28
Autoguide Rate – Allows the user to set an autoguide rate as a percentage of sidereal rate. This is helpful when calibrating
your telescope to a CCD autoguider for long exposure photography.
OTA Orientation- Some users may wish to use an optional tandem bar adapter which allows you to attach to the mount two
optical tubes at the same time. When most tandem bars are attached to a mount, the optical tubes are positioned at a 90 degree
angle from the standard configuration. In order for the mount to be successfully aligned with the stars, it must know that a
tandem bar is being used and in which direction the optical tube(s) are positioned (East or West) when beginning an
alignment.
The tandem option must be set before beginning any of the initial star alignments. To set this option, go to the Scope Setup
menu and select the Tandem option and press ENTER. Then select from one of the following options:
East- If the attached optical tubes are facing towards the east when the declination index makers are align, select
East.
West- If the attached optical tubes are facing towards the west when the declination index makers are align,
select West.
Normal- If the tandem bar is no longer being used, select "normal" to turn off this feature.
Meridian- This feature instructs the mount on how to respond when it is slewing to objects that are accessible from both sides
of the Meridian. See figure 3-3 for a definition of "Meridian". The Meridian feature allows the telescope tube to remain on a
desired side of the mount when slewing, and continue to track according to the RA slew limits the user has set. See
RA Limits
below. The Meridian feature allows for four choices:
Favor Current – Allows the mount to favor whatever side of the mount that it is currently on when slewing to
objects close to the Meridian. For example, if you RA slew limits are set to allow the mount to track 10 degrees
past the meridian, then the telescope will continue to stay on its current side of the Meridian when slewing to
objects that are as far as 10 degrees beyond your Meridian.
Favor West – If the target object is accessible from both sides of the mount, selecting "Favor West" instructs the
telescope to point to the object as if it were on the west side of the meridian. The optical tube will then be
positioned on the east side of the mount and pointing west.
Favor East - If the target object is accessible from both sides of the mount, selecting "Favor East" instructs the
telescope to point to the object as if it were on the east side of the meridian. The optical tube will then be
positioned on the west side of the mount and pointing east.
Disable - This is the default setting, which instructs the mount to always swing around to the other side of the
pier as required to view objects on the opposite side of the Meridian. However once at the desired object, the
mount will continue to track past the Meridian according the RA slew limits that have been set.
Mount Settings- Once the mount setting have been calibrated (see Utilities section below) the values are stored and
displayed in the hand control. It is not recommended that the calibration values be changed, however each setting can be
changed if necessary to improve the performance of the telescope.
Cone Value – This is the cone error value set when Utilities / Calibrate Mount / DEC Switch - Cone is carried
out.
DEC Index - This is the declination index error value that is stored when calibration stars are added after your
initial star alignment.
RA Index - This is the R.A. switch error value set when Utilities / Calibrate Mount / R.A. Switch is carried out.
RA Limits - Sets the limits that the telescope can slew or track in Right Ascension (R.A.) before stopping. The slew limits
are represented in degrees and by default set to 0º, being the position of the telescope when the counterweight bar is extended
out horizontally. However, the slew limits can be customized depending on your needs. For example, if you are using CCD
imaging equipment that has cables that are not long enough to move with the telescope as it slews across the sky, you can
