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Error on Centering has grown significantly

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Hi folks, just returning to this thread after about a month of periodic testing with my Losmandy G11.

When my mount had a model, my centering error grew into triple digits when tested over many months. I believe that's because the G11 updates the model when it receives a SYNC from SGP. A SYNC is normally used to correct the G11 model to an existing alignment star when the mount is disturbed mechanically. So getting a SYNC from SGP during centering doesn't make sense for the G11 (and probably many other mounts).

A month ago, I cleared the G11 model for both sides of the meridian (the G11 uses two models). Since then, I can center to less than 10 pixels everytime, and that's at 0.64 seconds (") per pixel, or 6.4 seconds (") pointing accuracy!!!

SGP still sends the SYNC, but the G11 ignores it because I have no model to correct.

I highly recommend you clear the model in your mount when using SGP centering. Having a mount model just makes no sense when you use SGP centering, regardless of whether SGP sends a SYNC or not.

I also recommend you have nearly perfect polar alignment (uncorrected DEC drift less than +/- 1" for 2-3 minutes) and that you align to at least one star by mechanically moving DEC and RA. The latter greatly speeds local plate solving. I very rarely need to blind solve. The closer the mount's reported RA/DEC is to the actual target, the faster you will plate solve. With Pinpoint, I plate solve within 1-2 seconds.

In summary, I Pinpoint plate solve within 1-2 seconds, slew and settle within 30 seconds, and have centering precision to within +/- 6.4" within 1-2 attempts every time. I can't imagine a faster and more precise operation, especially at my 0.64"/pixel at 2758 x 2208 pixels (1420 mm focal length).


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