ASCOM/EQMOD advice needed

[spacezebra (Petra)]

Thanks Paula, still getting my head around EQMOD - Ill check it out though.

Rob - I've got south nailed (mount marks) - then I do a three alignment via the handcontroller, would like to know how I can do that via EQMOD?

Cheers Petra d.

[sheeny (Al)]

You're not limited to 3 points with EQMOD, Petra. You can use as many points as you like.

Al.

[spacezebra (Petra)]

Hi Al

I understand the "unlimited stars" but - I suppose how can you tell when the alignment is "successful". With the Handcontroller - after three stars you are told that the alignment is a success or failure - (ready to go or start again)? So I assume with multiple stars you are tweaking as you go - creating a wider map "so to speak". Is that a correct assumption?

I have not actually got out side with it yet to have a real play with the software (at the moment the mount is inside due to constant cloud and rain :-( ). But I do have computer and mount talking. Hope you can clarify (I'm supposed to be finishing an writing an application ;-( ).

Cheers Petra d.

[spacezebra (Petra)]

Okay - I found the 'syc' section in the manual.

Any tips re alignment.

Cheers Petra d.

[pluto (Hugh)]

Hi Petra, watch Chris's video on sync alignment it has everything you need to know: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1rVx...=TLTdDo_X4tlPY

Because I'm usually imaging one target for a few hours at a time I try too sync on 3 bright stars so that my target is in the middle of the triangle. This works for me and I find it way more accurate than the hand controller ever was.

[spacezebra (Petra)]

Thanks Hugh Lots of vids to get through.

Cheers Petra d.

[sheeny (Al)]

Pretty much, yes. If you have sync'ed stars wide apart across both hemispheres the alignment should be pretty good, but you can continue to refine the alignment by adding more points.

Al.

Originally Posted by spacezebra

Hi Al

I understand the "unlimited stars" but - I suppose how can you tell when the alignment is "successful". With the Handcontroller - after three stars you are told that the alignment is a success or failure - (ready to go or start again)? So I assume with multiple stars you are tweaking as you go - creating a wider map "so to speak". Is that a correct assumption?

I have not actually got out side with it yet to have a real play with the software (at the moment the mount is inside due to constant cloud and rain :-( ). But I do have computer and mount talking. Hope you can clarify (I'm supposed to be finishing an writing an application ;-( ).

Cheers Petra d.

[RobF (Rob)]

Something I find very helpful in EQMOD is the graphical display of the pointing model. So everytime you enter a Sync point, you see the real co-ordinates and the modelled point plotted side by side. If the 2 coloured circles aren't close, or sync points close together have errors going in different directions, that's a pretty good guide that one point may be plain wrong (outlier). You also have the test listing with absolute errors.

I'll often lose the plot and accidentally sync on a wrong star - it sticks out like a sore thumb.

Much more helpful than, "alignment failed". The downside is it will pretty well number crunch anything, so have to look out for "garbage in, garbage out".