Just to update the thread:? I received the EQStar unit and so far, given the very reasonable price, I am satisfied.? First, due to the Covid thing I had to wait a bit longer but that's OK.?
It arrived last week in a neat package small enough to fit in the mailbox.? The stepper motors fit quite well in the holes - major relief, I hate to have to make things fit!? They come with flex couplers that I like better than the original couplers with the plastic parts.? However it's a bit more rigid so there is less play to move the worm gear around but still enough.? I put a 5" Apo and 6" Mak-Newt on it with an ADM adapter, moving the 21 lbs. counterweight all the way to the end.
The software is included in a small format CD that my laptop just wanted to overwrite but my son's laptop was friendlier. One of the utilities requires a COM2 port connection, which I am unable to get so I can't use that one - to set some very basic features.? I will email Alex about that.? I had EQMod installed already, I installed/reinstalled ASCOM 6, it was provided, downloaded the StellariumScope plugin to use it from Stellarium.? That all works pretty much software-wise, though the goto seems to go off at a 90 degree angle - I need to check what's wrong there. ? But when I slew manually the circle in Stellarium moves in the right direction.? So far so good!?
I spent quite a bit of time on putting the software together, and unfortunately a lot of time on adjusting the worms.? This has nothing to do with EQStar but in different positions the friction is different and the motors lock up.? If I reseat the worm then go back to the original position there is too much play.? So it's a mechanical thing, maybe I need to use the mount more so the cog wheel gets reshaped a bit?? It is a major PITA and one of the reasons why I am almost out of the hobby, frankly.? The AVX is much easier to use and to set up, then again I need to give this a try.
The slew speed is probably less than half of my AVX but that's OK.? When I run at slower speeds I hear different sounds from the two motors, not great but also not a big problem so far.? Sometimes it makes weird noises when the slew stops, then you have to tap one of the controls and it stops.? This is all from EQMod of course.?
Altogether I am encouraged to try it tonight.? Right now I run it off my laptop using ASCOM.? Eventually I want to run it off my Pi using INDI, using my Galaxy Tab A to log for a remote VNC client to the Pi.? According to Alex INDI is supported.? I recall seeing an INDI mount selection in EQMod.? We'll see!? I'm not there yet, let me stick with the WIndows solution tonight.
