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FREQ RATE | DESCRIPTION | NOTES |
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60.1 Hz Q | Sidereal rate; | Default rate at power up. |
| Quartz setting | Gives sidereal frequency |
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| accuracy to ±.005%; Best |
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| for astrophotos |
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60.0 Hz | Solar and | Average rate for tracking |
| planetary rate | planets; Actual rates vary |
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| due to retrogrades, |
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| oppositions, etc. |
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57.9 Hz | Lunar rate | Best rate for tracking the |
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| Moon |
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There are three menu file options in FREQ =. To see or set the options, move the arrow to FREQ = and press ENTER. At power up, the FREQ = default is the 60.1 Hz Q setting. The quartz rate is precisely fixed and cannot be altered. To choose a different rate, press the ENTER key to see 60.1 M and then again to see 60.1 M with the up and down arrow. These two menu file options can adjust the tracking speeds. The adjustment techniques are described below:
Display 34 shows the manual rate menu file option that can be adjusted by pressing and holding the ENTER key to get the double beep tone and the blinking cursor. Type in the new rate, then when finished, press the ENTER key again.
Display 35 shows the menu file option that allows you to step the drive tracking frequency setting in tenths of a hertz, by using the PREV and NEXT (up and down arrow) keys. This is a convenient feature if you are trying to match the precise speed of a planet, comet, or any other
5. Mode Five: KEYPAD OFF/BRIGHTNESS ADJUST
In order to see very faint objects, it will sometimes be necessary to either dim or completely turn off the keypad red LCD backlighting. To do so press the MODE button until the display goes blank. This is the OFF option.
To set the keypad brightness, press the ENTER button and adjust the brightness to your satisfaction with the PREV and NEXT keys. To exit, press the MODE key.
This brightness setting also dims the power panel power LED and Ammeter.
NOTE: The backlighting is done by edge lighting a plastic light bar underneath the keypad. Four LEDs are used and do not give a perfectly even backlighting of the keys as keys closer to a LED will be a little brighter than those keys further away.
