Your Skywatcher Star Adventurer GTI polar scope is wrong? Easy fix

[@deichkieker1930]

Hi Jeli, you saved my life. ;-) My NEQ-6 has the same problem, when I am looking thru the polar scope. Thank you for this great tutorial. I think I can try the same way for my rack. Looks easy. Great help and I wish you the best. Greetings from Germany.

[@rondetten9252]

Quality control at its best!

[@JeliSpace]

A few minor hick ups to be sure but it still provides great results for the price.

[@GianmariaVeronese]

This is a very good tip, nevertheless you should warn people that, by doing so (in particular unscrewing the 3 small screws), they most likely mess up the polar scope reticle alignment, resulting in a bad tracking performance afterwards. The ideal thing is to fix the polar scope orientation as per your recommendation (even if not necessary) and re-check (and eventually fix) the reticle alignement right afterwards.

[@AnneVictor-x7d]

Next time when polar aligning, move Polaris to the center of the reticle (probably indicated with a cross) using alt and azimuth adjustment. Then, using only altitude adjustment move Polaris up (or down). Wherever Polaris crosses the circle is 12 o'clock (or 6 o'clock). Rotate the RA axis and put 12 (or 6) where Polaris sits on the circle. Your reticle is now correctly positioned. Continue your alignment from there. Rotational offset is irrelevant and can simply be adjusted by the mthod above, only when the polar scope is not parallel to the RA axis, will alignment fail. In that case, the polar scope needs to be aligned using the hex keys.

[@magicmountainpercussion3336]

good tip! thanks. I am suing asi air for plate solving now and getting decent results although it is a bit slow for me to get precise still. I am starting by using a through scope laser which I will be calibrating a lot better if the rain ever stops here. at least that gives me a rough starting point and I will see how close the scope looks once plate solved and polar aligned extremely close.

[@ricardoabh3242]

Wow I did not know this! Just got the mount 2 weeks ago and still learning… with only ~2h of testing stuff

[@JeliSpace]

It's not all of them but yeah.

[@ricardoabh3242]

@@JeliSpace my scope is about 10-15o off

[@Aiko_star-d5d]

Nice work😁

[@JeliSpace]

Hey thanks so much!

[@starpartyguy5605]

I stopped using my polar scope on my G11 after using the Polemaster camera from QHY. Then I discovered that Sharpcap has a polar alignment feature that works the same way. And if my view of Polaris is blocked I can use three star alignment in Nina. No more genuflecting to the polar scope gods!

[@JeliSpace]

Yep I too use plate solving in NINA to do the same. Cheers!

[@user-jn4ih2sy7j]

Hi I overtightened the screw behind the sticker and when I started sidereal tracking with EQMod I heard a loud noise and the whole thing is just loose now, did the screw break? I think I broke my GTi Ra DEC

[@JeliSpace]

Wow, I am so sorry to hear that. I have a video taking it apart, I wonder if you have watched that yet. If not here is the link. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j56UkJ5plq98oas My guess would be the ear that holds the adjustment screw might have broken, I am not sure if it is a part you can get a direct replacement for but maybe the motor assembly. For sure though take that lower plate off and check it out and see. Then contact skywatcher and see if you can get that part. If they are a bust contact firstlightoptics.com I have sourced some strange parts from them before, I would email them and ask.

[@magicmountainpercussion3336]

I just got mine today. 11.22.24 scope has the same issue! at least everything else seems ok...except the app does not work with my D850 to trigger and release for stacking images. seems like people just give up. more cheap Chinese junk instead of spending time to do proper quality control. thanks for the fix idea. might just send this back as I cant even use it.

[@JeliSpace]

Well sorry that it didn't work out for you in the long run, you may be able to control the camera with a free app like N.I.N.A and still use the mount. If you go that route you can also plate solve in which case you wont even need the polar scope.

[@magicmountainpercussion3336]

@@JeliSpace using an asi air plus made the unit usable although I have to dispose of about 1\4- 1/3 of my images. maybe getting a guide scope when I have the funds will help a lot in that respect. I am using the mount with a lens that is just under 200mm and can get 3.5 minute subs at this point so I can make do for now. thanks!

[@jesuschrist2284]

Used mine like 3 times before o gave up and used nina

[@JeliSpace]

Same! Lol