Thanks for the links for the docs Brian. I will go thru those to see if anything has changed in recent years. I have used PHD for the last 10yrs (I think) but I am always learning new things. More jus

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Hi Pete there is a doc PHD offers on best practices: https://openphdguiding.org/phd2-best-practices/ One other thing I'd suggest is doing a baseline guiding setup, which can be done by following this

#Guiding #Absolute_Encoders

Refocusing does not require re-balancing. I would not worry about it. Seeing can be judged easily by turning tracking corrections off and watching the star excursions on the tracking graph in Dec. If

#Guiding #Absolute_Encoders

I agree lots to learn for the for the newer mount owners coming from "non-premium" mounts. I know there is tons of nuggets of info on best practices for both AE and non-AE 1100/1600 mounts with PHD ar

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Hi Roland. FYI. I think the manual needs to be updated. The manual indicates that a balance offset is recommend on both axis From Page 27 of the 1100 GTO Manual: Precision Balancing Remember that dang

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@Andrew Jones wrote: Kind of unrelated question, but how do you determine what your Seeing is during an imaging session? Are you just using the FWHM as reported by your imaging software or do you have

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Hi Roland. I really appreciate these detailed After Action Reports. 😊 These reports provide useful insight for those of us still learning the art/science of astrophotography and how to get the best ex

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If the guiding is good, then that's all that matters. Perfect balance is not expected, just get it as close as you can. Rolando

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Roland, that begs the question about other models. With my 2017 Mach1GTO, I release the gearboxes, balancing RA as best I can, with DEC being a different animal. On Pier East, Dec is just about spot-o

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Even for non-encoder 1100 mounts you should balance both RA and Dec. No need for east heavy on RA. Both axes have spring loaded worm mesh, so you won't gain anything from unbalance. Dec unbalance will

#Guiding #Absolute_Encoders

Roland, I have a non AE 1100GTO. Based on supposed 'best practices', I have always left a slight imbalance of East heavy in RA, and 'camera heavy' in Dec. However this practice was likely intended for

#Guiding #Absolute_Encoders

Hi all, Some musings from my weeks of testing in Hawaii: I just got back from Hawaii where I was able to spend a lot of time testing the guiding function of a 1600 encoder mount with an AP 175mm refra

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Brian Thanks for the clarification on using the baseline with AE! Bryan

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Hi Joe for a mount with absolute encoders like yours, you are going to want a different approach than what's outline in the baseline guiding document. (My experience is with the 1600 ae and i also wro

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Joe Congratulations on your SUBSTANTIAL upgrade! RE: PHD2. Get involved with the PHD2 forum at https://groups.google.com/g/open-phd-guiding Tips: Be meticulous about setting up your profile using the

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I am loving my new Astro-Physics equipment (1100GTO AE, ATS 8x48 Tri-Pier, 130GT with Quad TCC & 13035FF). I received the 1100GTO AE in May but I am just now getting enough clear nights to learn how t

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For some time, yes. I put it back at some point when winds went away (maybe an hour or two after I started), which should have restored balance, but possibly sent PA farther off at the same time. Targ

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So, were you imaging with the dewshield off and unbalanced? Rolando

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Hi, For reference, I did calibrate near M3 which was the nearest I could get from the celestial equator/meridian at the time, given high trees that obstruct my sight in the south. But guess what, it s

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The fact that both RA and Dec are drifting so fast in just a few minute's time indicates either that your polar alignment is way off, or that the object that you are calibrating on is not near the cel

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