[E_ri_k (Erik)]

Hi. I have a HEQ 5 with a 1200mm x 245 scope. I am trying to do a drift alignment, but it is frustrating me as I can't seem to get it right. I have followed the "How To" section on this site. I have faced the mount South, using a board to get my East West correct, and calculated the magnetic declination for my area and allowed that.

I have aligned the crosshairs in my eyepiece to match the hand controller.

I know that my latitude is about 37 degrees. I start off with the scale at around 30, and find a star in the West and watch it drift. it drifts South, so I raise the latitude scale and try again. I get pretty close, with the scale at around 35-36 but its taken me a while, and the star has drifted to close to the horizon for me to see properly. So I pick a new star in the West, but now it drifts North, so I lower the altitude bit by bit trying to get it right again. Get close again, but now the scale sits on 29-30?

I have the same problem when adjusting the Azimuth direction. Nothing seems to be consistent?

I don't know what I am doling wrong?

Any help would be appreciated, thanks!