Guide AND planetarium control at same time

pmrid (Peter) · #1 23-05-2009, 06:34 PM

I have recently bought a EQ6 pro with Synscan - so far so good. I also have a GPUSB device, a decent guide scope and a DSI to go with it. I plan to image with an 8" Newt. I understand (more or less) PHD Guide and it's operation. Famous last words I know. And I understand about using programs like Guide 8 and Similar for scope control. BUT I am wondering whether the two funcctiuons can operate simultaneously. Can I both guide and control the scope through Guide 8 or whatever other planetarium software there is around.
Any guidance for a beginner would be welcome.
Peter

Tandum (Robin) · #2 23-05-2009, 06:59 PM

Peter,
I prefer to run PHD to guide so it is always guiding. I've found that when you have a program that guides as well as do other stuff, it can do the other stuff and forgets to guide for a while. Running a seperate PHD process ensures you have guiding running all the time.

Glenhuon (Bill) · #3 23-05-2009, 07:16 PM

I use PHD to guide on an older laptop and image with another newer one. I found there was the occasional conflict between the two programs (PHD & DSLR Focus) when running on the same machine. Starting up Carte Du Ciel when PHD was running, completely locked things up.

Bill

Stevee42 (Steve) · #4 23-05-2009, 07:57 PM

hello people, new to site q/a: I have a remote blue tooth with a clasic lx200 scope and I have a scope stuff jem1 to send signal to cart du ciel programme, problem is it is not responding to signal sent. cdc accepts and recognises signal but the telescope does not respond, initially it did kind of but now refuses to respond. any suggestions please? which astro program is suitable to controll the lx200 and which blue tooth unit to work in conjunction with jem1.

troypiggo (Troy) · #5 25-05-2009, 09:53 AM

Look into EQMod. It sits between your guiding/planetarium/imaging software and the mount. Just tell all that software that your mount is EQMod and it'll work.

I use Cartes du Ciel for planetarium, guiding I was using PHD but finding it resource hungry so have started using EQAlign, and imaging with DSI II using Envisage or K3CCDTools.