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HEQ5 EQMOD - reuse mount star alignment / model

  • Posts: 910
  • Thank you received: 86
Hello,
I asked this question some time ago but didn't get the right question.
Here I go again:

I have a HEQ5 permanently installed in my yard. Controlled by Stellarmate on RPI4.
Every time I start a new session after the system power down, I need to star align the mount.
I cannot find the way for the mount to keep its sky model.
Can this be done?

It's not a problem for regular astrophotography - I just slew to a target, plate solve and that's it.
But for planetary it can be a pain in the neck.
Say, I want to  image Venus. It's not dark enough for plate solving and very limited amount of time to slew around.

So. Is it possible to make the mount remember its sky model?
Thanks!


 
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
2 years 6 months ago #75122

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Yes, go to EQMod Mount --> Align --> Manage List --> Write File
2 years 6 months ago #75125

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  • Posts: 910
  • Thank you received: 86
Jasem,
I think I tried that without success.
I'll give this another try when the clouds go away.

Thanks!
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
2 years 6 months ago #75126

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You don't need to wait for clouds to clear. Run EQMod in simulation mode, solve a point and two. Then save the list. Then restart EQMod, and check "Number of Points" and it loaded successfully, if should display how many points i loaded up.
Last edit: 2 years 6 months ago by Jasem Mutlaq.
2 years 6 months ago #75127

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  • Posts: 910
  • Thank you received: 86
I'll give this a try.
I keep forgetting about simulators.

Thanks!
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
2 years 6 months ago #75129

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  • Posts: 910
  • Thank you received: 86
OK. I played with this some. It worked but not quite.
It was tricky at first - "Write File" didn't do anything unless "Clear List" was pressed first.

So,
-- I "Clear List"
-- Do mount alignment with 5-8 points. After this the mount is well aligned.
-- "Write File"
-- Reboot
-- The alignment file gets read automatically, but
-- The mount is out of alignment

Is this a bug? Is this an HEQ5's "feature"?

Thanks!
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
2 years 6 months ago #75270

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You should always park the mount before turning off power and start from the same position when turning power back on, otherwise the model doesn't work. I used HEQ5 in remote observatory for a few years and usually only made a new alignment model if I had physically moved the mount and everything worked just fine.
2 years 6 months ago #75331

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  • Thank you received: 86
I always park before powering off.
Something else is not right.
I'll play some more.

Thanks!
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
2 years 6 months ago #75337

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  • Posts: 910
  • Thank you received: 86
I played some more but couldn't make it work.
-- I am able to save alignment points to AlignData.xml
-- They do get read after reboot
-- but after that the mount is not aligned
Maybe I am missing some option in the control panel?

Here's my AlignData.xml:
<aligndata>
    <site name="2021-09-07@22:54:01" lon="237.967" lat="37.3767">
        <point>
            <index>
6
            </index>
            <synctime>
20.926
            </synctime>
            <celestialra>
19.7613
            </celestialra>
            <celestialde>
45.2127
            </celestialde>
            <telescopera>
19.7333
            </telescopera>
            <telescopede>
44.7901
            </telescopede>
        </point>
        <point>
            <index>
0
            </index>
            <synctime>
20.8117
            </synctime>
            <celestialra>
16.4105
            </celestialra>
            <celestialde>
19.5068
            </celestialde>
            <telescopera>
16.3814
            </telescopera>
            <telescopede>
19.1062
            </telescopede>
        </point>
        <point>
            <index>
1
            </index>
            <synctime>
20.8184
            </synctime>
            <celestialra>
19.3829
            </celestialra>
            <celestialde>
17.7939
            </celestialde>
            <telescopera>
19.3548
            </telescopera>
            <telescopede>
17.3969
            </telescopede>
        </point>
        <point>
            <index>
5
            </index>
            <synctime>
20.9047
            </synctime>
            <celestialra>
23.0821
            </celestialra>
            <celestialde>
28.2021
            </celestialde>
            <telescopera>
23.0332
            </telescopera>
            <telescopede>
28.5903
            </telescopede>
        </point>
        <point>
            <index>
2
            </index>
            <synctime>
20.8331
            </synctime>
            <celestialra>
22.2759
            </celestialra>
            <celestialde>
16.5113
            </celestialde>
            <telescopera>
22.2281
            </telescopera>
            <telescopede>
16.9009
            </telescopede>
        </point>
        <point>
            <index>
3
            </index>
            <synctime>
20.8394
            </synctime>
            <celestialra>
1.15327
            </celestialra>
            <celestialde>
17.527
            </celestialde>
            <telescopera>
1.10414
            </telescopera>
            <telescopede>
17.9171
            </telescopede>
        </point>
        <point>
            <index>
4
            </index>
            <synctime>
20.8796
            </synctime>
            <celestialra>
0.178275
            </celestialra>
            <celestialde>
59.2483
            </celestialde>
            <telescopera>
0.123804
            </telescopera>
            <telescopede>
59.6581
            </telescopede>
        </point>
    </site>
</aligndata>
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
2 years 6 months ago #75404

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What do you mean the mount is "out of alignment" exactly? I just did a quick test with EQMod simulator and the points are loaded up. I can also see the alignment affecting the GOTO. If you go to Align tab, you can toggle between "No Alignment" to "Nearest"..etc for example.
2 years 6 months ago #75406

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  • Posts: 910
  • Thank you received: 86
Jasem,
Like I said - I align the mount, save the points. They do get loaded on reboot but my first slew/goto is always about 3000" off.
Same if there were no alignments loaded.

Looks like it's supposed to work but it doesn't for me.
Maybe it's my mount... Backlash, play and such.

Thanks!
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
2 years 6 months ago #75409

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