|
Astrolab control software choices - which to gravitate towards?
A bit of an old chestnut - but wonder what folks are using for Astro lab control - especially if they have multiple scopes, cameras, focusers and filterwheels and a guider active all at the same time!
For mount pointing and positioning in the past I had usually used The SkyX + Dome, Tpoint, Camera, Focuser and filter suite - but it isn't much fun running multiple cameras. I predominately use this Software bundle now to do mount polar alignment with a Tpoint super model and then simply rely on its closed point slews (CLS) to get me on target. I generally run the dome from TSX via a hub into MaximDL and then MaxDome - as it seems to be more response to scope moves via either PC or hand controller - the SkyX never responds to hand controller updates even though this feature is selected!
Similarily I have used PEMPro V3 not just for PE training but to see how well its mount polar alignment advice aligns with The SkyX and Tpoint super model - the two always disagree when you are within 5 arc mins of the refracted SCP which is rather annoying!
For Camera management I generally run APT on one scope / camera and SGP Pro on another - plus I have played with BYE and SharpCap v4.
For autoguiding I generally prefer OpenPHD with multi star option to The SkyX or MaximDL.
I downloaded but then got too busy to try N.I.N.A. and a trial version of ACP.
So I wonder folks with a permanent set up - what control software have you gravitated to and why?
I have a bevy of overlapping commerical software (not to mention freeware CDC or Stellarium). If I wanted to reduce my mount and devices management and still run multiple scopes, focusers and cameras what strong advice or suggestions would folk give someone?
Many thanks,
Matt
|
