masjstovel

46 minutes ago, alacant said:

Hi

Install EQMod for the mount and connect mount to computer with one of these.

You can also use on camera, but it's rubbish.

HTH

Thanks for the reply.

I have the cable, but what is this EQ-mod?

Hi,

I own the SW 150PHD on an EQ5 Mount - Synscan and motors installed seperately, so i guess its an EQ5 Pro now.

I just got the SSAG on an Orion 50mm, and installed PHD2 - the SSAG manual said so.

A couple of questions pop up regarding this.

When adding equipment to my profile in PHD2;

SSAG manual says "Starshoot Autoguider" as CAMERA and "On Camera" as MOUNT.

Youtube says Connect guider straight to the computer, and choose your ASCOM as MOUNT.

1. Which of the above is correct?

So tried to install my ASCOM driver for Sky Watcher EQ-Mounts as they didn't show in PHD2. I just got 3-4 error messages because i didnt have the ASCOM-platform. 
So i installed the ASCOM Platform, and then the Sky Watcher driver and now they show up in PHD2 - It's nice.
So this ASCOM platform (i have just now installed it to install the driver) looks like a program to guide my scope from my computer instead of the hand controller, correct?

2. I Guess the question is; If i use PHD2 for guiding, and choose my ASCOM driver as MOUNT, do i have to put in all Equipment data in the ASCOM platform first, or i just need to in PHD2? 
Like, does the 2 programs talk to each other, or are they completely individual? This is if i for example doesnt want to use the ASCOM platform, just PHD2.

Update:
Dark season is back and i followed the tip about upgrading du more Ampere in my socket.

It worked!!!!!

Used 2 star alignment and calibrated after Mizar and Deneb. Mizar was right in my crosshair when i slewed for it. 
What a feeling! Then the clouds came in heavy so couldnt test further.

Now lets hope it works every time like that:)

Update:
Cloudy again yesterday, but I got to polar align properly before it turned bad. It now looks like its working, but its difficult to tell about accuracy. The scope at least points in the right direction. I also used the setting-circles to read out if the position was correct, but  I find the RA-clock to be too loose, like it snags in on the axis when scope is slewing. So either its pointing inaccurate or its snagging. Just have to have clear skies to control that i guess.

Thanks for your post @cletrac1922! I hadn't thought about a jump-start battery. When i feel comfortable enough I will take the kit with me somewhere less lightpolluted and i would need a battery. Had only seen this Sky-watcher ones, but this is probably better?

@Anvil Basher I followed a thread here on the forum on the installation of the motors and was careful not to tighten the allenbolt too much. "Too much" is a relative term though, so i dont know. Been at work a couple of days, so I am too tired tonight, but tomorrow i plan testing it again:) Only improvement i've done is upgrading the power supply, but thats also the only thing that is "proven" i didnt do correctly so i'm excited to see:) I will give an update on how it goes!

I have the 150 yes:) 

19 minutes ago, Anvil Basher said:

You sure you have it balanced correctly? I did a test with mine tonight and put only 1 weight on. There is no way on earth it would balance, definitely needs 2. I think that would put strain on the motor.

As i understand balancing, its balanced With one weight yes. Is it the 150 or the 200 you have?

6 minutes ago, Erling G-P said:

No, it's only when I have run into trouble with the 2 or 3-star alignments, and the values have been far off that I have redone the star alignment.  I recently started using an app giving a graphical representation of the view in the polar scope, like you also mention.  It has generally bettered my Mel/Maz values, probably due to my polar alignment being better. It's a lot easier to mimick the graphical image from the app, rather than having to 'guesstimate' where on the clock circle Polaris should be placed, based on the time given by the hand controller.  I have also been in doubt about where 2018 & 2019 are located exactly in relation to the 3 circles on the clock, and the app has cleared that up too.

Which app is it? i use the SAM Console app myself (Star Adventurer mini).

15 minutes ago, Anvil Basher said:

If you are aligned, it has to be the goto system. I really cannot see any other reason. Either the info you put in is incorrect, the system needs a reset, or worst case....faulty. We have counted out many things, bringing us back to the goto system. It moves in the right direction, but not to where you want it...........maybe the psu will sort it, if not it is back to the drawing board.

Cant guarantee my alignment as i am a beginner, but i set my latitude, point North, see a strong star, and i align it the same spot as the clock shows on my app, my tripod bubble is in the middle, so i think a GoTo-problem myself too:)

Thats my favourite polar alignment video yes. This guy the polar scope reticule that you have though. Still, the result would be the same, just that i dont turn the reticule as mentioned.

What i mean is, that is not whats in my polar Scope. All i see is the polar clock. So i have to align in a different way. I use an app to see where polaris should be positioned along the clock circle in my position. Its like an Hour Angle clock. So as i have understood correctly. I dont turn this around. 6 o'clock is always in the bottom. I just see on the app: "oh, polaris is at 02:30 o'clock", and i align it in between 0 and 3 o'clock in the circle, which should be stationary like this always witih 6 o clock straight down. The Octans sign is for alignment in the Southern hemisphere if i understood it correctly.

So With your polar scope, if you were in my position, you would turn it around so that the Big dipper position is aligned With the Big Dipper in the sky, right? and your " small Polaris-circle" would be in the exact same spot as mine - 2:30 o'clock

All of the above is of course, if i have understood it correctly:) 

3 minutes ago, Anvil Basher said:

page 14 of the manual

Ah, yes i know where the Big Dipper is, i meant the reticule the polar Scope, the "old" model With the ring for polaris and the Big dipper for turning the ring:)

4 minutes ago, Anvil Basher said:

Yes, you are in Norway........I am in Ireland but mine is low to get it through the door, once outside I set it up again. If the balance was a little off.......I doubt it. If you follow the instructions for polar alignment in the manual with the tripod/mount you should have no problem.....it really is self-explanatory. When I start to add the other bits I quickly balance it, just to make sure.

You must be looking at something other than the north star, my polar scope has an alignment image, plus the manual gives you exact locations of big dipper in relation to it. Once you have the scope aligned, the info put into the set, plus your time, minus an hour, plus an hour, etc, it should work.

I am new at all this also, but equipment is equipment....it needs a learning curve.........or a reset!.......wish I could get a rest to age 14 ?

I olnly have the clock wheel and the app to tell me where it should be the clock, but wished i had something like the Big Dipper to confirm. 

4 minutes ago, Anvil Basher said:

I have the old motor controls on. Taking some pics so I can put them up for sale. But 2 weights, and it balances in every direction perfectly. What angle do you have yours looking up? Seems quite sharp. Mine is low in this pic because I need it at that angle to get through the door. I made up a stand with 3 heavy duty braked wheels, so I can just roll it around outside.

Yes, Its pretty steep, 60*25', so the axis is "laying" more on the mount than yours. Your look more like 30something?  I guess when i attach my DSLR (988grams) i would need the other weght as well. But since I'm new to this i get unsure - but its balanced. Lets say it was a little off, couldt that be the reason for my problems? 

Just now, Marvin Jenkins said:

Just a quick thought. I have seen a post in the past on here about a similar problem. It might sound obvious but the the date setting on my V5 is American, ie month, day, year. Not European day, month year.

swap the month for the day and a big difference. Doesn’t explain your first star alignment being close, but worth checking. Sorry if this already been addressed in past replies.

Marv

It's set up in MM/DD/YY, so that is correct. I live in Norway, so ive set UTC +2:00, and Daylight saving YES. Thats correct too right?

5 minutes ago, Marvin Jenkins said:

I will have a play with my set up and see if I can replicate your problems. Perhaps if I can enter a setting in reverse of my current settings or change time date etc I can be of use.

No such thing as a stupid question on SGL. I have only been at this for about two years and the knowledge base here is amazing.

Give me your basic long lat so I know where about you are viewing from.

That would be Perfect! thanks.

05.15' E, 60*25'N my app says! 

It's relatively far North so the RA cover gets a bit high yes.

Just now, Anvil Basher said:

I need the 2 weights. I can put up a pic if you like.

No, they are tight. I would rather have it the way it is than loose Turning mine either side is no different. The scope might weigh 5 kg, but add on lens, camera, the mount itself when rotated, (the top part is quite heavy).

Sure I'd like that. I also think its good that their tight, its just not what i imagined it would be before i got the mount and scope. I think the RA balancing was very simple. I feel it has better tolerance for small errors on that axis, but I worked alot on the DEC-balancing. 

30 minutes ago, Marvin Jenkins said:

Just so you don’t despair. SGL is top heavy with knowledge and be assured that all anyone on this site wants is for you to solve your issues and get star gazing.

Oh yes i've had alot of help already, and am happy with the forum. People seem very professional and helpful, even when having to cope with my stupid questions

28 minutes ago, Marvin Jenkins said:

Interesting, I have the exact mount as yours but have a 130 newt and the V5 kit without a problem.

in relation to your picture (I assume the first picture is in home or park) which part of your scope is hitting your mount or it’s legs?

both pictures is home position, but taken from both side. Is Your DEC motor also on the right side in home pos? 

I've had the bottom of my Scope hit one of the legs, and if i am to obserce something near the northwestern horizon, the two motor covers collide.

 https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/334496-not-fully-understanding-polar-alignment/

I have this thread going on as well, and suspect the issues can be related? 

18 minutes ago, Anvil Basher said:

I have my spotter scope dead centre on top, so when the scope turns I can get to the eyepiece . Are the eyehole or spotter scope hitting the legs like that at any stage? Without getting out the manual that came with mine, I am pretty sure they state to mount the spotter on top dead centre..........but I could be wrong.

It's funny you mention it because when i looked at my own picture it seemed a bit odd, so i googled pictures of the scope on mount and adjusted its own axis. so that the eyepiece is paralel to the bracket-screws, and that puts the finder approximately on top.

Edit: Yes the eyepiece has hit the legs, and it didnt cross my mind before that i could turn it so.... there you go.

30 minutes ago, Erling G-P said:

Again as a newbie, I'm not sure how the controller arrives at the Mel/Maz values, but do believe they're affected by your 1/2/3 star alignment, so not  necessarily your polar alignment that's bad.    I've had some occations where I struggled with a 3-star alignment, with the mount pointing far off the alignment stars, and getting high Mel/Maz values, and a warning 'Alignment may be poor'.  In these cases I redid the 3-star alignment and eventually arrived at an ok result, but without touching my original polar alignment.  If you turn off the mount to start over with your 2-star alignment, then leave it off for at least 30 secs - otherwise it appears to not clear old data.

Ok, good to know. Do you do another 3-star alignment to better the Mel/Maz values or is there another way just for these values?

23 minutes ago, Anvil Basher said:

You have the exact same set-up as myself...........even the scope. How did you get away with one counterweight? I need 2 at that position. Or is yours twice the weight of one of mine? Just curious.

Its weighted 5.2kg each, and Yours? The scope is around 5kg too isnt it? I tried with both now but that was way too heavy.

When i losen the locks and do the balancing I imagined it would be like spinning a Bicycle wheel almost, but its much tighter than that. Its supposed to be a little tight? Also if i turn my Scope 90 degrees to the left it feels tighter the last degrees than if i turn it to the right. Is this a problem?

I did my plan now, turned the mount North by compass, and set it to my latitude, and calibrated the setting circles and went for the 2 star alignment. I chose Vega. Stellarium puts this at RA/DEC position 18h36m56.15s / +38* 47'07.9". The DEC axis was spot on but the RA showed 21h30m. Now the RA setting circle is very loose and seem a bit simple and i've seen it stuck itself from time to time but.. i dont know? 

5 minutes ago, Erling G-P said:

I'm pretty certain the firmware isn't affected, but you'll have to input lat/longitude and other basic info again.

 

Your Mel/Maz values are considerably higher than what I normally see - I normally am below 10' on each axis, going close to or below 0' on a few rare occations. As a newbie myself however, I'm not sure what they're supposed to be, or what is considered good or 'good enough'.

Ok, does this mean directly that my polar alignment is bad, or lets say if i choose the wrong star in center for example on my 2-star alignment this values are affected?

7 minutes ago, Erling G-P said:

If the mount continues to point the scope in odd directions, you could also try doing a factory reset; available somewhere in the menus.  It helped me when I had a similar issue with my HEQ5 - it would slew to positions way off the alignment stars, for no apparent reason.  Factory reset brought it back to normal.

Thanks for the tip. If it turns out i have done both the polar alignment and the motor installation correct, i will try that! Would i have to reinstall the newest firmware then or is it kept with a factory reset?

@Anvil Basher I just dont understand that the alignment is so off given that @Robny's procedure is correct. That's what ive done every time, and feel quite satisfied that im on the right place.

With that said, i got this Mel/Maz message last time, and i don't know what would be acceptable Levels of Mel/Maz error?

The other photos are the setup in what i believe to be the home position. Does it look correct? 

I havent though about it before, but it may be important:
When press the slew buttons from parked position this happens:

Right key: RA sends the Scope to the left

Left key: RA sends the Scope to the right

Up key: DEC sends Scope to left

Down key: DEC sends Scope to right

Is this correct???

I also wonder about something on the dec axis. It seems a bit off topic, but there is a thought behind it. Lets say i dismounted the telescope, turned it 180 degrees and mounted it again. Would that have anything to say synscan-wise other then id have to redo the alignment and all? Is there a right and wrong way to mount the scope? I mean right is right and left is left on this axis no matter what, isnt it? I ask because at 60 degrees latitude the RA-motor cover and the DEC cover would "crash" if i want to observe something near the Northern horizon. Is this just how it is or am i far down in a hole with something here?
 

1 hour ago, Owmuchonomy said:

Can you tell us what scope you are using or even better post a photo of the setup?

Of course, I should have done that in the first place.

I tried the "home-position". The DEC-motor is on the right side with the cogs on the lower side, and the RA-cogs are on the right side of the mount (if North leg is front). 

Its a 150PDS on a SW EQ5, With a synscan goto V3 kit i installed myself.