Nothing but errors when capturing images at night #3840

rsauerbrun · 2024-08-30T14:11:07Z

rsauerbrun
Aug 30, 2024

My ASI120mm-S works fine inside, but will not capture images at night. Last night I even tried resetting the configuration to defaults. I added my location and other required settings ... but still no go. I brought the unit inside this morning and fired it up ... I now have a beautiful image of my ceiling.I am adding my log file, which I had set for developer mode. Hopefully, there is enough info for you to help. Thanks for all the dev work you do!
allsky.log

rsauerbrun · 2024-08-30T14:35:11Z

rsauerbrun
Aug 30, 2024
Author

Here is one chunk from last night's log ...

STARTING EXPOSURE at: 2024-08-29 19:24:53 @ 10.0 sec
2024-08-29T19:24:53.974357-07:00 allsky allsky[2337]: > Histogram set exposure to 10.0 sec
2024-08-29T19:25:18.984863-07:00 allsky allsky[2337]: > /home/pi/allsky/bin/capture_ZWO: ERROR: Failed getting image: ASI_ERROR_TIMEOUT (with 0.8 exposure = NO) (11)
2024-08-29T19:25:18.996415-07:00 allsky allsky[2337]: Executing /home/pi/allsky/scripts/addMessage.sh error ' > /home/pi/allsky/bin/capture_ZWO: ERROR: Failed getting image: ASI_ERROR_TIMEOUT (with 0.8 exposure = NO) (11)'
2024-08-29T19:25:21.014927-07:00 allsky allsky[2337]: *** /home/pi/allsky/bin/capture_ZWO: ERROR: Maximum number of consecutive errors of 5 reached; capture program exited.
2024-08-29T19:25:21.015219-07:00 allsky allsky[2337]: Executing /home/pi/allsky/scripts/addMessage.sh error '*** /home/pi/allsky/bin/capture_ZWO: ERROR: Maximum number of consecutive errors of 5 reached; capture program exited.'
2024-08-29T19:25:22.489329-07:00 allsky allsky[2337]: Calling system(/home/pi/allsky/scripts/copy_notification_image.sh --expires 2 NotRunning &)
2024-08-29T19:25:25.491187-07:00 allsky allsky[2337]: ***** Stopping AllSky *****
2024-08-29T19:25:25.537871-07:00 allsky allsky[2220]: Stopping Allsky: Allsky Stopped!
Non-recoverable ERROR found
See /var/log/allsky.log.
2024-08-29T19:25:26.151030-07:00 allsky allsky[2220]: ***** AllSky Stopped *****
2024-08-30T05:40:02.687785-07:00 allsky allsky[46395]: ***** Starting AllSky *****

0 replies

EricClaeys · 2024-08-30T17:52:47Z

EricClaeys
Aug 30, 2024
Maintainer

This is a known problem with the ASI120 cameras, which is why we recommend NOT using them. We have never seen a pattern regarding when they work and when they don't. There are two variables with your daytime working and nighttime not working: 1. Some settings are different. It's possible that your camera doesn't work with longer exposures. 2. It's usually colder at night.

A few things you can try:

Try ALL the steps on the Troubleshooting -> ZWO Cameras documentation page. This helps a lot of people but not everyone.
Wait for the next Allsky release (a month or two) which should fix this. Someone gave me their 120 camera that didn't work, and I couldn't get it to take ANY images until I used the next release.
Install the next release now, realizing it's nearing the end of testing so there may be some rough spots, and that we will expect you to upgrade to the official release once it's out.

2 replies

rsauerbrun Aug 30, 2024
Author

Thanks, Eric ... I will give all that a try. But the thing that baffles me is that it works beautifully inside (both day and night). I am in the desert southwest so our evenings this time of year are still quite warm ... so the temp change should not be an issue. My Pi is powered with the 5V supply included with the kit, and the ASI120MM-S is connected via USB3 directly to the Pi. When the whole unit is inside, it performs all day and all night taking images every 30s as configured.

EricClaeys Aug 31, 2024
Maintainer

Like I said, we've never been able to figure it out. Sometimes if you stand on your left foot and chant, it works better :-)

EricClaeys · 2024-08-31T18:53:02Z

EricClaeys
Aug 31, 2024
Maintainer

@rsauerbrun, Richard,
Github doesn't accept attachments via email so your message didn't come through. You'll need to log into Github.

Do things break exactly when nighttime starts?

Please do the following, ideally 10 or so minutes before nighttime:

sudo systemctl stop allsky
sudo truncate -s 0 /var/log/allsky.log
# in the WebUI change the Debug Level to 3 and save the change

After it stops, in the WebUI change the nighttime exposure settings to be the same as daytime ones.
If Allsky stops again, change the rest of the nighttime settings to be the same as the daytime ones. If Allsky STILL doesn't work I'll have to scratch my head - all the nighttime settings will be the same as daytime but it doesn't work, which makes me wonder if there is some unknown difference in daytime and nighttime.

Attach the log file.

1 reply

rsauerbrun Sep 1, 2024
Author

Giving this a try tonight with the unit inside. It took images all day ...

I ran the commands as stated above and set the debug level to 3

I will keep my eye on the images after dark and watch to see if it fails. If it does, I will update the nighttime settings to match the daytime.
I am going to post my earlier message that did not transmit via email below ...

rsauerbrun · 2024-09-01T01:22:09Z

rsauerbrun
Sep 1, 2024
Author

So that was my problem … I usually stand on my right foot and limit my chanting to a low grumble.

I am not sure this will help, but my 120 ran all day and saved numerous images … however, when evening came and the app switched to night mode, everything stopped. Here is the message …

In the morning, after a reboot, the camera started up again normally. I ran the command above, but not sure what to do next.

I guess I will try updating to the latest branch of the code … and then standing on my left foot and chanting “please work, please work!”

Richard

4 replies

EricClaeys Sep 1, 2024
Maintainer

@rsauerbrun, the "data.json" error is totally unrelated to the ZWO error.
Did you run postData.sh?
Is this from the Website on your Pi or on a remote server?

rsauerbrun Sep 1, 2024
Author

I did run the postData.sh, but not sure what it did. This all comes from the website on the Pi ... I do not have an external site yet.

EricClaeys Sep 1, 2024
Maintainer

Is the "data.json" error still there after you ran postData.sh ?

rsauerbrun Sep 1, 2024
Author

No, it is not

rsauerbrun · 2024-09-01T13:57:14Z

rsauerbrun
Sep 1, 2024
Author

Well, we almost made it through both yesterday and last night. AllSky stopped taking images at 4:58:47am this morning. It did NOT prepare the video, timelapse, etc. from last night.

I have attached a screen shot of the error and also the log file.

I hope this will help,

allsky.log

Richard

1 reply

EricClaeys Sep 1, 2024
Maintainer

Would you please post the full allsky.log file? The one you posted doesn't show Allsky starting up so is missing all your settings.

rsauerbrun · 2024-09-01T15:27:16Z

rsauerbrun
Sep 1, 2024
Author

Here is the current log file ... I made a few modest changes to the settings (displayed text), so the site restarted at least once this morning.
allsky.log

0 replies

EricClaeys · 2024-09-01T22:00:42Z

EricClaeys
Sep 1, 2024
Maintainer

Ok, so nighttime by itself isn't a problem since your nighttime images at 0.1 sec all worked.
Now please do the following, ideally shortly before nighttime starts:

sudo systemctl stop allsky
sudo truncate -s 0 /var/log/allsky.log
# increase the `Nighttime Auto Exposure` to 10000 (10 seconds, which is what you had before)
# Do NOT make any other changes

If Allsky stops due to "consecutive errors", then post the full log file - do not make any changes to it.

FYI, the warning about REMOVE_BAD_IMAGES_THRESHOLD_LOW is to be expected with a maximum nighttime exposure of 0.1 sec. That message is telling you that 159 images were almost totally black or almost totally white.
In your case they were too dark to use.

1 reply

rsauerbrun Sep 2, 2024
Author

Well, I got up this morning, and saw the REMOVE_BAD_IMAGES_THRESHOLD_LOW message which had a 4:59:11 am timestamp, but the app was still taking images. And there was a video, etc. from yesterday.

Just for kicks ... here is the log file (unedited).
allsky.log

EricClaeys · 2024-09-03T04:31:11Z

EricClaeys
Sep 3, 2024
Maintainer

The REMOVE_BAD_IMAGES_THRESHOLD_LOW message means Allsky is taking pictures and working as intended, and is getting very dark images, usually because a Max Exposure setting is too low. Your daytime Max Auto-Exposure is 0.1 second. Which is fine at noon but not when daytime first starts or ends.
I suggest increasing your Daytime Max Auto-Exposure to 5 seconds.

I also suggest turning on New Exposure Algorithm. It will eliminate a lot of your nighttime exposure problems.

0 replies

rsauerbrun · 2024-09-28T18:18:06Z

rsauerbrun
Sep 28, 2024
Author

Hello, Eric,

It is me again … after several days away, I am back trying to make my new Allsky camera work.

I am the guy with the ASI120mm-s camera that continues to get the errors that prevent the app from running. I have turned off the .8 exposure setting, but still no love.

I am ready to update the software to whatever you suggest, but do not know how to do that. I have access to your GitHub, and see the update.sh file, but am lacking in the UNIX skills to get that process running.

I have access to the Pi desktop with VNC, so I can use the terminal to run commands.

Your continued help will be very much appreciated … thank you,

Richard

PS … I have attached my latest log file
allsky.log

0 replies

EricClaeys · 2024-09-30T04:31:23Z

EricClaeys
Sep 30, 2024
Maintainer

@rsauerbrun, Richard,
You can download the v2024.xx.xx release, which is still in test, so once it's officially out, please download the official version (which will be called something like v2024.10.20).
Do the same steps you did to install Allsky the last time, but add --branch v2024.xx.xx to the "git clone..." command-line.

0 replies

rsauerbrun · 2024-10-01T19:30:26Z

rsauerbrun
Oct 1, 2024
Author

Eric … thank you for your response and continued support. I very much appreciate the help. I downloaded the 2024.x.x package and have it on my RPi in the downloads directory … but when I run the following command when in the directory … git clone –recursive https://github.com/AllskyTeam/allsky.git branch v2024.xx.xx<https://github.com/AllskyTeam/allsky.git%20branch%20v2024.xx.xx> I receive a “Too many arguments” error .. ***@***.*** What am I doing wrong? As you can tell, I am a newbie in Linux … Richard From: Eric Claeys ***@***.***> Sent: Sunday, September 29, 2024 9:32 PM To: AllskyTeam/allsky ***@***.***> Cc: Richard Sauerbrun ***@***.***>; Mention ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [AllskyTeam/allsky] Nothing but errors when capturing images at night (Discussion #3840) @rsauerbrun<https://github.com/rsauerbrun>, Richard, You can download the v2024.xx.xx release, which is still in test, so once it's officially out, please download the official version (which will be called something like v2024.10.20). Do the same steps you did to install Allsky the last time, but add --branch v2024.xx.xx to the "git clone..." command-line. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#3840 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AJUO7EDNPMNIOX25ALNKXGTZZDH3BAVCNFSM6AAAAABNMSCJDCVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTANZZGMZDKNA>. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.******@***.***>>

0 replies

rsauerbrun · 2024-10-01T20:02:36Z

rsauerbrun
Oct 1, 2024
Author

I downloaded the 2024.xx.xx zip and unpacked it to my downloads directory on the RPi … ***@***.*** But when I run the install.sh, it errors out. From: Eric Claeys ***@***.***> Sent: Sunday, September 29, 2024 9:32 PM To: AllskyTeam/allsky ***@***.***> Cc: Richard Sauerbrun ***@***.***>; Mention ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [AllskyTeam/allsky] Nothing but errors when capturing images at night (Discussion #3840) @rsauerbrun<https://github.com/rsauerbrun>, Richard, You can download the v2024.xx.xx release, which is still in test, so once it's officially out, please download the official version (which will be called something like v2024.10.20). Do the same steps you did to install Allsky the last time, but add --branch v2024.xx.xx to the "git clone..." command-line. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#3840 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AJUO7EDNPMNIOX25ALNKXGTZZDH3BAVCNFSM6AAAAABNMSCJDCVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTANZZGMZDKNA>. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.******@***.***>>

0 replies

EricClaeys · 2024-10-01T20:20:48Z

EricClaeys
Oct 1, 2024
Maintainer

Richard, we are trying to make Allsky easier for newbies like you, so please let us know if anything is confusing.

Run:

git clone --recursive --branch v2024.xx.xx https://github.com/AllskyTeam/allsky.git

0 replies

rsauerbrun · 2024-10-01T21:39:12Z

rsauerbrun
Oct 1, 2024
Author

Excellent … I look forward to the far more user friendly version with a more straight forward install. I am a retired IT executive with over 40 years’ experience in software development and professional IT services. I just have not had the experience as either a UNIX admin or a developer although I have managed both groups on a world-wide basis. Here is what I did to make the new install work: 1. Ran mv allsky allsky.OLD 2. Then ran the git clone 3. Received error and ran: ***@***.*** cd ~/allsky; ./install.sh --function create_webui_defines 1. Next, received this screen: ***@***.*** But I do have the ASI120mm-S connected Sorry to be such a pain, but really want to get this project working, Richard From: Eric Claeys ***@***.***> Sent: Tuesday, October 1, 2024 1:21 PM To: AllskyTeam/allsky ***@***.***> Cc: Richard Sauerbrun ***@***.***>; Mention ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [AllskyTeam/allsky] Nothing but errors when capturing images at night (Discussion #3840) Richard, we are trying to make Allsky easier for newbies like you, so please let us know if anything is confusing. Run: git clone --recursive --branch v2024.xx.xx https://github.com/AllskyTeam/allsky.git — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#3840 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AJUO7EC6COF3J3QTOTSIUVDZZL73NAVCNFSM6AAAAABNMSCJDCVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTAOBRGMZTGMY>. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.******@***.***>>

1 reply

EricClaeys Oct 2, 2024
Maintainer

@rsauerbrun, Richard,
GitHub doesn't support email attachments so your images didn't come through. You'll need to log into GitHub to add them.
While there, please attach ~/allsky/config/logs/install.log so I can determine why you got the errors.

rsauerbrun · 2024-10-02T14:41:11Z

rsauerbrun
Oct 2, 2024
Author

Thanks again, Eric, I will upload the images of the errors to Git … However, the install did not create the config/logs directory … so there is no install.log file I used the “Find” and there is no file called install.log on the SD card From: Eric Claeys ***@***.***> Sent: Wednesday, October 2, 2024 5:39 AM To: AllskyTeam/allsky ***@***.***> Cc: Richard Sauerbrun ***@***.***>; Mention ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [AllskyTeam/allsky] Nothing but errors when capturing images at night (Discussion #3840) @rsauerbrun<https://github.com/rsauerbrun>, Richard, GitHub doesn't support email attachments so your images didn't come through. You'll need to log into GitHub to add them. While there, please attach ~/allsky/config/logs/install.log so I can determine why you got the errors. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#3840 (reply in thread)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AJUO7ECISNQRHJNVW75R5ELZZPSMRAVCNFSM6AAAAABNMSCJDCVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTAOBSGAYTSNQ>. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.******@***.***>>

0 replies

EricClaeys · 2024-10-02T18:16:26Z

EricClaeys
Oct 2, 2024
Maintainer

I saw your screen captures.
After the git clone ... did you run:

cd ~/allsky
./install.sh

and that is when you got this error?

0 replies

EricClaeys · 2024-10-03T05:21:04Z

EricClaeys
Oct 3, 2024
Maintainer

Closing this Discussion. Let's use #3901 for the installation problems.

0 replies

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Nothing but errors when capturing images at night #3840

rsauerbrun Aug 30, 2024

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