From: "KirkusMcGurkus" <kirk@stenvall.net>

Date: October 6, 2008 11:32:58 AM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: Custom drive ratios disrupt tracking?

I'm pretty convinced now that my particular problem is NOT an issue

with AstroIIDC, but rather my mount/alignment.

I readjusted my worm gears, being as precise as I could. Then I set up

in the afternoon in a place that allowed me to train the drives using

a subject approximately 15 miles away. I also did my very best to get

an accurate polar alignment (I didn't do a drift align). I then chose

Vega to do a tracking test on. There's still an extreme amount of lag

in the Dec., so much so that the program errored 3 times while

calibrating it. However, the problem I originally described did not

appear. What I saw instead was tracking (or lack thereof) that I was

used to seeing when I had the gears on the mount rather than the belts.

--- In Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com, "KirkusMcGurkus" <kirk@...> wrote:

I have an LXD75 that I've recently modified by replacing the motor

drive gears with a belt drive system. In doing so I've changed the

drive ratios in my Autostar. Can these changes cause tracking errors

with AstroIIDC?

The reason I ask is that the last 2 nights, since modifying my mount,

when I begin tracking a star, both RA and DEC run off course by what

seem to be near equal amounts and in a very consistent manner.

When observing the tracking star visually it moves off course very

slowly... my initial alignment has been good. But as soon as AstroIIDC

takes over (following successful calibration), these very consistent,

smooth errors in both axis appear. I have a screenshot if it would

help to clarify what I'm saying.

I guess I'm wondering if something needs to be modified in my

AstroIIDC software to compensate for the modification to my mount.

BTW, the new drive ratios, when using the mount without tracking, are

spot on.