EQ8 and EQmod

[Earl]

I notice the EQ8 is self homing, is this supported in EQMod?

Are there any other EQ8 features new from the EQ6?

[chrisshillito]

Self homing or the presence of hardware encoders (albeit low resolution) make no difference to the operation of EQMOD itself - but do mean you should never loose PEC synchronisation and that you are free to slew the mount around with clutches released without messing things up (i.e. EQMOD will still track the physical position of the mount).

Chris.

[Tinker1947]

i wonder (part 1) if (i don't own the mount yet ) i released the clutches move the mount to a position where i want it parked, open the toolbox and define that position as a park position, would EQMod park it there, I wonder (part 2) when the mount is turned on and EQMod fired up it will say scope "Parked", if the clutches were released and the mount move to the home position  would EQMod pick this up and when the Unpark is click just show it as unparked with out moving it.....

[chrisshillito]

I don't have an EQ8 either but I would assume yes to part 1 and no to part 2. Perhaps someone with an EQ8 will confirm.

Chris.

[ianaiken]

EQMOD doesn't update when you manual move the mount.  Sso when I park it then I loosen the clutches and then move it randomly elsewhere, EQMOD doesn't update I assume because it doesn't get feedback from the mount of position.  Also when I send a slew command to a target it doesn't move to the target but is out by the amount I moved the mount manually.  I would have thought that this would not have been an issue.

It would be really cool to have a auto-home button on EQMOD to save having to plug hand controller in to sort that out.

[ianaiken]

OK silly me it's because I moved it manually while parked!  Sorry for draggin up a 6 month old thread!

[teleskopjo]

Do you need to switch off the encoders when building up an EQMod alignment model?

[Physopto]

Do you need to switch off the encoders when building up an EQMod alignment model?

I have the mount operated by EQMOD and never done that. Works fine.

[teleskopjo]

Maybe you could help me out with this please (first time trying to do a goto alignment model on EQMod with the EQ8, previously always used handset).

Is there any wrong step in the below please? As I really did not notice any increase in accuracy.  Even going back to the same objects I sync'ed on would not land them in the FOV.

1. Switched on mount, with handset connect I asked that it go to the Auto-Home position. Removed handset.
   
2. Connected EQMod, switched on CdC and APT (for my Canon camera view).
   
3. Set Goto slew to Jupiter. *Maybe not a good idea to sync on planets?*
   
4. It was a bit off, I moved the telescope manually to centre the object through the finderscope.
   
5. Then I used EQMod controls to centre it accurately, then sync'ed. Point added in EQMod.
   
6. Set Goto slew to Regulus. It was a bit off too so again I did 4 and 5 again.
   
7. Set Goto slew to other stars.. same as above..
   

As FOV I was using my camera at prime focus ie. FOV of around 0.55 degrees x 0.35 degrees.

Does this have to do with maybe needing to 'switch off' the EQ8 encoders before moving it manually to centre the objects and switching them back on just before doing the synch?

[Earl]

Yeah dont sync on planets or the moon, stars are best as they are fixed locations.