7 replies to this topic

[clearlight58]

Hi astro community.

I recently bought the new Skywatcher Wave 150i, (sorry for the cloudy skies!)  I had it all set up, and was going to start an imaging session, and when I went to slew to my first target, it was obvious that the mount did not know where it was on Earth.  Now, I had synced with the iPhone App Syn Scan Pro, as I was told to do by the folks at Skywatcher.  So the data was in the mount from that app.  I also did the auto home procedure, which Skywatcher also recommended.  I then connected the mount through my PC to NINA, to start my imaging session.  I went through the, connect to your gear process, in NINA, when connecting to the 150i using the EQMOD program, but for some reason, the data from the mount did not seem to have been transferred to the EQMOD program.  I went through the ECMOD settings, and the data seemed to be there, although I could not find the time/date setting, which could be a big problem.  This is not the first mount that I have had issues like this, when starting them up for the first time. More than likely it is some setting that I don't have in the right place.  It was just frustrating to setup, get a really good PA, and then have the mount go to the wrong place when slewing.  If anyone in the community has a solution to this issue, or can tell me a better way to connect to NINA with this mount, I would really appreciate it.  Thanks, and Clear Skies!
Mark

Great Neck Observatory

[StarfieldTSS]

Hmmm..   I'm curious if the mounts location agrees with NINA?    After you do the Synscan Autohome proceedure and power the mount on and off,   connect NINA to the mount via EQMOD.   Check the mounts location coordinates (LAT/LONG) in EQ Mod and see if they are correct.    Then pop over to NINA and see if they agree.    If they don't, you can disconnect the telescope from NINA and then reconnect it.   If the two are different you will be given to sync the mount to NINA.   Hope this helps.

 

Steve

[clearlight58]

Ok. Thanks! I will give that a try. You would think that they would just sync up, but where would the fun be with that! Clear skies!
Mark

[lcopps]

I have a startup sequence through Advanced Sequence template I add to all my targets.  It can be used as stand-alone each time I start a imaging session: 

 1.  Unpark Scope

 2. Set Tracking   Sidereal

 3. Filter  Lum

 4. Slew to Alt/Az  (to an open area of your venue)

 5. Run Autofocus

 6. Solve and Sync

 

My stand-alone sequence ends with 3 point polar align.  I have a parallel sequence around this little startup sequence that starts cooling my camera to -10C while the rest runs.  I have SkyWatcher's Ascom SynScan driver working with SynScan which runs in the background.  Your mount needs to be synced with ASTAP plate solver by Nina.  Solve and Sync will do this. 

[titus201]

Hi,
when using my wave 150i with NINA after connecting the mount (My mount is always parked pointing to Polaris. Using Green Swamp Sever as a mount software) I always click at first in NINA the button "set as park". This somehow syncs all needed data and does not lead to any wrong slewing actions. 
When I don't click the button at first, then the mess starts sometimes....

 

Hope this helps.

Regards

T

[SeymoreStars]

I am completely unfamiliar with the Skywatcher Wave 150i, forgive my uneducated questions.

 

I want to use the mount primarily for Solar outreach, does it have a daytime polar alignment procedure?

 

Thanks

Steve

[bill.beauchemin]

I saw in the synscan app for the mount under alignment thats labeled  sun. Im going to assume its alignment for solar imaging.

[clearlight58]

Hello everyone, 

Thanks for your comments.  I have switched to Green Swamp Server, and that seems to have solved a lot of my problems.  Now my next issue is figuring out the best advanced settings for PHD2 guiding with this mount.  If any of you have any ideas on that, I would appreciate it.  My guiding was not bad, but it should have been a lot better.  As usual with this kind of gear, all it takes is one setting to be incorrect, and it can mess up your night!  Overall, I am pretty happy with this mount.  Just like any new piece of gear that is software dependent, getting all of the buttons in the right spot, is what takes time too learn.  I will say, there could be a lot better documentation from Skywatcher.  But they are not the only company that seems to be light on documentation, these days.  I think when everything went from a paper manuals, to everything online, we lost a lot when it comes to product information.  That is why forums like this, exist now.  Thanks again for helping me get this new mount up and running!  

Mark