eyedeekay

13 hours ago, bobro said:

Thanks for the info on your excellent project. Coincidentally, I've just ordered an Arduino Nano to allow my mount tracking to be driven by PHD2. The Arduino to be loaded with Kevin Ferrare's code https://github.com/kevinferrare/arduino-st4/ and a modified relay board to interface to the motors.

With APT loaded on the PC it should make for an integrated imaging and guiding system - if my eeebook is powerful enough to drive everything!

Use of a stepper motor may give better tracking (less jitter) than the simple DC motor used in the Economy Motor Drive, though I find the biggest sources of trailing in my setup are the wind and accuracy of polar aligment (with longer exposures).

Good luck with your project - I look forward to seeing some images!

 

Thank you so much! Like you wind and polar alignment always kill me when I'm trying to track. Since im ra guiding only my dec has to be really precise, and wind confuses phd2 while tracking. I plan to step down my telescope size from the included 114mm 900mm scope to a small wide field refractor, it will be so much more manageable. 

Good luck with your project too!

I really like your project and progress. I am actually doing something similar, but with the use of an eq1 mount. I had the economy drive as well but I opted toward using a separate stepper motor that accepts microstepping. If your interested, here is my project currently:

 http://www.astronomyforum.net/atm-diy-telescope-making-forum/230117-eq1-ra-only-autoguider.html

I also have the forum post that gave me the arduino coding if its any use for you:

https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=245679.0