Nexstar SynScan instruction manual

PEC Training

1.Perform the accurate PolarAlignment method (see the HEQ5lEQ6 manual).

2.Slew or manually point the telescope to a star with smaller DEC coordinate. This object will be

used as the guide star.

3 . Activate Sidereal Tracking from the Setup Menu (see Setup Functions). Once the tracking has started, press ESC to go back to the Setup Menu.

4.Rotate the reticle eyepiece until one set of the lines becomes parallel to (or matches) the R.A. movement of the telescope (see step 2 to 4 of the Cone Error Calibration for more information on how this is done.)

5.Move the guide star back at the center of the eyepiece view using the direction keys.

6.On the hand control, select PEC Training in the Utility Functions and press ENTER.

Utility Functions can be easily accessed by pressing the UTILITY quick reference hotkej on the keypad.

7.Select the R.A. guide speed for the PEC training.

8.The SynScan'" hand control will display the current time once the guide speed is selected, indicating that the recording has begun.

9.Using the LEFT or RIGHT direction key only, move the telescope so the guide star remains at the center of the eyepiece view (Fig.r, s). Repeat whenever necessary.

The Guide star drifts	Adjust the telescope to move the
away from the center	guide star back to the center

10.For 8 minutes (10 minutes and 30 seconds for HEQ5), the EQ6 SynScanr" hand control records the manual guiding actions in order to characterize the periodic errors. Pressing ESC will stop the recording immediately and exit from the PEC training function.

Guiding actions are recorded cven when the PEC training is stopped midway. 111this case, the PEC+Sidereal tracking will not be accurate until a full cycle of the PEC training is performed.

11.The SynScan'" will beep and display "Record completed" when the training time is up. Press any key to exit from the PEC training.

Play back the PEC record

PEC tracking can be activated under the Setup Menu or pressing the SETUP quick reference hotkey on the keypad when needed. In the Setup Menu, choose Set Tracking, then PEC+Sidereal. SynScan'" will play back the corrections you made during the PEC training cycle and start tracking with periodic error compensated.

The SynS~an'~"will continue to track in the PEC+Sidereal mode until another tracking mode is selected. If the power is turned off while the SynScanmis under the PEC+Sidereal &" mode, the hand control loses synchronization with the R.A. worm gear and the PEC Training will have to be performed again when the power is turned back on. To avoid this, be sure to return the telescope to its home position by selecting PARK S%OPl3 under the

UlILITY FUiVCTIONS before turning off the power.