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Ernie,
Yep - I have had many conversation with the Bisque boys over the years!
Gary, I'm sure you are correct!
Thanks for that - I abreviated because I use the Sky6 PE now with Tpoint add on - and Tpoint states (pg 19 of the user manual) "You must map at least six points before Tpoint is able to perform a "fit" and begin to improve the pointing of the telescope". I took the author's own words that Tpoint improves the pointing as understanding it does it directly, but I really don't mind if its doing it indirectly - such so long as it's done!
Even if Tpoint only shows me how pointing errors vary across the sky - that'll give me leads to what challenges I face. So if it is mirror shift I can either try and mod the scope to remove it, change scopes, live with it or try and model it out if that is possible.
So tonight (weather permitting) I'll leave MaxPoint in the loop - but turn off its Apply Correction Model check box - and see what Tpoint has to tell me about the pointing I see happening!
Chris,
I always run the SS2K with the motors set to 3 (as I'm pushing 3 scopes and Losmandy bars). I set backlash in RA and DEC to zero and up PHDs Hysterisis to about 25% and guiding aggressiveness down to 65% I'd rather under correct than chase the seeing!
As a final SS2K related tip - when you select 3 approriate guide stars:
1. I normally try to avoid anything near the SCP
2. Avoid a meridan flip
3. Repeat the process twice - on the exact same stars - before you leave the process and check your alignment parameters.
That last point was a chance discovery of mine - it seems to improve the pointing discernibly for me.
Oh - and the DEC shudder - if you have placed the mount in Polar aligned mode (or maybe) if you have simply successfully aligned on 3 guide stars - the SS2K adjusts tracking on both motors simultaneously to adjust for polar mis-alignment (and refraction and non sideral movement rates). So if you are out of polar alignment the SS2K may be issuing periodic corrections in DEC (giving you a saw tooth pattern). I hope it doesn't - i.e. that it does small corrections every few milliseconds - not a significant correction every few seconds - love to know the answer to that one!
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All suggestions greatly appreciated BTW!
Matt
Finally
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