thanks guys
i usually use the 3 point star align system and use the main telescope to align the star rather than the finder scope. i have only used the 1 star method once on saturn to see if would track differently ( ive recently got a red dot finder as well and find it excellent
)
i was looking through the gps info on the hand controller last night and the time was set to universal time. i have now set the correct time zone in the hope that may have been the issue but i would think that the alignment would fail if this is the case. all other setting are correct. will try again tonight if the weather is good and see.