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Daily frustrations
Hey all:
Slight rant/request for help/sympathy.
For the second time in a row, I've pulled out all my gear, set it up and been thwarted by computers. For a guy who's job is in computers (sysadmin) you'd think I'd have it under control. Regrettably it is not so.
I've got an EQ-6 with EQMod connected to an XP laptop running Stellarium, Stellarium Scope, Alignmaster, a GPS that think its a mouse (seriously: I plug it in and 50% of the time the pointer goes ape) and a canon 40d, with a DSI2 as a guide camera.
The first night on a HP 6930p running XP, the video drivers and stellarium didn't get on and they both crashed, taking things with it. THe backup computer (my old mac) had an enter key failure and its now permanently retired.
The replacement laptop, an IBM T61, worked fine right up to the point i plugged in the Canon and while Windows would see the camera, APT and EOS utility would not. After trial and error I've figured out that it has something to do with the USB ports on the T61: everything else works fine on the desktop at home.
My questions are:
- Is EQMod temperamental for anyone else? I seem to have it crash at least once every two sessions. It'll lock hard and I have to start again.
- Stellarium/Stellarium Scope: What is the stability like for others using these products? I like them, but I'm not sure where the system instability is coming from?
- Has anyone noticed any major difference in stability moving from XP to 7? Sure, 7 is newer, but anyone who's been around a while in IT knows straight away that just because something is newer doesn't make it better (Windows ME, Windows 8.0, the list goes on)
- Apart from the software listed here, what other suggestions do people have? I've got Astroplanner, but in terms of presentation and ease of use, Stellarium for me gives much better situational awareness. Maybe Carte Du Ciel (how do I spell that...?)
- I'm considering breaking out functions on to separate computers: One for imaging, one for scope control. Any thoughts?
Thanks
Anthony
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