STEVE333 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 02, 2020 4:07 am
iOptron recommends usingASCOM so I downloaded the latest version of that.
Then they recommended downloading:
FTDI USB to RS232 VCP driver from internet
(https://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm)
Finally I had to get drivers from iOptron for the CEM40.
Once all that was done I startedAPT and clicked on the "Connect Scope" button, selected the iOptron driver in a drop-down list, and, connection was made. I can now control the mount fromAPT . Cool!!!!!
This might be obvious to younger APers, but, a major triumph for my generation!
I haven't plate solved from withinAPT . I may look into it,but, once the system is properly aligned, going to specific coordinates has worked well for me, and, I'll probably stick with it. I also use the "Sync" capability to complete the 1-star alignment, so, no plate solve required there either. Maybe I'm just stuck with old-fashioned ways of doing things.
Cheers,
Steve
I had the exact same feeling... If my 1-star alignment works, and works well, why I would want to mess with it and learn something ELSE, which sounds like a lot of work? I didn't do it for a while. Especially with the Celestron software which was super easy to use and I didn't have any trouble with it.
But, I will say, once I started plate solving, it was magical! I could now image larger objects like M31 and Rosette nebula, and not clip half of the target because my polar alignment wasn't the same from night to night. With plate solving, which takes about as long to set up as it does to do a 1-star alignment, your alignment will be 100% accurate and all of your frames will line it. It will be extremely useful, especially when using multiple filters over multiple nights and you need your frames to match up 100%.
It now takes me about 15 minutes to get set up, once I have all of my gear outside:
I run through SharpCap polar alignment routine while I'm cooling my ASI1600
Once polar aligned, I plate solve to a bright star to focus (I use to do this with the 1 star alignment at the same time, but now I don't even need to do an alignment because it doesn't make any difference)
I run PHD2, and calibrate/run GA if I need to
Platesolve to my target, which takes about 10 seconds
and I'm acquiring data in no time
Plate solving is very easy to set up. The
I understand you use a planetarium software as well right? I do not, but I know you can link them with