Connecting your astro equipment in N.I.N.A.

This is the first part of a series about setting up and using NINA. In this first set of videos, I'll be running through a simple imaging run, starting with connecting the equipment. Later videos will include going deeper into the settings of N.I.N.A. as well as processing workflows
Get NINA at nighttime-imaging.eu/
#astrophotography

[@AstroCloudGenerator]

Your efforts are appreciated all over the world, I can't imagine how hard it would be to get ahead without quality tutorials like this. You rock! Clear skies.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

I'm so glad all of this is helping!

[@csb0xc4rs]

Cuiv, I just wanted to let you know that your channel and videos were instrumental in getting me to move from APT to NINA. I still see both as competitors and hope they drive each other onward. Your videos have made the product accessible and your depth of detail when covering the features has improved my experience greatly. In APT I felt I was glossing over settings and capabilities but with your instruction I have been able to dig in and really get additional value out of NINA as a solution. Keep up the good work, and thank you!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Excellent to hear! I hear APT is quite competent in its own right, but it's always good to be open to new stuff! NINA is developing quite fast, which is something that I really like about it. Hoping you get clear skies to get those crunchy subframes in!

[@heavyjohnny]

Cuiv, I'm transitioning from SGP/ASIAir. Like you I just purchased the Mele Q3 and I live in Japan too. I just wanted to say thank you for all the work you put into creating this playlist. I'm sure you will make me a master in no time!

[@rikutalvio]

Nice one! Not enough good astro content on youtube, so I look forward to seeing more from you!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Thank you! Not sure whether all my videos will be about astro (so many interests!), but will try to keep up the astro content for sure.

[@AnakChan]

Nice video! Would love to see an initial setup of N.I.N.A incl different profiles, etc. Also a tutorial on the Flats Wizard, etc.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Planning for that too. Thank you!

[@07lemp27]

Merci Cuiv pour tes vidéos. Je cherchais depuis quelques temps déja sur KZbin,des vidéos tutoriels sur N.I.N.A. J.ai trouvé ta chaîne KZbin (dont je me suis abonné) qui explique très clairement les fonctionnalités de N.I.N.A.... Félicitation et merci encore pour ton excellent travail. Paul (Laval, Québec, Canada) ;-)

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Merci beaucoup pour le retour Paul! NINA n'arrete pas d'evoluer, donc mes tutoriels vont bientot devoir etre mis a jour! Mais c'est tellement fun de faire ces videos :) Merci beaucoup & clear skies!

[@jefflaycock4574]

Yes please do an initial set up video, adding and finding drivers etc would help a lot for one who is not fully astro tech savvy.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Something like this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKmxqqBmdr-Gi9E :D I'm also working on a series concerning beginning astro for lazy people - this will start from scratch.

[@jefflaycock4574]

Thank you very much Cuiv.

[@cheloniachris]

Great video, keep on! I have nearly the same setup, my R200SS is an old version from the end of the 90ies, but still doing its job. And I was endlessly fighting with the backlash of the EAF and backlash assistant.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Thank you! The R200SS is such a great scope! I just wish its focuser were a bit more robust, but otherwise it is excellent. Yeah, the EAF has such incredibly large amounts of backlash that the backlash assistant has trouble with it... It's better to measure it manually.

[@cheloniachris]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek I replaced the focusser with a better one. Can you tell how to measure backlash manually?

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

@@cheloniachris will add that as a video to make. Overall, if measuring manually, you want to move the focuser far in one direction, and measure star HFR. Then move the focuser in another direction, a few steps at a time. Plot that. The curve obtained should be flat for a while (if there is backlash), then have a definite slope (if backlash has been cleared). The length of the flat part is the backlash.

[@cheloniachris]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek Thanks! I will do this under the next full moon!

[@bluegrassmagee8697]

So Awesome Thank You!! 😊 🪐🔭

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

If I can get the DSLR driver to work with my T2i, I'll use NINA. Playing with it last night, it seems superior to APT. Yes, I know, a ZWO would be better (294MC). I had just started imaging with my Canon in 2015 when life got very complex. Besides, a DSLR is very intuitive (thinking of Sarah). I'm already getting lots of 1000 yard stares with my training regimen...so baby steps. What I particularly liked on image alignment with NINA is you can rotate the field to correspond with your camera view. One still has to frame the object before taking exposures--and that entails loosening the ring on the Vixen R200SS and rotatering the camera.Although I'm 57 and in good health, I want Sarah to know how to use my gear when I'm taking a dirt nap. Big problem is neither of us have grown up.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Don't kick the bucket too fast, please! The 550D should work with NINA. I used to have one. With the filter removed. And with the Bayer matrix scraped off for good measure :-) The good old days!! Yeah I completely understand what you're saying with DSLRs... But then once you connect them to a PC, they're just as complex as astro-cameras in the end... I'm recently looking at getting an old Pentax DSLR, because of their Astrotracer function!

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek So you are saying it makes no difference what camera I start with. The learning curve is the same whoever is behind the wheel?

[@sonnyedmonds7993]

Hi Cuiv, I'm wondering how to make a second equipment profile in NINA. What my goal is, is to have a profile that sets my equipment to do Plate Solving where my guide scope and camera are the Plate Solving input, instead of my Main Telescope as is currently being done. The purpose is to use the Guide Scope (60mm) and ASI 290MM camera for the Plate Solving part of NINA. Why? To shift my Telescope from Imaging, over to Visual, and to use plate solving to center the object, by using the guider as the solver. I already have my Guide Scope very closely centered with the Main Telescope (130mm), but realize I may have to improve that aim. Love NINA and your wonderful tutorials. Just stumped doing this idea. 🤔

[@PeterMaddison2483]

N.I.N.A. ~ The Swiss Army Knife of the Astrophotography world.

[@jonpaul5675]

Very nice set of videos. I am thinking of switching to NINA. Can you tell me if NINA supports the Omegon ve tec 533 which I have on order?

[@yangotira]

We missed you

[@josegiovanni8695]

Hello, very interesting video. I want to tell you that I have problems connecting the celestron neximage burst camera with nina. I connect it through ascom first and Nina should detect it, but it doesn't. any suggestions please

[@claudioarchi]

Excellent content specially about NINA. Not enough out there. I have a question. I'm planning on letting my rig on the roof as well, but I'm worried about high temperatures affecting the gear. I notice your telegizmo cover. Does it work well under hot temperatures? I leave in Montreal Canada and I does get hot on the roof during summers. I'm less worried about cold temperatures. Thank you in advance

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Thank you! I might do a video on that one - to be honest I haven't measured the temperatures under the hood, but basically you want to always, always, always have desiccant underneath. Even then, you will likely notice that your equipment ages faster than otherwise... But it gets used (much) more, so you'll get more use out of it over its lifetime anyway!

[@deeber35]

Thought my mount was PA in NINA (< 1 degree fro both), but when I slew to coordinates, the camera is way off; I did get a warning it didn't slew far enough or something, to somehow change slew rate? but that warning went away when I next PA; what could be wrong? Used an L bracket for the camera, but that shouldn't be a problem

[@SuperKevinFS]

would you not use NINA polar alingment

[@darrenwarne9005]

I own 2 Sestosenso 2's. Great focusera backlash is basically what ever your focuser has.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Great to hear! I wish they could fit on Vixen focusers...

[@pekwalker]

What is the advantage of using something like Chrome Remote Desktop over a program like VNC Viewer or Putty?

[@brod5352]

Always enjoy your vids. Since you have the 533MC Pro and it is similar type of sensor as my new 2600MC Pro I want to know if you have ever experienced the same problem I'm having? Which is that once I connect to NINA with my 2600MC pro and finish the exposure, the image download fails. I get ASI General Error Messages saying the download failed. It does the same thing trying to use ASICAP as well. But yet I can connect my 294MC Pro to NINA and it works just fine. And since I can connect to NINA with my 2600MC Pro and counts down the exposure, that it may be an SDK issue. As I think the driver is performing normally. And the 2600MC Pro works great with my ASI Air Pro. But my Moonlite Focuser which I absolutely love, does not work with the ASI Air Pro. It works great in NINA. Absolutely no backlash. But this issue with my 2600MC Pro is quite frustrating. I'm sure glad it works with the ASI Air Pro or would be returning the camera.

[@jesuschrist2284]

Chrome remote desktop seems to work fine for me on a desktop with win10 home and an unactivated win 10 home on a mac via boot camp btw. No need for win pro versions to use a rdc feature :)

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

You can use RDP with Windows Home with RDPWrapper :-)

[@jesuschrist2284]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek im too lazy for that, sorry ;)

[@LiveSteamMad]

I see you are using Japanese mains power outside and running your mini PC with an AC DC adapter for 19V. I, however, am in UK and our mains is 230V (EU-aligned now, used to be 240V), and I feel unsafe running mains outside to my mount. So instead I run long 12V cables (20m long) and use a Beelink GKmini NUC sized PC which runs on 12V and takes 18W maximum, via a Kuma brand "car adapter" 12V voltage stabiliser at the mount end where the mini PC is (because of voltage drop down my long cables), and Nevada PS-08 13.8V power supply to power my SkyWatcher EQ6-R, and a generic 12V 7A mains adapter to power my Lynx 4 channel dew heater.

[@riaandewinnaar5040]

What are your thoughts on dso lucky imaging? Software dithering on low read noise sensor and the possibility for main sensor guiding (not so important). Perhaps live stacking based on quality criteria... Nina could do well with features to facilitate this. Starting to play around with this, but seems like the future.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Well... I'm not sure. I think on high contrast objects (compact galaxies) from dark zones, lucky imaging can (and has, if you look at Autostakkert) worked very well. And Astrobiscuit wants to use it for high resolution imaging using amateurs across the planet. If the read noise could be reduced to essentially zero... maybe. But I dread having to use that much disk space!

[@davidmisisco]

Cuiv, what mini computer are you using to connect remotely to you camera and mount?

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

It's a Japanese-made mini-PC, but very similar to a NUC. You can see more details here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/roTLpaCbnJWhpas

[@davidmisisco]

Thanks! Great video and thanks for directing my to your mini computer video. Do you find 8GB of RAM to be enough to run everything?

[@SuperKevinFS]

Can i ask what the USB limit means I have noticed you have yours set at 100 is there a specific reason for this

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

I may move my autoguide scope to the tube rings. Is this a standard 1/4-20 thread? No comments on cable mgmt. If they don't hang on stuff and get ripped out then it's good.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

I *think* it is the 1/4-20 thread, but I am not completely sure - I just reused the screws that were on them in the first place. Agree on the cables :)

[@sarahsastronomyadventures7212]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek received the 294MC yesterday. Gorgeous instrument. Gotta remember to change accounts....this is not Sarah....just the Dad.

[@spacedogsbackyardastronomy8274]

Yes please do a video on connecting all of the equipment ascom and eqmod

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Sounds good, will try :)

[@dummag4126]

ok, but how did you connect everything to your pc? You show for 2 seconds a little PC.......mistery...mah

[@psiddarth3581]

Hi Is there a way to connect DSLR to NINA ?

[@-WhizzBang-]

Can you use NINA with a dslr?

[@gary5051]

Hi Cuiv, I’ve watched this intro video on equipment before and I revisited it tonight since I’m having trouble setting up my Profiles. Specifically, I can’t seem to find a way that NINA can handle 2 filter wheels, for example having FW 1 as part of 1 or 2 profiles and then have FW 2 associated with 1 or 2 additional profiles. This would be very useful to me since I have one FW for EAA and Imaging and another one for specialized filters for Photometric studies and Exoplanet imaging. Is there a way for NINA to handle this? Would it be possible to set up two separate ‘instances’ of NINA - one with only FW 1 and the other for profiles using FW 2? Any thoughts or suggestions? Cheers … Gary

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

I haven't tried that particular scenario that I can recall, but doesn't ZWO for instance assign two different ASCOM drivers? And some one driver could be in Profile 1 and the other in Profile 2? When I was using my two Astromechanics adapters on two lenses at once connected connected to the same computer, the ASCOM driver that Astromechanics provided didn't support separate focusers, so I ended up writing my own driver (that did the same thing as the main driver), and using driver 1 in profile 1 and driver 2 in profile 2. The same should work for the ZWO EFW and its ASCOM driver...

[@gary5051]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek Thank you. I take it from your answer that there’s not an obvious way in Nina to handle two filter wheels. So, not being a sw guy, I’ll try two instances of Nina and see if that works. It worked with Sharpcap when I wanted a widefield digital finder ( before plate solving changed my life) and for watching clouds approach or break up. I just selected the second instance and got an instant view of the sky and then returned to the first instance for observation, sketching, etc. I’ll let you know how it goes. Cheers, Gary

[@-Jantje]

what setup does your mini PC (barebone) like Processor, ram etc .. that hangs on your SW EQ6-R Pro

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

It has an Intel i5-7200U with 8GB of RAM and an SSD of 256GB. I've set it up that all pictures taken are immediately synced to a folder on my main processing PC, inside the house.

[@-Jantje]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek maybe a stupid question, but can I use a Celeron processor with win10 for NENA ?

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

@@-Jantje It should work - I would strongly recommend a 64 bit processor, operating system, and version of NINA. But unless your Celeron is 10 years old, it should be fine.

[@cevoner]

I'm trying to use N.I.N.A. with a pc stick. I cannot connect my DSLR or ZWO cameras with it. They connect with my laptop. I may have a version of windows it does not like maybe. Its' Windows 10 v 1909 with 4 gig. Sharpcap and Astro Photography Tool work fine. I have added Ascom drivers and tried the 386 version too. I'm not trying to connect anything but the camera, telescope and PHD. PHD connects. Have not tried the mount yet. Thanks for any suggestion.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

I can't really help - you may want to reach out to the devs of NINA directly on their Discord channel. Good luck!

[@cevoner]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek , Thanks, you helped already with other videos. I purchased the ASI533 based on your review as I have light pollution areas here in Massachusetts. Your video on Flats was also a help. Keep up those rooftop videos.

[@ricardoibargoyen4331]

Hello Cuiv, Just a question! Can I Get the coordinates in NINA from Ascom telescope drivers instead Stellarium or Cartes Du ciel? Gracias!!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Only from ASCOM telescope drivers that support it - the option is then given when connecting the mount.

[@ricardoibargoyen4331]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek so I was right. Thanks a lot Cuiv!!! Gracias!

[@JaspreetSingh-jm3lu]

Hello cuiv, im having trouble connecting my Mount to Nina. after connecting it through Eqmod driver setup and ascom connect, i connect it in NINA. First it gives me an error saying Lat and Longitude are not the same, then it connects but after 20 Seconds the mount is disconnected in NINA. i'm using FTDI eqdir cable to connect to the mount. also NINA have Epcoh set to j2000 and when i search for port in EQmod setup it founds it in on COM 4 epoch will be on Unknown, i tried changing that to J2000 and pressing ok and connecting it in NINA after same problem, connects for 20 seconds or so and disconnects after that. any help would be great Cuiv. Thanks

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Make sure to accurately set your site location coordinates in both the EQMOD and NINA! Not sure about the disconnections, but depending on how your connect the rate needs to be different (EQDIR cable -> 9600 bauds, USB cable -> 115200 Bauds) and you want to make sure your power settings don't allow the USB port to go to sleep!

[@jonmarquez128]

I have sbvony camera howcget it compatible with nina?

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

If it has an ASCOM driver, it should work with NINA!

[@pawansingh2126]

I have not figured out how to disconnect everything with one click like on SGP.

[@Steve_The_Ignorant_Astronomer]

Hey Hope you are feeling better ... I am having a little problem with NINA , I am just starting to use it setting it up. I wanted to take flats but it asks where I want to put the file. For the life of me I cant fine the place to me a directory to tell the program where to put the flats. Is it the same as the image ??? Me Lost big time

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Welcome to NINA! I think it should be under Options -> General! You can tell it which folder to save files in

[@Steve_The_Ignorant_Astronomer]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek will look

[@Steve_The_Ignorant_Astronomer]

I see image file path is that where it goes for flat dark lights and so on

[@johnathanedwards8706]

So, SGP has the nerve to start a yearly fee for new subscribers. Genius! Anyhow, I was wondering if you ever use H-Beta or N filters for nebulas and galaxies?

[@nikivan]

The filter wheel is installed incorrectly. It should be flipped 180-degree, so the bulge (visible on the bottom) faces the camera. This way the filters are positioned closer to the camera sensor. Nice video.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Thanks for noticing and letting me know! This is absolutely right. I am unaffected, since my filters are 36mm and the sensor is small, but I will mention that in another video.

[@fmrc69]

The EAF backlash is really a lottery as to what you get when you buy one. Yours is pretty bad at 93, mine is decent at 25. It would be nice if they were all more consistently good and under say 30.

[@AstroQuest1]

Nice video and thanks especially about the ZWO EAF settings. I am new to autofocus (main reason I am trying NINA). I also have an ASI EAF attached to an AT115 refractor (standard R & P focuser) and I have the step size set at 40. It works well but not perfect, I have a link to the AF routine. (astroquest1.blogspot.com/) - notice the flat portion on the right side where it first started. Is that the backlash that you mentioned? Keep up the awesome videos. Cheers

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Thank you! The link doesn't seem to work for me, but yes, a flat part of your focus curve on the right indicates uncompensated backlash. Typically the backlash will be equal to the number of steps that flat part covers, for both IN and OUT. I hope you can get this sorted out, and good luck!

[@AstroQuest1]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek Thanks for the response. I did autofocus last night and noticed the Determine Backlash button so I did it. It took a while but it determined my backlash on the EAF was 33-in and 90-out. Very odd about the link, you are right, it brings to the page and says nothing exists. However, I pressed the home button and it takes me to it. I tried the link on other websites such as Astrobin and and it works. I am wondering if it a KZbin thing or because you are in Japan. - Thanks again, Cheers

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

@@AstroQuest1 I think it's a KZbin thing... From the curve, your backlash should be around 100 (+ whatever you had set in backlash comp at the time)

[@AstroQuest1]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek Thanks, I had backlash set at zero for that run. That was before I understood what backlash was (thanks to your subsequent video). - Thanks again

[@thornog3464]

You didn't explain how to connect EQ to NINA.....

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Not sure what you mean - do you mean EQMOD with EQDIRECT to computer?

[@thornog3464]

When I open NINA, EQ does not show up on my list. If I open EQ I can control my mount but not with NINA. I think I'm missing a software or driver or something. Thanks

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

@@thornog3464 you probably want to ask NINA support about this!

[@thornog3464]

I have. Haven't had a response yet.