Pegasus Astro Forum

Hi

Just getting started with PPBA.

Overall impression is positive so far.

I can access the PPBA with a PC which allows me to change and read settings.

However, I wish to operate without a PC when imaging, and I cannot figure
out how to force the PPBA to turn on the Dew heaters when it boots without
a computer. I've tried checking and unchecking Auto Dew, Full etc but nothing seems to stick.
Whatever I do, when it is powered on the dew heaters are off.

Help appreciated.

Cheers, Des

I too would like to know if this feature is possible on a PB Micro. If I tell the device to use 'full on' or any other setting for dew heater output it is reset upon a reboot. It seems the only config that is stored is either auto-dew off with no dew-heater output, or auto-dew on letting the on-board algorithm to handle the dew control output.

Would changing the 'aggressiveness' of the auto-dew ensure that they are on at all times? (if it was set to full aggressiveness)

Both (aggresiveness and auto-dew) is stored in memory and ALWAYS retrieved on boot of both devices (PPB Advance and Micro).

Sure these are retrieved on boot of the device, but how does one configure the unit to for example: Always boot to 50% ON.

I only mentioned "aggressiveness" because I think the "thought process" of the controller for auto-dew is a mystery and I was hopeful that "full agressiveness" might actually just be what the OP is looking for (which is to have the dew controller always ON at boot).

Is this the case?

I'm afraid this is not possible with current firmware.
It is advised to use auto-dew and let the sensor do the rest.

I noted your request as a feature request for future firmware releases.

professorspock wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 10:02 pm Sure these are retrieved on boot of the device, but how does one configure the unit to for example: Always boot to 50% ON.

I only mentioned "aggressiveness" because I think the "thought process" of the controller for auto-dew is a mystery and I was hopeful that "full agressiveness" might actually just be what the positive words and OP is looking for (which is to have the dew controller always ON at boot).

Is this the case?

It's not possible even with the latest firmware..

Using an Ultimate PB v3 Release Version : 2.7.4685.427 running NINA I'm finding that the Auto Dew control is enabled in the Unity app, but not in NINA using the current ASCOM driver. Since it looks like it's not enabled in the Ascom driver, I don't know if it really on in Unity, or just looks like it's on. I don't want to find out that it isn't working on a wet night & have my refractor objective get wet. After a few years I'd think the software/Driver would be able to do this very simple thing that I need. My setup is completely automated except for turning on the dew heaters either manually or with Auto Dew. Why is this still not working properly? Please fix it.