Controlling Mount (Star Alignment etc)

[peter.h (Peter)]

I have AZ-EQ6 mount and have installed EQMod on my laptop and made an EQDirect interface cable, all works fine, be it a little clunky to move the mount with the laptop arrow keys during alignment..I might of solved this with wireless game controller I bought..still to try this out.

What's the benefit in connecting this way verse connecting through the Synscan multi access port (RJ12) on the Synscan controller to the laptop then on to EQMod, as you seem to get the benefit of the Synscan alignment keys.

Cheers Peter

[Eden (Brett)]

You can't issue Sync commands via the cable that connects to the hand-controller and this is essential for performing star alignment.

Ditching the hand-controller and using EQMod can be a bit disorienting at first, but if your mount is accurately polar aligned you will
eventually reach the point where you will never want to see the hand controller again There are numerous other benefits to
connecting to the mount this way, including the ability to do your star alignment (and polar alignment) using plate-solving via
AstroTortilla or similar package.

[peter.h (Peter)]

Thanks I'll keep working with it, I'm hopping the game controller will make working around the alignment process easier.