g__day
02-04-2023, 02:04 PM
A bit of an old chestnut - but wonder what folks are using for Astro lab control - especially if they have multiple scopes, cameras, focusers and filterwheels and a guider active all at the same time!
For mount pointing and positioning in the past I had usually used The SkyX + Dome, Tpoint, Camera, Focuser and filter suite - but it isn't much fun running multiple cameras. I predominately use this Software bundle now to do mount polar alignment with a Tpoint super model and then simply rely on its closed point slews (CLS) to get me on target. I generally run the dome from TSX via a hub into MaximDL and then MaxDome - as it seems to be more response to scope moves via either PC or hand controller - the SkyX never responds to hand controller updates even though this feature is selected!
Similarily I have used PEMPro V3 not just for PE training but to see how well its mount polar alignment advice aligns with The SkyX and Tpoint super model - the two always disagree when you are within 5 arc mins of the refracted SCP which is rather annoying!
For Camera management I generally run APT on one scope / camera and SGP Pro on another - plus I have played with BYE and SharpCap v4.
For autoguiding I generally prefer OpenPHD with multi star option to The SkyX or MaximDL.
I downloaded but then got too busy to try N.I.N.A. and a trial version of ACP.
So I wonder folks with a permanent set up - what control software have you gravitated to and why?
I have a bevy of overlapping commerical software (not to mention freeware CDC or Stellarium). If I wanted to reduce my mount and devices management and still run multiple scopes, focusers and cameras what strong advice or suggestions would folk give someone?
Many thanks,
Matt
For mount pointing and positioning in the past I had usually used The SkyX + Dome, Tpoint, Camera, Focuser and filter suite - but it isn't much fun running multiple cameras. I predominately use this Software bundle now to do mount polar alignment with a Tpoint super model and then simply rely on its closed point slews (CLS) to get me on target. I generally run the dome from TSX via a hub into MaximDL and then MaxDome - as it seems to be more response to scope moves via either PC or hand controller - the SkyX never responds to hand controller updates even though this feature is selected!
Similarily I have used PEMPro V3 not just for PE training but to see how well its mount polar alignment advice aligns with The SkyX and Tpoint super model - the two always disagree when you are within 5 arc mins of the refracted SCP which is rather annoying!
For Camera management I generally run APT on one scope / camera and SGP Pro on another - plus I have played with BYE and SharpCap v4.
For autoguiding I generally prefer OpenPHD with multi star option to The SkyX or MaximDL.
I downloaded but then got too busy to try N.I.N.A. and a trial version of ACP.
So I wonder folks with a permanent set up - what control software have you gravitated to and why?
I have a bevy of overlapping commerical software (not to mention freeware CDC or Stellarium). If I wanted to reduce my mount and devices management and still run multiple scopes, focusers and cameras what strong advice or suggestions would folk give someone?
Many thanks,
Matt