I have been playing around with an easy way of aligning my scope as I am now about to start guiding with PHD... I have been reading about Alignmaster and wanted some advice from others that have used it to setup an LX200..
I am guessing that I turn on my LX200 without allowing it to go into setup and star selection by pressing the mode ket to get out of it.. Then I am guessing I use Alignmaster to control the scope and do it's two star selection so I can correct the wedge and tripod. I can do this a couple of times to get it better.. Then once this is done I would do the normal two star alignment with the LX200 handset and away I go..
Have I understood the process step by step, or do I use Alignmaster after doing the Meade two star alignment? that does not seem to make sense!
I am waiting for the Reg Key from Alignmaster to try it but wanted to clear this up first. When I drift I do that before the Meade two star align so I am guessing this is the same. I just don't understand how Alignmaster can get the GPS data if I have not done the normal Meade setup..
I mean that others more experienced than me haven't replied yet - but anyway your idea is correct
I've used it with my EQ6Pro with GPS and that initialises first off before asking for the alignment etc
You're on the right track ie you must let Alignmaster do the alignment process and you mechanically match that alignment - and only when you're done with AM you then do your usual two-star or whatever alignment routine that your GoTo offers
I'm not sure if the above I described is also correct for the LX200 you use as I've never used a Alt/Az GoTo before but if you are also using the setup with a wedge as well then it is in equatorial mode anyway so the above will apply
Thanks for that Bill. I have not been able to get a key to try the program as yet. So last night I just went ahead and pourchased the program as it is only around $20. I thought I would then get an instant key.. Still waiting! so I have not been able to try it as yet. Thanks for your advice, it seems that this program could be very helpfull and I am looking forward to giving it a try..
Not sure how alignmaster works
But as you are on a wedge,
do whatever it instructs ( and or check via drift aligning )
Once finished, reboot and do a clean polar ONE star align. Do not usethe Polar 2 star method as it has bugs.
If you know yr scope is "physically" polar aligned
start the One star process,
and when it says to centre Sig Oct using the wedge controls,
just hit enter, dont even bother to look.
Centre the second star carefully, and you are away.
Matthias does have a life and he goes away occasionally. He will get back to you when he returns. he does not have an automatic program for authorisation. He was most apologetic to me when i had to wait a few days for my number. It was still some of the best dollars for a little proggie that I have spent to date, worth waiting for.
I use Alignmaster to setup my LX200 on it's tripod and superwedge.
Use the compass to point the wedge mount North. I know Adelaide is several degrees off this (8.5degE so aim it a bit west? This one always confuses me hehehe), but this will get you pretty close first time. My compass does not read accurately enough to get closer to true north anyway. Once I've done it once I put the feet back in the same place and line up on a point on the fence with the wedge screws centered to get within 2 degrees or so every night I take it out. A couple turns on the wedge screw takes this out.
Use the bubble level in the wedge. I sometimes forget to do this. If you're close it doesn't matter too much. Just center between the crosshair lines in PHD when you turn the adjustment screws on the wedge. If you're too un-level though Alignmaster slews too far off in both axis to keep the job easy.
With my LX200 Classic I set it to POLAR and quit any alignment. Once Alignmaster has done it's thing from 1st star to 2nd star, run it again from 2nd star to 1st star, then select the STAR from the LX200 manual and hold ENTER. The scope then knows the whole sky. To slew to a dim object then hold ENTER on a star closer to your target to refine the accuracy.
Slewing to Sig Oct is not possible for me anyway if I have the f6.3 reducer attached anyway. That would break the camera against the fork! d'oh.
Well I decided to purchase Alignmaster in the hope I would get a serial number to use it. I tried to get a trial serial but never got one sent to me. I thought that once I purchased it online I would get an instant number sent to me.. Not the case... This guy does not respond or seem to support his product very well.. It seems that those who have been able to get a serial number are happy with the product. However those now wanting to get hold of it I would be carefull about sending your cash.
Sent a pm about this. Sent it twice hehe. (Noticed a tick box to save message in sent items afterwards.)
Set it all up again last night. Was within 1.5 degrees on both axis after plonking it down on my uneven paving and sloping driveway (Alignmaster tells you this). First iteration got to within 15 arc minutes (I was a bit rough last night and kept bumping the tripod). 2nd iteration got to within 5 arc minutes on one axis and 7 arc minutes on the other. And this was going between Rigel Kentaurus and Alpha Cruxis, which are not the best to use as they are so close, but I was very restricted last night with star choice. Using stars further apart I've gotten to arc seconds with Alignmaster.
Took a photo of Saturn with guiding off, then got distracted on the phone for over 5 minutes. Took another photo and thought it hadn't worked as it was EXACTLY in the same spot on the screen!!! Sweet.
I wish I had read this thread before sending money via paypal... There's a message saying that there may be a few days wait while a serial number is generated manually...nothing about a few weeks tho
Last edited by baileys2611; 27-05-2012 at 12:20 AM.
Mmmkay then...the cosmic karma lama was watching and lo an email arrived pretty much a few minutes after. Coincidence or whut!
Anyway, thumbs up for it . Nice piece of software, aligns well, works better with reference stars that are further apart and if you do it a few times it gets very accurate.
. Nice piece of software, aligns well, works better with reference stars that are further apart and if you do it a few times it gets very accurate.
