A Big Thanks to the PHD2 Team

[Martin Dowd]

My Astro Laptop recently crashed and died after 9 years of reliable performance and therefore purchased a replacement HP ProBook running Windows 11 Pro. At both sites I use Windows Remote Desktop to run my rigs from the Study at both homes.

Obviously had to load all my software and drivers again ( EQMOD, Stellarium , APT, ASTAP and so on ....) , not to mention a raft of settings to disable Microsoft's endless annoying energy saving features ( Power and Comms )  to configure it for Astrophotography use.

Out of all the software programs I had to install and set up , PHD2 was an absolute joy !!

I image from 2 different locations 220km apart with different Rigs ( both permanent set ups, 8" f5 Carbon Newt ( self Built ) Bortle 8 City Suburban Backyard with weatherproof cover and 10" f5 Carbon Newt ( self Built ) Bortle 3 Rural Backyard NexDome Obs )

At both sites I used the PHD2 Wizard ( excluding the Slew function to DEC = 0 option ) to set up each profile as I know exactly where to Calibrate.

Dark Library took a few minutes , Calibration took a few minutes and I was guiding at both sites in no time at all ( Obviously checking the Auto Restore Calibration option )

Even ran the Guiding Assistant after the Calibration. I rarely recalibrate in fact the last time I re calibrated was about 3 to 4 years ago.

Id like to take this opportunity and thanks Bruce on the forum and all the PHD2 Team behind the scenes for maintaining and developing this brilliant software. 

The latest version works beautifully and is so easy to set up from scratch on both Rigs

I did set the Ascom Pulse guide settings to x0.90 ( originally they were x0.50 ) and noticed a slightly smoother correction regime at 2 sec exposures.

Thanks Again PHD2 Team

Clear Skies

Martin 

Sydney, Australia

[Bruce Waddington]

Thanks for the kind words, Martin.  Replacing a PC at a remote location is always a pain, been there, done that. <g>  Just so you know, the Calibration Assistant will let you save and re-use a custom pointing location in case the default location doesn't work well for your site.  You just want to stay as close to Dec=0 as you can.  On the new PC, probably the most important thing will be to seize control of when Windows does updates.  For example, I schedule mine to update during full-moon periods.

Regards,

Bruce