Yes... I used to use darkdragons site and found it useful and convenient.
However, once I started using the Scheduler in Ekos about 6 months ago, I forgot about darkdragons.
Scheduler is good for single or multiple targets and for mosaics as well.
And it is possible to use it "off-line" i.e. without starting the drivers and with no equipment attached.
You just need to have one or more sequence files defined and saved to use with Scheduler.
Sequence files are defined/saved in Capture/CCD module of Ekos.
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Steve,
As I mentioned in the other post - the plate-solve error will always be very large close to the Pole.
This is not relevant to the Polar Alignment. It's OK.
That's how I do my Polar Alignment.
-- the scope is pointed to the Pole (i.e. Home or Park position depending on your mount)
-- then just run the Polar Align routine
-- East/West doesn't matter
--- your speed is set to 1x - it needs to be set to Maximum speed!
-- Three images will be captured while the mount does two rotations
-- After that select "Move Star.. Calc Error" (not Platesove) and hit REFRESH button
-- do your alignments
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Positions very close to the Pole need to be avoided.
To go back to Polaris just Home the mount.
Also, do not platesove near the Pole - the error will be very large.
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For me low HFR is below 2 (depends on the scope and sky quality).
Do it as Hy suggested - point to some star-rich area, start Looping, change focus by entering numbers directly in the steps filed.
Enter the number, click Set button ("go to an absolute focus position") and watch the HFR.
Increase or decrease the number, click Set button and watch the HFR.
Also watch the donuts - they should decrease in size and eventually converge into points.
Repeat until HFR is the smallest.
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In order for auto-focus to work you need to be pretty close to exact focus to begin with.
I.e. low HFR, pinpoint stars (no donuts).
I personally use Overscan 100 rather than Backlash.
I measured - my all three EAF's have 75 backlash.
I found the Ovescan option to be as accurate or even more accurate than Driver Backlash.
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I second this request.
I think it would be nice to have it dither every X minutes instead of Y frames.
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