I cannot use the polar scope in my NEQ6 - it's not that I don't know how - I DO - it's the fact that where I view, seeing sigma octanis is like winning Gold Lotto. I will eventually move to the Dark Spot (I am your father Luke...), but for now I mut make do.
So, I have been going it the old fashioned way - compass, carpenters level, and a bubble level. Compass to orientate the mount to True South (mag south minus mag dec.) Bubble level to first level the mount (the NEQ6 has it built in - I used a seperate one in the HEQ5), then a carpenters inclination level to set the altitude to my latitude. On doing this, I get to usually within 30' - rarely has it ever gone over 1° (though tonight I stuffed something and it was 4°E out in az.) Close, but no cigar, though a 3 str alignment works wonders - though I am STILL getting star trails (unguided) if over 30" exposure.
So, is there ANY better way of aligning, considering I cannot see Sigma Octanis, a drift alignment is nigh on impossible thanks to Westerly arborial obstruction up to about 45° above horizon and excessive light pollution westerly, plus NO north view AT ALL (did I mention I have to move???
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Short on getting an inertial reference system or something, is there ANY software or digital hardware that will ACCURATELY point celestial south? Something GPS driven? I want accuracy, but I am NOT getting it, and it is driving me insane!