GoTo Telescope Operation

[Flyhigh7]

My new GoTo Telescope is coming Saturday so I haven't used it yet but as someone who previously used to enjoy manually hunting deep space objects with a 6" reflector I have a question about GoTo Telescope operation:

After I get it aligned using SkySafari and I select a few objects for it to point to and the telescope is currently pointing at the last object I made it 'GoTo', can I then use the handset or phone controls to manually slew it around hunting objects without needing to align the telescope again?

If so, can I then still command it to 'goto' another object I select in SkySafari?

And while I'm renting your brains, can you please give me some tips to keep it in alignment as in DOs and DON'Ts. I know once I release the Mount Head Clutches that will lose the alignment but I want to manually hunt using the direction keys on the handset (after it is aligned) yet keep it aligned.

Thanks in advance!

[jrkirkham]

I don't know the mount you are using. I use a Celestron CGX and an Orion Sirius. I can do those things. There are many things I want to hunt up using the coordinates or just slew to. I know I am lower tech, but I don't use SkySafari to aim my scope. I use the handset. I would use a program, but there are three of us who use my scope from time to time. I think using a program is just a little past them right now. In addition to slewing I can stop tracking without losing alignment. I can also park my mount and turn it off. When I turn it back on I still have alignment. When my friend and his son use the scope they just open the dome, turn it on, and use the handset menu. Then they park it when they are done.

[Bigzmey]

Yes, once your scope is aligned and tracking you can move it around using handset or keys in the SkySafari. I find it fast and easier just to click on the star in the middle of the area you want to move next and click on go to.

[Flyhigh7]

Thanks guys. Can't wait.

[Lady Fraktor]

Once you unlock the clutches and move the telescope you will have lost alignment.
You can just set up and use the hand control to pan without doing a alignment, do a alignment and use the hand control to pan or just use goto.

[JayTee]

If you want to get a leg up on your reading, go here. This site should be bookmarked.

https://www.nexstarsite.com/download/ma ... lution.pdf

And here:
https://www.nexstarsite.com/download/ma ... on2018.pdf

[Flyhigh7]

Thanks JayTee for the great links. I've reviewed both documents and they don't discuss how to update the firmware in the Telescope Mount head (assuming it needs to be updated). I downloaded Celestron's Firmware Update Manager (CFM) and they discuss using StarSense but my Telescope is equipped with red dot finder and not StarSense. A drawing in the CFM folder shows a connection from PC to StarSense to Mount Head and it also shows a second connection from the PC to a rs232 adapter to the bottom of the handset and the handset connected to the Mount head. The picture makes you think both connections are required but I think that is misleading and in my case I probably just connect my PC to the handset and the handset to the mount head.
Can anyone confirm this?

Below is the only CFM instructions:
Usage Instructions
----------------------
If you have a StarSense Accessory, review the
StarSense_Connection_Diagram included with this file.

Double click the file called CFM.jar in the uncompressed
archive. Windows hides the .jar file extension by default.

When the program starts, click the "Update" button to begin
updating your telescope.


To run CFM from the terminal window, navigate to the folder
containing CFM.jar and type: java -jar CFM.jar

Seriously confused!

[JayTee]

Hold off on any kind of firmware update just yet! Get to know your scope first. Screwing up the update can cause a myriad of problems that you don't need right away. So, I'd like to ask you to please be patient.

Cheers,

[Bigzmey]

My approach, If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If you mount works out of box without any issues why mess with firmware?

[Flyhigh7]

My approach, If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If you mount works out of box without any issues why mess with firmware?

Normally I would agree with this, however, I read the firmware update list on Celestron's site and it's long and corrects several issues. I'm not sure if the issues are minor or major yet though I suppose most of them are minor. I've read from other users of Celestron Telescopes that they were upset that Celestron did not include the RS 232 cable needed to update the scope and that's sad because the cable is USB to RS232 and that is not a common cable. So, I'll likely not update until I see issues that I find are just too annoying.