Yes Frank is correct in that this was looked at. Back in February of this year I posted the issue here, Potential Auto Focusing Bug - #27 by buzz - Sequence Generator - Main Sequence Software, I worked with Gene Nolan the ASCOM developer for the Rigel nSTEP focusers and we identified the IsMoving issue. SGP was not waiting for both cases to be true POS=reqPOS and IsMoving=False. Which would account for what I am seeing with my stars during AF. Gene was in contact with Jared but for whatever reason the issue was never explored any further by SGPro and Gene did not hear anything else from Jared. Maybe Jared was thinking the issue was fixed. I believe Gene created a ASCOM simulator to test out those timeouts and sent that to Jared.
In the meantime, I changed out my scope out from the SCT to my refractor, which does not have the issue since refractors use Crayford focusers and don’t have this moving mirror issue. It wasn’t until later this fall that I changed things back to my SCT and have been fighting with this AF issue. I am quite surprised there are not more folks having this issues with getting a good focus curves with the AF. Maybe most of the folks using SGpro are either using Crayford focusers and not focusing with the primary mirror.
I have three scopes and all three are equipped with the nSTEP Stepping motor system, HD11, C8, and ES102. Both the HD11 and C8 show the AF issue with elongated or teardrop stars and a saw tooth AF graph. More so with the HD11 then the C8. However, when using the ATIK383L+ OSC I can get reasonable AF. I attribute this to the 383 having a mechanical shutter that causes a slight delay before the image is taken and I believe allows the SCT mirror to ring out enough to allow for good AF images.
Anyway from what Gene has explained the real issue appears to be with SGPro not waiting for both cases of POS=reqPOS and IsMoving=False. Gene believes by fixing this in SGPro the issue will be fixed and Gene can implement a user delay in his ASCOM focuser driver for folks that do want to add in an additional delay for when the focuser is done moving.
Also, I am still unsure why SGPro allows for a telescope settling delay and a delay after a filter change but not for focusing moves.
Don’t get me wrong SGPro great and I could not do what I am able to do without it. I am just trying to plead my case for a fix to the AF.
Kind Regards,
Mark