Dithering

[lacroixmarcroger@hotmail.c]

Hello, I am new to autoguiding and want to ensure dithering is activated for my imaging sessions from a BackyardEOS perspective.  Here are the pertinent technical details:

Cannon EOS 6D, PHD2 (has dithering enabled), Skywatcher quattro 200p, ZWO mini 120 guide camera, Orion 60 X 240 guidescope.

What specific settings are required in Backyard EOS?  I believe I only need to check the "Dither on start-up" box in the "settings" window?  I am assuming the default setting in the "dither" section of the settings window work generaly quite well...confirm?

What is the purpose of the "Dither" button on the main screen?

Thank you,

Marc.

 

 

[astroman133]

The same specific settings will not necessarily work for everyone. There are too many variables, such as sky conditions, pixel size of both the imaging and guide cameras, diameter of the guide scope, backlash in the mount, etc. I would suggest getting guiding to work with PHD, without dithering. You can use PHD2's Guiding Assistant to help you to select parameters in PHD2 that will optimize your guiding. Dithering is actually performed by PHD2, with BYE telling it when to dither and providing a few parameters to adjust that process.

Only once you have consistent good guiding with PHD2 would I try dithering with BYE or any other camera capture application.

I am a long time user of BYE and I do not know what the "Dither on startup" checkbox on the Settings dialog does , but it does not enable or disable dithering, or cause dithering to occur by default. Neither does the user manual discuss that checkbox.

Dithering is enabled via the Dither button on the main screen. This is simple to test out at the kitchen table, without the camera connected to a lens or scope and even without a connection to PHD2.

There is a post in the How-To's forum that may provide some additional insights:

 

[lacroixmarcroger@hotmail.c]

Thank you Rick - much appreciated!