User Reviews
SkyWatcher Alt/Az
Does't track well enough for Alt/az dob with longer focal lengths
Unfortunately something is just plan wrong with this drivers tracking code. I spent a ton of time, trying every work around on the forums on stellarmate, indilib, cloudy nights, and even ZWO's sight as they use the same underlying indilib drivers. I have tried every connectivity method. I wont go into all the details here, but at the end of the day, you can spend a ton of time trying do a dance, where you use the sycnscan app/hand controller to get a solid alignment, park the scope, turn off the scynscan app, connect with the indilib skywatcher alt az driver, and you mgiht track well enough to get some 1 sec frame without bad enough trailing to get a successful plate solve., then spend time plotting out 5-10 more successful platesolves near your target, and after all that maybe get luck to get a 8 sec exposure without trailing.
I have seen posts of this working well enough on the GTI mount with scope with short focal lengths. But on the goto dobsonians not a chance.
And before you think well thats to be expected its a DOB, here is the thing,
Tracking with the synscan app after doing a 3 star platsolved based alignment, tracks wonderfully. Pulse guiding works (with usual caveats/limits for guiding alt/az....) ON target in areas with low frame rotation I can get 60 second subs without problems.
So I highly recommend saving yourself some time, use the Synscan driver, and run the latest synscan app 2.5+ on windows machine with the cable and the usb dongle. (note, this is far better than the handconroller route, as 2.5 now enables automatiation of plate solve alignment.
