Mount home position on EQ6-R Pro and ASIAir Plus - Forums

Topic starter

Jun 30, 2023

I’m currently building a mini observatory and would like my scope to be payed flat when stored (So turn the RA 90 degrees and then level the declination) as it have a Skywatcher 190MN so a fairly large scope. I’m struggling to figure out how this all works but I’ve been told that the ASIAir considers the home position to be wherever the mount in when it’s turned on.

My pier is in the ground and set so I went to test this all out, turning the system on with the scope in the flat position. I then manually slewed to roughly Polaris and then sent the mount to “home”. All worked as it should so I then manually slewed to roughly the NCP, polar aligned, pressed the “sync with mount” button and then slewed to NGC7000 via the ASIAir sky altas. The target was found but then I told the mount to return to home and it was miles away from where it should be.

Does anyone know where I’m going wrong?

wsg

Jun 30, 2023 · Edited: Jun 30, 2023

Craig, you need to "set" the horizontal home position you want with your mount hand controller on your mount, as home or zero or what ever your mount calls it, then the ASIAIR will use that position to start, finish Autoruns and "goto homes".
If it is possible, it is easier to set your home/ zero position pointing at Polaris then you can PA in seconds and be imaging in minutes.

scott

Craig Dixon

Topic starter

Jun 30, 2023

Thanks Scott, I thought that might be the case but I wasn’t sure if the ASIAir was set to override mount settings. I’ve never even plugged the handset in. Will have a look into this tomorrow.

I appreciate the help.

Well Written Respectful

wsg

Jun 30, 2023 · Edited: Jun 30, 2023

Hey also make sure your HC is always up to date and working with the the correct settings for date, time and location etc. You will need to use it to reset everything in the mount in case of a power outage or if you need to manually set the scope position with the clutches for some reason. The ASIAIR just runs the mount as it is set and must be in sync with it as you know.

Cheer's
scott

Helpful Concise

Craig Dixon

Topic starter

Jul 1, 2023

I’ve had a look at the settings via the mount’s hand controller and it seems I can only set a custom part position, not change the home position. I’m not sure that this will be possible. I also think that ASIAir considers home to the NCP and will override any mount home settings.

Well Written Concise

wsg

Jul 1, 2023

I am not familiar with the EQ6R-Pro but "park" position is pretty standard on a lot of mounts. You should be able to set park and then go to Polaris as a search preset in the ASIAIR, then do a PA and you are off and running. Goto home in the AIR or after an autorun should go back to the park position you set.

scott

Concise Supportive

Craig Dixon

Topic starter

Sep 23, 2023

Just following up on this.

I can confirm that the ASIAir does not use the position when turned on as home. I need to be able to lay the scope flat at the end of the imaging session so my roof can close but can’t figure out a way to do this.

If I turn the ASIAir on when the scope is flat, then use the manual slewing controls to move the scope around, when I then “go to home”, it returns to the flat position it was in when turned on. However, if I plate solve anything, home is then reset to the NCP. Also, when the scope is flat and ASIAir is turned on, go-to is way off so I think the ASIAir thinks the scope is pointing at NCP when turned on.

Anyone know how to achieve this?

Engaging

Quinn Groessl

IOTD Staff

Sep 23, 2023

Did you try the hand controller suggestion too?

Joe Santacroce

Sep 23, 2023

EQ6r-pro and Asiair

Depends on mount but if it helps at all:
- I've never taken the hand controller out of the box
- I let Asiair get it's location from my device. I've never had to sync.
- The power up position is the home position as you already heard
- I'd be curious if that works as suggested with setting the horizontal home position with the hand controller?
- The Park function has been requested multiple times to ZWO. Nothing yet but fingers crossed.

Craig Dixon

Topic starter

Sep 24, 2023

Unfortunately, setting the position on the hand controller doesn’t work either. it seems that this isn’t possible. If I turn on the ASIAir with the mount in a custom park position and then immediately go to a target, it’s way off as the system assumes the home position is the NCP.

Djennings

Dec 28, 2023

From what I understand, ZWO is aware of this and they are looking into the PARK position as opposed to the HOME position. I have read this on their forums website and something they may consider adding. This way, you can say park the scope, whatever position you have set and it will be different than the normal home position. It will be interesting to see what they come up with if anything.

Good luck and seems there is no Easy Button for this.

Clear Skies,
DJ

Riyan Max

Mar 1, 2024

Mounting the home position on the EQ6-R Pro with ASIAir Plus involves aligning the mount's axis with the celestial pole. Ensure the mount is powered off, then manually move the telescope to align with Polaris, using the azimuth and altitude adjustments. Once aligned, set this position as the home position using the ASIAir Plus interface. Confirm the alignment before powering on for accurate tracking and imaging.

Well Written Helpful Concise

Craig Dixon

Topic starter

Mar 1, 2024

This doesn’t work. As soon as you plate solve, asi then uses the NCP as the home position.

DarrenR

Jun 27, 2024

EQ6-pro and ASIAIR plus owner … REALLY want to see two options … "park" for when everything is powered down and the observatory (just starting to build) is closed, and "home" which is aimed at SCP

Rostokko

Jun 27, 2024

Maybe you can simulate the "park" position by including one last dummy target in your plan which would make the scope slew to the position you need it parked, and then skip the final goto home?

Helpful Concise

DONIK.E HARDY

Jun 27, 2024

Craig Dixon:
I’m currently building a mini observatory and would like my scope to be payed flat when stored (So turn the RA 90 degrees and then level the declination) as it have a Skywatcher 190MN so a fairly large scope. I’m struggling to figure out how this all works but I’ve been told that the ASIAir considers the home position to be wherever the mount in when it’s turned on.

My pier is in the ground and set so I went to test this all out, turning the system on with the scope in the flat position. I then manually slewed to roughly Polaris and then sent the mount to “home”. All worked as it should so I then manually slewed to roughly the NCP, polar aligned, pressed the “sync with mount” button and then slewed to NGC7000 via the ASIAir sky altas. The target was found but then I told the mount to return to home and it was miles away from where it should be.

Does anyone know where I’m going wrong?

you have to check your location that means lot so see if yout location right and if it then you sync to mount.

Related discussions

New Observatory setup

Hi everyone, After years of saving, we’ve finally bought a new house (Bortle 3-4, New Zealand - but about 30 minutes drive from Bortle 2) with a garden and enough space to build a small observatory. I’ve been shooting wide-field astrophotography for ...

Jul 3, 2025

Both posts discuss building small personal observatories for astrophotography and telescope equipment.

Need advice on 2400mm+ F/L scope setup for home observatory build

Hey Everybody, I'm trying to plan a home observatory build and looking into where best to the spend the money investing in a longer F/L scope. I figure who better to ask than people who own or have used these scopes for their expertise and experi...

Feb 20, 2024

Both posts discuss planning and building home observatories with considerations about telescope equipment and setup.

Long-term outdoor cover storage : thoughts after 31 months

Hi there! As I see a lot of questions about long-term outdoor storage with covers, I thought I'd share here my successful experience after 18 35 months of non-stop outdoor storage of my gear under a cover. A disclaimer : except for multiple night...

Mar 25, 2024

Both posts discuss practical considerations for storing telescope equipment, with one focusing on positioning a scope flat in a mini observatory and the other sharing experience with long-term outdoor storage under covers.