catman161 Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Don't know if this has been around for ages and I am just hearing of it as I got the NEQ6 Pro recently but thought I would share as I haven't seen a thread on it on here. My handset came with V3.27 of the firmware when I bought it recently and I have just flashed it to V3.32. The link for the firmware and loader is below. Apparently this version has an added polar allignment fucntion which allows the user to polar allign without having to get down on their knees to lok through the polar scope I have not tested it yet but the flash was succesful and I just powered it up and all appears to be working well with the new version. I doubt I will use the polar alignment fucntion yet as I would like to first learn about it the 'old fashioned' way Link to Dion's video of how to flash your hanset: Link to EQ firmware upgrade and loader: http://www.skywatcher.com/swtinc/customer_support.php?class1=1&class2=101 Link to AZ and Dob firmware upgrade and loader: http://www.skywatcher.com/swtinc/customer_support.php?class1=1&class2=110 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Hi Felix, been using the update a few months now! You still have to do a basic Polar align then start up the mount and do a 1-2-3 star alignment. I then take 2 separate stars and re-align if necessary than use the h/piece polar align feature. It's very accurate and as my HEQ5 is on a plinth I only do it about once a month. Good addition though!! Cheers Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red dwalf Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 cheers for that Felix, i`ll have a go at flashing later, that came out wrong didn`t it ! i knew that there was a beta version out for sometime but hopefully all the test have proven ok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catman161 Posted January 8, 2013 Author Share Posted January 8, 2013 No probs Rob glad it helps Ron?! What can I say?! It's like the scope nights app all over again!! Lol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Never mind Felix !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Can you clarify, a rough polar align only will do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red dwalf Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 where do you get your cable from to do the upgrade ? does it come witht the mount ? not sure i have one although there`s kit all over the house which gets on the wifes t**s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catman161 Posted January 10, 2013 Author Share Posted January 10, 2013 I got my mount second hand and it didn't have one so I got it from astronomiser. I'm laptop didn't have a serial port so I got a serial to USB converter from Maplins also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheila Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Its an easy upgrade, if i managed it anyone can Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 My lead came with the mount, when I say a rough Polar Align I mean as close as possible using the polar scope (and I use Polar Finder) then star align as normal.Check and realign a couple of stars then ust the Polar align on the handset. Hope that explains it OK? Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 I have a very quick method for aligning accurate enough for observing only: 1. Peg a piece of string out running south to north (using a compass). 2. Place the front leg on it and the two rear legs equidistant either side. 3. Set the elevation on the lat scale. 4. Switch on and type in your date/time/position info. 5. Using the menus - send it straight to an easy to find object (Moon, Jupiter, M42, etc) 6. No matter where it ends up pointing - loosen the clutches and manually point it at the object you sent it to. 7. Tighten clutches on the centered object and bingo - it thinks it's aligned lol. It'll track dead center of a 25mm eyepiece for 25mins with little or no drift, next object you send it too will only be slightly off so you can correct it with PAE. The more objects and corrections you make the more accurate it will become over a session. Works for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catman161 Posted January 10, 2013 Author Share Posted January 10, 2013 My lead came with the mount, when I say a rough Polar Align I mean as close as possible using the polar scope (and I use Polar Finder) then star align as normal.Check and realign a couple of stars then ust the Polar align on the handset. Hope that explains it OK? Ron That's good thanks Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catman161 Posted January 10, 2013 Author Share Posted January 10, 2013 I have a very quick method for aligning accurate enough for observing only: 1. Peg a piece of string out running south to north (using a compass). 2. Place the front leg on it and the two rear legs equidistant either side. 3. Set the elevation on the lat scale. 4. Switch on and type in your date/time/position info. 5. Using the menus - send it straight to an easy to find object (Moon, Jupiter, M42, etc) 6. No matter where it ends up pointing - loosen the clutches and manually point it at the object you sent it to. 7. Tighten clutches on the centered object and bingo - it thinks it's aligned lol. It'll track dead center of a 25mm eyepiece for 25mins with little or no drift, next object you send it too will only be slightly off so you can correct it with PAE. The more objects and corrections you make the more accurate it will become over a session. Works for me. I like that Kim, no bending down to look through the polar scope Although I think I will still use the polar scope so I can get better at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 If I was imaging or doing high power stuff I'd be a lot more accurate and use the polar scope too Felix. It's just a well suited quick setup for short meetings where I'm observing only. Saves a lot of time flaffing about and gets me observing quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catman161 Posted January 10, 2013 Author Share Posted January 10, 2013 I think I ended up doing that last night as Jupiter wasn't in the dead centre I adjusted it manually ever so slightly and it worked exactly like you said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bino-viewer Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 Thanks for posting this link.....these video's from astroshed are incredibly useful. I need to update my firmware as i'm still on version 3.27 on my mount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catman161 Posted January 15, 2013 Author Share Posted January 15, 2013 Thanks for posting this link.....these video's from astroshed are incredibly useful. I need to update my firmware as i'm still on version 3.27 on my mount. No problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red dwalf Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 been on the Skywatcher website today to do the update and the sites down ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catman161 Posted January 16, 2013 Author Share Posted January 16, 2013 (edited) yeah its been down for a day or so now. It was down temporarily in the wee hours of last sunday morning when I returned from the Belper meet but came back online within half and hour. I dunno whats going on with it at the moment. If you PM me your email address Rob I will send you the files they are very small. I have both the loader and the new firmware file and pdf of instructions. Edited January 16, 2013 by catman161 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Harper. Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 Some interesting techniques there. I'm up to date now with the new software, thanks to Felix. Your the man, thanks again Felix. Mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catman161 Posted January 16, 2013 Author Share Posted January 16, 2013 Some interesting techniques there. I'm up to date now with the new software, thanks to Felix. Your the man, thanks again Felix. Mark. No probs Mark, happy to help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red dwalf Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 yeah its been down for a day or so now. It was down temporarily in the wee hours of last sunday morning when I returned from the Belper meet but came back online within half and hour. I dunno whats going on with it at the moment. If you PM me your email address Rob I will send you the files they are very small. I have both the loader and the new firmware file and pdf of instructions. thanks Felix, tried the site again this morning at it seems to be up and running again so have now downloaded the files, cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catman161 Posted January 17, 2013 Author Share Posted January 17, 2013 Good stuff rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red dwalf Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 just noticed when trying the scope out the other night that the new firmware version does not allow the buttons on the keypad to light up any more, i can`t find a setting for this function anywhere, as a result you can`t see which handset button is which or read the lettering on the buttons in the dark. most annoying, anyone else have this problem or know how to turn the lighting for the buttons back on ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 Is there nothing under "Utility Functions" => "LCD/LED Tuning" menus Rob? Should have an option for the back lighting on the keys and the LCD display. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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