SharpCap Forums

Robin,

I just downloaded latest beta. I set up astap to a maximum 90deg search radius so it would reset quicker with my scope in general area of target. Going to 180 deg makes for a long search time before fail. Could you let sharpcap use the astap setting for search radius? People could leave astap at 180 if they want. Might be a good addition to have a search radius setting in settings.

George

Hi George,

can you try using

-r 90

in the custom parameters for the Astap settings in SharpCap. That should add that to the command line, but I suspect there will then be two copies on the command line of the -r parameter, so not sure which will apply. It might just be a workaround.

cheers,

Robin

I’ll give it a shot

Robin,
The code worked controlling radius of search. However when search reached 90 astap does not reset and grab next frame to start again.
George

Hi George,

OK, in that case it has to be something that I would change in the code - I will keep it in mind for when the 4.1 release is done.

cheers,

Robin

+1 for me too

I just discover this push to feature in 4.1.

I will test it with my Donsonian on a equatorial platform as soon as I will get some clear sky.

I will also add the astap -r 90 as some times I am unable to plate solve.

Just tried ... to test this amazing new feature - it could help me greatly on my non goto Starwatcher Adventurer 2i.

Usually I use platesolving and manually calculate my distance to my object. Then I use the phone app to connect to the Star Adventurer 2i RA motor to correct RA. And I glued a tape measure on the declination adjuster axis so I can manually move the DEC. I am using a DSLR Canon t3i which I can use as a ASCOM driver Camera in Sharpcap.

The push to direction would help me to suggest the DEC/RA corrections I would need to make to get on my DSO target. I was hoping this would turn into similar guidance as the polar alignment tool which I love, being able to use this with a non-go to mount.

All other Sharcap tools work well - focus tool (manual focus), polar alignment routine, plate solver with ASTAP, sensor analysis and the smart histogram. But.. the new feature "Push to direction" keeps being grayed out in 4.1 that I just downloaded today.

How do I get Push to direction active so I can give it a spin?

thanks so much!

Matt

Hi Matt,

from the sound of it, the PushTo menu item was disabled for you. To be able to activate it, you need

* A camera open
* The camera in live view mode (not still mode)
* A plate solving tool configured in the SharpCap settings.

Maybe it was the live/still mode thing that was stopping you?

cheers,

Robin

Thanks Robin for the quick reply.

Confirmed it worked - showed up as I put my ASCOM DSLR Camera in "LiveView" mode. I had my camera in Still mode (default for ASCOM driver DSLR)

resolved, hoping for some more experimentation later this week!

kind regards,

Matt

Good results from using Push to direction 4.1 with ASCOM DSLR (Canon T3i)

- Select ASCOM Driver Camera (in 4.1 pre release you have to set ISO gain manually on the DSLR until ASCOM solves their bug)
- in liveview (not still mode)
- using ASTAP as plate solver

I started at polaris (after sharpcap polar align) and could then find the North America Nebula using Push to solve. After completion of the routine I did a plate solve and it was spot on (ofcourse can adjust for artistic composition). The small steps in RA you can use the Startracker push buttons (or the wifi app) to prevent messing around with the clutch (and risking polar mis-alignment). The dec bracket (2i pro bundle of SWSA) helps to fine tune the DEC search. I found the notation in Sharpcap a bit confusing in DEC; because I have a measure in DEC degrees (90 to polaris), and then you get the minutes, seconds notation in Sharpcap - not sure if that is worth a feature request or just takes some getting used to.

Excited about this feature, it takes a lot of guessing out of the star tracker non goto DSO finding and is a great addition to the toolset to digitize the non gotos using Sharpcap - a great beginners AP user segment to be in.

-Matt