2021.10.10 | Bruce Waddington: De-Mystifying the PHD2 Guiding Assistant

PHD2 developer Bruce Waddington demonstrates how to utilize the Guiding Assistant in PHD2 to help set all the settings to get the most out of autoguiding your mount.
Bruce's website: www.coldphotons...
TAIC website: www.theastroim...
TAIC Facebook group: / 1329722943877857
To Donate to TAIC
tinyurl.com/Do...
#astrophotography

[@scorpio1155]

Bruce's presentation was first rate all the way. I learned so much and am very thankful for the channel and the people that work hard to make it happen each week. Having said that, though, please consider saving the questions until the end of the presentation. Interrupting the presenter along the way negatively impacts the flow of the presentation. Additionally, the people pushing the stream should refrain from taxing their Internet connections with other tasks during the stream. This has happened before.

[@mikehardy8247]

The section from about 39 to 42 minutes when everything was garbled, was one of the most important to me. Any chance a clear version of that could be made available?

[@spex357]

How do you think that is achievable?

[@montygiavelli8125]

@@spex357 Easy, just print out what he said and include it on this page.

[@spex357]

@@montygiavelli8125 What did he say ?

[@JoeBob79569]

I did some fiddling with my mount (HEQ5) recently and got my backlash down from 3500ms to about 1200s, and I was still a bit annoyed that it was still at 1200s, but I don't feel quite so bad about it now after seeing some of these other failed tests!
I think there was some room for improvement in it, but when I tightened up the worm gear some more it was like it was slightly binding for 180° (when rotating the internal gear with my hand) and then moving freely for the other 180°. It kind of seemed like something was very slightly twisted, like a gear was slightly off-center or something.
I think I'll let the info from this presentation simmer in my brain for a few days, and do a few more sessions and tests, before going at it again.
But this is some fantastic information, I have a much better idea why people generally say not to go messing with the PHD2 settings without knowing exactly why you're doing it!

[@poruatokin]

Loved the way Bruce just shut down the question on the ASI Air - Personally I really hate ZWO.

[@copasetic1]

This is a wonderful presentation. My only suggestion for this sort of thing in the future is to hold questions until the end rather than repeatedly breaking up the presenter’s flow.

[@2badger2]

I heard people say that you should have the balance weights side just a little heavy, is that true? If you want 30 pixel dithering is there any other PHD2 parameters you have to worry about? Thank you and great video!

[@montygiavelli8125]

Very good presentation !
I was having a lot of backlash on my EQ6-R pro mount. I mechanically adjusted the backlash with the grub screws(brought the worm gears closer to the drive gears) and it helped. Also, the DEC belt was pretty loose and I tightened it up a bit and this helped. Question - how much backlash is too much and should we adjust it out mechanically ???
thanks,
Monty

[@miguelriverocolado5202]

Great video! I do appreciate all the work that Bruce and his team have come to develop PHD2, the explanation in the presentation was EXCELENT, for me in my second language was easy to understand and follow. I´m having backslash problems and you provided me with the direction to look in to my mount (CGEM), found that the bearings were overtighten, I know it will be limited but I´m sure it will improve, working in the gear mesh. Bruce, my hat off for you. Regards to all and looking forward for more GREAT presentations.

[@MrBebopbob]

Thanks for another interesting presentation. I have an I option CEM70G and I have seen conflicting info on whether using PEC on my mount while guiding with PHD2. Any thoughts?

[@SPDavie65]

A very clear, thoughtful and appropriately detailed explanation of PHD2. The best explanation I have seen or read anywhere. Thank you Bruce!

[@AzCrawler00]

This should not be any surprise, of course. Bruce's explanation in this session is the most pragmatic and coherent explanation of PHD2 I have read or watched. While I knew most of this, the explanations really helped bring it all together. Thanks for taking the time to present this, Bruce.

[@newpilot4370]

Wow! I went from an elementary to PhD understanding of PHD2! Nice job and thanks for the great overview.

[@gary5051]

audio is a real problem on this video....

[@EM-sx6jn]

Extremely helpful advice.

[@yosmith1]

Another great one, thanks everyone

[@joneslu1377]

Thank you so much!

[@andamd1983]

I'm watching from Italy