Alternative to Eqmod -GSS

[garymck (Gary)]

Hi,
anyone using Green Swamp Server:

https://sites.google.com/view/greenswamp/

Looks like a very nice alternative to Eqmod. If you tried it how did it go?

TIA

Gary

[AdamJL]

No but it's been on my radar for a while. Very keen to hear from people as well. Anything with a more modern interface gets my vote, even if it's not that modern. Compared to EQMod though....

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

I'm in the process of trialling GSS....
Not all the features I'd expect, interface is a bit clunky.
At this stage no reason to change from EQMod.

[AdamJL]

Originally Posted by Merlin66

interface is a bit clunky.
.

Nah, this is clunky
Straight out of 1980!

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

And this is better?????

[Startrek (Martin)]

Looked at GSS a while back
Staying with EQMOD for the immediate future

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

I went down the EQMOD route for my EQ8 originally because it was the only way to operate my scope entirely remotely. I constantly had difficulties with it's pointing accuracy and spent forever building pointing models that barely improved things. I have been told it works much better with the 5/6 series mounts.

I did try an earlier version of GSS which looked great if nothing else, but then I discovered that Skywatcher had released Synscan Pro App which connects to the PC using exactly the same cable.

The Skywatcher app is basically an ascom compliant handset replacement of course, but the built in pointing model is superb and I've been using it ever since with absolutely fantastic results.

I still have EQMOD loaded though, the killer feature for me is the custom tracking function that can be used to follow asteroids and comets. Because they all use the same cable, you can swap between them in the same session easily enough remotely so it's a Win Win Win.

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Been using it for over 12 months. Does what you would expect.

One thing to be aware of though - it currently doesn't include a pointing model. That is not an issue if you are using plate solving to center objects however if you are creating a three star pointing model with EQMOD and using that to slew to targets then GSS might not be the best solution for you at the moment. There is a beta version in development with the pointing model capability.

[AdamJL]

Originally Posted by Merlin66

And this is better?????

Very much so. A mid-2000s interface, sure. But so much better than EQMod.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

[jwoody (Jeremy)]

Looked at GSS but never tried it. I have always used EQMOD from my first HEQ5 to my current EQ8. Works perfectly with my setup
How lucky we are to have such clever people make all this brilliant software for free.

[Startrek (Martin)]

I’ve used EQMOD for 4 years and even though it’s 15 years old or thereabouts, it works seamlessly, especially with the latest Ascom supported Stellarium ( no more Stellariumscope)
The interface is simple , well designed and user friendly ( might look clunky to the younger generation) but it gets me to where I need to be quickly and accurately
My 2 cents .......

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

I used Lotus 123 for years but now I'm using Excel. Excel seems to work quite well, but haven't tried Lotus 123 recently so can't comment on that.

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

I’m struggling to see the advantage of something that fails to improve on interface design despite the supposed decades difference

And then fails to deliver on features as Peter pointed out. What gives?

Maybe I’ve got my priorities all wrong, but I want my mount interface to use as little screen real estate as possible and do its job properly. Pretty pictures showing me where my scope is pointing when is not helping the former and does zilch for the latter.

Of course I’m happy to be educated…

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Originally Posted by Camelopardalis

And then fails to deliver on features as Peter pointed out. What gives?

The pointing model functionality has been added in a recent release so at this stage GSS has similar features to EQMOD. Many people these days are using plate solving to center objects and the pointing model becomes irrelevant in that case.

If your mount has PPEC capability the GSS has better functionality to train and enable this feature in my experience.

Originally Posted by Camelopardalis

Maybe I’ve got my priorities all wrong, but I want my mount interface to use as little screen real estate as possible and do its job properly.

You can minimise the app so it doesn't take up any screen real estate if screen real estate is a concern.

Originally Posted by Camelopardalis

Pretty pictures showing me where my scope is pointing when is not helping the former and does zilch for the latter.

Depends on your use-case. If you are operating the mount remotely then it is actually convenient to be able to visualise where it is pointing. If you are sitting outside next to the mount then you don't need it. You can always minimise the app if it bothers you.

The other consideration is whether the software is being actively developed and how easy it is to get new features added. Has EQMOD source code been made available to the community now?

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Crikey! Haven’t seen CVS in a good few years