From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of John Kmetz <jjkmetz54@...>
Sent: Saturday, January 23, 2021 11:25:40 AM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Permanent Pier Parking

Russ,

A pier and a roll off shed is what I have also. Normally the mount sits in the CWD position until I go to start up. I then use Park at Home in the menu to get the counterweight bar to be horizontal, and the scope axis is horizontal too in this position. Then I can roll off the roof without collision. To set this orientation, I used the buttons on the Hand Controller (with speed set at Slew) to move into position, then used Set Home in the Hand Controller Park menu. From this Home position, I usually just go straight to a bright star, and Sync after confirming it's centered in the eyepiece, guide cam, or main cam. Then again to close up, I hit Park at Home to fold over, close the roof, then hit Park at CWD as the stationary position. I usually put a cover over the scope if I won't be returning for at lest several days.

But with Home and CWD already set, I usually don't need the Hand Controller for a new session. After powering on the mount, I start the Gemini app and hit connect. It will give me a pop up on the computer screen which says Cold Start, Warm Start (from CWD), and Warm Restart. I choose Warm Start and I'm good to go. For this pop up, you must go the the app's Set Up Menu, and under Configure Telescope, select Prompt if Not Started in the Boot Mode box. You can also select Cold Start, Warm Start, or Warm Restart as the preferred start mode, but if prefer to select how I am starting in the pop up. With Warm Start my last model will be used and I can usually go directly to the bright star. I may have to slew a bit if I released the clutches, or if I bumped the scope a bit, and then hit Sync again. The model can last quite a few sessions unless I sync on the wrong star, or Sequence Generator Pro slews to the wrong part of the sky, which can happen when clouds mess up a platesolve.

But with CWD and Home set as above, I can just flop over whenever I need to move the roof. That's about it.