EQMOD Tracking Problems

[focaldepth]

EQMOD Tracking Problems.

Hi I am trying to get my basic tracking right before taking on auto guiding.

So far I have had so few clear nights since I got the scope pier mounted. (Is a Sad Smiley an oxymoron)

I am also limited to 1-2 hour sessions for personal reasons.

Using NEQ6, EQDIR, EDMOD ASCOM, Sellarium, Stellariumscope, Rumblepad 2, DSLR (7D).

I have Polar aligned, drift aligned (camera method) and tracking was getting there.

Since then I have introduced EQMOD into the mix.

As far as I can tell everything works as I can slew around to my hearts desire with stellarium or the gamepad.

However I am having 2 problems.

First, is using the Rumblepad to align (sync).

If I use the direction pad to adjust the scopes position the accept/adjust sync point dialogue disappears.

If I use the left joystick the align process works OK as far as I can tell.

This is not a problem unless it is a symptom of something else.

Second, I think that after aligning I somehow managed to turn off tracking. I did not consciously listen to the drives unfortunately.

I took a few subs, darks etc. but this morning found they were all star trails. The subs trails do join up.

I need to check if it ended up not on sidereal. (TODO).

So 2 questions.

What is the difference between the direction pad and the joystick?

Can aligning turn off tracking?

If the answer is RTFM then I will hang my head in shame. Any ideas?

[focaldepth]

Had a play during daylight. I think I am convinced that tracking was turned off, as it is when parked.

However I can't find a way of selecting a target, slewing to it and not having tracking on.

Still baffled.

[martin_h]

Are you sure you have the correct buttons asigned on the rumblepad?

Also if you assign sounds to the Eqmod functions you can hear when slewing/syncing/tracking etc

[focaldepth]

Thanks Martin_H, I guess sounds would help detect clumsy fingers in the dark.

Here is my button settings:

I cant see what can go wrong with those settings, can you?

There must be something simple.

[focaldepth]

Just an update for anyone else who has the same problem.

While I do not understand why, I have found a combination that works for me.

Turn off EQMOD sync dialogue.

Set button 9 (my choice) to sync rather than accept.

No button for cancel.

To sync use Ctrl-1 to goto star.

Nudge with either POV or joystick.

Do a lazy double click on button 9 (sync).

And all seem to work from there.

I may be in the manual or the videos but I can't find it.

I still do not know why the dialogue should disappear on any use of the rumble pad buttons but at least I can now align with the rumblepad 2.

[jgs001]

Are you sure you didn't catch button 7 ?? That will have the effect you describe... I did that one myself... very annoying too.

[focaldepth]

Fair enough we will put the loss of tracking down to pilot error.

It was the disappearing dialogue that was most frustrating though. Anyway I have a work around now.

[chrisshillito]

Could well be a bug, I'll take a look. Very few folks use the dialog mode for alignment (we switched the defaults over to the sync based approach some time ago).

Chris.

[focaldepth]

Wow, actively seeking out bugs. Wonder why some big pay-ware software companies don't work that way.

Is EQMOD donate-ware?

[chrisshillito]

Is EQMOD donate-ware?

EQMOD is an open gift to the amateur astronomy community and the current EQMOD developers have no intention of accepting monetary donations from our fellow astronomers. Anyone feeling the urge to contribute to the project can do so by joining the EQMOD Yahoo group and assisting with such tings as promotion, documentation, development or generally supporting others.

Chris.

[focaldepth]

by joining the EQMOD Yahoo group

Hmm, I may just do that. Development would be my forte.