I’m trying SGP Beta 388. I also thought I’d give the new ASTAP solver a try. I did a dlew and centre. It seemed to take a long time. During the plate solve portion of this, I got a message that the Plate Solver was starting. Thinhs seemed to hang for around 20-30 seconds and then it solved. This seemed much slower than the old Plate Solve 2 method. So I reverted back to Plate Solve 2 and tried a solve of my last ‘Frame and Focus’ image. (I had already solved and synched so SGP knew where it was pointing). Unfortunately Plate Solve 2 also took an age - again it hung for 20-30 seconds at the ‘starting solver’ phase. It used to start much more quickly than this.
I tried to attach a log, but the new file extension is not allowed! So I have cut and pasted what seems to be the relevant bit:
[11/29/19 17:18:02.238][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] Created full file name (file does not exist): C:\Users\Steve\AppData\Local\SequenceGenerator\Temp\plate_solve_image.fit
[11/29/19 17:18:02.241][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileAscom: Start…
[11/29/19 17:18:02.241][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileAscom: Checking image data…
[11/29/19 17:18:02.241][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileAscom: Create normal preview bitmap…
[11/29/19 17:18:02.245][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileAscom: Locking preview bits…
[11/29/19 17:18:02.246][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileAscom: Validating file name…
[11/29/19 17:18:02.246][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileAscom: Starting byte traversal…
[11/29/19 17:18:02.972][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileAscom: Unlocking preview bits…
[11/29/19 17:18:02.973][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileAscom: Saving preview bitmap to disk…
[11/29/19 17:18:02.976][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileBmp16: Locking bitmap for disk write…
[11/29/19 17:18:02.976][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileBmp16: Opening file stream…
[11/29/19 17:18:02.977][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileBmp16: Writing FITS headers…
[11/29/19 17:18:02.994][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileBmp16: Traversing and persisting bitmap data…
[11/29/19 17:18:03.087][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileBmp16: FITS block fill…
[11/29/19 17:18:03.087][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileBmp16: Unlocking bitmap…
[11/29/19 17:18:03.087][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileBmp16: Closing file stream
[11/29/19 17:18:03.120][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] Internal Interface: Set Preview…
[11/29/19 17:18:03.122][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] Display image preview using asynch task…
[11/29/19 17:18:03.860][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileAscom: Done
[11/29/19 17:18:03.860][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] =========== Save file took 1625 ms
[11/29/19 17:18:03.860][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SGM_CAMERA_PLATE_SOLVER_CAPTURE complete…
[11/29/19 17:18:03.860][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] Camera thread is IDLE…
[11/29/19 17:18:03.932][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Auto center verification frame complete. Plate solving image C:\Users\Steve\AppData\Local\SequenceGenerator\Temp\plate_solve_image.fit
[11/29/19 17:18:03.950][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ************* SOLVE HINTS ****************
[11/29/19 17:18:03.950][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] SOLVER: ASTAP
[11/29/19 17:18:03.950][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] BLIND: False
[11/29/19 17:18:03.950][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] METHOD: Max Regions
[11/29/19 17:18:03.950][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] RA: 20.1937632961649
[11/29/19 17:18:03.950][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] DEC: 38.5920243467964
[11/29/19 17:18:03.950][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] SCALE: 2.64
[11/29/19 17:18:03.950][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ******************************************
[11/29/19 17:18:33.040][DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] PHD2 - No messages received from PHD2 for 1 minute, checking socket with status…
[11/29/19 17:18:33.040][DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] Checking PHD2 state…
[11/29/19 17:18:33.040][DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] PHD2 GetPhdStatus - Pre-Wait : Stopped
[11/29/19 17:18:33.040][DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] Sending to PHD2:
{“method”: “get_app_state”, “id”: 1001}
[11/29/19 17:18:33.040][DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] PHD2 GetPhdStatus - Post-Wait: Stopped
[11/29/19 17:18:51.331][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] FitsFileHeaderData: Angle - 0
[11/29/19 17:18:51.331][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] FitsFileHeaderData: Scale - 0
[11/29/19 17:18:51.337][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] FitsFileHeaderData: RA - 20.1937647894191
[11/29/19 17:18:51.339][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] FitsFileHeaderData: DEC - 38.5919824938735
[11/29/19 17:18:51.375][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ASTAP Param: RA (RAD) - 5.2867148682969
[11/29/19 17:18:51.375][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ASTAP Param: DEC (RAD) - 0.673557889861411
[11/29/19 17:18:51.375][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ASTAP Param: Width - 1679
[11/29/19 17:18:51.375][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ASTAP Param: Height - 1268
[11/29/19 17:18:51.376][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ASTAP Command Line:
[11/29/19 17:18:51.376][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] C:\Program Files\astap\astap.exe 5.28671486829690,0.67355788986141,0.02148965730339,0.01622923493788,3000,C:\Users\Steve\AppData\Local\SequenceGenerator\Temp\psXSolve_0.fit
[11/29/19 17:18:54.213][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ASTAP: read APM file…
[11/29/19 17:18:54.722][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ASTAP: Exit state -> ValidSolve
[11/29/19 17:18:54.724][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] *********** SUCCESSFUL SOLVE *************
[11/29/19 17:18:54.724][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] SOLVER: False
[11/29/19 17:18:54.724][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] SUCCESS: True
[11/29/19 17:18:54.724][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] CONF: 999
[11/29/19 17:18:54.724][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] BLIND: False
[11/29/19 17:18:54.724][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] RA: 20.1615173525518
[11/29/19 17:18:54.724][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] DEC: 38.8736164952677
[11/29/19 17:18:54.724][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] SCALE: 2.59543
[11/29/19 17:18:54.724][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] FLIPPED: False
[11/29/19 17:18:54.724][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ANGLE (EON): 90.64
[11/29/19 17:18:54.724][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] MSG: Valid solve.
[11/29/19 17:18:54.724][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ******************************************
[11/29/19 17:18:54.726][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Auto center validation frame solved successfully…
[11/29/19 17:18:54.729][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Syncing to J2000 RA: 20.1615173525518 Dec: 38.8736164952677
[11/29/19 17:18:54.729][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Sync behavior set to “Sync”…
[11/29/19 17:18:54.731][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Sync Passed in J2000 but mount requires JNOW, converting…
[11/29/19 17:18:54.733][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Syncing to JNOW RA: 20.1730039051811 Dec: 38.936140337378
[11/29/19 17:18:58.277][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Attempting to write fits header info for C:\Users\Steve\AppData\Local\SequenceGenerator\Temp\plate_solve_image.fit
[11/29/19 17:18:58.277][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Opening fits file…
[11/29/19 17:18:58.282][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Successfully opened fits file…
[11/29/19 17:18:58.282][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Writing fits headers…
[11/29/19 17:18:58.286][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Closing fits file
[11/29/19 17:18:58.287][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Could not sync the rotator to 90.64 degrees (not connected)!
[11/29/19 17:18:58.294][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Auto center complete…
[11/29/19 17:18:58.301][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Close centering dialog…
[11/29/19 17:18:58.307][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Center telescope message completed…
[11/29/19 17:18:58.307][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope thread is IDLE…
[11/29/19 17:18:58.328][DEBUG] [Center Scope Thread] Retrying auto center. Total Error > Allowable error: 1573.8 > 15.0
[11/29/19 17:18:58.329][DEBUG] [Center Scope Thread] RA Error: 1361.4
[11/29/19 17:18:58.329][DEBUG] [Center Scope Thread] DEC Error: 789.7
[11/29/19 17:18:58.362][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Center telescope message received…
[11/29/19 17:18:58.362][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Solving with Plate Solver ASTAP…
[11/29/19 17:18:58.614][DEBUG] [Center Scope Thread] Error in auto center update thread, Thread was being aborted.
[11/29/19 17:18:58.618][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Setting filter for auto center…
[11/29/19 17:18:58.621][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Setting filter position 1…
[11/29/19 17:18:58.621][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Filter position 1 is already set. Skipping…
[11/29/19 17:18:58.621][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Performing auto center step 1…
[11/29/19 17:18:58.621][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Skipping step 1…
[11/29/19 17:18:58.621][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Auto center reference frame solved successfully…
[11/29/19 17:18:58.623][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Performing auto center step 3 (scope)…
[11/29/19 17:18:58.623][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Auto center slewing scope to match reference…
[11/29/19 17:18:58.628][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Slewing to J2000 RA: 20.1942333333333 (20h11m39.24s) Dec: 38.5889416666667 (38°35’20.19")
[11/29/19 17:18:58.628][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Slew received J2000 coordinates, mount requires JNOW, converting…
[11/29/19 17:18:58.630][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Slewing to JNOW RA: 20.2058012970127 Dec: 38.6522512037764
[11/29/19 17:18:58.630][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Calling Observatory Slave Slew
[11/29/19 17:19:00.679][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Scope reports it is done with synchronous slew, verifying…
[11/29/19 17:19:00.680][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Observatory is reporting slewing
[11/29/19 17:19:01.681][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Slewing has completed
[11/29/19 17:19:01.681][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Settling for 2 seconds
[11/29/19 17:19:03.682][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Settling has completed
[11/29/19 17:19:03.682][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Auto center slew complete…
[11/29/19 17:19:03.682][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Performing auto center step 4…
[11/29/19 17:19:03.682][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Created full file name (file does not exist): C:\Users\Steve\AppData\Local\SequenceGenerator\Temp\plate_solve_image.fit
[11/29/19 17:19:03.694][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SGM_CAMERA_PLATE_SOLVER_CAPTURE message received…
[11/29/19 17:19:03.695][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] Alnitak Flat Box - Getting shutter status
[11/29/19 17:19:03.751][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] Alnitak Flat Box - Updating Device Variables - Model: 99 Motor Status: 0 Light Status: 0
[11/29/19 17:19:03.759][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] Collecting FITs headers for plate solve frame…
[11/29/19 17:19:03.759][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] Collecting FITs headers for plate solve frame…
[11/29/19 17:19:03.772][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SetAscomNormalSpeed…
[11/29/19 17:19:03.772][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] Readout speed set to NORMAL…
[11/29/19 17:19:10.231][DEBUG] [Main Thread] PopulateDataModel: Transferring view to the data model…
[11/29/19 17:19:10.263][DEBUG] [MF Update Thread] Performing serialize…
[11/29/19 17:19:14.957][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] Created full file name (file does not exist): C:\Users\Steve\AppData\Local\SequenceGenerator\Temp\plate_solve_image.fit
[11/29/19 17:19:14.957][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileAscom: Start…
[11/29/19 17:19:14.957][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileAscom: Checking image data…
[11/29/19 17:19:14.957][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileAscom: Create normal preview bitmap…
[11/29/19 17:19:14.961][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileAscom: Locking preview bits…
[11/29/19 17:19:14.961][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileAscom: Validating file name…
[11/29/19 17:19:14.961][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileAscom: Starting byte traversal…
[11/29/19 17:19:15.460][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileAscom: Unlocking preview bits…
[11/29/19 17:19:15.460][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileAscom: Saving preview bitmap to disk…
[11/29/19 17:19:15.460][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileBmp16: Locking bitmap for disk write…
[11/29/19 17:19:15.460][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileBmp16: Opening file stream…
[11/29/19 17:19:15.461][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileBmp16: Writing FITS headers…
[11/29/19 17:19:15.462][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileBmp16: Traversing and persisting bitmap data…
[11/29/19 17:19:15.544][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileBmp16: FITS block fill…
[11/29/19 17:19:15.544][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileBmp16: Unlocking bitmap…
[11/29/19 17:19:15.544][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileBmp16: Closing file stream
[11/29/19 17:19:15.562][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] Internal Interface: Set Preview…
[11/29/19 17:19:15.563][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] Display image preview using asynch task…
[11/29/19 17:19:16.072][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SaveFileAscom: Done
[11/29/19 17:19:16.072][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] =========== Save file took 1117 ms
[11/29/19 17:19:16.073][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SGM_CAMERA_PLATE_SOLVER_CAPTURE complete…
[11/29/19 17:19:16.073][DEBUG] [Camera Thread] Camera thread is IDLE…
[11/29/19 17:19:16.189][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Auto center verification frame complete. Plate solving image C:\Users\Steve\AppData\Local\SequenceGenerator\Temp\plate_solve_image.fit
[11/29/19 17:19:16.203][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ************* SOLVE HINTS ****************
[11/29/19 17:19:16.203][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] SOLVER: ASTAP
[11/29/19 17:19:16.203][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] BLIND: False
[11/29/19 17:19:16.203][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] METHOD: Max Regions
[11/29/19 17:19:16.203][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] RA: 20.1937639425654
[11/29/19 17:19:16.203][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] DEC: 38.5920202986858
[11/29/19 17:19:16.203][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] SCALE: 2.59543
[11/29/19 17:19:16.203][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ******************************************
[11/29/19 17:19:33.166][DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] PHD2 - No messages received from PHD2 for 1 minute, checking socket with status…
[11/29/19 17:19:33.166][DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] Checking PHD2 state…
[11/29/19 17:19:33.166][DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] PHD2 GetPhdStatus - Pre-Wait : Stopped
[11/29/19 17:19:33.166][DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] Sending to PHD2:
{“method”: “get_app_state”, “id”: 1001}
[11/29/19 17:19:33.166][DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] PHD2 GetPhdStatus - Post-Wait: Stopped
[11/29/19 17:20:04.055][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ASTAP Param: RA (RAD) - 5.28671503752417
[11/29/19 17:20:04.055][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ASTAP Param: DEC (RAD) - 0.673557819208553
[11/29/19 17:20:04.055][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ASTAP Param: Width - 1679
[11/29/19 17:20:04.055][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ASTAP Param: Height - 1268
[11/29/19 17:20:04.055][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ASTAP Command Line:
[11/29/19 17:20:04.055][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] C:\Program Files\astap\astap.exe 5.28671503752417,0.67355781920855,0.02112685653596,0.01595524364955,3000,C:\Users\Steve\AppData\Local\SequenceGenerator\Temp\psXSolve_1.fit
[11/29/19 17:20:06.828][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ASTAP: read APM file…
[11/29/19 17:20:07.329][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ASTAP: Exit state -> ValidSolve
[11/29/19 17:20:07.329][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] *********** SUCCESSFUL SOLVE *************
[11/29/19 17:20:07.329][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] SOLVER: False
[11/29/19 17:20:07.329][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] SUCCESS: True
[11/29/19 17:20:07.329][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] CONF: 999
[11/29/19 17:20:07.329][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] BLIND: False
[11/29/19 17:20:07.329][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] RA: 20.1941610499716
[11/29/19 17:20:07.329][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] DEC: 38.5916868825956
[11/29/19 17:20:07.329][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] SCALE: 2.59555
[11/29/19 17:20:07.329][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] FLIPPED: False
[11/29/19 17:20:07.329][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ANGLE (EON): 90.63
[11/29/19 17:20:07.329][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] MSG: Valid solve.
[11/29/19 17:20:07.329][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] ******************************************
[11/29/19 17:20:07.329][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Auto center validation frame solved successfully…
[11/29/19 17:20:07.329][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Syncing to J2000 RA: 20.1941610499716 Dec: 38.5916868825956
[11/29/19 17:20:07.329][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Sync behavior set to “Sync”…
[11/29/19 17:20:07.330][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Sync Passed in J2000 but mount requires JNOW, converting…
[11/29/19 17:20:07.332][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Syncing to JNOW RA: 20.2057284557876 Dec: 38.6549947600893
[11/29/19 17:20:10.997][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Attempting to write fits header info for C:\Users\Steve\AppData\Local\SequenceGenerator\Temp\plate_solve_image.fit
[11/29/19 17:20:10.998][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Opening fits file…
[11/29/19 17:20:11.000][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Successfully opened fits file…
[11/29/19 17:20:11.000][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Writing fits headers…
[11/29/19 17:20:11.000][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Closing fits file
[11/29/19 17:20:11.001][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Could not sync the rotator to 90.63 degrees (not connected)!
[11/29/19 17:20:11.005][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Auto center complete…
[11/29/19 17:20:11.013][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Close centering dialog…
[11/29/19 17:20:11.025][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Center telescope message completed…
[11/29/19 17:20:11.025][DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope thread is IDLE…
[11/29/19 17:20:11.064][DEBUG] [Center Scope Thread] Automatic Auto Center Success - Total Error <= Allowable error: 8.2 <= 15.0
[11/29/19 17:20:11.064][DEBUG] [Center Scope Thread] RA Error: 3.0
[11/29/19 17:20:11.065][DEBUG] [Center Scope Thread] DEC Error: 7.6
[11/29/19 17:20:25.404][DEBUG] [Main Thread] Centering: User abort…
[11/29/19 17:20:33.296][DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] PHD2 - No messages received from PHD2 for 1 minute, checking socket with status…
[11/29/19 17:20:33.296][DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] Checking PHD2 state…
[11/29/19 17:20:33.296][DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] PHD2 GetPhdStatus - Pre-Wait : Stopped
[11/29/19 17:20:33.296][DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] Sending to PHD2:
{“method”: “get_app_state”, “id”: 1001}