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EKOS / HEQ5 goto problem

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Hi All,

I'm connecting to HEQ5 through the HC and using the SynScan driver. I start by doing star alignment then polar alignment. When I chose an object from HC it goes well, but if I used KStars to goto object it is driving me crazy. I did try KStars update all devices, and Mount update KStars, but it doesn't make any difference.

In the following screenshots, I selected venus to goto


Then this is where the mount actual points:


Also, yesterday I selected one of the bright stars to test, and the mount was pointing to the ground!!!

Any advice is appreciated...

Thank you
3 years 7 months ago #57704
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Replied by Dean on topic EKOS / HEQ5 goto problem

one option is to buy the eqdir cable (tinyurl.com/yycoqcw5), connect mount to pi (or better, a powered usb hub and then hub to pi), stop using the HS
and use ekos instead (for everything).
3 years 7 months ago #57707

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Replied by Mohamed on topic EKOS / HEQ5 goto problem

Hi Dean,

I still need to use the HC as I need to perform polar alignment without Polaris which is obscured by my house. Is there is a way to use both or tune the HC?
3 years 7 months ago #57708

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Look at the manual.

You can only control the mount with the HC or with Ekos at a time. Not with both.

If you want to control it with Ekos, you need to pass the commands through to the mount, bypassing the HC.

At least that's the way it works on my Atlas Pro EQ/Az, which is basically an HEQ6 mount using the same HC, as I recall.

So you still can polar align, but after that you need to pass the control over to Ekos. From then on, your HC is moot.

Jo

PS: From the SynScan manual:

7.2 PC Direct Mode
PC Direct Mode is a special mode for the SynScan hand controller to work with a PC. Under this mode, the hand controllerbecomes a repeater between the PC and the motor controller
inside the telescope mount. The application running on the PC
controls the motor controller directly.
Currently, the PC direct mode is mainly used to update the
motor controller’s firmware.
1. Access the menu “UTILITY FUNCTION \ PC Direct
Mode” and press the ENTER key. The screen will
display “PC Direct Mode \ Press ESC to exit.”
2. Press and hold the ESC key for more than 1 second
to exit PC Direct Mode.
You can still use the direction keys to move the telescope
mount.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Mohamed
Last edit: 3 years 7 months ago by Jose Corazon.
3 years 7 months ago #57709

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Replied by Dean on topic EKOS / HEQ5 goto problem

Hi Mohamed,

ah, I understand now and sorry, I don't have direct experience with polar alignment without polaris.
However, there are discussions in the forum on aligning without polaris, for example, tinyurl.com/y2sxgd7e
Also, there is this in depth article on the HEQ5 connection pathways: tinyurl.com/y4ahp2ca
HTH
3 years 7 months ago #57710

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Replied by Mohamed on topic Re:EKOS / HEQ5 goto problem


Thanks for this tip. It solved the problem. After doing my alignment and polar alignment, I switch to direct PC mode and now KStars fully control the mount...


Thank you
Mohamed
3 years 7 months ago #57715

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Replied by Mohamed on topic Re:EKOS / HEQ5 goto problem


Thank you Dean for the articles...


Thank you
Mohamed
3 years 7 months ago #57736

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