|
Even easier.
Word of advice: RTFM. Carefully. Get the manual as a PDF and stick it in your smartphone and follow it step by step.
1. Level the tripod head - I use an app that does it to 0.1 degree. The bubble levels on most tripods are junk. The reason this matters is that I have come to the conclusion the Synscan handset assumes the tripod head is flat and doesn't really compensate for any tilt - and the Meade handset will be likewise.
2. Assemble mount and scope.
3. Go through the alignment routine. While a a 1 star alignment may suffice for a quick look at something, if you are setting up for a long night a 3 star alignment will give much better results.
The common errors for noobs are (these are D'uh moments):
a) Forgot to level tripod.
b) Failed to put the scope in the PARK position before power-on.
c) Scope is on the wrong side of the mount (this matters for alt-az mounts).
d) Latitude entered was N instead of S, or longitude is W not E.
e) Date was entered as DD MM YYYY instead of MM DD YYYY (damn those yankees)
f) Time entered, or time zone incorrect or forgot about daylight saving.
g) Aligned on the wrong star.
Of these the most common bungles are probably a, d, e and g in that order. Even after 45 years I sometimes screw this up.
|