Just got an Orion Starshoot Autoguider for my ED120 on an EQ6 Pro.
I was pretty sure it was a plug and play deal, but it turns out to be a little more complicated.
In the dropdown menu to select mount on PHD, there is no choice for EQ6. (See image) can anyone tell me which is the correct selection.
Also, I hear that EQ MDO word bandied around. Can anyone tell me in laymans terms, what this is, and how I would benefit from it with my current setup?
I'm still new at this, and not sure I can offer much assistance, but I also know the feeling of not getting a reply to a post.
I recently purchased the same camera (QHY-5 actually from Gama on IIS) and also have used PHD as the guiding software. The RJ45 port plugs into my scope controller and takes the commands directly. On PHD you choose the bottom option "on scope".
I do not know your mount at all so this maybe no help. Good luck with it.
Just got an Orion Starshoot Autoguider for my ED120 on an EQ6 Pro.
I was pretty sure it was a plug and play deal, but it turns out to be a little more complicated.
In the dropdown menu to select mount on PHD, there is no choice for EQ6. (See image) can anyone tell me which is the correct selection.
Also, I hear that EQ MDO word bandied around. Can anyone tell me in laymans terms, what this is, and how I would benefit from it with my current setup?
A little lost here on this fine cloudy night...
Baz.
For "scope" in my first reply you should read mount ... Except for the drop down menu item which should read "On-camera".
Rob has it right, when you set up the autoguider, run the guide cable from the RJ45, Autoguider Port on the camera directly to the RJ45 Autoguider Port on your mount, you don't have to go vide a computer for this to work.
When you open PHD, select Mount, from the drop down menu, select On Camera, then select the camera from the Camera pop-up, the bottom line of PHD will then show that both the camera and mount are selected, then select your exposure and begin your loop, then proceed normally with your calibration and guiding.
Also, select Enable Graph from the Tools Menu, set the scroll to 50, the highest resolution, you can then watch in real time, what corrections are being made to you mount, this will soon tell you if you are not Polar Aligned properly.
Can't help you with that EQMOD, never owned an EQ-6.
Cheers
Last edited by JohnG; 17-01-2009 at 11:35 AM.
Reason: Graph
Hi Barry.
I have the QHY-5 which is the same except for the drivers. Select on camera in PHD and do the rest as has already been described or read the quick start under help on PHD, the instructions are very well writen and easy to follow.
I have found that getting good polar alignment is a very good idea this means the mount does very little correction north south and only has to work east west. My mount is an early eq6 with goto retro fitted and has shocking PE but PHD handles it no probs its a great free piece of software.
I have also played with EQMOD it is great if you just want to use the goto from your computer and is also good for easy selection of alignment stars. I have not found any real advantage in using EQMOD and PHD together becaue either way I get round guided stars.
I am using a Sky Watcher ED80 with an Orion short tube as the guide scope. Also it is important that everything is balanced so the mount does not have to over work but have just a slight imbalance to the east so that the gears are always engaged.
These are just my findings and I am sure others may have more knowledge on the subject, keep going with it, make small changes if all is not going well and record what you do so you can keep tabs on what works and what doesnt you will come up with what works with your equipment. Above all enjoy the night sky.
Just to confirm for you guys and all others who come across this in future, you were correct, the selection (On-Camera) was the little doodad I missed. Once selected, all was well. Now I just need the sky to change from it's uniform grey to something a little more on the transparent side.
You wouldn't beleive that after 1:30 am when I gave up and locked up the observatory to go to bed, the sky cleared! Ah well...ya gotta laugh..
well. the camera/mount/phd situation is pretty well covered...
EQMOD.
EQMOD is a free set of drivers and control programs so that you can use your EQ5/EQ6 mounts without the use of the hand controller, Full scope control is passed to the PC, and the amount of features it has is utterly astounding... You can tune your RA tracking rate, you can very very accurately fine tune your guiding by adjusting the autoguider rate on RA and Dec independently... you can also use a "Guide command Gain" function, to amplify or reduce guiding signals after they come out of PHD, but before they go to the mount.. so PHD functions as normal, but if the commands seem to be a bit weak, EQMOD can amplify them to compensate, or can reduce them if PHD is overcorrecting the guiding errors.
It also includes a very very powerful pointing model routine. where you can chose as many alignment stars as you have time for, the more allignment stars, the better your pointing model, hence, the better the accuracy of the mounts GOTO commands.. After a 10 star alignment I was able to land every object I selected smack bang in the center of my cameras sensor... a big big plus. It also includes add on features like EQMosaic, PECPREP etc for shooting mosaic images, and for recording pe and correcting for it...
Pecrecorder is actually very very nice.. It can take a PHD log file, and work out the periodic error that the guider has corrected for (As opposed to actual drift) and then save a PEC file for EQMOD to use as a Periodic Error Correction table... And from then on in, EQMOD will automattically compensate for your mounts periodic error.. making your guider do less work, and your mount track more smoothly...
Its a brilliant bit of software.. All it requires is an ASCOM compliant planetarium programe (like The Sky, Starry Night, Stellarium etc) a $30USD EQDIR adapter from shoestring astronomy and a USB->Serial adapter...
Its well worth checking out in any case Baz, as with your setup permanently mounted, you can save your alignment data (say you do >10 star alignment) and the next time you fire up your mount, load that alignment data, do a sync on 1 star and you're away with 0.144 arc sec pointing accuracy...
Awesome Alex! Great info mate. I think once I have the current hardware worked out and running, I will have to look into getting EQMOD. I like the red screen too.
I am just out in the obs now, got PHD working, calibrated and guiding nicely on a star while the big CCD is taking 500 seconds worth of the rosette to try out.
Good one Barry, doing 10 min subs of the Rosette myself, experimenting with the Focal Reducer on the FS-128, going to swing over to IC 2602 and do some wide fields there as well
Good one Barry, doing 10 min subs of the Rosette myself, experimenting with the Focal Reducer on the FS-128, going to swing over to IC 2602 and do some wide fields there as well
Cheers
Oh my gosh I am getting some awesome subs here! I can't wait to stack and process. I just built a new light box today, to fit over the ED 120, so I will be taking flats too!
Shall we compare tomorrow then?
Last edited by bloodhound31; 17-01-2009 at 11:57 PM.
Reason: spelling
