Camera Hangs and Stops Plan

[Arto Oksanen]

Hello Bob,

Last night I saw this problem again. It happened at image number 34 of a 999 image run:

...
03.42.51 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -223 PRG = 8.43333333333333
03.42.51 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
03.42.53 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -225 PRG = 8.5
03.42.53 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
03.42.54 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -226 PRG = 8.53333333333333
03.42.54 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
03.42.55 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -227 PRG = 8.56666666666667
03.42.55 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
03.42.56 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -228 PRG = 8.6
03.42.56 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
03.42.57 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -229 PRG = 8.63333333333333
03.42.57 [T] [tkpic] End exposure - REM = -229 PRG = 8.63333333333333
03.42.57 [T] [tkpic] Timed out (int + 120) before completing exposure
03.42.59 **Imaging error: **Exposure failed after being successfully started
03.43.00   (turning tracking off for safety)
03.43.02 End of run.
ACP console log closed 07-helmi-2020 03.43.02 UTC

MaxImDL log:

...
03:37:54 Started   30.000s 1024x1024 exposure, binned 2x2, ROI (512, 512)
03:38:25 Completed 30.000s 1024x1024 exposure, binned 2x2, ROI (512, 512)
03:38:38 Started   30.000s 1024x1024 exposure, binned 2x2, ROI (512, 512)
03:39:09 Completed 30.000s 1024x1024 exposure, binned 2x2, ROI (512, 512)
03:39:19 Wait for StartDownload command timed out.  Proceeding with download.
03:43:02 Guider algorithm 'Single Star' ended
03:43:02 Guider Calibration Completed
05:47:20 Guider algorithm 'Single Star' ended
05:47:20 Guider Calibration Completed

The last image was downloaded and visible in MaxImDL when I woke up in the morning. Camera status was idle.

arto

[Bob Denny]

I saw your post in the MaxIm forum. You may want to show Adam that the ReadyForDownload flag remained false.

[Arto Oksanen]

This has happened again several times tonight after several nights of observing with no problems. There are long delays in the ACP log (the image was dowlnloaded during one delay?) and also the ACP user interface feels sluggish, it responds slowly for menu commands etc. I restarted ACP and MaxImDl, but it did not seem to help to the slugginess. MaxIm seem to work normally if I take images with it. Lets see if the lats observing run manages to get to the very important last plan file just before the dawn. Maybe I will do complete computer reboot tomorrow.

Why the timeout comes so late (460s after the exposure should have ended):

19.44.29   === Starting target repeat 5 of 10 ===
19.44.30   Selecting L filter (0) for imaging
19.44.30   Pointing update: Wait and flip if within 120 sec of flip point
19.44.30   [flip check:  Tn=120s HAc=29184s GW=T HAz=29304s DWz=T WF=no]
19.44.30   Doing auto-center...
19.44.30   (taking 2 sec. exposure, L filter, binning = 4)
19.44.30   (using Raw readout mode)
19.44.30 [T] [tkpic] calling MaxIm to start the exposure...
19.44.30 [T] [tkpic] Exposure request OK
19.44.30   (starting [RBI] + exposure)
19.44.30 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = 2 PRG = 0
19.44.30 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.44.33 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -1 PRG = 1.5
19.44.33 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.44.50 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -18 PRG = 10
19.44.50 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.44.52 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -20 PRG = 11
19.44.52 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.44.53 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -21 PRG = 11.5
19.44.53 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.44.55 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -23 PRG = 12.5
19.44.55 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.45.04 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -32 PRG = 17
19.45.04 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.45.07 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -35 PRG = 18.5
19.45.07 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.45.08 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -36 PRG = 19
19.45.08 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.45.18 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -46 PRG = 24
19.45.18 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.45.19 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -47 PRG = 24.5
19.45.19 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.45.20 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -48 PRG = 25
19.45.20 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.45.21 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -49 PRG = 25.5
19.45.21 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.45.22 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -50 PRG = 26
19.45.22 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.45.33 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -61 PRG = 31.5
19.45.33 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.45.34 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -62 PRG = 32
19.45.34 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.45.36 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -64 PRG = 33
19.45.36 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.45.37 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -65 PRG = 33.5
19.45.37 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.45.47 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -75 PRG = 38.5
19.45.47 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.45.48 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -76 PRG = 39
19.45.48 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.45.49 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -77 PRG = 39.5
19.45.49 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.45.50 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -78 PRG = 40
19.45.50 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.46.00 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -88 PRG = 45
19.46.00 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.46.02 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -90 PRG = 46
19.46.02 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.46.03 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -91 PRG = 46.5
19.46.03 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.46.05 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -93 PRG = 47.5
19.46.05 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.46.19 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -107 PRG = 54.5
19.46.19 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.46.20 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -108 PRG = 55
19.46.20 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.46.22 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -110 PRG = 56
19.46.22 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.46.23 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -111 PRG = 56.5
19.46.23 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.46.34 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -122 PRG = 62
19.46.34 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.46.35 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -123 PRG = 62.5
19.46.35 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.46.37 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -125 PRG = 63.5
19.46.37 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.46.38 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -126 PRG = 64
19.46.38 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.46.49 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -137 PRG = 69.5
19.46.49 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.46.50 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -138 PRG = 70
19.46.50 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.46.52 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -140 PRG = 71
19.46.52 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.46.53 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -141 PRG = 71.5
19.46.53 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.47.07 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -155 PRG = 78.5
19.47.07 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.47.08 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -156 PRG = 79
19.47.08 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.47.10 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -158 PRG = 80
19.47.10 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.47.11 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -159 PRG = 80.5
19.47.11 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.47.22 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -170 PRG = 86
19.47.22 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.47.23 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -171 PRG = 86.5
19.47.23 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.47.25 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -173 PRG = 87.5
19.47.25 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.47.26 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -174 PRG = 88
19.47.26 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.47.36 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -184 PRG = 93
19.47.36 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.47.37 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -185 PRG = 93.5
19.47.37 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.47.39 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -187 PRG = 94.5
19.47.39 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.47.40 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -188 PRG = 95
19.47.40 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.47.51 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -199 PRG = 100.5
19.47.51 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.47.52 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -200 PRG = 101
19.47.52 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.47.54 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -202 PRG = 102
19.47.54 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.47.55 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -203 PRG = 102.5
19.47.55 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.47.56 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -204 PRG = 103
19.47.56 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.48.09 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -217 PRG = 109.5
19.48.09 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.48.11 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -219 PRG = 110.5
19.48.11 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.48.12 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -220 PRG = 111
19.48.12 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.48.14 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -222 PRG = 112
19.48.14 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.48.24 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -232 PRG = 117
19.48.24 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.48.26 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -234 PRG = 118
19.48.26 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.48.27 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -235 PRG = 118.5
19.48.27 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.48.37 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -245 PRG = 123.5
19.48.37 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.48.38 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -246 PRG = 124
19.48.38 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.48.40 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -248 PRG = 125
19.48.40 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.48.42 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -250 PRG = 126
19.48.42 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.48.53 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -261 PRG = 131.5
19.48.53 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.48.54 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -262 PRG = 132
19.48.54 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.48.56 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -264 PRG = 133
19.48.56 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.48.57 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -265 PRG = 133.5
19.48.57 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.49.07 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -275 PRG = 138.5
19.49.07 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.49.08 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -276 PRG = 139
19.49.08 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.49.10 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -278 PRG = 140
19.49.10 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.49.11 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -279 PRG = 140.5
19.49.11 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.49.21 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -289 PRG = 145.5
19.49.21 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.49.22 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -290 PRG = 146
19.49.22 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.49.24 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -292 PRG = 147
19.49.24 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.49.25 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -293 PRG = 147.5
19.49.25 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.49.35 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -303 PRG = 152.5
19.49.35 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.49.36 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -304 PRG = 153
19.49.36 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.49.39 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -307 PRG = 154.5
19.49.39 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.49.40 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -308 PRG = 155
19.49.40 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.49.50 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -318 PRG = 160
19.49.50 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.49.51 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -319 PRG = 160.5
19.49.51 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.49.53 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -321 PRG = 161.5
19.49.53 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.49.54 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -322 PRG = 162
19.49.54 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.50.04 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -332 PRG = 167
19.50.04 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.50.05 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -333 PRG = 167.5
19.50.05 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.50.07 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -335 PRG = 168.5
19.50.07 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.50.08 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -336 PRG = 169
19.50.08 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.50.19 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -347 PRG = 174.5
19.50.19 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.50.20 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -348 PRG = 175
19.50.20 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.50.21 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -349 PRG = 175.5
19.50.21 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.50.22 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -350 PRG = 176
19.50.22 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.50.23 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -351 PRG = 176.5
19.50.23 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.50.33 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -361 PRG = 181.5
19.50.33 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.50.34 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -362 PRG = 182
19.50.34 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.50.36 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -364 PRG = 183
19.50.36 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.50.37 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -365 PRG = 183.5
19.50.37 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.50.55 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -383 PRG = 192.5
19.50.55 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.50.56 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -384 PRG = 193
19.50.56 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.50.58 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -386 PRG = 194
19.50.58 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.50.59 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -387 PRG = 194.5
19.50.59 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.51.00 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -388 PRG = 195
19.51.00 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.51.10 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -398 PRG = 200
19.51.10 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.51.11 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -399 PRG = 200.5
19.51.11 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.51.13 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -401 PRG = 201.5
19.51.13 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.51.14 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -402 PRG = 202
19.51.14 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.51.24 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -412 PRG = 207
19.51.24 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.51.26 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -414 PRG = 208
19.51.26 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.51.27 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -415 PRG = 208.5
19.51.27 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.51.29 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -417 PRG = 209.5
19.51.29 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.51.40 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -428 PRG = 215
19.51.40 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.51.41 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -429 PRG = 215.5
19.51.41 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.51.43 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -431 PRG = 216.5
19.51.43 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.51.44 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -432 PRG = 217
19.51.44 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.51.55 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -443 PRG = 222.5
19.51.55 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.51.57 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -445 PRG = 223.5
19.51.57 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.51.58 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -446 PRG = 224
19.51.58 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.52.00 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -448 PRG = 225
19.52.00 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.52.11 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -459 PRG = 230.5
19.52.11 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
19.52.12 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -460 PRG = 231
19.52.12 [T] [tkpic] End exposure - REM = -460 PRG = 231
19.52.12 [T] [tkpic] Timed out (int + 120) before completing exposure
19.52.13 **Script Error (Tracking has been stopped)**
19.52.14 Source:   MaxIm.CCDCamera
19.52.14 Message:  **Exposure failed after being successfully started
19.52.14 Location: line 1533 column 33.
ACP console log closed 28-helmi-2020 19.52.24 UTC

arto

[Bob Denny]

Ugh. Well I really need to get ACP 8.3 out because of the so-called "MUI Errors" and some other things, so I'm going ahead with it. This problem seems to affect only you and Jeff Herman of San Diego Astronomy Association. And yes, MaxIm works by itself, this is a timing bug in their API. Thanks for the data though I do appreciate it. ACP is working as intended.

[Arto Oksanen]

Hello Bob!

This happened again last night (see the details in the MaximDL support forum: https://forum.diffractionlimited.com...dl.4572/page-6).

This time there was a network break that lasted two hours. The long delay (70 seconds) in the checking "ReadyForDownload" appeared close to that network break. I did some digging into the code. In my Weather component where I check the weather station data I am doing a network load and there is a default timeout of 60 seconds. Does the weather safe polling block the "readyForDownload" polling? If so that may well explain why ACP was "not doing anything" for those 70 seconds and that was too long time for MaxImDL to wait and it just loaded the image so ACP never saw "readyForDownload" to become true. This caused the script to end and hours of science data was lost.

Should I try to change the timeout to something shorter?

arto

[Bob Denny]

I have commented there since we need to know how MaxIm behaves if its client (ACP) doesn't look at ReadyForDownload for ??? seconds (how long?) and what it dies if the client doesn't look. I've explained in more detail there.

Note that this is not like the problem we have been chasing in the past. The traces I have show ReadyForDownload being tested frequently ns still not becoming True.

[Arto Oksanen]

I dunno if the problem is not the same. It was the same on February 2nd run. There is a 22 second "jump" on the log over the exposure end time.

03.38.55 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = 13 PRG = 0.566666666666667
03.38.56 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
03.38.57 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = 11 PRG = 0.633333333333333
03.38.57 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
03.39.00 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = 8 PRG = 0.733333333333333
03.39.00 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
03.39.22 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -14 PRG = 1.46666666666667
03.39.22 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi
03.39.25 [T] [tkpic] Looping - REM = -17 PRG = 1.56666666666667
03.39.25 [T] [tkpic 2ph] ReadyForDownload = Epätosi

It does say in the MaxImDl help file that it is waiting 10 seconds:

"When AutoDownload is set to false, upon completion of the exposure ReadyForDownload is set to true, and up to 10 seconds remain before download begins automatically. During an exposure, the client should poll ReadyForDownload periodically, and when it becomes true, may start the telescope slew to the next object. Once the slew is started, the client should call StartDownload to initiate the camera download process and preempt the rest of the delay. The camera readout then proceeds normally, and the image can be retrieved once ImageReady is set to true."

I did write a small "takeExposure" script and it does show how the ReadyForDownload is true (-1) just 10 seconds or so:

Exposing 2 seconds.

s ImageReady ReadyForDownload

0 ImageReady= 0 ReadyForDownload= 0
1 ImageReady= 0 ReadyForDownload= 0
2 ImageReady= 0 ReadyForDownload= 0
3 ImageReady= 0 ReadyForDownload= 0
4 ImageReady= 0 ReadyForDownload= -1
5 ImageReady= 0 ReadyForDownload= -1
6 ImageReady= 0 ReadyForDownload= -1
7 ImageReady= 0 ReadyForDownload= -1
8 ImageReady= 0 ReadyForDownload= -1
9 ImageReady= 0 ReadyForDownload= -1
10 ImageReady= 0 ReadyForDownload= -1
11 ImageReady= 0 ReadyForDownload= -1
12 ImageReady= 0 ReadyForDownload= -1
13 ImageReady= 0 ReadyForDownload= -1
14 ImageReady= 0 ReadyForDownload= 0
15 ImageReady= -1 ReadyForDownload= 0
16 ImageReady= -1 ReadyForDownload= 0
17 ImageReady= -1 ReadyForDownload= 0
18 ImageReady= -1 ReadyForDownload= 0
19 ImageReady= -1 ReadyForDownload= 0
20 ImageReady= -1 ReadyForDownload= 0


Maybe ACP could also check for ImageReady to see if the image is already downloaded?

arto

[Bob Denny]

Well, the main thing is that you really need to fix the weather server not to have long response times. Weather is critical and ACP needs to check it frequently. The calls to weather should not take more than a second or two. Maybe you put a short time out and return UNSAFE if the weather "goes away". This would be much better. At least your observatory would be protected from a sudden change of weather.

[Arto Oksanen]

I dont know if it was a network problem on February or something else, but it is probable that the image was (auto)downloaded during those 22 seconds while ACP was "not doing anything". The weather station polls take normally less than a second and it pulls the data from network only every 5 minutes. The network is down very rarely.

Of course the network pull should timeout sooner, I will fix it. But unsafe condition would have ended the observing script too. Maybe it should have, but the weather station data is not so time critical, it gives just the humidity and wind speed and both are usually changing slowly. I could take my chances observing rest of the night without the weather station data if the beginning of the night was safe. The script now sets the weather "unknown" but not "unsafe" if/when the network data can not be retrieved. I did not know the connect has so long timeout.

So the weather poll IS blocking the camera poll? Anything else in ACP?

arto

[Bob Denny]

So the weather poll IS blocking the camera poll? Anything else in ACP?

The main one is weather. It must operate as an interrupt! I don't want to get into a detailed internal analysis of ACP. As long as the "modules" in the system stay within the rul of a few seconds for a function call, all will be fine.