I would love some help. I have checked multiple times to make sure mechanically the focuser is working, tuned it, etc. but no matter what I cannot get SGP to find the focus point. I used the formula on page 136 of the manual, which gives me 200 steps. Tried a few times, depending, I get something between 175 and 225 steps but I have tried everything in between. I am not exactly sure how much \ backlash I have, but it does not apear to be much. I have tried every backlash value between 25 to 300 in a trial and error fashion. No matter what step value or BL value I use, I inevitably get this message that SGP cannot find a focus, and, my “V” graph alwayus has a leveling off to the upper right.
Is there anything I might be missing here?
{
“AutoFocusId”: 4,
“FocusParams”: {
“img”: {
“a”: “baf0ea4e-6f10-4561-8b36-b9f2a590745b”,
“b”: “C:\Users\chiro\AppData\Local\SequenceGenerator\Temp”,
“c”: “metric”,
“d”: “1x1”,
“e”: 0,
“f”: 8.0,
“g”: 0,
“h”: null,
“i”: true,
“j”: false,
“k”: false,
“l”: “Not Set”,
“m”: “NotSet”,
“n”: 0,
“o”: false,
“p”: false,
“q”: false,
“r”: false,
“s”: “Light”,
“t”: null,
“u”: 0,
“v”: null
},
“dataPoints”: 7,
“stepSize”: 300,
“imagesTaken”: 8,
“autoClose”: true,
“manualStarSelect”: false,
“closeDelay”: 30,
“saveData”: false,
“saveLocation”: “C:\Users\chiro\OneDrive\Desktop\IMAGE DIRECTORY”,
“bUseSameSet”: false,
“bUseAfDarks”: false,
“sAfDarksPath”: “”,
“bSettleBeforeFrame”: false,
“bAfCrop”: false,
“nAfCropPct”: 0,
“DisableSmartFocus”: false,
“RunningTargetName”: “m101”
},
“FocusResult”: {
“AfState”: “Success”,
“AtTime”: “2020-02-10T23:50:35.0263589-08:00”,
“SkipAfRun”: false,
“Hfr”: 4.9,
“FocuserPosition”: 17930.0,
“Message”: “”
},
“ForTarget”: “m101”,
“Runs”: [
{
“AutoFocusId”: 0,
“AttemptNum”: 1,
“FocusStartTime”: “2020-02-10T23:47:38.363514-08:00”,
“FocusEndTime”: “2020-02-10T23:50:07.5810085-08:00”,
“DataPoints”: [
{
“stepVal”: 19018,
“metricVal”: 1491.0,
“lAvg”: -1.0,
“weight”: 0.0,
“AtTime”: “2020-02-10T23:47:50.4893631-08:00”,
“NumStars”: 18
},
{
“stepVal”: 18718,
“metricVal”: 1421.0,
“lAvg”: -1.0,
“weight”: 0.0,
“AtTime”: “2020-02-10T23:48:10.5048908-08:00”,
“NumStars”: 19
},
{
“stepVal”: 18418,
“metricVal”: 937.0,
“lAvg”: -1.0,
“weight”: 0.0,
“AtTime”: “2020-02-10T23:48:31.6003672-08:00”,
“NumStars”: 31
},
{
“stepVal”: 18118,
“metricVal”: 439.0,
“lAvg”: -1.0,
“weight”: 0.0,
“AtTime”: “2020-02-10T23:48:52.5712334-08:00”,
“NumStars”: 93
},
{
“stepVal”: 17818,
“metricVal”: 333.0,
“lAvg”: -1.0,
“weight”: 0.0,
“AtTime”: “2020-02-10T23:49:12.5752666-08:00”,
“NumStars”: 139
},
{
“stepVal”: 17518,
“metricVal”: 742.0,
“lAvg”: -1.0,
“weight”: 0.0,
“AtTime”: “2020-02-10T23:49:33.5587961-08:00”,
“NumStars”: 43
},
{
“stepVal”: 17218,
“metricVal”: 1280.0,
“lAvg”: -1.0,
“weight”: 0.0,
“AtTime”: “2020-02-10T23:49:54.5747088-08:00”,
“NumStars”: 12
}
],
“Fit”: {
“BestPosition”: 17930,
“FitQuality”: 0.96983947428098438,
“A”: 17.337301587301585,
“B”: -621.703746031746,
“C”: 5577.4776374444436,
“FitResult”: 4,
“IsFit”: true,
“FitQualityPercentageString”: “97%”,
“IsSuccess”: true
},
“FocusParams”: null,
“FocusResult”: null
}
]
}
[02/10/20 23:54:43.654][INFO][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Incremental Fit Result (7): quality=76%; a=13.031746031746; b=-469.398412698413; c=4231.55025555555;
[02/10/20 23:54:43.655][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Emit AFPack screenshot: Points: 7; Final: False
[02/10/20 23:54:43.673][INFO][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Detected focus getting worse! Shifting auto focus range
[02/10/20 23:54:43.674][DEBUG][Main Thread][SQ;AF;] Adding sequence level notification: Cannot find focus point, assuming focus is outward, adjusting smart focus range…
[02/10/20 23:54:43.694][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Sending Notification: Warning - Cannot find focus point, assuming focus is outward, adjusting smart focus range…
[02/10/20 23:54:43.695][DEBUG][Main Thread][SQ;AF;] Adding sequence level notification: Focus cannot be determined. Moving to start position of 17930 to reattempt. Fit Quality 76%
[02/10/20 23:54:43.720][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Sending Notification: Warning - Focus cannot be determined. Moving to start position of 17930 to reattempt. Fit Quality 76%
[02/10/20 23:54:43.720][WARN][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Focus cannot be determined. Moving to start position of 17930 to reattempt. Fit Quality 76%
[02/10/20 23:54:43.720][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] MoveFocuserAbs: Start, move to 17930…
[02/10/20 23:54:43.720][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] ASCOM Focuser: MoveSync - start…
[02/10/20 23:54:43.720][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Focuser moving to 17930
[02/10/20 23:54:43.723][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Focuser move call complete
[02/10/20 23:54:43.723][DEBUG][Move Monitor Thread][SQ;AF;] ASCOM Focuser: Move monitor thread is started…
[02/10/20 23:54:55.869][DEBUG][Move Monitor Thread][SQ;AF;] ASCOM Focuser: Move monitor thread -> movement complete
[02/10/20 23:54:55.907][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] ASCOM Focuser: MoveSync - Focuser reports it is done moving, continuing…
[02/10/20 23:54:55.908][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] MoveFocuserAbs: End, move complete, at 17930…
[02/10/20 23:54:55.908][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Emit AFPack screenshot: Points: 7; Final: True
[02/10/20 23:54:55.910][INFO][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Auto focus data
[02/10/20 23:54:55.911][INFO][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] - Data Points: 7
[02/10/20 23:54:55.911][INFO][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] - Step Size: 300
[02/10/20 23:54:55.911][INFO][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] - Current Position: 17930
[02/10/20 23:54:55.911][INFO][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] - Initial Move Position: 18830
[02/10/20 23:54:55.911][INFO][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] - Panic Move Position: 17930
[02/10/20 23:54:55.915][ERROR][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] AF Darks exception: The path is not of a legal form.
[02/10/20 23:54:55.916][INFO][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Moving focuser to next position (18830)…
[02/10/20 23:54:55.916][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] MoveFocuserAbs: Start, move to 18830…
[02/10/20 23:54:55.916][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] ASCOM Focuser: MoveSync - start…
[02/10/20 23:54:55.916][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Focuser moving to 18830
[02/10/20 23:54:55.919][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Focuser move call complete
[02/10/20 23:54:55.919][DEBUG][Move Monitor Thread][SQ;AF;] ASCOM Focuser: Move monitor thread is started…
[02/10/20 23:55:07.055][DEBUG][Move Monitor Thread][SQ;AF;] ASCOM Focuser: Move monitor thread -> movement complete
[02/10/20 23:55:07.069][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] ASCOM Focuser: MoveSync - Focuser reports it is done moving, continuing…
[02/10/20 23:55:07.070][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] MoveFocuserAbs: End, move complete, at 18830…
[02/10/20 23:55:07.070][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Calculating step metric…
[02/10/20 23:55:07.070][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Taking auto focus frame(s)…
[02/10/20 23:55:07.071][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] ASCOM camera: Capturing auto focus frame…
[02/10/20 23:55:07.071][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] ASCOM: AF Binning: 1x1…
[02/10/20 23:55:07.071][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] ASCOM: AF Exposure length: 8 seconds…
[02/10/20 23:55:07.071][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] ASCOM: AF Exposure DL speed: HIGH
[02/10/20 23:55:07.072][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] SetAscomHighSpeed…
[02/10/20 23:55:07.072][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Cannot set readout speed, not supported by camera…
[02/10/20 23:55:07.072][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] ASCOM Camera: exposure started, waiting…
[02/10/20 23:55:15.100][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] ASCOM Camera: exposure complete, waiting for camera to report image ready…
[02/10/20 23:55:16.068][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] SaveFileAscom: Start…
[02/10/20 23:55:16.068][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] SaveFileAscom: Checking image data…
[02/10/20 23:55:16.068][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] SaveFileAscom: Create normal preview bitmap…
[02/10/20 23:55:16.073][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] SaveFileAscom: Locking preview bits…
[02/10/20 23:55:16.073][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] SaveFileAscom: Starting byte traversal…
[02/10/20 23:55:16.073][TRACE][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] SaveFileAscom: Row padding -> 0
[02/10/20 23:55:16.199][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] SaveFileAscom: Unlocking preview bits…
[02/10/20 23:55:16.199][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] SaveFileAscom: Done
[02/10/20 23:55:16.199][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Internal Interface: Set Preview…
[02/10/20 23:55:16.199][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Display image preview using asynch task…
[02/10/20 23:55:16.584][DEBUG][Main Thread][SQ;AF;] --> Find stars (normal)
[02/10/20 23:55:16.665][DEBUG][Main Thread][SQ;AF;] AF frame was too large… downsample = 0.5…
[02/10/20 23:55:18.581][DEBUG][Main Thread][SQ;AF;] Star detection using min star size of 3px…
[02/10/20 23:55:18.581][DEBUG][Main Thread][SQ;AF;] Star detection using max star size of 60px…
[02/10/20 23:55:18.633][DEBUG][Main Thread][SQ;AF;] Find stars took: 2049 ms…
[02/10/20 23:55:18.633][DEBUG][Main Thread][SQ;AF;] Star list contains 26 stars…
[02/10/20 23:55:18.633][DEBUG][Main Thread][SQ;AF;] Calculating HFR with sample size: 6
[02/10/20 23:55:19.050][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Auto focus HFR calculated at: 11.45
[02/10/20 23:55:20.057][INFO][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Incremental Fit Result (1): quality=%; a=0; b=0; c=0;
[02/10/20 23:55:20.059][INFO][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Moving focuser to next position (18530)…
[02/10/20 23:55:20.059][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] MoveFocuserAbs: Start, move to 18530…
[02/10/20 23:55:20.059][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] ASCOM Focuser: MoveSync - start…
[02/10/20 23:55:20.059][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Focuser moving to 18530
[02/10/20 23:55:20.060][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Focuser backlash active, modified move to 18504
[02/10/20 23:55:20.062][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Focuser move call complete
[02/10/20 23:55:20.063][DEBUG][Focuser Backlash Thread][SQ;AF;BC;] Focuser backlash thread has started…
[02/10/20 23:55:20.063][DEBUG][Move Monitor Thread][SQ;AF;BC;] ASCOM Focuser: Move monitor thread is started…
[02/10/20 23:55:25.065][DEBUG][Focuser Backlash Thread][SQ;AF;BC;] Backlash thread has detected that movement to modified position (18504) is complete…
[02/10/20 23:55:25.065][DEBUG][Focuser Backlash Thread][SQ;AF;BC;] Moving focuser to original requested position (18530)…
[02/10/20 23:55:25.065][DEBUG][Focuser Backlash Thread][SQ;AF;BC;] Focuser backlash compensation needed. Steps: 26 Direction:OUT
[02/10/20 23:55:25.065][DEBUG][Focuser Backlash Thread][SQ;AF;BC;] Focuser moving to 18530
[02/10/20 23:55:25.066][DEBUG][Focuser Backlash Thread][SQ;AF;BC;] Focuser move call complete
[02/10/20 23:55:25.066][DEBUG][Move Monitor Thread][SQ;AF;BC;] ASCOM Focuser: Move monitor thread is started…
[02/10/20 23:55:27.067][DEBUG][Focuser Backlash Thread][SQ;AF;BC;] Focuser backlash completed. Focuser is at original request position (18530)…
[02/10/20 23:55:27.068][DEBUG][Focuser Backlash Thread][SQ;AF;BC;] Focuser backlash thread has ended…
[02/10/20 23:55:27.068][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] ASCOM Focuser: MoveSync - Focuser reports it is done moving, continuing…
[02/10/20 23:55:27.069][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] MoveFocuserAbs: End, move complete, at 18530…
[02/10/20 23:55:27.070][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Calculating step metric…
[02/10/20 23:55:27.070][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Taking auto focus frame(s)…
[02/10/20 23:55:27.074][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] ASCOM camera: Capturing auto focus frame…
[02/10/20 23:55:27.074][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] ASCOM: AF Binning: 1x1…
[02/10/20 23:55:27.074][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] ASCOM: AF Exposure length: 8 seconds…
[02/10/20 23:55:27.074][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] ASCOM: AF Exposure DL speed: HIGH
[02/10/20 23:55:27.074][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] SetAscomHighSpeed…
[02/10/20 23:55:27.075][DEBUG][Camera Thread][SQ;AF;] Cannot set readout speed, not supported by camera…