SynScan with SkyWatcher AZ GTI, ASCOM, and direction left/right is backwards

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directgumby
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue Sep 10, 2019 4:17 pm

SynScan with SkyWatcher AZ GTI, ASCOM, and direction left/right is backwards

#1

Post by directgumby »

Hello,

I am new to doing all of this setup goodness, but I feel like I’ve got a good setup going.
During my setup I ran into one issue that I don’t know why it is happening… but here it is:

When I setup my SkyWatcher AT GTI with ASCOM, I can get SharpCap to connect and run the mount.
The only problem I’m having is that: When I press the left arrow, the image goes right, and when I press the right arrow, the image goes left.
The above does not happen when I use the SynScan app directly.
Does anyone have any ideas on why this may be happening?

Thank you for your time and help,
Brett
SharpCap 3.2
SkyWatcher AZ GTI Mount (In AZ mode)
SynScan App Pro (Windows: 1.17.3)
ZWO ASI 187 MC
Apatura 60
Windows 10 (1903 build 18362.295)
Laptop SurfaceBook (16 gigs of RAM)
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Re: SynScan with SkyWatcher AZ GTI, ASCOM, and direction left/right is backwards

#2

Post by admin »

Hi,

Actually there's no real agreement between the direction the image moves and the direction buttons. Things like the rotation of the camera in the eyepiece holder and whether or not you have a diagonal mirror (which flips the image) will affect this. For an Alt/AZ mount I would expect the direction the mount moves to agree with the direction of the button pressed on screen though – that would apply when looking at the mount from behind the telescope.

Cheers, Robin
directgumby
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue Sep 10, 2019 4:17 pm

Re: SynScan with SkyWatcher AZ GTI, ASCOM, and direction left/right is backwards

#3

Post by directgumby »

Thank you for the info.

I was making an assumption that the arrows between ASCOM and the SynScan app would agree.
But, I can see your point that they may not be the same.

Can I change that in the config in SharpCap and/or the ASCOM setup?
if so, that would be cool. :)

Thank you for your time and help,
Brett
SharpCap 3.2
SkyWatcher AZ GTI Mount (In AZ mode)
SynScan App Pro (Windows: 1.17.3)
ZWO ASI 187 MC
Apatura 60
Windows 10 (1903 build 18362.295)
Laptop SurfaceBook (16 gigs of RAM)
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Re: SynScan with SkyWatcher AZ GTI, ASCOM, and direction left/right is backwards

#4

Post by admin »

Hi,

To be honest I'm not aware of way to set that up to make the controls aligned. Programs like the PHD2 guiding application go through a fairly lengthy calibration procedure to work out which way (up/down/left/right) in the image corresponds to which direction of mount movement.

Cheers, Robin
directgumby
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue Sep 10, 2019 4:17 pm

Re: SynScan with SkyWatcher AZ GTI, ASCOM, and direction left/right is backwards

#5

Post by directgumby »

Hello Robin,

By using PHD2 will it resolve the SharpCap button usage so that up/down/left/right work as expected?

Thanks,
Brett
SharpCap 3.2
SkyWatcher AZ GTI Mount (In AZ mode)
SynScan App Pro (Windows: 1.17.3)
ZWO ASI 187 MC
Apatura 60
Windows 10 (1903 build 18362.295)
Laptop SurfaceBook (16 gigs of RAM)
directgumby
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue Sep 10, 2019 4:17 pm

Re: SynScan with SkyWatcher AZ GTI, ASCOM, and direction left/right is backwards

#6

Post by directgumby »

Hello,

A question for you that have the SkyWatcher working with Stellarium.
What are the settings you are using?

I noticed that the mount shows up under the "Serial" connection, but this device does not have one.
When looking under the "external software or remote computer" it was unclear how to connect to the device.

Any thoughts on the next steps here would be appreciated.

Apologizes if this is a bit off topic from SharpCap.
(please let me know if this is not advised and I am new to all of this)

Thanks,
Brett
SharpCap 3.2
SkyWatcher AZ GTI Mount (In AZ mode)
SynScan App Pro (Windows: 1.17.3)
ZWO ASI 187 MC
Apatura 60
Windows 10 (1903 build 18362.295)
Laptop SurfaceBook (16 gigs of RAM)
directgumby
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue Sep 10, 2019 4:17 pm

Re: SynScan with SkyWatcher AZ GTI, ASCOM, and direction left/right is backwards

#7

Post by directgumby »

Hello,

[EDIT]

Well.. I thought the below would work... but it did not..
It showed connected but then never would slew to anything :(
Well.. i'll keep trying other things. :)

[END EDIT}

I thought i'd take a moment and reply to my own post because I have the answer, and would like it to be here for others in the future, just in case the same question comes up.

1) Go into Stellairum
2) Go into the "Configure" section
3) Go to the "plug-ins"
4) Select "Telescope Control"
5) Check the "Load at start" (if not started, check the box and restart Stellarium and repeat 1-4)
6) Click Add
(Configuration will come up)
7) Select "External software of remote computer"
8) Put in a nice name
9) Put in the IP address of the mount
Note: I set mine up with a fixed IP for 192.168.1.222 on my local network via the iPhone app)
Give that, I put in 192.168.1.222 for my connection
Optional: Check the "start/connect at startup" if you wish
10) Click "OK"
You should now see the mount listed in the list of options
11) Click "connect"

You should now be able slew or sync your telescope - sweet! :)

I hope that is helpful for someone in the future.

Thanks,
Brett
SharpCap 3.2
SkyWatcher AZ GTI Mount (In AZ mode)
SynScan App Pro (Windows: 1.17.3)
ZWO ASI 187 MC
Apatura 60
Windows 10 (1903 build 18362.295)
Laptop SurfaceBook (16 gigs of RAM)
captaincook
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Aug 13, 2021 7:33 am

Re: SynScan with SkyWatcher AZ GTI, ASCOM, and direction left/right is backwards

#8

Post by captaincook »

Hi everyone,
Can someone offer some advice please on connecting Sharpcap on my laptop to control my AZGTI mount. I am assuming I can do this with my mobile phone connected at the same time but maybe thats the issue? I have installed the ASCOM driver and connected to the AZGTI wifi on my computer; within Sharcap I have selected the syncscan hardware but then it refuses to connect. In fact I then had problems with my phone control too. Do I forgo the phone connection for the sharpcap control? I originally intended to run synscan on my laptop instead of my phone but it would neither find the location or accept the manually entered coordinates. All help gratefully received.
BW
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Re: SynScan with SkyWatcher AZ GTI, ASCOM, and direction left/right is backwards

#9

Post by admin »

Hi,

I must admit that I do all my connecting with good old fashioned wires, so haven't any experience of WIFI connections for Synscan. I guess the question is... if you don't connect with the phone then does the connection from SharpCap work any better?

cheers,

Robin
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