Hi folks:
I've recently encountered an issue with my iOptron CEM26. I've opted to place this in the CEM26 forum rather than the ASIAIR forum, as the issue is sorted by cycling power on the mount rather than the ASIAIR…
I've been using the CEM26 and ASIAIR together for a year now, mostly doing a visual PA and Autorun on the ASIAIR. No issues. Recently I have moved my mount to another location where Polaris is not visible so that I can tackle targets normally obscured by my house, and using the All-Sky align for PA. All good so far, but I've discovered that each night after I complete my first target and slew to the next one, the mount stops tracking (still guiding) randomly, usually within 10-15 minutes.
- My mount is powered by a dedicated AC adapter, not via the ASIAIR
- The issue is somewhat resolved by cycling power to the mount, cycling power on the ASIAIR alone will not sort the issue
- I can turn tracking back on manually but it will turn off again on its own within 10-15 minutes. This happens over and over again until the mount's power is cycled
- The ASIAIR is a Mini
- Zero issues up until this point
It's really disruptive and puzzling - I'd love to get to the bottom of this. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!
CS,
Mark
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CEM26/ASI Tracking Issue
Hello, Mark
I am having the same problem. Have you found a solution?
Regards,
Larry
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I also have the same problem. Guiding goes wonky when I try to guide in the SE sky.
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Hi folks:
Thanks for chiming in! I am still having this issue, and power cycling doesn’t always fix it. I have removed a few of the conditions from my original post, now that I’ve experienced the issue under different circumstances (not just with the all-sky align, and not just the second target of the night - those were coincidence).
I wonder if the low altitude targets are tripping some sort of safety limit on the mount itself. I don’t think it’s an issue with the ASIAIR. I’m going to look into this more and get back to you both.
CS!
Mark
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I didn't provide any setup info in my previous post. Here is some info:
Mount: CEM 26
ASIAIR Plus 256 with latest updates
Scope: Sky 90 (500 mm FL, 90mm objective, 3.2 kg)
Camera: ZWO ASI 585 MC Pro
EAF Focuser
William Optics guide scope (0.52 kg)
Balance and Polar Alignment: Very good
Outside air temperature: -7C; wind: calm (Location: SW Montana, USA)
Power: Mains power feeds iOptron supplied power brick which powers the mount. Mount powers the ASIAIR. (Possible trouble spot?)
I was trying to image Horsehead Nebula about 1 hour East of the meridian. Every 5-10 minutes the mount would stop tracking. I could restart tracking using the Tracking On/Off slider button in ASIAIR Plus. I gave up and slewed over to M33 (due West). (Slewing/GoTo/Plate Solving worked fine.) Mount stopped tracking after about 30 minutes. I went back to Horsehead, now at about 1 hour West of meridian. Same thing. Mount stopped tracking every 5-10 minutes. Altitude of both targets was 40 deg. plus. Also, my DEC guiding would, referring to kwuhi, above, go wonky - but not necessarily at same time as mount stop tracking.
My prior experience last Autumn with this set up has been very good - everything worked as it should - but it was a lot warmer outside.
Things I want to investigate: effect of cold outside air temperature and steadiness of my power supplies. I saw reports on line that the ASIAIR stopped working when cold - around -10 C as I recall. I will investigate this further.
Regards,
Larry
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@Larry Swenson thank you for the extra info! I have written iOptron support. It's interesting that we are all using the ASIAIR. I haven't heard of users of other mounts (or even other iOptron mounts) experiencing this issue with the ASIAIR, so I have a feeling it's specific to the CEM26 rather than cold weather or power issues with the ASIAIR, but maybe I'm wrong? We'll see if iOptron has anything to say. Fingers crossed. CS! Mark
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Thanks Mark for taking the lead! I have parked my CEM26 as it is pain to deal with when we have so few clear nights.
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Are you still imaging targets lower than 40 degrees, and in the south? If you're imaging the same targets you had issues with, we could rule out the ASIAIR if it performs fine with your other mount(s). I just have the CEM26 so I can't test this myself. CS, Mark
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Yes, I have my other scopes running ASIAir and AM3 and AM5 mounts. No issues below 40 degrees. I think it the CEM26. I wonder if there is a mount configuration setting that can be changed via hand controller? Tracking rate in ASIair? Firmware on mount? Grasping at straws here.
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Ok, iOptron has asked me to check that my altitude limits were set to zero (they were) and now they're asking me to run the CEM26 without the ASIAIR, and see if the issue persists, to rule out the ASIAIR. I'm not sure when I'm going to be able to get to this as I have no other mount or computer control system, so I suppose I'd have to run the mount disconnected from the ASIAIR and watch the guidecam to see when the stars start to drift. With all the time I've lost due to this issue, I'm loathe to waste a clear night on this while I still have projects I'm trying to finish up (sometimes the mount works for an hour or two before the issue starts up, so it could be a long evening of staring at the guidecam) but if any of you have spare equipment, time, and clear skies and want to give it a go, perhaps that might satisfy iOptron since we're all experiencing the same exact issue.
If an nybody else is able to test this, or has other ideas on how we could run this test, please feel free to chime in. Thanks!
CS!
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Thanks for trying! I have wasted time as well. Fortunately for me , I have other equipment. I have mini pc running Nina and Raspberry Pi running StellarMate and using the cem26 as a mount to learn the two apps. When, I am ready, I will try.
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Hey Kai, thanks for offering!
I actually have an Astroberry Raspberry Pi kicking around, but it's been so long since I used it, and my daughter has a lot on the go and honestly it's been hard fitting everything in these days. I'd love to solve this issue, though.
I've heard NINA is excellent - good luck with the learning curve!
CS,
Mark
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Hi folks:
Another update from iOptron. They've consulted with their development team and have sent me a new firmware update. I'll perform the update (I just have to find somebody with a PC - I'm a Mac user) and let you know if it solves the issue (it'll need to wait until after Feb. 20, as I'm working on other targets until the moon's in third quarter). Certainly easier than performing the test - though I'm a little nervous about messing around with firmware. Fingers crossed!
CS,
Mark
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Im in the south and no Polaris as such and plenty of trees in the backyard. When you say the all sky align is that the polar align under the information tab; it plate solves and moves your scope only 30 degrees rather than 60 degrees? I can never get that to work. I never have trouble though using the PA feature on the main panel. Most times I use an NGC rather than a star for PA and works great. If you are using that PA feature under the information tab it …may/could be that. Also post your problem on the ZWO forum as well. Just a thought.
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Hi Stephen,
What I mean is when you can't see polaris and need to point the scope to another part of the sky and then run the PA routine. You have to check the All Sky Align option in the Info tab first. The scope does an initial plate solve and then move twice with a plate solve at each stop. The third stop never seems to plate solve. Thanks for the tip on posting in the ZWO forums. I should also check there!
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Mark Germani:
Hi folks:
Another update from iOptron. They've consulted with their development team and have sent me a new firmware update. I'll perform the update (I just have to find somebody with a PC - I'm a Mac user) and let you know if it solves the issue (it'll need to wait until after Feb. 20, as I'm working on other targets until the moon's in third quarter). Certainly easier than performing the test - though I'm a little nervous about messing around with firmware. Fingers crossed!
CS,
Mark I have a PC laptop that I can lend you. I am tied up for a couple of weeks. Let me know if you still need in then.
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Thanks @Kai - that’s very kind of you! I actually have a PC at work and might give that a go. It’ll just be a matter of bringing in the mount one day - I’ll wait for this run of clear nights to pass and bring it in then. CS!
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