Save settings in PHD

[RobF]

Is there anyway to save default settings for PHD? It bugs me having to select my camera each session. I see there's a Save option under the File menu, but what name and where do I save?

[leon]

Rob, I use PHD as well, and have to select the camera each time, I believe that is the only way it operates.

Leon

[RobF]

Thanks Leon.
Just checking I'm not an idiot. Shouldn't be whinging - such a fantastic piece of code for free.....

[leon]

Your right there Rob, and there is no such thing as dumb question, ;)trust me I have asked many.:lol: :lol:

Leon :thumbsup:

[pjphilli]

Hi Rob

You may like to suggest a mod for saving the camera setting to Craig Stark. He appears to be very responsive to suggestions to improve his PHD although changes make take some time because he is understandably pretty busy!
One use of PHD which I don't believe I have seen suggested on threads is the ablility to quickly achieve spot on polar alignment with PHD by switching off DEC guiding and adjusting the azimuth screws until the DEC graph "flat lines" (actually it still wiggles around zero a bit). This involves resetting the guide star after each azimuth tweak but it is by far the best method I have found to achieve good polar alignment. Subsequent guiding in DEC by PHD then seems very accurate. What do you think?
Cheers Peter

[Hagar]

G'Day Rob, There is a Stark labs yahoo group which discusses a lot of topics like this and you will find Craig replies to any suggestions very quickly. Having written a few VB programs I think this change could be quite easily written into the code with the use of an DLL or INI file written into the code. Go in and join this user group and post your suggestion. You may be surprised how quick it can be implemented.

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/stark-labs-astronomy-software/

[RobF]

Peter that's pretty much what a wiser man (1ponders) showed me what to do with K3CCDTools - align your camera NS/EW then use the RA and DEC readings to tweak Latitude setting on a star near horizon, Azimuth using a star near meridian, then repeat. Worked great, and essentially what you're outlining for PHD. Possible you might not even have to do align your camera axis if you calibrated on the star first? I wonder if he ever though about putting a polar alignment routine into it?




I guess I should do as you suggest Peter and Doug. I did join this group some time ago, so shouldn't be too difficult to post. I'll give it a go and see what happens....

Thanks for the thought....