Actually, if my Dec drops off the chart at the same time as I have a spike in RA, I have lousy polar alignment and need to do some serious PEC work - yes?
Pete, looking at your graph seems that it's a combination of both misalignment and balance. The sudden shift in RA is balance and will effect DEC as well. The progressive drop in DEC can be balance in DEC but most likely poor polar alignment. Disable the guide output in PHD and graph the tracking so you can drift align then start guiding again and it'll be spot on.
Last edited by multiweb; 20-03-2010 at 01:53 PM.
Reason: spelling
Thanks Marc - I had a suspicion it was poor alignment. I didn't think it was balance. I'll have another go tomorrow night (weather permitting).
I only discovered the graph function last week - it sure is helpful to show how off my alignment can be. I guess EQMOD masks all this as the pointing accuracy isn't too bad when its synced on a few close stars.
Connect to mount
Connect to camera
Choose a reasonable frame interval (to start off with I have 2 seconds)
Start capturing (blue arrow button)
Stop capturing (once stars appear on screen)
Select a star
Press PHD Guide
Click Tools > Enable Graph
Click the button with the number on it to change the scale. I have mine set to 50; when set to 50, each dotted line on the graph represents 1 pixel, so it's easy for me to see how my mount's performing.
Shane,so Ive got to be connected to the mount to use the graph. can i just use the camera with the graph.
Assuming all your gear is hooked up.
Connect to mount
Connect to camera
Choose a reasonable frame interval (to start off with I have 2 seconds)
Start capturing (blue arrow button)
Stop capturing (once stars appear on screen)
Select a star
Press PHD Guide
Click Tools > Enable Graph
Click the button with the number on it to change the scale. I have mine set to 50; when set to 50, each dotted line on the graph represents 1 pixel, so it's easy for me to see how my Mount's performing.
H
so Ive got to be connected to the mount to use the graph. cant i just use the camera with the graph.
I'll post my graph and setting tonight but just wanted to say that PEC training helps, a lot. I use to think my mount was a dud until I pec trained it.
If the light poloution wasnt as bad as it is where I am I'd could do a hour sub no problem.
Hi Eddy,
Thought I'd show you how your old mount is going. This is guiding with a modified finderscope. Still finding my way around Eqmod but getting some reasonable images.
Pe recorder will take about an hour to gather enought PE data then you import the file into pec prep for editing.
Pec prep will take a good portion of the rest of you life to figure out what the hell you have to do. I just moved stuff around until my curve looked like a sine wave and it seemed to work.
Pe recorder will take about an hour to gather enought PE data then you import the file into pec prep for editing.
Pec prep will take a good portion of the rest of you life to figure out what the hell you have to do. I just moved stuff around until my curve looked like a sine wave and it seemed to work.
Have fun.
Thanks for that.
One issue for the gurus - as I have to lug my scope outside each time I use it, do I need to rerecord PE each night?
I see from the EQMOD site that if parked at the end of a session, the mount recalls the worm gear position next time its powered up. Is this still the case if I then disconnect and power down my laptop? And will the fact that I need to re-align each night mean I also need to rerecord PE?
Its all new to me - when I master one aspect of this game, something new appears to throw up more confusion
One issue for the gurus - as I have to lug my scope outside each time I use it, do I need to rerecord PE each night?
I see from the EQMOD site that if parked at the end of a session, the mount recalls the worm gear position next time its powered up. Is this still the case if I then disconnect and power down my laptop? And will the fact that I need to re-align each night mean I also need to rerecord PE?
Its all new to me - when I master one aspect of this game, something new appears to throw up more confusion
Pete
I actually asked myself this question when I read this post!
I use the same pec file everytime. I think the only time you have to rerecord your pec is if you change the weight on the mount ie bigger or smaller scope.
OK - so if I set up afresh the night after recording the PE, I will need to rerecord if I have not positioned the OTA on the mount in precisely the same way or if the counterweights are not in precisely the same spot as when the PE was recorded.
