Heq54pro Mount Computer Control

[pjphilli]

Hi
I have just purchased a HEQ5PRO mount which has the ability to connect to a computer. I notice that the HEQ5PRO has a rather restricted star list so I am keen to connect to a computer based chart program. Has anyone tried this with the HEQ5PRO? - advice and tips would be appreciated.
Cheers Peter

[Hagar]

Hi Peter, yes it certainly does have a rather restricted set of alignment stars. Connecting to a computer is no problem using a comm to USB adapter. You can even connect to just the hand controller as long as you power it.
To use a third party chart program you will need to use Ascom drivers and select the mount as a Celestron 4I. It should work fine. You will have to do a star alignment before you connect and you still cannot add any stars to the star list.
Works very well with Starry Night pro 5.
:thumbsup:

[PCH]

Doug,

I don't want to hijack the thread :P, but does the EQ6 have the same limited range of alignment stars - I see you have both :)

Cheers,

[Hagar]

The EQ6 HAS THE SAME RANGE OF STARS. This realy is no problem as it only becomes a problem when you use a 3 star alignment. I never bother with a 3 star job as I find if I make a 2 star alignment using an illuminated reticle and spend a few seconds getting it right my mount lands every target dead center every time. It takes a bit to get used to the star list but it isn't a problem.

[Tandum]

nods ... I can't seem to do a 3 star alignment here. Too many obsticles in the way. I did a 2 star tonight, told it to go to M83, and it's almost dead center in the cameras field. Mind you, on my initial 2 star alignment, I aligned the wrong star and that screwed everything for a good hour till I figured out what I'd done and aligned again :)

There is also some software called eq6mod, google it, it more or less replaces the handset data base and any planetary software that can talk to ascom drivers can talk to it which then controls the mount. It stores the alignment data and you can sync stars in it as you go making it more and more accurate.

[Terry B]

The only differnece between a 2 and 3 star alignment is correction for cone error. If you do a 2 star align and stay on the same side of the meridian you won't notice any difference.

[Tandum]

I have trouble getting 2 stars on the same side at times. The hand controller does not seem to present enough options. Now that I've installed vesion 3.22 firmware, and that it seems to have fixed the evils I had, I might have another bash at eqmod for alignment. Version 3.21 sometimes didn't respond when releasing the buttons to centre a star and would just keep on going and just whiz off into the distance. Had to turn the mount off to stop it :(

Eqmod have a nice description of the mapping process on the sourceforge page : http://eq-mod.sourceforge.net/testimages/eqmod_3star.html

[pjphilli]

Thanks Hagar and others for your helpful comments. I will give them a try.
Cheers Peter