Really depends on your local conditions. I would normally check polar alignment once a year. If you have an autoguider, autoguiding logs will tell you if your alignment is off. If you are running ungu

I would do a double-think about getting a CP4 for your new mount. Do it once, do it right. Don't have to do it over. Spend less money in the long run.

The only time I am aware of where Howard didn't answer emails is when I had a typo in his email address. Just sayin'... -Christopher Erickson Observatory engineer Waikoloa, HI 96738 www.summitkinetics

For me, most of the time a remote PC just simply won't work. I enjoy doing occultations with my two QHY174M-GPS cameras. Mini-PC's don't have the raw horsepower to do that and also tolerate the latenc

The worm is also known as the worm gear. The worm wheel is always known as the worm wheel. Calling the worm wheel the worm gear is incorrect.

I have had this problem too. Very intermittent and not reproducible on command. My solution is to simply cycle power on the CP4. No need to park the mount first, since the CP2/3/4/5's all have an awes

#Mach2GTO #WiFi

Over the years I have developed a habit of putting big fuzzy car washing mitts or neoprene camera pouches over protruding counterweight shafts and such. I also use glow-in-the-dark tape on all kinds o

If your dome is automated then no problem. If it is manual then you have to move the done around. If you don't want to move the dome then just run the model in the part of the sky you have visible. -C

#Mach2GTO

That's why I specifically pointed my response at Ray. Roland, your emails are not getting routed to the SPAM folder. I know I replied to your most recent post with this message to Ray, it was delibera

#Guiding

Ray, just FYI but Gmail is routing all of your group emails destined for me into my SPAM folder because they believe there is a "suspicious link" in your posts. Possibly everyone in this group using g

#Guiding

Swapping CPx control boxes will invalidate the PEM curves in both boxes. Just FYI... -Christopher Erickson Observatory engineer Waikoloa, HI 96738 www.summitkinetics.com

When I was working to decide to upgrade my Mach1 to the CP4 I came up with this list of considerations. 1. I assume there will no longer be any new firmware upgrades for the CP3. 2. Many of the new fe

#Keypad

A UPS big and powerful enough to close the roof, along with running all of your gear. Preferably one that supports standard, big, external, lead-acid batteries. Check out the Monnit remote monitoring

Whenever I have seen a foggy disc or donut like that it has usually been condensation or frost on the inside or the outside of the camera protective front glass above the chip. On the outside on night

Taking several trips and packing the OTA and counterweights separate from the mount, yes, it is easily doable. Another option might be a wheelie-bar.

#Mach2GTO

FWIW, Delrin doesn't deform easily under pressure. Teflon does. IIRC, AP has kits to replace old Teflon plugs with Delrin. If you have Delrin plugs, you are fine. -Christopher Erickson Observatory eng

If I were having this problem, here is what I would probably do, in rough order... 1. Replace the ancient CP1 with a CP4, if possible. Get atmospheric refraction correction and a bunch of other new an

4 is correct. It adapts to several different AP mount bases and offers multiple orientations. 4 bolts is plenty sufficient -Christopher Erickson Observatory engineer Waikoloa, HI 96738 www.summitkinet

I have been suspecting that there is a subtle bug in the CP4 code for logical horizon limits for some time now. Sometimes my Mach1 with CP4 will not go East/West beyond some point near the meridian an

SharpCap Pro is a critical tool for me. I use it for controlling my QHY174M-GPS cameras when doing occultations. The price is dirt-cheap and I would still pay for it at four times the price. It is the