to a ST-4 guiding camera port on my mount.

[Hamza Touhami]

Good morning Walter

from the screenshot, I see that PRISM is saying the camera is "unknown camera name", how are you connecting the ST-i? directly to the computer? through a hub? did you download the drivers? are they installed properly?>

Thanks

[wglogowski]

Hi
I have attached a bunch of screenshots for you to look at.

1) I connect the SIBIG through Prism and I am able to take images and control the camera.
2) I did do a SIBIG drive check and all the drivers are up to date
This screenshot shows my telescope setup

This shot shows the telescope autoguider tab, I have tried to check serial switch but I don't connect through a serial switch it is an ST-4 connection

This shows my camera dialog boxes and as you can see I do not have a guide tab on for the SBIG camera

I can only post three images so I'm going to continue with an additional post

[wglogowski]

Part II
This is shot of my SBIG camera setup, It does not matter if I check "hide guiding control tab or not" it never shows up.

This is shot of the SBIG setup dialog box, you can see that I select SBIG drive.

This is a second screenshot of the telescope setup dialog box, I have both check and unchecked this box and I still don't get a guide tab

[Hamza Touhami]

do you have this checkbox checked by chance>? if so, the guider tab will not show up. By the way, this is the CCD hardware setup portion.

[wglogowski]

No, I do not have it checked, see my figure 6

[Hamza Touhami]

Hi Walter, I did see your figure 6 but wanted a double-check just in case. In the ST-i camera control window, can you scroll left-right with the arrows? you should see more tabs other than File - Window - Camera - CCD temp - etc...

Let me know please.

[wglogowski]

That's it! But now I have a new problem "guiding peripheral not open"? I get the message when I click on the calibrate tab, What's that about?

I guess Prism still does not recognize that this is the guide camera, Yes? See the text at the bottom "Guiding: None"

Walter

[wglogowski]

So, I was just playing around with the telescope dialog box and unchecked this box that is circled. Then I connected all the equipment and tried the SBIG camera again and it works. I won't be able to actually try it for a few nights but I think this solves the problem. I guess I did not read the manual carefully enough on page 380 it says: "It is up to the user to select which device will do the job. If ASCOM PulseGuide capabilities are not desired (and the camera has a cable connection to the mount), then on Hardware setup screen (see below) check the indicated box." So since I do connect directly to the mount this should be unchecked.

Thank you for all of your help so far! FYI, I really like the Prism focus routine, it is much better than the one on another program that I have been using. I'm also looking forward to not having to use a separate guiding application.

[Hamza Touhami]

Outstanding Walter, I looks forward to your images. Please post them in the "Results with PRISM" please.

clear skies to you