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CosmoQ
super member
Reged: 08/26/06
Posts: 142
Loc: NH
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Can someone briefly tell me the start up procedure for the GPS LX scopes. Once you hit the "ON" switch and the GPS goes into action, do you still need to perform a star alignment step or does the GPS eliminate it?
Thanks,
Dave
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Meade LX90, Fujinon FMT-SX 16X70 Binos, and WO ZS 110 TMB/EZTouch Mount
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Kolenka
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/01/08
Posts: 600
Loc: Seattle Area, WA, USA
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For an auto-align on a GPS-equipped scope, it goes something like this:
- Turn on
- Select auto-align
- Scope grabs location/time via GPS (possibly north as well)
- Scope uses the LNT module (if included) to measure the level of the tripod, and the direction of north (unless the GPS overrides this)
- Scope starts into an easy 2-star alignment (picks the stars and slews to them for you, just asks you to center them).
The GPS doesn't eliminate the need for the star alignment. The star alignment helps correct for any minor error that might exist from figuring out level, north, the time, location, etc. However, it does make setting up a scope in Alt/Az mode fairly hands-off.
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Meade 10" LX200R
Orion 80ED
Nagler 7T6, 9T6, 13T6, 17T4, 26T5
Canon XSi (Modded), TIS DMK 31AF03
Northwest Astro Photoblog
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Matthew Ota
sage
Reged: 04/30/05
Posts: 203
Loc: New Hampshire
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It is so automatic now with the "g" revision. It even automatically adjusts when you move it to a new location.
All I have to do is manually undo the clutches to get it to the first star (quicker than using the slew buttons on the paddle).
After that I lock the clutches and hen tell it to proceed to the second star. For the second star I use the hand paddle slew controls. You must not unlock the clutches after this...
Then you hit enter, and it will tell you "alignment successful". In the two years I have used this mount, it has NEVER failed to get alignment.
After the alignment is reported as good, I button the menu up to the top menu and set the paddle down for good.
Then I hook up the this here notebook PC and fire up TheSky6 Pro. From then on it is under complete control from the computer keyboard. I dislike small keypads that require multiple menu levels. I like full blown software with a full computer keyboard instead.
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Matthew Ota
10 inch Meade LX250GPS SCT (LX50/LX200GPS clone) f6.3-Orion 80ED, ETX-90 OTA, Coronado Helios 1 H-alpha Solar Telescope
Cassini Huygens Saturn Observation Campaign
New Hampshire Astronomical Society
Edited by Matthew Ota (07/02/08 04:20 PM)
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CosmoQ
super member
Reged: 08/26/06
Posts: 142
Loc: NH
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Thanks guys, that's just what I wanted to know.
Dave
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Meade LX90, Fujinon FMT-SX 16X70 Binos, and WO ZS 110 TMB/EZTouch Mount
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Joe Lalumia
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 2571
Loc: Rockwall, Texas, USA
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Not a word about us CHEAP "LNT" model folks! I do not have GPS --- so I must enter the Zip Code of the observing site ONCE-- then it remembers it-- time and date are kept by the internal LNT clock-- I check it and make sure the time is accurate to within one minute........... other than that everything works the same as the GPS model.
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LX90 8" LNT, SV Nighthawk & TelePOD, SV 80/9D & M4 mount, ETX 90, Orion XT10i, 20x80 binoculars, SV-BV3s.
"The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax." - Albert Einstein
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