mattadams

I had similar issues recently with my GTi. A couple of things you could try: - update both your motor firmware and the synscan software (recent synscan update removes a sync method) - clear your star alignment with each session to ensure you're starting off at home / clean slate - eqmod may help as well (I went down that route when I was having issues), but I found the mount operated almost identically after I updated FW / SS (though note: home position between eqmod and SS are 90 degrees from each other for some reason - maybe I haven't set this up correctly though). HTH Matt

Fair. I agree with the resource part but depends on your distro. Mine always runs warm and I always worry about condensation when bringing it in - never nice. For me, I prefer windows because it's hugely flexible in what it can do. You could absolutely do the same in linux but you'd have to be comfortable getting dirty with code a lot of the time - I just can't be bothered with that as much anymore 😅. As for asiair using linux - I suspect it's down to cost more than anything. Plus it's effectively a raspberry pi and uses lower cost parts (e.g. arm cpu vs celeron N series cpu). Also means no need for a windows licence too (and as it stands windows for arm isn't readily available). The asiair does one thing only (plus is locked to ZWO only with few exceptions) vs the mele pc which could in theory be a full desktop PC running anything you like. For me I'd rather use something I know and also save myself money getting the mele (think it's about £100-130 cheaper when on sale?) than be locked in to the ZWO ecosystem, but at the end of the day it's what works best for you.

Thanks Malcolm, that's hugely useful! As for SSP, it's night and day how much better it is from mid last year to now, mainly just stability and quality of life improvements. I think like you say though, it's those highly specialised inclusions that make the alternatives appealing to some. Going to try out each for a little while and see what I like though I haven't had a clear night and been free since mid-Jan so may take some time to figure out what works.

Well that's my sunday gone reading up and trying something new 😅. I've only got a SA GTi at the moment so I'm guessing the feature set would likely be wasted on a mount like this? At the end of the day, I just want something reliable which is what drove me to EQMOD in the first place (SSP at times pointed in the complete wrong direction, though I think I've sorted that now with firmware updates). I think a fair comment would be for basic operation and safety features all 3 probably would be fine? Then it's just down to preference / how much further control you want?

Hi All...It seems that EQMOD gets suggested / recommended often to control Skywatcher mounts on PC instead of SynScan Pro. I'm curious why people go down this route when (on the surface) it looks like the current version of SSP can do just about everything EQMOD can (or better)? A few exceptions I can see where EQMOD outperforms is PEC on any mount (not just ones Skywatcher enable this on) and gamepad control. Apart from these things they are relatively the same and given that Skywatcher is actively developing it's control software I am thinking it would be better to go down that route. There's only one bug that is pushing me away from SynScan Pro at the moment which is park in NINA - only EQMOD sends the mount to the home position, SSP just parks at the current location. Odd though as in SSP you can park at home. Am I being naive? Are there better reasons to go with EQMOD? Thanks, Matt

Intersting bit of software Colin. I'm dabbling with eqmod and the one thing bugging me is the fact it can't automatically take your location from windows location services like synscan can. I've tried the program and it shows that it's trying to get the location (windows location icon shows up) but the program doesn't update? This is on windows 11, maybe the APIs are slightly different? Also even with 0,0 location, it doesn't look like you can set the location within eqmod. Is this something you've come across? EDIT: Found a program called GPSGate that seems to do the trick for anyone wanting to get your location from PC and output as a COM port

I'm curious, what was the reason you went with linux instead of windows? Did the mele not come preloaded with it? Always feel that windows has more support / options but that may be a v. uninformed view.

Just looking into this myself (though for different camera options). The SX filter wheel is 37mm so not sure this is going to work. Best I can find as an alternative so far is an EF to M48 adapter (10mm), then the Askar 5-in-1 filter drawer (18mm), then onto your camera. Back focus on the SX 825 seems to be 17mm +/-1mm so depending on your filter thickness you may be ok (EF lenses need 44mm backfocus so 3mm filter would get you bang on 44mm). HTH Matt

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Just been looking at this as this may solve one of my problems but couldn't find any info on it. If you remove the tilt plate, I don't think you're left with any means to connect a filter wheel? Unless you're connecting directly to the camera instead of M48 thread? Has anyone tried this? Would be keen to understand how to do it.

Came here looking for other info but interestingly I keep having the same error as above after varying times after guiding started. I disconnect and reconnect all devices but it will almost always come back. I'm relatively new to guiding so am I missing something that will fix this? The only thing I can think of is that I use a persistent wifi hotspot which synscan doesn't seem to like and therefore PHD2 is getting confused about which IP to use and loses connection (I've set synscan to serial but when connecting through ASCOM to NINA it gives you a popup to pick via IP instead - wouldn't have though this shouldn't happen if a COM port is set?). Did anyone solve this? The original reason I was looking through this thread though was mentioned earlier about hard RA limits. When manually controlling the mount with the arrows all of a sudden the mount will just stop responding and continue moving off in the direction that you last pressed (mainly happening when I'm nudging the mount in 3S alignment). On occaision the mount hit the hard stop but the motor was still running. Ended up powering off the mount as soon as I could but concerned this may have damaged the worm gear / rest of the assembly? Any suggestions on what I should do? The guiding since seems to be OK but often it needs drastic corrections - not sure if it's because of the above PHD2 errors or wind or other. Life / clouds has got in the way and I haven't had a chance to get out and test any of this in months but thought there might be some useful advice on here. Thanks! Matt

Hi All...I'm looking for ways to add threaded filters between my EF lens and RF mount DSLR with the aim of future reuse of any parts I get. In terms of simplest methods I'm aware of the IDAS filter drawer which does this and I already own the Canon drop-in filter adapter however I'm looking for ways to limit buying bespoke items that only have one use. My idea was to get an EF to M48 adapter, an M48 to RF adapter and then place a threaded filter between these two adapters (with any spacers as needed). Has anyone else done something similar? Ideal world is adapter --> filter drawer --> adapter but I don't think there is enough backspace to do this. EDIT: It looks like the adapter length is 23mm so a filter drawer is definitely off the cards. Thanks, Matt

I'd continue definitely - you can always remove the handful of exceptionally bad ones like that last one and stack out the trails on the majority of the others. Also if your skies / HDD / processing allow as well you could also drop the exposure time and up the count to reduce the chance of wasting a frame.

Hi All, I've got one of the IDAS Canon drop-in filters and potentially looking to get another. In an effort to "futureproof" for use in later upgrades (e.g. scope and astro camera) it looks like they can be removed from the holders (only two screws to take out) and become an unmounted 49mm filter. Has anyone got one and attempted to do this? Any suggested M48 holders for this either? The Askar 5-in-1 holder looks like it may be a good fit. Unfortunately when I bought the adapter and filter the IDAS drop-in that suited 2" screw in filters didn't exist which would have been the better option, and I don't really want to spend almost the same amount of money on another adapter. Thanks! Matt

Thanks both. TBH that was my thinking as well. Is it to do with centre mass of the scope being so far away from the mounting point (i.e. big rotational moment)? Currently running a 150-600mm with DSLR and guide scope mounted under the dovetail bar so everything is fairly compact / mounted low, and balances well at 4kg payload.